This strand transports us across history and the world, giving us insights into the richness of human life. From Whitby to the Philippines; Palestine to Russia, we are shown snapshots of people’s lives, now and then, and the places in which they’ve been lived.
A PLACE FOR SAILORS
UK
Directed by Daniel Georgiev
Produced by Daniel Moore
Language: English
Duration: 5 mins
Documentary // Yorkshire // Student
Witness the remains of a silent and forgotten coastal town, once populated by a rich fishing culture and sailors. A portrait of Whitby, from its cliffs and piers to its beaches and dock. Everything stands still except the winds and ocean, only the souls of the sailors remain, forgotten to the sea.
FILIPIÑANA
PHILIPPINES / UK
Written & Directed by Rafael Manuel
Produced by Naomi Pacifique, Kyle Nieva, Kiko Meily & Rafael Manuel
Language: Filipino & English
Duration: 24 mins
Fiction // Student
The self-contained cosmos of the golf course reflects societal structures. Although the new ‘tee girl’, Isabel still has to learn the rules, she’s already looking for loopholes to subvert the system.
Filipiñana won the Silver Bear for Best Short Film at Berlinale as well as being nominated for a BIFA.
Website: rafaelmanuel.com
THE SIEGE
RUSSIA
Directed by Andrey Furmanchuk
Produced by Ilya Krivitsky, Andrey Furmanchuk & Svetlana Khazipova
Language: Russian
Duration: 20 mins
Documentary
A symbol of human fortitude and cruelty, the story of what happened in Leningrad during World War 2 is told using Russian and German film archive footage. Radio broadcasts and music heard by those in Leningrad at the time is used to help us better understand the torment of war and perhaps how the pain of those years can be healed.
THE WALK
GERMANY
Directed & Produced by Michael Jung
Language: German
Duration: 12 mins
Documentary // Student
As a child during World War 2, Werner was buried alive in rubble during Allied bombings. Having survived, he found a way to manage his traumatic experience with the help of a horse. While Werner’s horse has come to be a symbol of freedom, Werner’s life and the way he lives it has also become a symbol of the coming to terms with the suffering that W.G. Sebald once said was, “the real hidden secret of post-war Germans.”
Website: walkwithjenny.de
Facebook: facebook.com/walkwithjenny
THE WAR INSIDE US
PALESTINE / TUNISIA
Directed by Mahmoud Ahmed
Produced by National Centre Of Cinema And Image Tunis
Language: Arabic
Duration: 23 mins
Documentary
A story of Palestinians searching for stability.
TOKYO CURRENTS
JAPAN
Directed & Produced by Kota Nakamura
Language: no dialogue
Duration: 10 mins
Documentary // Student
Shinjuku was called Japan’s epicentre of Covid-19, with the largest number of people testing positive in the summer. Tokyo Currents was filmed at that time and explores one summer morning in the stigmatised city, reflecting on the impact Covid has had on life there.
Instagram: @kot_nak