The Norwich Film Festival are delighted to announce the Official Selection for 2016.
Above The Fold (Josh Trett, UK, 15m)
A journalist working for a tabloid paper poses a threat to a newly created political party. When the head of the party is confronted by the journalist, he puts a call out to silence him once and for all.
All The World’s A Stage (Hannes Rall, Germany, 2m)
An animated adaptation of the famous Shakespeare poem "All The World's A Stage" narrated by the renowned Shakespeare actor and director Samuel West. The German Film Assessment Board Wiesbaden (FBW) has awarded its highest distinction "Seal of Approval: Highly Recommended" and says: "With ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE Hannes Rall has fully succeeded in creating a congenial adaptation of one of the most famous monologues from the history of theatre. A pleasure for eye and ear!"
Arcade (Megan Chambers, Australia, 10m)
Maggie is stuck in a dead-end job, supervising old games in a run-down arcade. She's an avid reader of how-to books, but struggles to put theory into action. On a fateful bus trip she meets Ferdinand, a free-spirited and eccentric retiree, who teaches her that there's no how-to book for life.
Blue Streets (Vincent Jaramillo, USA, 10m)
Blue Streets is a short documentary focused on post-Katrina street musicians struggling to keep the “traditions of New Orleans alive.” Set against the backdrop of the French Quarter to the 9th Ward, people from diverse backgrounds share the struggles and hopes of being a successful musician on Bourbon Street. Native residents, professional musicians, struggling performers, and international immigrants reflect on the revitalization of the NoLa music scene, survival, art, and life. “Some people don’t know they have the blues until they hear the blues"
Break (Nicholas Moss, UK, 21m)
An elderly couple befriend a young family following a shaky encounter. This is a deeply affecting and beautiful drama starring multi award winning, and twice Oscar nominated actor Sir John Hurt, which deals with difficult and pertinent issues. Not without wry humour, this uniquely lyrical drama is bound to move it's audience in a profound and visceral way, across all generations, as it's themes resonate equally with both young adults and those in the twilight of their lives. A wonderfully human film with a huge heart.
Breathe (James Doherty, UK, 15m)
Breathe follows Patrick (29), a bare knuckle fighting Traveller (JOHN CONNORS) who becomes increasingly concerned with his young son Francie’s femininity. The film questions how far a man is willing to defend his family name when the one threatening his legacy is his own son. Does he have the capacity to change and accept him?
Breathe (Paul Kowalski, USA, 23m)
Dr. Filip Kardel is an ambitious Polish neurosurgeon working in America, struggling to cope with the loss of his wife, Ania. As the memories of her untimely death and his neglecting her in favor of his career continue to haunt him, will he be able to escape the prison of his grief and guilt, or will it destroy him?
Busker (Trevor Hardy, UK, 1m)
A little busker gets more from a stranger than money. This lovely little stopmotion animation is from multi award winning animator, Trevor Hardy.
Cage (Pengpeng Du, China, 5m)
L
ife is liberty in a CAGE. CAGE represents a situation that is filled with a lot of constraints, or a habit or an addiction that is hard to get rid of. This project is to present a Chinese cultural and traditional visual style to audiences. On the other hand, CAGE tries to inspire them to recall their memory and consider what is the meaning of life to them individually.
Charlie Cloudhead (Rupert Cresswell, UK, 8m)
A risk averse man bottles up his problems into a cloud floating permanently above his head. A tense birthday dinner with his wife finally forces him to confront his issues - with spectacular results.
Contempt (Esmée Walker, UK, 6m)
As a Muslim girl takes photos in picturesque locations, she is unable to avoid the hate spread by ignorance.
Däwit (David Jansen, Germany, 15m)
Däwit is rescued from his violent father and grows up far away from his family among wolves.
Eddie (John Lynch, UK, 15m)
Alone in an underground facility deep below the mountains, a tired researcher performs endless tests on Eddie, his desperate, mute test subject. With no response from his employers, he juggles running the facility and keeping his sanity whilst all the while doing his best to ignore the ever-growing list of questions in the back of his mind.
Just what is wrong with Eddie anyway? How long does he have to stay down there? And why won’t his employer return his messages? A suspense drama with a black comic streak, dealing with the terrifying and extraordinary in a uniquely British way – not so much 'guns blazing' as 'putting the kettle on, and pretending none of this is happening'
Egg (Alice Trueman, UK, 5m)
‘Egg’ is an absurd comedy about friendship and expecting the unexpected. Ivy and Margaret meet for tea, same time, same place, everyday. But today Ivy has some important news
Ernest (Henning M. Lederer, Germany, 1m)
Please welcome Ernest!
