0-9
2K5
(12+) 15 mins
dir: Nicole Pott
It’s 2005, Ellie and her 'BFF 4lyf', Zoe, listen to rap music and slam rhymes every day, dreaming of the big stage. But, at twelve, for Ellie, it’s easy to be a dreamer and less easy to ignore the harsh realities as the only Black kid at school.
Nominations:
Festival Favourite Award
SCREENING: Block O Monday 11th November 8:00pm
A
A CHRISTMAS TALE
(All) 7 mins
dir: Natalie A. Evans
A young child wishes for all the toys in the world, but soon realises what's truly important in life.
Nominations:
Best Animation
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
A SUNDAY IN THE VALE OF TEARS
(12+) 16 mins
dir: Maxine Sibanda
On the eve of her first period, LWAZI discovers she will inherit her grandmother VATISWA’s empyrean Sangoma abilities. Unwittingly wrapped in this new ineffable world, Lwazi is determined to keep the event of her period a secret from her grandmother in an attempt to escape her inevitable transfigure into womanhood and mysticism.
Nominations:
Best Short Film
Best Young Female Actor - Florisa Kamara
Best Hair & Make-up
SCREENING: Block D Saturday 9th November - 2:00pm
A TASTE OF TRADITION
(15+) 3 mins
dir: Zakariya Al-Bashar
"Tastes of Traditions" is a 3-minute documentary that digs into cultural identity, about my Bangladeshi family in the UK, and their identity through cooking. My name is Zakariya. I'm a 15-year-old aspiring filmmaker who made this film for my GCSE media studies. My teacher said, "Maybe try something easier, maybe a poster even?" But using the camera and making videos is my passion, and it only felt right that this was the way to explore my identity.
Nominations:
Best Documentary
SCREENING: Block P Tuesday 12th November 6:00pm
A TEACHER'S GIFT (feature film)
(15+) 105 mins
dir: ARTUR RIBEIRO
Rohan’s diploma may be fake but he’s a great Hindi language teacher with a knack for engaging with his retired English students and enjoying life despite his troubled past. He isn’t getting any younger and his mother is relentless in pressuring him to marry Mumbai based entrepreneur Arushi who is already in a relationship but is equally under pressure from her Father to marry Rohan. Enter Charles, a charming, sophisticated older Englishman with a lifestyle Rohan has only dreamt of who now enrols in his class. A relationship develops as they enjoy their common interests in literature, cricket and each other’s company despite their cultural and age differences.
Nominations:
Best Feature Films
Festival Favourite Award
Best Male Actor - Rajdeep Choudhury
Best Score
SCREENING: Block W Friday 15th November 8:00pm
A TERRIBLE PLACE
(18+) 8 mins
dir: Victor Sanchez-beato, Simarro Lozano
A girl and her imaginary friend, a girl dressed as a rabbit, argue in front of a sinister module. Inside the module is a mysterious man who wants to harm the girl
Nominations:
Best International Film
SCREENING: Block Z Saturday 16th November 2:00pm
AGAINST THE RUN OF PLAY - TV PILOT
(12+) 32 mins
dir: Brad Morris
An estranged father and son attempt to reconnect through the mutual love for their local football club. As they converse, their contrasting perspectives consistently escalate into a source of tension, unveiling not only their divergent opinions about the beautiful game but also fundamental disparities in their worldviews.
Nominations:
Best TV Show
SCREENING: Block B Saturday 9th November - 10:00am
AGUSKA
(All) 15 mins
dir: Tristan Loraine, Hannah Baxter-Eve
Aguska is an inspirational short film about a young girl called Melissa. Bullied at football, she and her family work together to not only overcome and unite the whole team together but also to ensure everyone wins.
Nominations:
Festival Favourite Award
SCREENING: Block L Sunday 10th November - 6:00pm
AH!
(12+) 11 mins
dir: Isabella Grace Hutchins
A young girl moves into her new apartment, where she starts to feel the sense of being watched. Sending her down a dark path.
Nominations:
Best Student Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block U Thursday 14th November 8:00pm
ALL ALONG SONDER HILL
(All) 15 mins
dir: Ben Konotey-Ahulu
This zero-dialogue short film poses the question 'what if?' through the story of two musicians striving to flourish in the creative world, while simultaneously navigating their relationship.
Nominations:
Best Score
SCREENING: Block K Sunday 10th November - 4:00pm
ALL TOMORROW'S YESTERDAYS
(All) 9 mins
dir: Steve Dix
“The next ten minutes of your life could have… unforeseen consequences.” Barry is working on an idea for a time machine, when he receives a series of unusual visitors, all with very good reasons for him not to build his invention….
Nominations:
Festival Favourite Award
SCREENING: Block Y Saturday 16th November 12:00pm
ANOTHER TRIP AROUND THE SUN
(15+) 6 mins
dir: Jess Emily Parker
A young girl becomes obsessed with a text that she is studying, and a mysterious woman begins to manipulate her behaviour.
Nominations:
Best Student Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block T Thursday 14th November 6:00pm
ASH SUNDAY
(15+) 15 mins
dir: James Alexander Allen
As a straight laced middle class family sit down to a Sunday dinner to celebrate the life of their late matriarch, they suffer vivid hallucinations of a twisted past after accidentally scattering her ashes on the roast chicken.
Nominations:
Best Ensemble Cast
SCREENING: Block F Saturday 9th November - 6:00pm
AVATAR: THE LAST OF THE AIRBENDERS - PART ONE
(12+) 20 mins
dir: Jonathan Gallo
The Avatar is frozen in ice. After escaping the Fire Nation attack on the Air Temples, an airbender named Jonin flees into hiding as Fire Nations assassins are deployed to eradicate the remaining Air Nomads. Jonin is haunted by the voices of his fallen people and is left with a choice: He must decide to either remain in exile or risk his life, seeking out the remaining Airbenders.
Nominations:
Best Fan Film
SCREENING: Block J Sunday 10th November - 2:00pm
B
BABY ON BOARD
(12+) 15 mins
dir: Andrew David Barker
A haunting and emotional encounter between a police officer and a young father in the dead of night. A powerful short film written by Stephen Volk (Ghostwatch) and directed by Andrew David Barker
Nominations:
Best Local Film
SCREENING: Block N Monday 11th November - 6:00pm
BADGER!
(15+) 15 mins
dir: Barry Wilkinson
In a small town in England, chaos ensues when a mischievous killer badger goes on a rampage, terrorizing the unsuspecting locals. Filled with humour, mayhem, and lots of gore, this horror comedy promises a wild ride through the absurd and the macabre.
Nominations:
Best Horror Film
Best Special Effects
SCREENING: Block K Sunday 10th November - 4:00pm
BAMBOO
(All) 20 mins
dir: Nisaro Karim
A woman realises she is trapped in a fake marriage with a fake family. A psychological thriller.
Nominations:
Festival Favourite Award
SCREENING: Block V Friday 15th November 6:00pm
BAPS AND BUNS
(12+) 13 mins
dir: Noel McInerney
A feisty OAP desperate to pay for her son’s wedding band starts a ZoomFans baking channel, but quickly realises that her version of baps and buns may be somewhat different...
Nominations:
Best International Film
SCREENING: Block Z Saturday 16th November 2:00pm
BENJI
(All) 6 mins
dir: Oscar Garth
A seemingly innocent TV commercial for a family-friendly recycling bin becomes increasingly bizarre when the father decides to recycle more than just household waste.
Nominations:
Best Short Film
Best Production Design
SCREENING: Block i Sunday 10th November - 12:00pm
BIRMINGHAM: A CITY ROOTED IN TALENT
(12+) 20 mins
dir: Martin Tracey, D G Torrens
Birmingham: A City Rooted in Talent, a documentary series directed and produced by DG Torrens and Martin Tracey, highlights the immense notable talent that has emerged from Birmingham over a number of decades. This talent is diverse and widespread, much like the city itself, but has rarely been showcased as a collective. Particular attention will focus on the late 1970s throughout the 1980s era but will paint the complete and holistic chronological picture from Industrial Revolution to Modern day.
Nominations:
Best Documentary
SCREENING: Block P Tuesday 12th November 6:00pm
BLOODSPORT
(15+) 15 mins
dir: Kate Brooke
After a protest turns violent, young activists Nell and Esme are forced to go on the run. Tasked with lying low, they squat in a beautiful and seemingly empty mansion, awaiting further instruction. But a greater danger engulfs them when another interloper arrives at the house fresh from a morning of brutal sport, and reveals an unexpected connection to one of the runaways. “Bloodsport” is a piercing examination of privilege and progressivism, and asks the question of how far you would go to fight for what you believe in?
