The King of Covent Garden

Director: Andrew Levitas

Year: 2020

Three-time Academy Award® nominee Johnny Depp plays celebrated war photographer W. Eugene Smith in a real life David vs Goliath story, pitting Smith against a powerful corporation responsible for poisoning the people of Minamata, Japan in 1971. New York, 1971. W. Eugene Smith (Johnny Depp) is a celebrated photo-journalist and photo-essayist, but he feels devoid of inspiration. He is at such a low ebb he even considers suicide. Then a Japanese-American woman Aileen (Minami) shows up to convince him to come to the Japanese coastal city of Minamata, whose community has been ravaged by mercury poisoning, the result of decades of gross industrial negligence by Japan’s Chisso Corporation. Eugene eventually agrees to go, with the reluctant and secret support of Life Magazine head Robert Hayes (Bill Nighy). With Aileen, Smith immerses himself in the community, documenting the people’s efforts to live with Minamata Disease and their passionate fight to achieve recognition and compensation from Chisso. It is a life-changing experience — one which brings Eugene redemption, love, new purpose and his greatest-ever photograph. A photograph that will change the world and provide desperately needed fuel to the fledgling environmental protection movement. 'Minamata' is a moving redemptive story of how one man’s powerful photograph impacted the world, yet in order to find it he had to open his heart. Official Selection Berlin International Film Festival 2020 - Berlinale Special - World premiere

Director: Eve Leonard-Walsh

Year: 2027

A high energy, fast paced, tragic and comedic look, at a city changing beyond recognition. It's younger generation, fighting for self expression. Frank, a crooked businessman, runs; The Apollo. A venue in the heart of Glasgow, famous for the iconic bands it hosted. Supported by his cronies, mostly hoods and part time gangsters. Frank profits from the business but has no interest in its social significance. His 3 sons (all in their 20’s) are: Andy; training to be a priest, Mark; an ex-soldier, and Ian; Studying at University. Frank also has an illegitimate son called Beattie, who suffers from epilepsy. Each of the sons are very different and the film explores the character development of these young men over the space of 3 days and in the epilogue. Where the action jumps forward to 3 months later. The film incorporates live action (re-enactments) of gigs which took place at the time at the Apollo.

Director: Aimie Willemse

Year: 2026

Left alone with her estranged grandmother, a perceptive nine-year-old sees her become something monstrous, navigating a night of fear, confusion, and the thin line between love and survival.