Jill Daniels’ autobiographical film explores the secrets of her emotionally repressed Jewish parents Barbara and Bertie, who were married in the mid 1940s when homosexuality was illegal and divorce in the eyes of observant Jews, a sin. During the course of their long lives Barbara and Bertie moved from house to house, country to country, through divorce, remarriage and physical violence. Moving from house to house, country to country, through divorce, remarriage and physical violence rich one day and broke the next Barbara and Bertie spend their last days together in a small flat in suburban London. Daniels films her parents in their small flat while dramatically charged re-enactments hint at a hidden narrative of physical violence and sexual ambivalence. Daniels fails to confront her parents’ about their secrets and it is only through the privacy of the filmmaker's voice that she can dispute the authenticity of their recounted memories.
Pale Shadows is told through the eyes of a young storyteller. She reveals the story of Bradamante who travels to a magical island to reclaim her lost lover Ruggeiro from the enchantress Alcina. This is a rich visionary approach to Handel’s opera Alcina, which explores the intrigue and turmoil of love.
An animation based on a poem about the sea as a lover to the land. The sea can give and it can take away, like an irrepressible force it cannot be tamed. Yet listen and it will yield its secrets...
A story of lust and desire, of identity and sexuality. A young woman’s mundane life is turned upside down when she meets a sensuous older Spanish woman, who is passing through the sleepy English coastal town she lives in.
In 1928, Lady Heath became the first person to fly solo from Cape Town to London. Eighty five years later, Tracey Curtis-Taylor sets out in a vintage open cockpit biplane to fly that adventure again. We follow the challenges she faces flying 10,000 miles up the length of Africa, vulnerable to the weather, flying through politically unstable countries and facing enormous physical demands. Desperate to make her life long dream come true - does she have what it takes?
John is 32. Diagnosed with a devastating eye condition he is gradually losing his sight. Urged by those around him to make difficult decisions he seeks solace in his love of night fishing guided by his young friend Ben in a journey requiring real patience and fortitude.
Charting a year in the life of a tenant hill farmer and his family as they try to breed the perfect sheep. Through the rain, shine, sleet and snow we see them toil away against the stunning landscapes of North East England, and witness the hard work and good humour that binds this remote community together.
Beautifully observed and laugh-out-loud funny, this heart warming film provides an insight into the past, present and future of a way of life far removed from the high-tech hustle and bustle of modern life.
Sheffield Doc/Fest 2016 - World premiere
Set in 1960s London, Blotter is psychedelic exchange between a doctor and his patient as they trip on LSD. What seemingly feels like a normal conversation between a housewife and her therapist melts into a trippy projection of ire and lust.
Shot on Super 8 film, Dueto features two of English National Ballet's outstanding dancers, both of whom were born in Brazil. The film looks at what it means for a dancer to leave their homeland behind as they pursue a career in classical ballet.
Gloucestershire, 1796. A poor day labourer is offered work but must first let his son be used in a medical experiment. Based on the story of James Phipps, the eight-year-old boy used by Dr Edward Jenner to test the world’s first smallpox vaccine.
The fragile balance of a society ruled by individualism is about to collapse with the promise of the crash of an asteroid on the giant distraction machine that the world is.