Nominations:
Best Short Film
SCREENING: Block E Saturday 9th November - 4:00pm
BOGIEVILLE (feature film)
(15+) 115 mins
dir: Sean Cronin
Bogieville is “a southern fried vampire thriller" that's headed our way later this year. A young couple on the run come across the eponymous derelict American trailer park, where they soon learn that the residents are a pack of blood-thirsty vampires.
Nominations:
Best Feature Films
Best Horror Film
SCREENING: Block 66 Saturday 16th November 4:00pm
BOVINE COMEDY
(All) 4 mins
dir: Nicholas Tuck
A man tries to make a cow laugh.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
BREATHE
(All) 4 mins
dir: Kate Moore
An experimental film about a young girl experiencing a panic attack and seeking comfort from her mother
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film Best Sound Design
SCREENING: Block U Thursday 14th November 8:00pm
BUNNY JAKE IS MISSING
(All) 5 mins
dir: Shane Grant
When Baby Sammy is told by his parents that his pet bunny rabbit has gone on vacation, he suspects foul play.
Nominations:
Best First-time Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
C
CAKES!
(12+) 2 mins
dir: Johnny Herbin
A grieving woman follows a singing cake into a magical world within her oven.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block i Sunday 10th November - 12:00pm
CANON - KNOCKED OUT (music video)
(12+) 2 mins
dir: Michael S.U. Hudson
A young boy trains hard from his bedroom to become a champion boxer in virtual reality.
Nominations:
Best Music Videos
SCREENING: Block X Saturday 16th November 10:00am
CARA (feature film)
(18+) 96 mins
dir: HAYDEN HEWITT
CARA, is a dark psychologically portrait of a female Adult Cam room worker. Set in a bleak, claustrophobic and unforgiving Manchester.
She finds her existence unravelling from a traumatic family past and a series of plaguing dissociative episodes. With the arrival of a stranger to the area with a sinister past, a secret friendship develops that ultimately leads her down a path of brutality and sadistic revenge. Cara is sulphurous and an uncomfortable exploration of the legacies of abuse and the failures of mental heath care. A gritty social realism film housed in a violent horror revenge drama.
Nominations:
Best Feature Films
Best Horror Film
SCREENING: Block M Sunday 10th November - 8:00pm
CHANGING TIDES
(12+) 22 mins
dir: Kathryn Georghiou
Based on a true story, Changing Tides is a film about end-of-life alcoholism and finding hope in unexpected places. Bea, a broke 22-year-old domestic carer has a new patient, an old, angry, alcoholic at the end of his life. After a turbulent start the two form an unlikely bond that changes their lives forever.
Nominations:
Best First-time Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block V Friday 15th November 6:00pm
CHASING NOTHING
(All) 12 mins
dir: Ben Hands
A terminally ill musician rediscovers his purpose in life through friendship with a spirited young busker & songwriter.
Nominations:
Best Short Film
Best Male Actor - Colin Braysher
Best Editing
SCREENING: Block L Sunday 10th November - 6:00pm
CHILLED WITH THE GHOST,
FT CHRISTOPHER FIELDING - TIME TO DIE (music video)
(All) 5 mins
dir: Robin Slater
Originally written by Gary Numan based on the final scenes of Blade Runner. The song Time to Die tells the story of a futuristic cyborg killer who has just seen and done too much. Perhaps over time the cyborg has learned human traits and can no longer live with the memories of the things he has seen and done and choses to die rather than go on re-living those memories. Filmed in Birmingham in the United Kingdom, late summer 2023.
Nominations:
Best Music Videos
SCREENING: Block G Saturday 9th November - 8:00pm
COUNTRY DOGS
(All) 7 mins
dir: Ali Moniri, Philip Kaat, Bertan Can
In the quiet expanse of the countryside, an unlikely relationship forms. The film opens with a young runaway, cloaked in leather and exuding a naive bravado, who encounters an eccentric, old homeless man. The boy, in his silent rebellion, plans to escape his old life, not knowing this strange encounter will shift his course.
Nominations:
Best International Film
SCREENING: Block Y Saturday 16th November 12:00pm
D
DARK SIDE
(15+) 8 mins
dir: Katie Austin
A troubled dancer who is struggling with her mental health unexpectedly comes face to face with her inner critic.
Nominations:
Best First-time Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block L Sunday 10th November - 6:00pm
DATSHREDBOI - WINGS OF LOVE (music video)
(All) 2 mins
dir: Dat Shredboi
An experimental short film about becoming lost in the hypnotic pull of the city, set to music.
Nominations:
Best Music Videos
SCREENING: Block R Wednesday 13th November 6:00pm
DENMARK DOESN'T EXIST
(All) 9 mins
dir: Joseph Archer
People are starting to believe that Denmark doesn’t exist. One woman does everything she can to convince her best friend that it does.
Nominations:
Best Score
SCREENING: Block H Sunday 10th November - 10:00am
DO IT, HARRY
(All) 6 mins
dir: Howard Smith
Harry has only gone to the station to catch a train. He's in for a nasty surprise.
Nominations:
Best Local Film
SCREENING: Block G Saturday 9th November - 8:00pm
DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU
(12+) 17 mins
dir: Anna Volosnik
An ambitious postgrad student’s life is going perfectly according to plan, but something’s missing. When a directionless barista with a talent for drawing and bullshit brightens up her day, it may be serendipity or something more.
Nominations:
Best First-time Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block D Saturday 9th November - 2:00pm
DON'T LET THE BEDBUGS BITE
(All) 13 mins
dir: Kelly Diapère
Night has fallen but something has awoken. 9 year old Elsa is stirred from her sleep by peculiar sounds echoing from downstairs. Determined to regain peace and quiet, Elsa seeks to uncover their secrets whilst forging an unexpected bond.
Nominations:
Best Special Effects
Best Student Filmmaker
Best Young Female Actor - Poppy Graham
SCREENING: Block U Thursday 14th November 8:00pm
DON'T LOOK BEHIND YOU
(12+) 3 mins
dir: Victoria Buse
Heading home from a night out, Anna and Leah decide to have one more drink, but don't realise they've got company...
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block O Monday 11th November 8:00pm
DRAGON LICH KING
(12+) 13 mins
dir: Lewis Hill
'Dragon Lich King' is a coming-of-age magical-realist drama set in 2007 Midlands England. After his parents separate, 11-year-old Michael struggles with his relationship with his distant father and is tempted into darkness by his villainous imaginary friend: The Dragon Lich King. Created during education at the University of Gloucestershire.
Nominations:
Best Special Effects
Best Student Filmmaker
Best Young Male Actor - Tobin White
Best Production Design
SCREENING: Block U Thursday 14th November 8:00pm
DREW MONTEL - SOME DAYS (music video)
(All) 3 mins
dir: M. Ra'ees Hamir
With the shadow of his older work at the forefront of his mind, a young artist struggles to top his previous artistic projects.
Nominations:
Best Music Videos
SCREENING: Block N Monday 11th November - 6:00pm
E
END OF INFINITY
(All) 9 mins
dir: Flora Charlotte Lopategui
Two young women, swap jokes and comfortable silences on a bus journey through the idyllic English countryside. As the film develops we discover that their relationship is more than it seems. Saying goodbye is never easy, but a bus full of goodbyes will always be heart-breaking, an end of infinity, a bus of one last moments.
Nominations:
Best Cinematography
SCREENING: Block H Sunday 10th November - 10:00am
EPHEMERA
(12+) 6 mins
dir: Alex Jarred Taylor
A prolific violinist loses her hearing in a tragic car crash which causes her to descend into a spiral of obsession and despair trying to restore her prestige.
Nominations:
Best Score
SCREENING: Block V Friday 15th November 6:00pm
F
FAMILY TIES
(All) 11 mins
dir: Anderson J West
After being stuck indoors for most of the pandemic, a supposed outdoor-savvy father, Andrew, attempts to reconnect with his tech and social media-addicted son, Nicky, with an overnight hike in the Peak District. However, in Andrew’s eagerness to cut Nicky off from technology, they get lost and suffer a deadly accident. Now, a father must depend on his not-so-nature-ready son to get him out of danger.
Nominations:
Best Young Male Actor - Tre Horton-Grant
Best Local Film
SCREENING: Block G Saturday 9th November - 8:00pm
FIDDLE AND FLUSH
(All) 4 mins
dir: Wayne Kelly
When Daisy’s water supply keeps getting cut off, she calls on pretend plumbers Tom Flush and Jimmy Fiddle to investigate.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
FIERY
(15+) 17 mins
dir: RAFAEL RIBEIRO GONTIJO
Carlos is unable to understand his own desires. After a suspension due to his involvement in the January 8th coup attacks, Carlos returns to work at the fire department and once again has to deal with situations that evoke his darker side.
