Justified and Ancient

Director: Chris Atkins

Year: 2010

This is entertaining and controversial film about something that fascinates us all - even if some of us are loath to admit it – Fame. This film explores the psychological reasons behind the unstoppable rise of the power of celebrity, the media’s need to capitalise on it, and reveals its impact on the world as we know it. Celebrity has reached into every corner of our world. It has come to dominate the media and many of the choices that we make in our lives. We are watching a generation of children growing up captivated by the world of celebrity and the desire for fame, and this documentary asks the question of what the consequence of that may be. In this film it is the stars who are the extras, we glimpse Jude Law and Mick Jagger, but it is the faces in the crowd whose stories we follow, the focus being on the ordinary people who have been swept up in the celebrity machine and the deep psychological reasons behind their obsession. Crucially, the film examines how the media is enhancing the spell of celebrity, and it explains how vast media corporations are profiting from manipulating our inescapable human instincts.

Director: Chris Atkins

Year: 2001

One Thursday morning Randall, one of life's natural wasters, awakes to find the door to his flat jammed shut and that his ex-girlfriend, Tabby, wants to buy a kilo of coke, price no object. Enter Phil, Randall's best mate. Dangerous and psychotic some say, unless you live in a permanent drug induced haze and don't notice, as Randall does. Through Tommy, their schizophrenic dealer, they acquire the necessary amount of coke and set things up to sell it on at double the price. A fact they quite sensibly conceal from Tommy and his boss. Randall and Phil wait at the bar for the courier to show up with the gear. The next morning Randall is wakened by Phil discovering a bloody corpse on the living room floor. This triggers a seemingly incomprehensible descent into confusion and death for them both. Threatened by an American drugs baron, fuelled with a cocktail of drink and drugs and spurred on by the promise of a £20,000 reward they struggle to discover the truth behind this bizarre turn of events.

Director: Lauren Gee

Year: 2024

Documenting and celebrating the Black British female roller-skating community, showcasing its long history and fixture within popular culture. Blurring the boundaries between documentary and music video, this experimental film reveals the expansive network of London’s Black skate scene through two key individuals that share their stories and delve into what this space and their skate crews and mentors provide them. This joyous exploration gives visibility to a subculture that to many outsiders is unknown but is made familiar through its nostalgic lens which pays homage to the sports DIY and music-led roots. Official Selection Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival 2025