City Rats

Director: Steve Kelly

Year: 2017

A funny yet touching coming of age football memoir played out to the sights and sounds of Britain in 1970. Adapted from the comic novel by Dave Roberts, it recounts the author’s highs and the lows supporting his beloved team Bromley FC through their worst ever season. Bumping along at the bottom of the bottom non-league division, and effectively the worst football team in Britain, Bromley had reached breaking point. Desperate for a change of fortune, and deluded by his own overactive imagination, Dave hatches a plan that will not only see Bromley grabbing the headlines on national TV, but also have a number of top flight clubs descending upon Hayes Lane to scout Bromley’s dubiously overrated centre forward. Throw into the mix the Bromley Chairman’s daughter Ruby King – who actually hates football, but has taken quite a shine to Dave - and you have a recipe for disaster which has Dave’s football fandom tested to the core. It just goes to show you can't choose who you fall in love with.

Director: Robyn Egan

Year: 2026

Wren is interviewed for a job at Brixham Fish Market. Gary shows her around and tells her to come back tomorrow, for the night shift. A few hours into the shift and Wren is flagging, she enjoys a moment of calm whilst smoking outside - until she is confronted with Cali, who wants a lighter and a chat. The next few nights, sleepless days and awkward interactions blur into each other until Cali greets Wren with a coffee and cigarette for the usual 2am slump. Wren is disgusted when realising Cali has spiked her coffee with brandy. Steph shows Wren how to fillet. Cali rushes to help, standing behind Wren, he places his hands on hers.Wren shrinks down, motionless, allowing Cali to puppeteer her, forcing his groin into her from behind. Wren empties her locker, she’s not coming back. She leaves, only to find Cali waiting for her, unbuckling his belt. Wren waits until his trousers are down, walks over to him, without breaking eye contact and guts Cali like a fish. She makes use of the “Monster Industrial Chum Grinder”, to dismember Cali’s body, discarding the chum into the sea at sunrise. She gracefully enters the sea herself, cleansed.

Director: Martin Crasborn

Year: 2026

Set in rural England, Dusk follows Douglas, a young farmer whose beloved horse suffers a debilitating injury. When his father insists the decision to end her suffering must be rest on his shoulders alone, Douglas must confront the heavy weight of adulthood. Rifle in hand, he faces an agonising test of duty.