Nominations:
Best International Film
SCREENING: Block Z Saturday 16th November 2:00pm
FINDING LLOYD
(12A) 15 mins
dir: Ben Jessup
Patrick is a full-time administrative worker, he does not feel fulfilled in his job, but he does it for his wife, Kathy. Kathy is an entrepreneur who is trying to grow her business as a photographer. She focuses on the theme of love and expresses it through her work, but she has come to a wall and does not know how to grow her identity and business. Patrick ends up getting sick of how hard he works in comparison to Kathy, so he ends up cheating on her with his manager at work, they have an intense argument and Kathy then turns her theme into betrayal and this is where she finds her success.
Nominations:
Best Student Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block T Thursday 14th November 6:00pm
FISH BAIT
(18+) 3 mins
dir: Kitty Harper
A young girl gets catfished by an online predator, but she knows something that he doesn't.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block K Sunday 10th November - 4:00pm
FISH OUT OF WATER
(All) 7 mins
dir: Alexandra Boulton
In a harsh dystopian future, the government implements a radical programme to save the environment from total collapse - converting 90% of the population into fish. Nip has always dreamed of doing her bit for the planet by becoming a fish. But when a bureaucratic error separates her from her fish family, how far will she go to correct it? 'Fish Out Of Water' is a dark comedy exploring loneliness, alienation, obsession, and the struggle between individual and collective desire, all against the backdrop of climate disaster.
Nominations:
Best Cinematography
SCREENING: Block H Sunday 10th November - 10:00am
FLAME
(15+) 2 mins
dir
A retelling of a classic polish lullaby changed to reflect the issues of societal pressure on women and their stagnation in toxic relationships. The animation is done with original experimental technique developed by the creator of the short, using pyrography to present the story with each frame burned into the wood.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
Best Animation
SCREENING: Block F Saturday 9th November - 6:00pm
FLAMING ASSASSIN
(15+) 12 mins
dir: Nathan Geering
From multi-award winning film maker Nathan Geering comes a brand new action short film "Flaming Assassin". Over a game of cards three Crime Lords exchange stories about how an unknown assassin is killing gang leaders in their area. The problem is these stories seem too far fetched to be true. Who of the three is telling the truth and who is exaggerating......most importantly who is this mystery assassin and where will he strike next? With gritty dialogue and innovative martial arts action this film sets out to bring new standards to action film making. Showcasing his trademark Break-Fu style, Nathan Geering combines martial arts, fire weapons and breakdance to bring new exciting dynamics audiences in this ground-breaking action film.
Nominations:
Best Stunts
SCREENING: Block L Sunday 10th November - 6:00pm
FLEECED
(All) 6 mins
dir: Jake Wesley-Worrall, Mikolaj Kacprzak
Owen is enjoying a calm hike through the Leicestershire countryside, until he finds himself face to face with a sheep with human features. After continuing his walk he realises that the sheep-man has followed him. This interaction leads to Owen taking the sheep-man into his home and providing food and shelter. Their bond quickly grows, the once emotionless sheep-man is finally able to relax as Owen gains a friend, only for true intentions to be revealed.
Nominations:
Best First-time Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
FORBIDDEN LOVE POTIONS
(All) 7 mins
dir: Jacob Armstrong
Our first flagship project is a short film about love being something you have to choose and fight for! We hope you enjoy this as many artists have poured their blood sweat and tears into this project that takes us back to hope-filled fantasy.
Nominations:
Best Stunts
Best Costume
SCREENING: Block i Sunday 10th November - 12:00pm
FORGOTTEN
(All) 8 mins
dir: Julian Austwick
When a person is Forgotten, what is left to prove they ever existed let alone were valued? This short film seeks to highlight such issues. An RAF pilot reflects on his home and family ties, haunted by his fears that they may never be reunited, while he lays crippled in a dense forest.
Nominations:
Best Local Film
SCREENING: Block G Saturday 9th November - 8:00pm
G
GO SEE THE STARS
(All) 1 mins
dir: Tom Woolley
A young daughter leaves behind her father to travel into space.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block N Monday 11th November - 6:00pm
GROWING PAIN
(All) 6 mins
dir: Charlotte Victoria Richards
'Growing Pain' is an interview led documentary exploring into the filmmakers (Charlotte Richards) childhood migraines revolving around the stress and anxiety that comes along with growing up. Charlotte speaks with a medical professional who has studied migraines for several years and has written several books on the subject, and several others including her own mother in a search to understand the migraines that dictated her life when she was 8-13 years old.
Nominations:
Best Documentary
SCREENING: Block P Tuesday 12th November 6:00pm
H
HAILSTORM
(15+) 11 mins
dir: Natasha Dubalia
The film follows Tim and Sarah, a couple who reconnect after years apart, rekindling a relationship filled with warmth, nostalgia, and shared memories. Their journey together is first marked by playful moments and romantic gestures, but as the story unfolds, it takes a deeper emotional turn.
Nominations:
Best Local Film
SCREENING: Block N Monday 11th November - 6:00pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY
(All) 1 mins
dir: Tom Woolley
A lonely man attempts to make a friend on his birthday.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block O Monday 11th November 8:00pm
HEART'S DESIRE
(All) 4 mins
dir: Loren Alleyne
An office worker is alone at night with just the cleaner vacuuming around him when his computer randomly turns off. Frustrated at not being able to access his work, the computer starts up again by itself and offers him three wishes. Unable to make the message go away he asks the computer to stop the sound around him. The sound suddenly disappears with the cleaner nowhere in sight. Still in denial, he asks the computer to make him rich. Seconds later he hears the lottery numbers being announced on the radio. They match the ones on his ticket. Now intrigued he realises he only has one wish left. He thinks long and hard before finally choosing the perfect wish. Longline: A worker is pulling a late shift, feeling the strain of life, when his computer surprises him with three wishes.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
HEIST OF ALL TIME
(15+) 4 mins
dir: Charlie Street
A group of criminals plan a heist. But what are they stealing?
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block N Monday 11th November - 6:00pm
HELLEVATOR
(12A) 6 mins
dir: Yuqi Fan
"Hellevator" is a thriller short film that follows the harrowing experience of Amy, a young woman trapped in a malfunctioning lift. Panic sets in as she tries every possible way to reach the outside world. Just when all hope seems lost, Bob, the lift engineer, arrives to rescue her. But as the tension mounts, the question lingers: Did Bob truly fix the lift, or is there something more sinister at play? Watch "Hellevator" to uncover the chilling truth.
Nominations:
Best Student Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block K Sunday 10th November - 4:00pm
HER LAST FACE
(All) 16 mins
dir: Virginie Hosner, Dario Willommet
As a cataclysm approaches, Margot goes searching for her sister. Despite the urgency of the situation they’ll confront their broken relationship in the hopes of finding each other again.
Nominations:
Best International Film
SCREENING: Block Y Saturday 16th November 12:00pm
HERB'S PAJAMAS
(All) 13 mins
dir: Todd I. Gordon
When Belle’s married lover, Rudy, collapses in the stairwell outside her apartment after one of their trysts, Belle enlists her naïve and unworldly neighbor, Edith, to carry Rudy’s half-naked body downstairs to his front door.
Nominations:
Best International Film
SCREENING: Block Y Saturday 16th November 12:00pm
HERON
(15+) 16 mins
dir: Samuel W. Ross
After a failed attempt to secure a position in a dance exhibition, a young dancer becomes infatuated with redeeming herself after dealing with a string of rejections. An unexpected audition provides an unusual opportunity to be the understudy for "The Heron." This film is completely shot in Birmingham, in the UK
Nominations:
Best Cinematography
SCREENING: Block N Monday 11th November - 6:00pm
HEY, MOON
(All) 4 mins
dir: Natasha Dubalia
Based on a true story about a couple's brief encounter in a convenience store.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block N Monday 11th November - 6:00pm
HOME SAFE
(12+) 7 mins
dir: Aymeric Nicolet, Ellie Hodgetts
At the end of a late shift, Molly walks home at night when she realises she is being followed...
Nominations:
Best Local Film
SCREENING: Block O Monday 11th November 8:00pm
HONEYMOON PHASE
(12A) 9 mins
dir: Chris McQuire
In the midst of the honeymoon period of her relationship, Cara is met with an unexpected reaction when she breaks some news to her partner.
Nominations:
Best Local Film
SCREENING: Block G Saturday 9th November - 8:00pm
HOT DOG
(18+) 12 mins
dir: Sarah Michelle Durrant
Student film Hot Dog, takes place over one dark night and the bleak morning after. This short thriller follows two sets of siblings trying to recover from grief, each individually coping with polarising reactions; Larissa with anxiety, sibling Nancy with strength, boyfriend Troy with denial and his long suffering brother Leighton with anger, as they navigate the loneliness of losing loved ones.. How far will they push one another away and who will feel the loneliness the most.