Ferguson, Missouri (James A. Armstrong, UK, 1m)
'Ferguson, Missouri' is a one-minute film highlighting the social unrest after the death of Michael Brown in 2014. It focusses on the Police mishandling and how social media brought the local community together in protest.
Fourfathers (Joe Skillington, UK, 2m)
Four generations of the same family tell us what makes a good father and what it means to be a good son. Duke, Sam, Paul and Barry may have the same blood but, with a 75 year age gap, do they hold the same opinions?
Holy Thursday (Moin Hussain, UK, 5m)
15-year-old paperboy Jack has just been told he no longer has a job. Alone, disengaged and naive he sets across the flatlands of Eastern England on a morning that could define the rest of his life. He meets Robin, a friendly and charismatic stranger labouring at the roadside, but as they bond and guards are dropped, Robin's true intentions come to the fore. As Jack embarks on his final paper-round, we begin to understand who he is, where he has come from and where his future may lie.
If The Cuckoo Don’t Crow (Steve Kirby, UK, 2m)
"If the cuckoo don’t crow, then you know there’s wind coming…" Brian from Melton recounts how his mother, Doris, was the woman who famously predicted the October 1987 hurricane and phoned the BBC, but was told not to be so daft. This very short animation was created in response to a recording of Brian’s phone-in to a Suffolk local radio show hosted by Nick Pandolfi in 2012.
Instructions for Singing (Adrián Suarez, Colombia, 1m)
A particular interpretation of Instruction for singing poem by Julio Cortázar with a plastic language.
The Journey of a Stateless Man (Daniel Ali, UK, 7m)
'The Journey Of A Stateless Man', it is about an individual's struggle to find asylum, told against the backdrop of Calais' infamous Jungle refugee camp and surrounding areas. Talal journeys from Kuwait in search of finding a country that will accept him and offer safe haven for him and his family.
Juggler (Phil Dunn, UK, 4m)
A short documentary looking at the life of William - a street performer working in the heart of Chelsea, London.
The King (Frederic Casella, UK, 13m)
An ambitious kid sets up his first drug deal, but his plans are derailed by a chance encounter with a storytelling stranger in a launderette.
The Land Of Exodus (Skinner Myers, USA, 11m)
Obed, a Mexican street kid with hopes of making it to America, leads a recently kidnapped American teenager to the Mexico/United States border.
Last Base (Aslak Danbolt, UK, 15m)
Joachim is retiring from base-jumping to become a father for the first time, but first he goes on one last adventure with his best-friend Øyvind. When a storm approaches their friendship is put to the test; Øyvind want’s to turn back, but Joachim will apparently stop at nothing to pull off his very last jump.
Love at First Light (Caroline Grace-Cassidy, Ireland, 1m)
The morning after the night before reveals itself.
Lucky Chicken (Gulliver Moore, UK, 12m)
Lucky Chicken by Matthew Stallworthy is an IdeasTap award winning script telling the story of a down on his luck Baker whose fortunes are turned around when a magic chicken stumbles into his shop, laying eggs that help the baker's cakes become the talk of the town... And attract the attention of the jealous butcher over the road...
Manoman (Simon Cartwright, UK, 11m)
Glen is barely a man. In a desperate attempt to tap into his masculinity he attends a primal scream therapy session, surrounded by wailing men he cannot even make a sound. When another member of the class pushes Glen too far he finally lets something out- a miniature version of himself which does whatever it wants, regardless of the consequences.
Mary No More (Joshua Carver, UK, 24m)
A contemplative coming of age drama. With her grandmother's impending death, 18 year old Mary finds it difficult to connect, instead growing ever closer to her cousin Cameron. "‘Mary No More’ is an eloquently composed character study, with fine acting and gentle pacing, a quietly challenging meditation on maturity and the spell of time." - Culturedarm.com
Mast Qalandar (Divij Roopchand, UK, 15m)
Montek wants to do something for his thirteenth birthday. If he tells his mother what, she won't let him.
A Monster Called Charles (Richard P. Wilson, UK, 16m)
The story of a Boy who lives in a caravan park with his Mother, and a Monster who lives in a nearby woods...
The Mother (Paolo Monico, USA, 12m)
When a hardened widow receives an unexpected visit, she is given the chance to shed light on her husband's death
Mu Arae C (Jorju Latorre, Spain, 1m)
He watches her everyday from a distance, but He still find it hard to understand what he sees.
