Projects with status: Complete

Synopsis

Set in the 48 hours leading up to the catastrophic attack on the German lines on 1st July 1916 that signalled the start of the Battle of the Somme, this is the poignant, intense story of young men at war, as seen through the eyes of seventeen year old Billy Macfarlane. As Billy and his squad are thrown into war, they experience trauma, friendship, animosity, nostalgic recollection and the prospect of their agonisingly short lives coming to an imminent and sudden end.


The action of the film is deliberately oppressive, set entirely in the few dozen yards of front line and communication trenches that Billy and his fellow soldiers occupy.


As the boys wait for the attack, alternately excited and terrified, a series of events begins to undermine and fracture the solidarity of the group, and for the first time our young soldiers have to confront the reality of the enemy as the suspense and tension reaches critical mass.


When Billy's platoon is ordered to go with the first wave of attackers, the awful truth of what they are about to undergo begins to impact. The whistles blow, the boys clamber over the top. We see the first wave surge into the maelstrom of smoke and explosions through the meadows of the Somme valley, advancing gamely on to meet their individual and tragic destinies.


Billy Macfarlane's war ends moments later.

Synopsis

The mark of a man is how he acts under pressure. Does he keep his head when others are losing it? When all seems lost does he stand by his comrades? When reward or crushing failure depends on a last throw of the dice does he elect to take it? Can he wait and endure the waiting?





Career crooks Bennett, Walker and Turner gather for a major heist. They wait in uneasy peace for their boss. Instead a young stranger arrives, alleging to have been sent. Only one of the three believes him. Fears and old grievances drives wedges between them. Each man tested to breaking point as the pressure of their self imposed prison builds inexorably towards an emotionally explosive and group shattering climax.

Synopsis

For fifteen year old Tom, The War Zone is right at the heart of his seemingly happy family. As he struggles with his emerging sexuality, the upheaval and the arrival of a new baby sister and a move from his beloved London to the lonely Devon countryside, he can find no one to turn to for comfort and truth.

Synopsis

It's midsummer and Marian and John have invited Lyle to their beautiful country house for the weekend. Marian is surprised when Lyle brings his new friend Robert with him, for this is the anniversary of the death of Tony, Lyle's former lover, John's half brother and Marian's best friend. Lyle hasn't been up to the house since Tony died there last year and as the weekend progresses, we see why. It's as if Tony is haunting them. So much of their lives and the life of the house was influenced by him, that it's impossible not to feel his presence. But their chance to indulge in grief is prevented by the presence of Robert and Laura, a pseudo Italian widow and her daughter Nina, who are invited to dinner. Laura and Robert are connected by their search for fun in this stultifying atmosphere. Nina awakes a passion in John, that has been lacking in his marriage since the birth of his one-year old son. By the end of the weekend, two relationships are over as Lyle and Marian remain consumed by their love for Tony.

Synopsis

Living in the middle of the countryside doesn't give Billy and his friends many exciting opportunities. But today a series of strange occurrences and coincidences leads to the chance of flying away.

Synopsis

A small boy wishes that the ornamental cherry tree in his local park could bear fruit. Later that day he discovers that the tree is being made into a wishing tree and he makes a wish. Then something strange but wonderful takes place. A short film about the power of magic.

Synopsis

Once upon a time, not so very long ago in a little village called Kromer, lived Seth and Gabriel, two beautiful young wolves. Nearby, in Broome Hall, Fanny, a wicked old maid, and her accomplice Doreen are plotting a wicked murder.





The dual narrative switches between the two scheming old maids, and the developing relationship between the wolves. This surprising juxtaposition gives the film its vitality and unique sparkle, and highlights the contemporary social issues of the old order giving way to the new. Once the murder is done, the maids frame the wolves, inciting a torch-bearing mob of religious zealots to reek vengeance on the innocent pair.





The Wolves of Kromer is where Agatha Christie meets the Brothers Grimm, with a dose of John Rechy. Narrated by Boy George, the film reinterprets elements of familiar folk stories as a modern day saga of lust, greed, murder and sexuality. The young stars appear urbane, clubby and glamorous, talking a contemporary patois, living contemporary issues, but the world they inhabit is far from the metropolis - a timeless landscape of hills and valleys, waterfalls and lakes. This enchanting film is almost a fairytale; a time and place you've never been to, but somehow seem to recall . . .

Synopsis

A short film, set against the background of the club scene in Bristol, about a boy's quest to prove to his girlfriend that he really loves her. It includes state of the art digital effects sequences and innovative club footage.

Synopsis

Thinking Twice Features the pianist Katharina Wolpe playing music composed by her father Stefan Wolpe. Stefan Wolpe was born in Berlin in 1902 and died in New York in 1972. His work is renowned for its originality and rigour, its sense of space and surprise.

Synopsis

This Year's Love is a bittersweet comedy about love, sex and heartbreak. Set in Camden Town it explores modern relationships as three young couples swap lovers, by chance, over the course of three years.

Synopsis

London 8am. A letter arrives. Finder's lover is leaving on an early train for Paris. He rushes to the Eurostar terminus but his hopes of catching her are extinguished by missed connections and a tube delay.


'However much you think you're prepared for something, you never are'.


From a Eurostar telephone Finder calls his work-partner, Blind Date Man, only to find a journal belonging to a Canadian actress just arrived in London, Tina 'The Tourist'. The journal contains Tina's money, passport, and a Polaroid of her host and mentor, Wheelchair Woman.


'One moment you're one person, the next you can be someone completely different'.


As Finder is led on a three-day journey of chance and coincidence we meet a host of other eccentric characters whose paths entwine. The compassionate Buddhist Fashion Victim, beautiful Question Mark Woman, her naive admirer Kebab Boy, and the enigmatic Caretaker.


But Finder has still to locate Tina. He takes another look at the Polaroid. It looks like any other tourist snapshot, but with one difference - he recognises himself in the background . . .


. . . of a picture that hasn't been taken. Yet.


'Maybe if we were confused all the time, things would be a lot clearer'.

Synopsis

Three Ways to go is an animated film about the last moments of three lives. A range of film techniques are employed to illustrate each situation: a man drowning, a girl plummeting from a building and a car about to crash.