Nominations:
Best Local Film
SCREENING: Block N Monday 11th November - 6:00pm
HOT NEIGHBOUR
(All) 2 mins
dir: Alexandra Boulton
A young woman attempts to email her hot neighbour asking him to turn the music down - but things quickly get out of hand.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block V Friday 15th November 6:00pm
HOW DO I SAY GOODBYE (music video)
(All) 4 mins
dir: Rachael G
Dean Lewis's song 'How Do I Say Goodbye' adapted into a student music video. Hannah Brittain pulls out of her band's tour when her little sister dies, and has to find the strength to continue.
Nominations:
Best Music Videos
Best Young Filmmaker - Rachael G
SCREENING: Block U Thursday 14th November 8:00pm
BOOK TICKET https://www.eventbrite.com/e/birmingham-film-festival-block-u-tickets-1039257616507
HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF
(15+) 17 mins
dir: Kieran Dee
Musicians Cam and Adam find themselves caught in a hedonistic spiral. Adam has had enough of it, whereas Cam is young, dumb and full of himself.
Nominations:
Best First-time Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block O Monday 11th November 8:00pm
HURDY-GURDY
(All) 6 mins
dir: Ismail Wasfi
Three Egyptian siblings prepare to leave the house for their uncle's birthday party but find themselves unable to do so due to their miscommunication. As they struggle to overcome this barrier, unresolved issues come to the forefront, challenging the strength of their bonds.
Nominations:
Best Ensemble Cast
SCREENING: Block R Wednesday 13th November 6:00pm
I
I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE ON THE MOON
(All) 2 mins
dir: Emily Burke
A young non-binary person feels overwhelmed and wants to escape - literally, to the moon.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
Best Animation
SCREENING: Block R Wednesday 13th November 6:00pm
IF AT FIRST
(All) 16 mins
dir: Howard Smith
Molly brings home a string of potential partners one after another to meet her mother. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again."
Nominations:
Festival Favourite Award
SCREENING: Block G Saturday 9th November - 8:00pm
I.M.F.
(All) 3 mins
dir: THARIN PERERA
IMF agency are backed into a corner against an insurmountable threat. It's time to take a long shot.
Nominations:
Best Fan Film
SCREENING: Block J Sunday 10th November - 2:00pm
J
JASPER JONES AND THE PERUVIAN MIRACLE PART ONE
(12A) 8 mins
dir: Paulie Michael
Birmingham’s number one Paranormal Investigator Jasper Jones is having trouble with his side kick Robot RAD, he’s behaviour has been more weird than ever recently…perhaps it’s a case of loose wire syndrome? RAD shouldn’t really be left alone in the laboratory anymore. What will come of RAD? And will a mysterious gold box which Jasper recently excavated in Peru hold the answers?
Nominations:
Best TV Show
SCREENING: Block B Saturday 9th November - 10:00am
JOHNNY, IT'S ME YOUR MUM BUT YOU CAN'T HEAR ME, BECAUSE I'M DEAD
(12A) 3 mins
dir: Laurence Jay Maybury
A Young Man goes to a fortune teller to try and contact his dead mother.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block O Monday 11th November 8:00pm
JOKER: THE LAST LAUGH
(12+) 21 mins
dir: David Bispham, Jonathan Davenport
An older, weary Bruce Wayne arrives at Arkham Asylum to visit his arch nemesis; The Joker, one last time.
Nominations:
Best Fan Film
SCREENING: Block J Sunday 10th November - 2:00pm
JUST JAMES
(All) 4 mins
dir: Matt Hickinbottom
When a socially awkward man is rejected by his crush, he lets his imagination run free with the scarf she left behind.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
JUST KIDS
(All) 10 mins
dir: Roberto Urbani
Everything has changed for Giulia after Marilena’s arrival in the village. Before it was just Giulia and her best friend Nadine. But now Nadine has eyes only for the newcomer. And Giulia can't endure it. To play in the woods might offer Giulia the chance to prove that she’s better than Marilena: she has played in that woods with Nadine since they were just kids, while Marilena doesn't know the mountain well. It's the opportunity for Giulia to get back Nadine.
Nominations: Best International Film
SCREENING:
Block Y Saturday 16th November 12:00pm
K
KARAVIDHE
(12A) 17 mins
dir: Eoin Doran
After a day's work doesn't end as planned, Dee finds a creative way of feeding his inexperienced colleague, and entertains them in the process. An immigrant story with a piano and shellfish.
Nominations:
Best Male Actor - Shezai Fejzo
Best First-time Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block E Saturday 9th November - 4:00pm
L
LAST DECEMBER
(12+) 16 mins
dir: Lewis Anthony Smith
Edward and James, two British soldiers, find themselves lost in France during the Second World War. Whilst attempting to reach an evacuation point, in order to meet their unit, they realise they aren’t fully alone in this abandoned village, until they finally encounter a small group of German patrol officers who seem to outnumber them. Not knowing if they will survive, Edward and James’ hopes of returning home and to their families grows smaller by the minute.
Nominations:
Best Student Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block T Thursday 14th November 6:00pm
LAST TRAIN HOME
(12+) 4 mins
dir: Jez Alsop
In a desolate train station a sinister stranger awakens a woman's darkest fears
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block V Friday 15th November 6:00pm
LAURA LIVING BACKWARDS
(12A) 15 mins
dir: Kate Horlor
A reluctant time traveller, robs a bank on her birth-day to change the fate of the man who arrests her, and maybe her own.
Nominations:
Best First-time Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block G Saturday 9th November - 8:00pm
LEFTY
(All) 11 mins
dir: Nisaro Karim
A man seeks retribution following a tragic bare knuckle boxing match. A story of pain, grief and violence.
Nominations:
Best Stunts
SCREENING: Block V Friday 15th November 6:00pm
LEQUANDO
(All) 13 mins
dir: Roxanne Rapp, Eric James Gravolin
A seemingly perfect first date is interrupted by a couple’s dating app that has doubts about anything but less than 100% compatibility.
Nominations:
Best Short Film
Best Male Actor - Eric James Gravolin
Best Female Actor - Roxanne Rapp
SCREENING: Block D Saturday 9th November - 2:00pm
LIFE: 8TH CHAPTER
(15+) 24 mins
dir: Bartłomiej Skupień
A small-town family's happiness is at stake when alcoholism and ambition collide.
Nominations:
Best International Film
SCREENING: Block Z Saturday 16th November 2:00pm
LISA LASHES; FEELING FREQUENCIES
(All) 7 mins
dir: Sarah Michelle Durrant
Lisa Lashes is considered amongst the most influential female DJs in the world after many years of accolades and top 10 positions in the industry such as the prestigious “DJ magazine top 100 poll” Not only paving a way for female DJ’s but, for all musicians by offering a platform to all budding artists by creating the Lisa Lashes School of Music which offers government funded music and arts courses and rehabilitation programmes.
Nominations:
Best Documentary
SCREENING: Block P Tuesday 12th November 6:00pm
LONELY IN TIME
(12+) 5 mins
dir: James Henry Wilson
A single shot film showcasing a woman looking back into her past through the use of pictures and sound.
Nominations:
Best Student Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block T Thursday 14th November 6:00pm
LOOK BACK WITH ANGER
(All) 9 mins
dir: Shaun Stone-Riley
In "LOOK BACK WITH ANGER," a crime drama infused with comedy set in South Yorkshire, a short-tempered man-child's life spirals out of control when he crosses paths with a mysterious and powerful woman. Over the course of a single day, their encounter leads to a series of escalating antics, blending hints of violence and fast-paced action. As chaos ensues, the film navigates a thrilling and darkly humorous narrative, immersing viewers in the unpredictable world of these eccentric characters.
Nominations:
Best Editing
SCREENING: Block D Saturday 9th November - 2:00pm
LOSING IT
(15+) 10 mins
dir: Elise Martin
Losing It is an award-winning romantic comedy about first time sex. According to her research and to-do list, 30-year-old Mabel has everything she needs to “lose it” to nice-guy Guy. But, when he needs a bit of romance to get in the mood, her clinical “do-it-and-lose-it” plan falls apart. Can she rip the bandaid off and conquer the monstrous beast that is first-time-sex? Or will she accept that being a 30-year-old virgin isn’t a world-ending disaster? Maybe, just maybe, it’s not about losing something after all…
Nominations:
Best Female Actor - Sophie Thomas
SCREENING: Block G Saturday 9th November - 8:00pm
M
MAFIA
(12+) 15 mins
dir: James Cleave
MAFIA is a comedy drama that follows a wine-fuelled family as they play a post-dinner round of Mafia, a playful game (supposedly), of murder and deceit that soon spirals out of control as embarrassing secrets are revealed and uncomfortable truths are exposed that could change the family dynamic forever. This film is a fast-paced ensemble, conveyed in real time that explores themes including; bisexuality, generational divides, ageism in relationships, and the prejudice and intolerance that can exist within a group of seemingly like-minded people.
