Rising Spirit shorts
A showcase of the best emerging talent telling unique and creative stories through resourcefulness and resielience.
Raindog
Two computer programmers developing a weather forecasting AI are unnerved to discover their creation is far more powerful than they'd imagined.
Directed by Euan Munro
Written by Euan Munro
Produced by James Crutcher
Country: UK
Overpowered
Six would-be superheroes confront the realities of adult life. Juggling rent, failing friendships and the gig economy, will our heroes finally “make it big”, or will their powers go to waste?
Directed by Michael Bicarregui
Written by Michael Bicarregui
Produced by Michael Bicarregui, Thomas Wood and Peter Bicarregui
Country: UK
fishing
t’s 2006. Sixteen-year-old Lola has been in her room for three days and refuses to come out. She confesses to a camcorder a tale of first love and lost virginity, before finally revealing the secret keeping her locked inside.
Directed by Josie Clarke
Written and produced by Esme Allen
Country: UK
Essence
Zach takes a drug that allows the user to relive their memories as vivid trips.
Directed and written by Matthew Sterling
Produced by Lou Bray
Country: UK
At a dinner party, sparks fly between Nick and Laura, but their growing connection is tested when a professional clash causes an uncomfortable confrontation.
Directed and written by Richard Perryman
Country: UK
I Would Like to Live on the Moon
A young non-binary person feels overwhelmed and wants to escape - literally, to the moon.
Written, produced and directed by Emily Burke
Country: UK
Heart's Desire
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.
Written, produced and directed by Loren Alleyne
Country: UK
Flaming Assassin
Over a game of cards three Crime Lords exchange stories about how an unknown assassin is killing gang leaders in their area. 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?
Directed and written by Nathan Geering
Produced by Nathan Geering, John Archer and Stephen Windle
Paper Rounds
2 Weeks 2 Make it winner Toothless films present their music video, 'Paper rounds' by Eszter Vida. The video made with just two weeks to design, shoot and edit was part of the relaunched 2 Weeks 2 Make it competition ran by South Yorkshire Filmmaker's Network this year.
Directed by Joel Anderson
Musician: Eszter Vida
Northern Spirit Shorts
The Young Programmers from The Showroom select their picks to represent the rising talent of Northern filmmakers
How to Build a Life
Louis, a young man with Asperger’s, talks candidly with his older brother about the decade of bullying that nearly ended his life sharing his journey from the depths of depression, to finding hope through his dog best friend and renewed passion for Lego, in the form of stop-motion.
Directed by Matthew Reese
Produced by Matthew Reese and Callum Wilkins Reese
Region: Leeds
Fool's Paradise
Two African asylum seeking brothers find themselves stuck in the UK hotel system waiting for their rights to work. Eager to discover what home means to them.
Written by Tadhg Kwasi and Ai Narapol
Produced and directed by Ai Narapol
Region: Sheffield
Legends
A terrible confession puts the friendship of two loyal friends to the ultimate test.
Written, producer and directed by Tomas Quezada Manchester
Region: Rochdale
Cabbage Sandwiches
Bert is an old man who loves two things: cabbage sandwiches and a quiet life. The last thing he needs is an unexpected visitor.
Written and directed by Joseph Harry Allen
Region: Derbyshire
Weave
When a young black girl is being coaxed to hide her Afro by her fiercely protective father, she learns his motivations and concerns are to save her from suffering the same fate as her mother.
Directed by Martyn Lee
Produced by Hugh Mann Adamson
Written by Jaz Craddock-Jones and Nigel Wilkes
Region: Sheffield
The Journey Home
A creature considers its current bindings and finds them wanting.
Written and directed by Noah Lei Underwood
Region: Sheffield
Anna Mcgee's Wild Ride
A teenager on the cusp of adulthood flies through her entire future while stuck in a traffic jam.
Directed, written and produced by Ava Bounds
Reception
An animation created from 15 years of sketches made in the reception area whilst waiting to see the Dentist.
Directed by Lou Sumray
Region: Bradford
Independent Spirit Shorts
A showcase of the best established and growing filmmakers covering a variety of themes told in bold and ambitious ways.
Opening Up
Reluctant-dater Jas hadn't meant to kiss Adam, but she couldn't help herself. Freaking out, she bursts into her twelfth -floor flat and slams the door in his lipstick smeared face, leaving Adam alone on the doorstep, feeling the pain of rejection all over again.
Directed by Oz Arshad
Written by: Lorna Riley
Produced by Guy Lindley
The Nun Slayer
After 30 years of ‘false imprisonment’ Donald Peartree had been living his dream as a globally notorious and feared serial killer. Now, with new evidence proving his innocence he is being released and must face the fact he has been living a lie.
Directed and written by Ben Bovington-Key
Produced by Harry Green, Ben Mickshik and Hugo Nicholson
I Called You
Home alone after a night out, Sammy finds signs of an intruder and must convince the Police she is in danger. But should they believe her?
Directed by Jane Moriarty
Written by Bernice Pike
Produced by Megan Smith and Charlotte Howley
Sister Wives
Two young women live in a strict, fundamentalist, polygamous society in 2003 Utah find themselves bound to one another, under the same roof, in the same marriage, as they develop scary, new, exciting feelings for each other.
Directed and written by Louisa Connolly-Burnham
Produced by Louisa Connolly-Burnham and Augusta Woods
Safe
Anne an office cleaner, finishes work late one evening to be pursued and harassed by a man at the bus stop.
Written and directed by Debbie Howard
Produced by Rachel Robey
Enduring Spirit Shorts
A series of films that explore stories of disability and illness in a series of creative, optimistic and challenging ways.
Us and In Between
Two long-lost lovers in their 80s, Agnes and Eddie, reignite their flame against all odds with hilarious and touching consequences.
Directed and written by Katia Shannon
Produced by Gareth Brown, Amanda Dorsett and Thomas Wightman
Country: UK
Fly Free
Eighty year old Mary blows her life savings on a sports car but can she convince her controlling daughter, Fiona, to fly free...?
Directed and written by Ann Hawker
Produced by Shelagh McLeod
Country: UK
Ecstasy
A tale of a disabled father with Parkinson's disease, and his son’s crazy attempt to buy drugs so the Dad can dance with his wife at her birthday party, one last time. What could possibly go wrong?
Directed and written by Grant Taylor
Produced by Emily Wylie
Country: UK
The Other 90 Percent
A raw look into the life of a woman who has battled Multiple Sclerosis for over 40 years and was forced to face the reality that most of those afflicted will face—a reality where the disease wins.
Directed and produced by Alexandra Guillossou
Country: USA
Supporting Shorts
A selection of films specially selected to support features or events
Paper Thin
A young boy draws in his notebook to try and escape the horrors of the world around him.
Written and directed by Harry Plowden
Country: UK
Region: Sheffield
The film is supporting the feature Dinonauts
What a catch
On a late-night trip to the lake, a Victorian fisherman's evening takes a sinister turn.
Written, directed and produced by Thomas Pickering
Country: UK
Region: Sheffield
The film is supporting the feature Home Sweet Home: Where Evil Lives
Youthful Spirit Shorts
A selection of films from students, supported by Screen Yorkshire's Connected Campus scheme