Projects in genres: Drama

Synopsis

In 1991, having just given birth, Farida struggles to cope without knowing if her family in Iraq is dead or alive after the gulf war breaks out. Though physically in Newport, her mind is at war... far away.

Synopsis

Following Zahra Ahmed, a 26-year-old British-Sudanese woman working the night shift at a rundown East London off licence with her colleague Danny, an aging aspiring DJ. Despite her strict Muslim faith forbidding gambling, Zahra impulsively buys a lottery ticket after recalling an embarrassing encounter with Khaled, a man from her past whose arranged marriage to her was called off. To their shock, Zahra's ticket wins the £184 million Euro Millions jackpot. While Danny celebrates wildly, Zahra panics about the religious implications and how to explain her sudden wealth to her traditional family. As Zahra navigates the complex challenge of claiming her prize while maintaining her elaborate cover story to her parents, she must confront the tension between her desires for a better life and her deeply held beliefs. This film explores themes of faith versus temptation, family expectations, cultural identity, and the age-old question of whether good fortune can ever truly be separated from consequence. Official Selection Sydney Film Festival 2026

Synopsis

In present-day Taipei, Tao develops unexplainable affectionate feelings for Shin, an indifferent guy. Desperate to create lasting memories, she sends people to beat him up, using pain as a twisted form of connection. Meanwhile, Melih, having left Istanbul for Taipei, owns a noodle shop. One night, he receives an unexpected flower from the perpetually drunk Ping. Melih begins to stare into the flower from time to time, experiencing the tale of Tao and Shin and revealing his own unspoken desire and failed attempts to connect with Ping. As Melih digs deeper into the tale, he confronts his struggles to form meaningful relationships. His struggle gradually mirrors Tao’s struggle with Shin. As Tao grows closer to Shin, Shin vanishes, leaving Tao to realize that these recollections, retained only by her, might be mere figments of imagination. Tao’s tale then makes Melih question if it’s better to forget everything, as he contemplates whether letting go of solitary memories might finally bring him peace. Official selection CPH:DOX Copenhagen International Documentary Festival 2026 - Next:Wave Competition (World Premiere)

Synopsis

Ryan is destined to dance, but has to put his passion aside to tend to his duties at his family’s nail salon.

Synopsis

Caught between a mother who can provide everything except closeness, a father who gives love but not stability, and an older brother forced to choose between his own youth and becoming a parent too soon, a young Black boy’s future hangs in the balance. In this interactive custody battle, a single choice shapes a childhood - and fractures a family.

Synopsis

Creatively stalled and trapped in a controlling relationship, Eve is paired with guarded Celeste in a life-drawing class. A conversation about seeing and being seen forces both women to confront the stories that have held them back.

Synopsis

A poetic and visceral drama set against the colour-drenched backdrop of Liverpool’s queer nightlife, that dives headfirst into the chaos where drugs, romance, and self-destruction intertwine. Told through fragmented timelines, spoken word poetry, and an immersive soundtrack, the film offers a subjective journey into the mind of Wolfy, who is caught in cycles of addiction and toxic love. Nights blur into days and back into nights again, each one a distorted reflection of the last. Wolfy’s familiar rhythm of euphoria, comedowns and self-loathing is mellowed by Snooze, a charismatic, carefree lover, desperate to bring Wolfy out of his shell. Their connection burns bright but is dangerously fuelled by escapism and the promise of a freedom that always dissolves with the sunrise. As drugs and desire merge, the line between comfort and destruction becomes harder to see, until Wolfy must confront the reality that he’s been drowning out in the noise. Exploring the tension between escapism and awareness - the struggle of knowing the damage being done, but feeling powerless to stop it. Official Selection BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2026 - World premiere

Synopsis

A hopelessly romantic bisexual author revisits the relationships that shaped his life while reflecting on his autobiographical book My Heart Is Not Mine. Torn between love, faith, and self-worth, he confronts the emotional imprint left by one man and two women who each claimed a piece of a heart that never fully belonged to him.

Synopsis

Struggling with alcohol addiction and mental illness, an artist reaches out to an old friend.

Synopsis

Ying, a Hong Kong immigrant, has recently moved to the UK with her husband and son. Far from the life she once imagined, Ying feels increasingly lost in her new surroundings. When she unexpectedly reunites with her ex-boyfriend Hong - now an exiled photographer working in a supermarket - long-buried emotions resurface. As they wander through London retracing the historic path of Sun Yat-sen, the two reflect on love, exile, and identity. A quiet, poetic exploration of longing, resilience, and the emotional cost of displacement.

Synopsis

On the day of his release from prison, young father Obi must reunite with his estranged daughter Ife and finally face up to the lie that she has been led to believe - that he was in space. Obi arrives at the vibrant Nigerian café owned by Tola, Obi’s partner and mother to Ife, dressed in an orange spacesuit and helmet; an attempt to stretch his deception just long enough to build a relationship with his hopeful daughter. First, he must win over Ife, a smart little girl who has learned every fact about space in anticipation of her dad’s long-awaited return. Across a café table, Obi and Ife bond over cosmic wonders, with her probing questions slowly unravelling the fragile lie that has kept their distant bond alive. As Obi’s anxiety spikes, he realises that he must make a choice: tell Ife the truth, or risk losing her in the lie forever.

Synopsis

Following the journey of Tobi, a Nigerian migrant and filmmaker and Lily, a talented dancer, as they come together to create a dance music video aimed at promoting unity and peace in a time of rising racial tensions in the UK. As protests against immigrants sweep across the country, the town of Middlesbrough becomes a flashpoint of unrest. However, the growing tension culminates in tragedy when Tobi is brutally attacked by Mikey, a childhood friend of Lily’s who has been consumed by racism and anger. Tobi’s death leaves the group shattered, but Lily refuses to let his vision die with him. Determined to honor Tobi’s memory, she rallies the dancers to complete the video, turning their grief into a powerful statement of defiance and hope. The dance video is live-streamed, attracting global attention as messages of support pour in. Despite the loss they’ve suffered, the project becomes a beacon of hope, demonstrating that love, unity, and art have the power to heal even in the darkest of times.