Nominations:
Best Ensemble Cast
SCREENING: Block F Saturday 9th November - 6:00pm
MAKING UP
(12A) 15 mins
dir: Ryan Paige
Making Up is set in the late 1980s, framed within the gritty drag scene of London's east end. The short film stars BIFA award-winning Dave Johns, Jessica Ellerby and Carey Thring and follows Ted who is diagnosed with a hereditary illness. Ted must therefore reconcile with estranged daughter, Cassandra. However, being a celebrated drag queen, paired with the bitter feelings Cassandra harbours over their past, presents a larger obstacle for Ted to overcome.
Nominations:
Best Male Actor - Dave Johns
Best Actress - Jessica Ellerby
SCREENING: Block R Wednesday 13th November 6:00pm
MAN OFF THE COAST
(12A) 15 mins
dir: Matt Sedgley
Soon-to-be Care Leaver Molly has been dumped in her final residential home. Surrounded by professionals who don't care and struggling with her past, she finds an unlikely friend in the form of a man on the beach.
Nominations:
Best Student Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block U Thursday 14th November 8:00pm
MARK SCREETON - LESSONS LEARNED (music video)
(All) 5 mins
dir: Daniel Crew
A space postman video calls his grandkids every day to play his guitar for them between intergalactic deliveries. Trying to balance his work with his passion, he looks out to the cosmos and dreams of becoming a star like the musicians who inspire him.
Nominations:
Best Music Videos
SCREENING: Block i Sunday 10th November - 12:00pm
MATRYOSHKA
(15+) 5 mins
dir: Joseph Ros
A woman, in a dystopian context, re-experiences a painful event over and over again, trying to resolve it.
Nominations:
Best Short Film
Best Score
Best Cinematography
Best Sound Design
SCREENING: Block E Saturday 9th November - 4:00pm
MICCOLI - NIGHT (music video)
(18+) 4 mins
dir: Alessio Miccoli, Adriano Miccoli, Francesca Miccoli
After a creative year away, MICCOLI are back to light up the indie scene with our newest anthem, "Night". This song is a voyage—a quest through the heart of Sicily, juxtaposing the pulsating energy of nightclubs with the tranquil beauty of Sicilian landscapes. "Night" is about confronting our inner turmoil, dancing through the darkness, and celebrating the resilience of the human spirit under the stars of southern Italy. Filmed in the mesmerizing regions of Sicily, our official music video for "Night" embodies the spirit of escapism and the therapeutic power of music. From the sandy beaches bathed in the glow of dusk to the vibrant nightlife that pulsates until dawn, each scene is a testament to the song's heart: We're gonna drink, drink, drink the night away, deal with our demons another day.
Nominations:
Best Music Videos
SCREENING: Block K Sunday 10th November - 4:00pm
MIDAS MAN (feature film)
(12+) 112 mins
dir: Joe Stephenson
In 1961, Brian Epstein, a well-dressed and elegant man, is captivated by a scruffy band playing at the Cavern Club. Flashback to 1959, we see Brian’s artistic talent at his family’s furniture store. His father Harry, frustrated by Brian's numerous career changes, finally sees him excel at window dressing, while his mother Queenie remains ever supportive. Persuaded by Brian, Harry lets him experiment with a modern music offering at the store.
Nominations:
Best Feature Films
SCREENING: Block A Thursday 7th November
MOTHER'S DAY
(12A) 15 mins
dir: Emily Burnett
A space-loving young boy has to navigate a new world when his Mum suddenly suffers a mental health crisis, and his Gran returns from the Caribbean to take care of him.
Nominations:
Best Young Male Actor - Tyler Rocha
SCREENING: Block R Wednesday 13th November 6:00pm
MR EGG
(All) 1 mins
dir: Alishah Ahmad
A young boy discovers that if you truly love someone you'll let them go
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block N Monday 11th November - 6:00pm
MY CREATIVITY SECRETS
(All) 17 mins
dir: Richard Blades
Join Explorer Rich as he designs and creates his own sticker sharing his process along the way!
Nominations:
Best Online Content
SCREENING: Block P Tuesday 12th November 6:00pm
N
NAP TIME
(18+) 6 mins
dir: Maxwell Earp
A new father must face his fear of wasps when one appears in the baby's room during nap time.
Nominations:
Festival Favourite Award
SCREENING: Block O Monday 11th November 8:00pm
NERVOUS ELLIE
(15+) 7 mins
dir: David Yorke
Ellie, new to dating and painfully shy, struggles to control her nerves during a date with Danni, resulting in some unexpected and shocking results.
Nominations:
Best Editing
SCREENING: Block E Saturday 9th November - 4:00pm
NICK NEWTON - SNOW BALLAD (music video)
(All) 5 mins
dir: Kathleen May Stevenson
I’m thrilled to submit my music video, Snow Ballad. For your festival, my first-ever festival submission. The video, Directed, produced and edited by myself, shot by our Cinematographer Alec Jordan (Disco Stoat Productions), accompanies Nick Newton’s song, which features Eleanor telling the story of a couple spending a cozy night by the fire during a snowstorm and wanting the moment to last forever. There's a sense of urgency and desire for the relationship to last, despite the uncertainty of the future. As they escape their past and find peace in the moment, they embrace the beauty of the night, the falling snow, and the quiet intimacy they share. We did not have the budget to go abroad for snow so we looked locally and filmed in Tamworth Snowdome. Nick the composer will be excited to know it’s been submitted! Thank you for your consideration. Best regards, Kathleen May Stevenson Salmon Crest Pictures
Nominations:
Best Music Videos
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
NO LONGER HUMAN
(12+) 13 mins
dir: Renée Ahmed
Jacques has a tortured past, which has led him to try to end his life multiple times. His path crosses with Felicity who becomes infatuated with Jacques. We see a dark romance form between the two. Neither Jack or Felicity having the human experience and come to the bitter conclusion to die in each other’s arms.
Nominations:
Best Sound Design
SCREENING: Block V Friday 15th November 6:00pm
NON FICTION
(12+) 13 mins
dir: Kitty Harper
An avid novelist is unhappy in her marriage and has a secret love affair, but an unexpected twist reveals a heartbreaking secret.
Nominations:
Festival Favourite Award
SCREENING: Block V Friday 15th November 6:00pm
NOTHING ODD ABOUT THAT
(All) 5 mins
dir: Olof Berghe
Leif sits, gazing out over the dance floor, hoping to be asked to dance. When nothing happens, he retreats into his mind.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block Y Saturday 16th November 12:00pm
O
ON THE PATHS AWAKENED
(12A) 14 mins
dir: Axel DAHAN
During WW2, under the German Occupation in France, Two French teenagers are recruited by the Resistance . They are going to face dangers and intimate conflicts on the paths for Freedom…
Nominations:
Best Young Filmmaker - Axel Dahan
Best Production Design
Best International Film
SCREENING: Block X Saturday 16th November 10:00am
ONCE UPON A TIME IN BIRMINGHAM
(12A) 9 mins
dir: Nisaro Karim
A car robbery gone wrong.
Nominations:
Best Local Film
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
ONE GOES ASTRAY
(All) 13 mins
dir: Marie de Roüalle
1870s, the American West. Vigilante Rose chases outlaw Charlie Digger to his hideout. But what seems like an easy job quickly turns into a confrontation with her sombre past.
Nominations:
Best Costume
SCREENING: Block i Sunday 10th November - 12:00pm
ONE NIGHT STAND
(15+) 7 mins
dir: Felix Sutton
What would you do to satisfy a craving? A man in search of a light for his last cigarette is seemingly thwarted at every turn.
Nominations:
Best Male Actor - Tal Profs
SCREENING: Block L Sunday 10th November - 6:00pm
ONE SHOT
(15+) 18 mins
dir: Ryan Wilson
Two MI5 Agents are tasked with extracting the location of a bomb, hidden somewhere in London by an International Criminal. A short dark comedy, all filmed in one continuous shot.
Nominations:
Best Ensemble Cast
SCREENING: Block F Saturday 9th November - 6:00pm
OUTLANDS
(12+) 6 mins
dir: Mark Hampton
Action short. A band of warriors must navigate the uncharted woodlands of Barberia, but find trouble closing in all around..
Nominations:
Best Stunts
Best Costume
SCREENING: Block i Sunday 10th November - 12:00pm
OUTREACH AUTISM AND FRIENDSHIPS
(All) 3 mins
dir: Sib Ali
This film highlights real-life experiences when making friends as an autistic person to raise awareness and improve the quality of life for autistic people when making friends. More films will be released in the future covering various topics in this series.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block P Tuesday 12th November 6:00pm
P
PAUSE
(All) 15 mins
dir: Ben Robertson
Ethics are tested when science finalises an anti aging drug, under corporate pressure, scientist Harry must decided if immortality is truly desirable.
