Projects in genres: Biography

Synopsis

[We Are] A small Asian hair salon in Cambridge. A Chinese-Malaysian immigrant hairdresser, a grandmother, runs her business quietly, happily, and peacefully. [Still Dreaming of Hope] The iconic Middle East photograph featured in the film is a staged image. The two boys in the photograph are not an Israeli and a Palestinian, but two Israeli Jewish children.

Synopsis

Courtney Love, singer, songwriter, and actor, is sober and preparing to release new music after a decade, ready to share her unfiltered story. Official Selection Sundance Film Festival 2026 - World premiere

Synopsis

The struggle against apartheid is recounted through Nelson Mandela’s own voice, drawn from recordings he made while writing his autobiography 'Long Walk to Freedom'. Official Selection Sundance Film Festival 2026 - World premiere

Synopsis

A Syrian girl's decade-long journey to Germany and back, as she and her family face the challenges of war and life as refugees, showing both the hardships and hopes of starting anew. Official Selection Sundance Film Festival 2026 - World premiere

Synopsis

A multi-layered crime drama set in contemporary Europe and beyond, inspired by real events and personal experiences. The film follows interconnected characters whose lives are shaped by loyalty, moral dilemmas, and the consequences of their choices. The story spans five countries - Poland, Japan (in the heart of Tokyo), Myanmar, Ukraine, and the UK (London). It draws on true experiences: the main character spent three years in a martial arts monastery in Japan during his twenties, and a war reporter who was kidnapped during the conflict in Ukraine, prompting a tense rescue mission. These events form the backbone of a story the characters never meant to tell. Through parallel storylines, BASTION explores the complex web of relationships, conflicting interests, and personal responsibilities that define human behavior. Grounded in realism and driven by authentic characters, the film delivers an intense, emotionally resonant narrative where every decision carries weight. This drama presents a gripping, uncompromising portrayal of courage, loyalty, and moral choice, revealing the story they never meant to tell and offering a rare glimpse into human experience across continents under extreme circumstances.

Synopsis

A short animated documentary about a filmmaker’s search to get to know the uncle she never met, whose death from AIDS led directly to her birth. Part thank-you note and part memorial, DOUG + ME is both a look into a life and a reflection on the enduring ripples of legacies we all leave behind. Official Selection BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2026

Synopsis

Sue died suddenly in 1983, leaving behind three young children. Her son, filmmaker Eamon Bourke, was three and has no memories of his mother. When his father, John, decides to sell their remote cottage in Cumbria, Eamon doesn’t want to let it go, so returns to capture it on film. In the process of clearing the house, Eamon discovers a series of extraordinary cassette tapes recorded by Sue. These cassettes hold the memories Eamon has longed for. Sue’s voice lights up the film. But within the recordings are some devastating moments, including Sue falling ill with hepatitis. The last thing she recorded was her and Eamon singing together. Then another tape is discovered, broken and with a severed reel. Eamon repairs this cassette, revealing a heartbreaking recording that transports him back to the epicentre of the tragedy. Through interviews with his family members, alongside land art, animation and music, THE SOLWAY explores the trauma of losing a parent in early childhood and how the ripples of this grief linger into later life. Set amongst the cinematic beauty of the Lake District, this film has a rare magic to it and offers audiences a space to contemplate their own grief.

Synopsis

An intimate observation of Rainbow Mbuangi, a key player for Merseyside Blind Football Club. The film embeds itself within Mbuangi's daily life, documenting the structured routines, intensive training, and social world that orbit his athletic pursuits. Through a rigorous focus on sound - both the necessities of his off-field navigational aids and the specialized, rattling 'soundball' used in the game - the documentary explores the complex relationship between dependence and autonomy. On the pitch, where he is fully reliant on auditory cues, Mbuangi challenges conventional notions of athletic space and visual interpretation.

Synopsis

A couple affected by the contaminated blood scandal face a difficult decision when an offer of life-saving treatment threatens their dreams for the future. Official Selection Flickers Rhode Island Film Festival 2024 - World Premiere Official Selection HollyShorts Film Festival 2024

Synopsis

Structured as a series of classes in cultural organising, this film reconstructs the life of a woman whose literary works and film collaborations became a catalysing force in 20th century political movements. Toni Morrison, Nikky Finney and filmmaker Haile Gerima are among those who testify to Bambara's humour, fierce commitment to collective action and gift for galvanising artists into community work. Official Selection DOC NYC 2025 - World premiere Official SelectionTrue/False Film Festival 2026 Official Selection Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival 2026 Official Selection Sheffield DocFest 2026 - European premiere

Synopsis

Finding beauty in the ordinary, Liverpool takes centre stage in this year-in-the-life documentary portrait. ​ Communities and voices are observed from a fresh perspective as the city navigates through an eventful year. Mirroring the ebb and flow of the River Mersey, LIVERPOOL STORY is an intimate document of daily life, observing the city and its people over the passing seasons.

Synopsis

Aki Nawaz founded Southern Death Cult and Fun-Da-Mental, spending decades navigating his identity as a Pakistani punk artist. His music has always fused the personal with the political — but in 2006, he channels this into his most controversial album yet, with All Is War – The Benefits of G-Had - a raw, furious response to post-9/11 Islamophobia in Britain.