We follow Sam Batley a poet/photographer who admitted himself into an abstinence based recovery centre in Liverpool, where he wrote a poem about his young-adulthood of addiction. With the help of the other former addicts at the centre he turns this poem into a short film; throughout the making of this film and the practices of the centre we explore the importance of self-expression, connection and the power of art to heal.
We move through each resident at the house and learn how being introduced to art, sport & culture has given them a sense of purpose and connection. Wayne, at 60's taken up acting after appearing in the film. Darren, in and out of prison, now manages a mental health football team. Zoe runs a fitness and meditation centre for women.
In an impassioned speech at the premiere of the short film we learn what recovery means to Sam, “It brings hope, life and joy, not just for me but for my family too’. We then delve into the spoken-word experimental short film about Sam’s addiction, this brings clarity to the importance of the centre and the connection it brings to its residents, one day at a time.
Štefan Pongo is a Roma lorry driver. Fifteen years ago he emigrated with his family to the UK from the Czech Republic to protect them from racial discrimination.
The children have graduated from universities and the family is doing well. Mission completed. But the echoes of hate carry over from the old country.
When the Czech president claims that the Roma are work-shy, angry Štefan issues an appeal asking for photos of Roma working. Thousands are sent and Štefan becomes a well-known media figure. He produces vlogs, organizes demonstrations and humanitarian aid. He establishes a voluntary agency and fights an online battle with the 'haters'. All which comes at the cost of lost time with the family. Štefan's spirited wife, Iveta, has had enough. Will it be possible to institute some form of harmony in the life of the most famous Roma lorry driver?
On a night out, a girl overdoses at an underground rave. Unfolding in reverse chronology, RAVE traces the events of the night back to the beginning, revealing the intertwining stories of the people involved, including Jade whose night takes an unexpected turn after she finds herself alone at a rave.
After a night out clubbing, a young Londoner returns home to find her building engulfed in flames and her family missing. Through a friendship with a fellow survivor, she finds the strength to deal with her grief and move on with her life.
Four flatmates share a flat, the Universe is on their laptop. SHAPES is a dark and delirious comedy, a collection of scenes and episodes from a painful everyday life, exploring the idea of sexual repression at the time of social media.
An experimental animated documentary that explores the youth knife crime epidemic in London. Combining a variety of perspectives from those that have been connected to the issue, the film questions the criminal justice system, climate change and capitalism, all of which point to youth knife crime as a symptom of a wider societal problem.
10 year old Stanley lives an isolated life on a farm with his mother, Minnie. One summer day, two strangers arrive on the property. Though a cause for initial apprehension, the visit may bring something Stanley longs for - connection.
For twenty seven years, TS Eliot corresponded with Emily Hale, an American drama teacher, whom he met while studying at Harvard. She was his confidante, his beloved and his inspiration. The letters he wrote her were donated to Princeton University on the agreement, set by Eliot, that they would not be made publicly available until 50 years, after both their deaths. Now, on the centenary of the first publication of Eliot’s epic poem 'The Waste Land', these recently released letters show the important role Hale played in his creative process.
Official Selection Sheffield DocFest 2022 - Memories - World premiere
It's being called the breakup album of the year. Running late to a studio livestream, Jamie gets a voice note from his ex - the first communication they've had in months. She's heard the album. She has some thoughts.
A lone survivor wakes up stranded on a rocky, empty coastline. With a mysterious beacon guiding her, she searches the landscape for food and shelter, looking for signs of civilization, people, anything.
On 3 June 1991, a deadly cloud of hot gas and rock spewed out of Japan’s Mount Unzen. Among the 43 people consumed by it were scientist-filmmakers Maurice and Katia Krafft. They left behind over 200 hours of footage from their decades of work, which Herzog draws on for this stunning eulogy. From 1977’s La Soufrière through to 2016’s Into the Inferno, Herzog has long been fascinated by these violent natural events and his deeply personal voiceover is a fitting memorial to two people who gave their lives in the pursuit of both science and the pure cinematic image.
Official Selection Sheffield DocFest 2022 - Memories - World premiere