Nominations:
Best Student Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block T Thursday 14th November 6:00pm
PENANCE
(15+) 7 mins
dir: Ross Syner
Crushed by the poverty of austerity Britain, a young father attempts an ill fated highest in a last ditch effort to provide for his young family.
Nominations:
Best Stunts
SCREENING: Block L Sunday 10th November - 6:00pm
PERIOD DRAMA
(15+) 13 mins
dir: Evie Fehilly
When 15-year-old Jane must meet a man she is betrothed to, a meeting that her entire family are counting on, not everything goes to plan when she gets her period for the first time.
Nominations:
Best Student Filmmaker
Best Costume
SCREENING: Block L Sunday 10th November - 6:00pm
PICTURE THIS - LEFTOVER LOVE (music video)
(All) 3 mins
dir: Ross Syner
Picture This - Leftover Love (Official Music Video)
Nominations:
Best Music Videos
SCREENING: Block Y Saturday 16th November 12:00pm
POLLY
(18+) 5 mins
dir: Tom Boyd-Hall
A naive animal activist breaks into the home of a wealthy deer hunter in the hopes of spreading her message, only to be met face to face with an unavoidable, split-second tragedy.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block F Saturday 9th November - 6:00pm
PROPHET
(18+) 26 mins
dir: Diana Savone
PROPHET is a dark comedy about Lucy Angelo, who is diagnosed with breast cancer. After Lucy loses her job and health insurance, she’s unable to afford her treatments. During a yoga class, she meets a charismatic but unqualified wellness guru who promises to cure Lucy’s “dis-ease” using questionable alternative therapies. However, Lucy’s health takes an unsuspected turn for the worse, forcing her to take matters into her own hands.
Nominations:
Best TV Show
SCREENING: Block B Saturday 9th November - 10:00am
R
RACHEL ANN - RISE ABOVE (music video)
(All) 4 mins
dir: Nicole Sarah Fry
A young woman awakes to a mysterious purple light and finds a portal that transports her to a woodland filled with fairies and magical creatures.
Nominations:
Best Music Videos
Best Hair & Make-up
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
REEL TERROR
(15+) 15 mins
dir: Ted Bennett
Lawrence, a detached film collector, visits Ron to buy vintage film reels. Intrigued by one labeled Nancarrow's Mirror. Lawrence secretly switches it with another reel and takes it home. As he watches the eerie film, supernatural occurrences plague his house, with a shadowy figure appearing. Obsessed, Lawrence ignores these disturbances. Ron, desperate to retrieve the reel, confronts Lawrence, who refuses to return it.
Nominations:
Best First-time Filmmaker
Best Horror Film
SCREENING: Block L Sunday 10th November - 6:00pm
REFLECTION
(15+) 5 mins
dir: Velton Lishke
An insight into a life of addiction and self harm, stemming from a woman struggling with her identity
Nominations:
Best Female Actress - Rozelle Gemma
Best Hair & Make-up
SCREENING: Block E Saturday 9th November - 4:00pm
REMOTE WITNESS
(15+) 15 mins
dir: Richard Broomfield
A hackers morales are put to the test when he unintentionally witness an assault on the woman he's spying on.
Nominations:
Best Local Film
SCREENING: Block N Monday 11th November - 6:00pm
RESERVOIR
(15+) 15 mins
dir: Nicholas Cole
Jade is getting some strange results out in the field as she tests the soil for pollution. She is shocked to find that somehow the vegetation is still growing. When Jade comes across a rock in the ground surrounded by strange flowers things get stranger still.
Nominations:
Best Short Film
Best Cinematography
SCREENING: Block K Sunday 10th November - 4:00pm
RETURN TO SKYE
(All) 5 mins
dir: Scott Johnson
A Scottish clansman survives the Battle of Culloden (1745) and returns home to bid farewell to his wife, and wee child, before fleeing for his life. He and his wife agree that his ancestral home, the Isle of Skye, will provide him refuge from the pursuing British.
Nominations:
Best Music Videos
SCREENING: Block i Sunday 10th November - 12:00pm
ROBBING BASTARD II
(15+) 7 mins
dir: Tom Richards
Electrician charges £45000 to replace lightbulb
Nominations: Best Local Film
SCREENING:
Block G Saturday 9th November - 8:00pm
THE ASTRAS - ROLL (music video)
(12A) 5 mins
dir: Sarah Michelle Durrant
Roll is the debut music video for BBC Introducing “Band of the month” The Astras. Inspired by the Coventry bands retro image and love for night life culture, the video depicts the social distractions faced by song writer “Stan” who wants to write but also loves the inspiration of those alluring nights. This upbeat video for a fresh new band was filmed on location in the West Midlands.
Nominations:
Best Music Videos
SCREENING: Block N Monday 11th November - 6:00pm
ROLLING OUT BRUM
(All) 6 mins
dir: Yonatan Tiruneh
Rolling Out Brum attempts to capture the essence of Birmingham's longstanding roller skating community. The film was created as a celebration of this group which breaks boundaries in terms of culture, age and gender - a true grass roots community tethered to the inner city location of Cannon Hill Park.
Nominations:
Best Documentary
SCREENING: Block P Tuesday 12th November 6:00pm
ROSE
(All) 2 mins
dir: Benjamin Peter Lowe
Awaking suddenly, Rob realises that he's going to be late for his date with a woman named Rose. He manages to arrive on time but gets an unexpected surprise when she's revealed to be a speaking Rose Plant.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
ROSWELL DELIRIUM (feature film)
(12+) 110 mins
dir: Richard Bakewell
During the 1980s the US is hit by a wave of nuclear attacks, and after the fallout those who remain pretend like everything is normal even though they are all experiencing radiation poisoning. A young girl named Mayday tries to make contact on a series of ham radios with her father who is in space on a shuttle mission. Instead of making contact she receives a intergalactic distress call from space that leads her on a journey to Spacerock, the land where Area 51 once was. She is exposed to severe levels of radiation and within days all of her organs start to fail. Knowing that medical treatment won't help her mother Wendy brings her back to Spacerock to give her to the aliens in hopes that they may be able to save her.
Nominations:
Best Feature Films
SCREENING: Block Q Tuesday 12th November 8:00pm
RUTH
(12A) 13 mins
dir: Paul Romero Méndez, Arturo M. Antolín
Ruth, an elderly lady with dementia, becomes lost within her own home. As she tries to find answers she ends up losing herself further, confusing reality with memories from her past. Shot in a single 12 minute take, the film puts the audience in Ruth's shoes, making them feel first hand the daily confusion brought on by someone suffering from dementia.
Nominations:
Best Female Actor - Ania Marson
Best Cinematography
SCREENING: Block E Saturday 9th November - 4:00pm
S
SAFE
(15+) 2 mins
dir: David Yorke
A young woman battles for her life against a relentless masked killer.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
Best Horror Film
SCREENING: Block N Monday 11th November - 6:00pm
SAFE
(15+) 10 mins
dir: Debbie Howard
Anne an office cleaner, finishes work late one evening to be pursued and harassed by a man at the bus stop.
Nominations:
Best Short Film
Best Cinematography
SCREENING: Block F Saturday 9th November - 6:00pm
SCALLYWAGS
(18+) 30 mins
dir: Will Thomas Freeman
A lonely lobster fisherman, the last of his kind, has a life changing encounter with a troubled young woman.
Nominations:
Best Short Film
Best Female Actor - Freya Lund
Best Score
SCREENING: Block E Saturday 9th November - 4:00pm
SEVEN SISTERS
(18+) 14 mins
dir: Isabella Culver
This story follows Juliet on a journey of self-healing after a traumatic event that takes her on a voyage to the darkest parts of the psyche.
Nominations:
Best First-time Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block F Saturday 9th November - 6:00pm
SILVERSIZZLE
(15+) 14 mins
dir: Brian Russell
A cemetery caretaker embarks on a quest to help two recent widowers find new love among widows visiting their departed spouses. Widower Buddy has some experience being alone when he meets Jamie while visiting the graveside of his recently departed wife. Engulfed in loneliness, Jamie gets pulled into life in all its messiness when Buddy tells him about getting old, "the options are not kind. Loneliness, irrelevance, invisibility." SilverSizzle embarks on an absurd exploration of older people living life right up until the end.
Nominations:
Best Ensemble Cast
SCREENING: Block Z Saturday 16th November 2:00pm
SISTER WIVES
(12+) 28 mins
dir: Louisa Connolly-Burnham
Sister Wives is a multi-layered love story that tells the tale of young women living in a strict, fundamentalist, polygamous society in 2003 Utah, USA. Kaidence and Galilee find themselves bound to one another, under the same roof, in the same marriage, as they develop scary, new, exciting feelings for each other. In a harsh, regressive, watchful community where being queer is considered a cardinal sin, they begin having thoughts of leaving the only life they have ever known behind. Sister Wives will offer a vital perspective to the canon of coming-out films; at its core, it is a story of female friendship, of allyship, a story of exploration, both physical and psychological, as together they find the courage to dream in tandem, of a world beyond the walls.
