Animal Instinct

Director: Mark James

Year: 2019

The compelling story of the Chins, the Chinese Jamaican family behind “Studio 17” a legendary recording studio in downtown Kingston, Jamaica. Studio 17 was at the heart of the music revolution that began after Jamaican independence in 1962. In its prime, artists who recorded there included Bob Marley and the Wailers, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Peter Tosh, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Alton Ellis, Carl Malcolm, Jimmy London and many more. But dramatically, during the political turmoil of the late 1970s the Chin family fled to New York and the studio was abandoned. 40 years on, a treasure trove of original studio tapes has been salvaged - revealing unique and stunning recordings from the ‘golden age’ of reggae, many of which were unreleased and have never been heard before. As the tapes are played they give rise to a myriad of wonderful stories and in a highly poignant conclusion, the teenage voice of the late Dennis Brown is beautifully re-recorded with the vocals of a rising teenage star, Holly Stevenson, all magically orchestrated by producer and one time Eurythmics star, Dave Stewart.

Director: Emily Ng, Jay Notley

Year: 2023

A heart-warming Chinese family experience a power cut enabling the father to reminisce on his experiences growing up without Electricity.

Director: Stella Scott

Year: 2026

Sylvie is a 15-year old teenager passionate about photography. When she meets a photographer, Michael (36), taking portraits on the street, she hands her his camera and invites her to his studio. While Sylvie imagines he wants to help her, Riz, her best friend, warns that if a guy is talking to her, he’s only interested in one thing. Despite Riz’s remarks, Sylvie can’t help wondering what it might feel like to be seen through his lens. At the studio, Michael and Sylvie connect. She picks things up quickly, taking photos of him, then he takes one of her. Hesitant at first, she leans into it and starts to pose. When he turns away, seemingly uninterested, Sylvie removes her trousers. His light-touch manipulation has worked: she feels self-possessed, and in control. She leaves walking on air, already imagining the photo he took of her for his upcoming exhibition. She can’t wait to tell Riz. But at the exhibition opening, reality hits: an anonymous photo of her blood-stained knickers hangs on the wall instead. When Sylvie returns and sees Michael, she pretends everything’s Okay. And as the music swells, she seduces him and marks him with her menstrual blood.