Projects with status: Complete

Synopsis

An old man is persecuted by a gang of kids on a London housing estate, while a child plays innocently in a neighbouring flat. A new look at the implications of cruelty.

Synopsis

'Breaking the Code' tells the story of the mathematical genius, Alan Turing who, seconded to top secret Bletchley Park during World War II, designed the first computer, which enabled the Allies to crack the German Enigma code and, some would argue, win the war. On Churchill's instructions, Turing was given all the resources he required - and his personal behaviour was tolerated. Turing was a practising homosexual at a time when it was illegal.





At Bletchley, Turing's genius was recognised immediately - as perhaps were his sexual predilections. While discussing the practical applications of his scientific research, Turing speaks what is perhaps the central line of the film: 'I have always been willing - indeed eager - to accept moral responsibility for what I do'. It was that uncompromising stance, plus his unworldly genius which was Turing's strength in scientific research, but his personal undoing.





After the war, Turing continued research, but became progressively entangled in the law after voluntarily reporting a burglary to the police. When asked whom he suspects, Turing suggests a casual male lover. Surprisingly, he confesses to his homosexuality - it was illegal - and is charged. Later, Turing goes on holiday to Corfu and picks up a young Greek boy. Shortly afterwards, Turing commits suicide.





Summarised as baldly as this, 'Breaking The Code' sounds rather bleak: it is not. It is frequently funny, always compassionate and provides real insight into the dilemmas and problems homosexuality in a genius presents; not just to Turing, but to his family and professional colleagues.

Synopsis

Brenda and Alice live in a crumbling Victorian house in Peckham with gloomy, atmospheric interiors, exposed wiring and a jumble of furniture. They are in their eighties and have lived together in the house for over 30 years. Brenda lives downstairs and Alice lives upstairs. Like the Odd Couple their characters are chalk and cheese. This ten minute documentary film is a portrait of their lives and their relationship.

Synopsis

A true story of love, bravery and endurance. A Welsh guardsman, John Elwyn, is captured in the first year of the Second World War, and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp in Poland. Young and fearless, he refuses to submit to imprisonment and, driven by a burning desire to be free, he escapes again and again, only to be recaptured each time.





But this is not only a war-time escape story. John falls in love with a beautiful Polish girl, Celinka, and the couple are married in a secret wedding ceremony on Christmas Eve. In the turmoil of war, their happiness cannot last and the two are separated within hours of their marriage. Tragically, Celinka is already fatally ill. Her death binds the young soldier to the Polish cause and he joins the Polish Freedom Fighters and fights alongside his adopted countrymen until he is captured again - only to make one last desperate bid to escape.

Synopsis

Andy and Rachel are a young couple of artists who are heavily in debt to their drug supplier. After a long weekend of partying, Rachel finds two men on her doorstep. Unsure of their identity, she lets them inside and soon realises her mistake.

Synopsis

The tragi-comic tale of Flossy the candy floss girl who loses her heart to Luke the Waltzer boy in the fairground. But Bert, the embittered Arcade owner, is set to smash her dreams and prove that like candy floss, love disappears as soon as you bite into it.

Synopsis

Captain Jack is the true story of irascible and irresistable Captain Jack, a Whitby sailor with antipathy for authority, appeal to the ladies and a deep love and respect for his predecessor Captain Scoresby, who sailed from Whitby to the Arctic in 1791. For Captain Jack, Scoresby is Whitby's true hero. Not Captain Cook whose statue stands overlooking the town. The two hundredth anniversary of Scoresby's first trip to the Arctic is coming up. Jack resolves to follow him there and place a plaque.





But before he can assemble a crew or provisions, he finds himself and his beloved schooner, The Yorkshire Lass, forbidden to go to sea. In spite of (or because of?) the Captain's protestations, Inspector Lancing of the Department of Transport finds the vessel unseaworthy and ties her up in red tape.





This doesn't stand in Jack's way, and neither does the motley crew he finally assembles, in the persons of Phoebe and Eunice, two elderly warring sisters; Emmett, a hen-pecked unemployed holiday maker; Andy, the Australian hiker and Tessa, the local lass who stows away to be with Andy - the man of her dreams.





The Captain has everything he needs. With his old friend Barbara running communications from the local caravan park and the fishing fleet to escort The Yorkshire Lass out of the harbour, right under the harbourmaster's nose, the adventure begins.

Synopsis

Catching Fire is a tragic but inspiring love story based loosely on the intense and passionate relationship between Jean Vigo, a young filmmaker, and his wife Lydu.





Set in the early 1930's, Jean and Lydu met at a tuberculosis sanatorium in the Pyrenees. The love that develops between them becomes a liberating force enabling them to confront their illness, live for the moment, challenge the odds and embrace life in the face of great adversity.

Synopsis

When a bet goes wrong, a young man must charm a snake to win back his most treasured possession.

Synopsis

Cider Punks, a model animation, brings a humorous insight to the frantic Belfast-based life of Becky Donduffin, 17, and her circle of friends who share a passion for nihilism, protest, body piercing and army surplus clothing. The preponderance of peer-pressure and escapism in the teenagers' lives are clearly the main themes in this 'mockumentary', which reflects on the issues in a witty, yet thought-provoking way.

Synopsis

Clingfilm - a man and a woman, bound together in an unusual tale of compassion and friendship. The film tells the story of Annie, a happily married mother of three who cleans for the Reverend Archie McClure - but that's not all. She is his confidante and closest friend - the only person in the world he can trust with his darkest desires...

Synopsis

Colour Blind charts the family passions and problems which come to the surface after Bridget McQueen arrives home with a black husband and the growing years of the couple's mixed race daughter, Rose Angela, during the period after the First World War in South Shields. The story, initially told in flashback, then follows the experiences of the adult Rose Angela as she fights to establish her own place in the world.