Nominations:
Best Costume
Best Production Design
SCREENING: Block H Sunday 10th November - 10:00am
SKINJOB
(All) 15 mins
dir: Steve Simmons
A group of slave Androids steal a space shuttle and journey back to earth to find their maker.
Nominations:
Best Fan Film
Best Animation
SCREENING: Block i Sunday 10th November - 12:00pm
SLIM
(All) 2 mins
dir: James Noir
A visualisation and reimagining of the lyrical verses of John Darwin, a Manchester based poet. Nurtured by the environment surrounding, trail the Poet "retracing" his footsteps as we experience reality through his eyes.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block R Wednesday 13th November 6:00pm
SONAR
(12+) 7 mins
dir: James Hughes
A swimmer detects an unusual sound late at night and she decides to investigate.
Nominations:
Best Short Film
Best Sound Design
Best Production Design
SCREENING: Block D Saturday 9th November - 2:00pm
STOLEN THOUGHT
(12a) 6 mins
dir: AJ Davies
Aggressive deforestation has depleted the Earth’s oxygen levels. It’s been eighty years since the last tree grew wild on UK soil. Synthetic O2 is now fabricated in factories, controlled by multinationals and supplied for profit. In a world where every breath is now on a meter, the elites thrive in habitats supplied with clean air and cultivated plant life that tower over the suffocating masses condemned to live in crumbling slums and forced to buy overpriced, low-grade oxygen. Fighting for change, an underground movement opposes corporate control over the most essential part of human life, dreaming of a time when we might all breathe free again. As four young activists steal a precious commodity from the wealthy elite, their corporate rivals seek to suppress any hope of an uprising and the group fear a traitor in their midst.
Nominations:
Best Young Male Actor - Damarre Newman-Dacre
SCREENING: Block R Wednesday 13th November 6:00pm
T
THE BAT
(All) 3 mins
dir: Chi Lam, Nisaro Karim
The Bat and Bane clash again during a hostage situation. A unique telling of the Batman from the perspective of the hostage.
Nominations:
Best Fan Film
SCREENING: Block J Sunday 10th November - 2:00pm
THE BREAKDOWN
(12+) 18 mins
dir: Matthew Pate
After a job goes wrong, thieves Tommy and Jack find themselves heading South, on the run. With no real idea where they're going, their hopes rest on things dying down as they lay low, until their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Now stranded, their hopes lessen until a passer-by offers a helping hand, and as the pair continue to get to know this stranger, they soon realise they're more connected to him than they thought. With this unexpected encounter, Tommy and Jack come to understand that they're not only on the run from the law, but also their past.
Nominations:
Best Student Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block T Thursday 14th November 6:00pm
THE CARROT
(12+) 16 mins
dir: Joakim Benum
A man travels back to his smalltown home to tell his parents about the disturbing discovery he made in his brothers freezer.
Nominations:
Best International Film
SCREENING: Block Z Saturday 16th November 2:00pm
THE DECEIT
(15+) 8 mins
dir: Alan Birch
When Simon discovers his wife is having an affair, he enlists the help of his lover to seek revenge.
Nominations:
Best Horror Film
Festival Favourite Award
SCREENING: Block K Sunday 10th November - 4:00pm
THE DONATION
(All) 14 mins
dir: Andrew Hindle
A miserly factory owner reluctantly takes a trip to Africa with the persuasion of his granddaughter, to see what a difference financing a new school could make to a very poor community. A short comedy film set in Birmingham and Cameroon with a strong message about Corporate Social Responsibility.
Nominations:
Festival Favourite Award
SCREENING: Block O Monday 11th November 8:00pm
THE EXAMPLE
(15+) 7 mins
dir: Luke Worrall
Winner of the Northampton Film Festival 48hour Film Challenge May 2024. The brief; "A Killer Lesson". A man bound with tape over his mouth finds himself 'The Example' in a class where students are taught how to murder. A luxury retreat for killers? What could go wrong?
Nominations:
Best Local Film
SCREENING: Block O Monday 11th November 8:00pm
THE FLY AND THE SPIDER
(12A) 4 mins
dir: Oriane Polack, Celine Perra
Two sisters try to free themselves from the wound of incest that has consumed them since childhood. This day comes when they find the Power to reveal everything.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block Y Saturday 16th November 12:00pm
THE FURY OF SILENCE
(12+) 10 mins
dir: Hardey Speight
When small-time gangsters Lenny and Vincent kidnap Nina, the daughter of a wealthy and influential businessman, things go horribly wrong. Lenny turns against Vincent, questioning the morality of their deeds, and a violent end-game ensues. As a wounded Lenny flees with Nina on his shoulder, the nature of their relationship and reality itself is soon thrown into question. Now lost in a vast wilderness, the horrors of Lenny’s conscience begin to unravel in a fever dream he can’t escape. Can Lenny find redemption or is it too late?
Nominations:
Best Sound Design
SCREENING: Block F Saturday 9th November - 6:00pm
THE KINGDOM BY THE SEA
(12+) 108 mins
dir: Richard John Taylor
Late actor Nicholas Ball delivers a career-defining swan song in his final performance as tensions rise in a small rural community when a grieving young girl finds solace in the unlikely friendship she forms with a reclusive actor, but things quickly spiral out of control when he becomes the target of mass hysteria after being wrongly accused of sexually abusing her.
Nominations:
Best Feature Films
Best Young Female Actor - Olive Wilson
SCREENING: Block S Wednesday 13th November 8:00pm
THE LOST RELIC - A STAR WARS STORY
(12A) 14 mins
dir: Clément Labarre, Pierre Labarre
While the Rebellion celebrates its victory on the moon of Endor, the symbols of the imperial oppression are fading away. But one of them has survived...
Nominations:
Best Fan Film
SCREENING: Block J Sunday 10th November - 2:00pm
THE MONSTER WE ARE
(12+) 4 mins
dir: Louis Nicholas Perry Wright
A group of people must navigate their new form of existence to escape a crazed scientist's laboratory.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block D Saturday 9th November - 2:00pm
The Only Son
(All) 15 mins
dir: Piotr Matyja
Jack, a Polish Immigrant living in Los Angeles, will have to decide if he'll sacrifice his morals to save his son's future.
Nominations:
Best International Film
SCREENING: Block Y Saturday 16th November 12:00pm
THE OTHER
(15+) 15 mins
dir: Christopher Bevan
Serious and meticulous young chef Marcus begins to experience increasingly strange and unexplained events that challenge his sanity. With his mindset spiralling into paranoia his desperation is intensified by sightings of a familiar figure.
Nominations:
Best Male Actor - Adam Horvath
SCREENING: Block L Sunday 10th November - 6:00pm
THE PINTO VARIETY HOUR
(15+) 23 mins
dir: R.J. Sullivan
The Pinto Variety Hour is a pilot for a half hour animated adult comedy featuring Pinto, a recovering rageaholic bean who hosts a surreal variety show. As Pinto juggles eccentric guests, like a time-traveling beret inventor, and navigates his tumultuous relationship with his show’s sponsor, Big Powerful Nobody, he also deals with everyday family dynamics. Balancing his quirky work life with his role as a father to teenagers Lucy and Max and husband to Flo, Pinto’s world is a whimsical mix of surreal comedy and heartfelt moments in the charming town of Hazelwood. -Synopsis by The Anthology Institute
Nominations:
Best TV Show
Best Animation
SCREENING: Block B Saturday 9th November - 10:00am
THE QUESTION
(All) 18 mins
dir: Quaiden Lowe
A struggling youth questions his life path.
Nominations:
Best Young Filmmaker - Quaiden Lowe
Best Young Male Actor - Rauf Ergun
SCREENING: Block T Thursday 14th November 6:00pm
THE RANGER
(All) 6 mins
dir: Chi Lam
A story about grief and bereavement. Revisiting old memories to keep our lost loved ones alive.
Nominations:
Best Young Male Actor - Oscar Liu
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
THE RED MARKET
(15+) 9 mins
dir: Christopher Matthew Spencer
Zephyr Sage, drowning in debt, turns to the Global Organ Donor Exchange to sell his body parts. Facing ruthless creditors and a manipulative loan shark, Hyacinth, he treads a perilous path where each choice could cost more than money.
