Fish

Director: Bruce Goodison

Year: 2013

Featuring Toby Jones and an original soundtrack from Mercury Award winning Brit nominees Alt-J, comes a story that defines our times. From a  world hidden from view, this is a film about teenagers cast away from their homes who now learn to survive, at any cost, here in the UK. ‘Leave to Remain’ is a provocative coming of age story about a young Afghan boy who’s arrival sets off a chain of events that jeopardises the future of those closest to him. Unwittingly he plays an unimaginable game of chance where winning and getting Leave to Remain to stay in the UK is not always what it seems, and all hope hinges on just how good a story he can tell. Bruce Goodison wrote this film from the real experiences of the thousands of teenagers who land here alone every year, “Imagine what it is like to lose everything that is familiar to you and have to cope as an adult while still a teenager, in an alien society. Their stories can tell us something important about ourselves, and the way we treat others.” This bold and enlightening film features, alongside established actors, a cast of teenage refugees who have been trained through a Film Academy run by the films creative team.

Director: Adrian Maganza

Year: 2025

A rescue dummy gets forgotten at the bottom of a swimming pool. Behind his single expression, a whirlwind of emotions flood his plastic carcass as he fantasies about being picked up and brought to the surface in the strong and reassuring arms of a swimmer. Official Selection London Short Film Festival 2026

Director: Wapah Ezeigwe

Year: 2025

The film narrates the complex journey of a young woman as she is promised in an arranged marriage to a wealthy aristocrat. As she navigates this new social landscape, she unexpectedly finds herself drawn towards another woman from her town. This secret affection creates a conflict within her, torn between fulfilling her marital duties and following her heart. Through its poignant portrayal of love in the face of societal expectations, the movie explores themes of identity, independence, and the struggle for authentic connection amidst tradition-bound constraints. As the protagonist grapples with these competing forces in her life, viewers are drawn into a captivating tale of self-discovery and the courage to embrace one's own desires. Official Selection BFI Flare LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2025