Ghost Town

Director: Katharine Round

Year: 2015

This film sets out to solve one of the greatest mysteries of our age: why despite rising material wealth, many Western countries are experiencing profound social breakdown. This real life detective story unravels the big story of the unprecedented shifts in income and wealth that have occurred over the last 35 years – the how, why and who. At the heart of the story is the shift to the freedom of the market, freeing businesses to create wealth for all, and make everyone better off. As markets were freed and the financial sector deregulated, the wealth flowed to the top. Between 1979 – 2007 the top 1% of US households gained 275%, compared to 18% for the bottom fifth. A series of human narratives piece together the realities of life for those at varying ends of the income spectrum in the developed world today - a harsher society where stress, crime and fear are rising, and we increasingly see those around us as "other". Could economic differences be driving these social differences? Inspired by he award-winning book 'The Spirit Level' by Professors Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, the film features Michael Marmot, Noam Chomsky, Alan Budd, Ha-Joon Chang and Alexis Goldstein.

Director: Rabie Mustapha

Year: 2026

In this participatory documentary, filmmaker Rabie Mustapha works with a group of children living in Northern Ireland to tell stories about their family life and cultural backgrounds. Despite the children’s globalised nature, they manage to bring in an insight to specific cultural journeys from Al-Nuba, Halab and the Northern Irish countryside. We see Maya, an inquisitive 9 year old girl whose hobby is to deliver shocking facts within a deadpan and to ask deep philosophical questions. Through an interview with her mom we learn about her Nubian heritage and a long history of generations displacement. Mahmoud and Khalid on the other hand are more calm and observant. Through their filmmaking journey we learn about their Syrian and Turkman heritage. With Mila we see the countryside of Limavady and learn about a more relaxed way of living where children are more connected to nature and where the girl’s artistic abilities are developing. Through this pluralistic film Northern Ireland is portrayed as a changing place with more than one face.

Director: Benjamin Wigley

Year: 2022

Can one footprint imprint on our collective consciousness and create change? A walk; a pilgrimage, an odyssey…for the planet. Five hundred miles from London to Glasgow Cop26: Eight weeks, 56 days and more than 56 host organisations, over a thousand walkers and thirty rolls of 16mm celluloid film. Official Selection Encounters Film Festival 2022