Nominations:
Best International Film
SCREENING: Block Z Saturday 16th November 2:00pm
THE REDROOM
(15+) 9 mins
dir: Sophie Cohen, Michael Lindsay
We open this tale with the sight of a bloodied, handsome well-to-do man, staggering around East London. We close the film enjoying the rare glimpse into the everyday backstage camaraderie of women who strip for a living. What lies between is a whodunit without the traditional victim or perpetrator. If there is a perpetrator, it is masculine entitlement fuelled by ridiculous ideas about female bodies. The only real victim of this film is the traditional easy trope of sensationalised violence against women and our persistent societal dishonesty about sex work. Please note this story is not an easy conceit for the benefit of an audience to enjoy yet another male gaze romp, stacked inside a neo feminist sex positive gag. Every frame is shot from the perspective of the women who have worked, or continue to work there. There is no traditional stripper nudity. If you want that, no shame or self-flagellation needed, just go pay your money and respect the service.
Nominations:
Best Editing
SCREENING: Block G Saturday 9th November - 8:00pm
THE SANDS OF TIME
(All) 13 mins
dir: James Hughes
A Time Portal in the Sands Brings a Young Couple Together
Nominations:
Best Special Effects
Best Hair & Make-up
SCREENING: Block i Sunday 10th November - 12:00pm
THE SEA
(All) 7 mins
dir: Ian Bartholomew
In a small English village, circa 1952, a young farm girl sees a painting of the sea in a shop window, and falls in love with it. Her efforts to buy it lead to an unforeseen and heart-warming encounter with a famous artist. This is a story about the inspirational power of art, and an act of kindness and generosity.
Nominations:
Best Young Female Actor - Phoebe Cheffings
SCREENING: Block D Saturday 9th November - 2:00pm
THE SIKH SOLDIER
(All) 15 mins
dir: Sky Cheema, Joseph Archer
A Sikh soldier fights through The Great War for the British Empire, only to survive and have to face a further hell back in India.
Nominations:
Best Short Film
Best Production Design
SCREENING: Block H Sunday 10th November - 10:00am
THE SILENT TREATMENT
(12+) 10 mins
dir: Steven Lancefield
The Silent Treatment is a sign of domestic abuse through emotional bullying designed to make victims feel afraid, controlled and humiliated. Our film ‘The Silent Treatment’ wants to highlight this often overlooked subtle abuse and reiterate to victims the message YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME.
Nominations:
Festival Favourite Award
SCREENING: Block O Monday 11th November 8:00pm
THE SOLENT
(12+) 73 mins
dir: Oliver Henry Cubbage
Michael returns home to discover that his sister, Rachael has vanished. Driven by love and fueled by an insatiable need for answers, he embarks on a tumultuous journey to unravel the truth behind her disappearance.
Nominations:
Best Feature Films
SCREENING: Block X Saturday 16th November 10:00am
THE TRIO
(All) 5 mins
dir: Amelia Lloyd
The Trio’s carol rehearsal takes an absurd turn as the friends struggle to process their grief at the loss of their fourth member. Could an ancient book hold the answer, or is the local Christmas lights switch on doomed?
Nominations:
Best Ensemble Cast
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
THE UNSEEN
(12+) 6 mins
dir: Xander Ross
A university student is stalked and abducted by a monstrous plague doctor who uses a music box to hypnotize his victims.
Nominations:
Best Sound Design
SCREENING: Block K Sunday 10th November - 4:00pm
THIS IS MY SKETCHBOOK - EPISODE 1
(12A) 7 mins
dir: Tom Woolley
This Is My Sketchbook is an 8-episode series following a drawing challenge to practice every single day for a year. See how what happened in my life influenced what I drew. In this first episode, I begin the challenge, but just a week in, a sudden devastating event makes me question if I should keep going.
Nominations:
Best Online Content
SCREENING: Block P Tuesday 12th November 6:00pm
TO YOU, MY LOVE
(All) 11 mins
dir: Jake Ray Winger
’To You, My Love’ is a short film about love loss and grief, and how we might handle, react to, or approach those situations.
Nominations:
Best Score
SCREENING: Block D Saturday 9th November - 2:00pm
TOO FAR
(15+) 7 mins
dir: Giles Gough
When an intimate picture is leaked online, the pressure it creates is too much for the couple at the heart of it. 'Too Far' was commissioned by Trafford Domestic Abuse Services to educated young people about some of the dangers in sharing intimate pictures in a relevant, non-judgemental way. In this short film, described as 'Skins meets Memento', viewers are invited to make up their own minds about the situation rather than having an opinion forced upon them.
Nominations:
Best Editing
SCREENING: Block R Wednesday 13th November 6:00pm
TRUST THY SISTER
(15+) 16 mins
dir: Molly Wise
There be witches. In a theatre, the play begins. Three actresses showcase a rehearsal performance for their director. But as the story progresses, the lines between reality and fiction begin to blur. Accusations fly and blood is spilled as a tale is told of the brutal 17th Century Witch Trials.
Nominations:
Best Costume
Best Hair & Make-up
SCREENING: Block K Sunday 10th November - 4:00pm
TWO MINUTES
(15+) 6 mins
dir: Jamie Benyon
Two brothers rob a corner shop only to be interrupted by their Nan.
Nominations:
Festival Favourite Award
SCREENING: Block F Saturday 9th November - 6:00pm
U
UNRAVELLING
(15+) 8 mins
dir: Aimie Willemse
FIONA tries to care for her chronically ill grandmother MAEVE as she struggles to retain her autonomy. As her invisible illness begins to physically manifest into a malignant entity, Fiona is forced to confront her worse fears.
Nominations:
Best Short Film
Best Special Effects
Best Hair & Make-up
SCREENING: Block R Wednesday 13th November 6:00pm
UNREQUITED
(12+) 7 mins
dir: Aiden Barker
Two friends, having to say goodbye. But also wanting to say more.
Nominations:
Best First-time Filmmaker
SCREENING: Block D Saturday 9th November - 2:00pm
UNTIL SHE LEAVES
(15+) 6 mins
dir: PAUL BROOKING
A 5-minute film that explores two sides of a life-changing conversation.
Nominations:
Best Editing
SCREENING: Block R Wednesday 13th November 6:00pm
W
WHERE ARE ALL THE GAY SUPERHEROES?
(12A) 15 mins
dir: Tom Paul Martin
‘Where Are All the Gay Superheroes?’ is a is a LGBTQIA+ crowd-pleaser, combining elements of sci-fi, drama and comedy. Professional superheroes Sterling and Meridian have just finished saving the day (again) when suddenly, they find themselves in a rare moment alone. The suits come off, but when old tensions and old enemies return, our “heroes” learn the dark truth about who they are underneath.
Nominations:
Best Special Effects
SCREENING: Block i Sunday 10th November - 12:00pm
WHERE'S THE WEED WENDY?
(12+) 4 mins
dir: Cassandra Maria Nelson
Two Sunday school saints turn green entrepreneurs to save their church. Tasked with tending a heavenly marijuana crop, they arrive to find it vanished into thin air.
Nominations:
Best Micro Short Film
SCREENING: Block N Monday 11th November - 6:00pm
WHO CALLS
(15+) 5 mins
dir: J.A Villalobos
In the middle of the night, a stranger knocks on the door of the house asking for help. The couple that resides inside will have to choose whether or not to open the door.
Nominations:
Best International Film
SCREENING: Block Z Saturday 16th November 2:00pm
WITCHES
(12+) 13 mins
dir: Siobhán Cannon-Brownlie
Overlooked and under-laid ‘Witches’ Annie, Sally and Geraldine struggle to stick to their strict, self-imposed rules to shun men. When one witch admits to straying from the coven things escalate. Can the cult leader rid the group of their evil sins before it’s too late?
Nominations:
Festival Favourite Award
SCREENING: Block H Sunday 10th November - 10:00am
WRONG SIZE FITS ALL
(All) 6 mins
dir: Ab McCarthy
'Wrong Size Fits All' is a short film production that chronicles the personal journeys, based on the experiences shared by members of IMPACT, Warwickshire's youth forum for individuals with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It sheds light on the diverse experiences children and young people face within educational settings and aims to foster an understanding of their needs.
Nominations:
Best Online Content
SCREENING: Block P Tuesday 12th November 6:00pm
Y
YELLOW DAISY BUTTERFLY
(All) 10 mins
dir: Diek Grobler
Cheri-lee is inconsolable when her Granny Daisy dies. As Daisy ascends, she sees Cheri-lee’s grief, and returns as a little white egg that transforms into a butterfly. A metamorphosis that mirrors Cheri-lee’s stages of grief
Nominations:
Best Animation
SCREENING: Block C Saturday 9th November - 12:00pm
Z
ZERO
(12+) 28 mins
dir: Alec Jordan
An ancient prophecy divides two friends - is it worth sacrificing a few for the futures of many? Or are some prices too high to be paid?
Nominations:
Best Fan Film
Best Stunts
SCREENING: Block J Sunday 10th November - 2:00pm
ZUGZWANG
(15+) 7 mins
dir: Genevieve Lowe
Two strangers meet at a slipway, but their exchange does not go according to plan...
Nominations:
Best Local Film
SCREENING: Block O Monday 11th November 8:00pm