Muck (Sonya Quayle, UK, 16m)
Murray and Babs live on an isolated farm. Their sheep graze the surrounding wind-bleached moors. They have a long, if not completely happy marriage, which 21 years ago produced Billy.
Billy is autistic and it’s the 1950s. To most people Billy is a child trapped in a man’s body. Murray, like the doctors, doesn’t really understand him. While Billy can help with manual jobs, he requires regular attention. For Murray, the time has come for Billy to move on. Babs is aghast and Billy grows anxious at the prospect of leaving the farm, family and pet pig he is so attached to. As Murray prepares the pig to go to market, a horrific incident forces Babs into a terrible life changing choice – husband or son.
Murmur (Aurora Fernley, UK, 8m)
A young woman passes the border of safety, but can she convince another to join her break for freedom?
Obscurum (Frederic Garçon, Belgium, 9m)
A young woman awaits the outcome of a surgical procedure, performed in an attempt to make her look 'normal'.
Panic Attack! (Eileen O’Meara, USA, 4m)
You know the nagging thoughts that start with "did I leave the coffee on?" and turn in to "what if I give birth to Satan's baby?" This hand-drawn animation explores anxiety, obsession, and one woman’s slippery hold on reality.
Pep Mask (William Marler, UK, 5m)
Physiotherapy is a daily task for the director/writer of this film and although second nature to him; it was something he hated to do as a child. This film, explores patterns, shapes, lines, and colours - alongside his physiotherapy routine and how important this had become for his life.
Pint Puller (Jake Balfour-Lynn, UK, 1m)
A man walks into a bar..
The Present (Jacob Frey, Germany, 5m)
Jake spends most of his time playing videogames indoors until his mum decides to give him a present.
Seven Days a Week (Tal Amiran, UK, 10m)
For the last 36 years, Paul has opened his North London paper stall at 4.40am, seven days a week, every week of the year. Now 66, and with his time selling papers nearing an end, Paul reflects on his life in the paper booth and what the future holds for the stall he inherited from his father.
Signs of Silence (R. M. Moses, UK, 20m)
Born into a world of silence, Eli finds himself not able to communicate well with people. Mainly because not everyone understands sign language. This has impacted his self-esteem and confidence. This is Eli's story of how difficult life can be when you aren't being heard.
A Six and Two Threes (Andy Berriman, UK, 13m)
A Six and Two Threes is a short film about two boys from different sides of the tracks who meet when one goes in search of his real father. Shot on location in Stockton on Tees, the film was part of the Creative England iShorts 2 scheme.
Smog (Rafael Gibbons, UK, 13m)
A short fantasy film with an environmental message. In London a giant smog cloud has blocked out the sun. So schoolgirl Molly and her grandfather come up with a plan to bring the sunshine back.
Stereotype (Jordan McGibney, UK, 11m)
A bullied teenage boy journeys into the night wanting to avenge his brothers death, only to find himself locked in a moral dilemma that will change his life forever.
Strange Weather (Tom Shrapnel, UK, 19m)
Two people witness a natural phenomenon that reawakens their senses and draws their empty lives together.
Test Drive (Ryan Enever, UK, 1m)
How hard is it to sell a car these days? One man shows that it's just a matter of a little persuasion, and the right selling technique to clinch that final sale.
Three Minute Warning (Iqbal Mohammed, UK, 12m)
In Palestine, a 14 year old girl called Mariam cares for her disabled mother. One night, an Israeli "knock-on-roof" bomb is dropped onto their building allowing them only three minutes to escape before it is demolished. This emotional 11 minute drama depicts the reality of civilians in Gaza, Palestine.
Today Is the Day (Betsy H. Hershey, USA, 16m)
Deep in Mexico, Carlos, an indigenous Tarahumara who left his community to be trained as a nurse, has returned to his homeland to try to save babies and mothers who have been dying at a high rate during childbirth. These deaths (far too common in indigenous groups worldwide) further threaten an already dwindling population and its dying culture.
Whisper (Jo Lewis, UK, 11m)
A young woman travels to a remote beachside cabin in an attempt to finally quit her heroin habit. While there she accidentally sets in motion a chain of sinister events. Hauntingly beautiful, Whisper is a modern day ghost story that will keep you gripped from start to spine-chilling finish.
wHole (V. Klinger & R. Banning, Germany, 8m)
A relationship is put to the test, as a husband makes a drastic sacrifice for his wife.
You Are Whole (Laura Spini, UK, 16m)
Norman Pugg arrives in a sleepy British seaside town with a mission: to spread the word of The Children of the Mountain of the Star. However it seems that the local residents may have bigger problems than battling their spiritual confusions as Norman discovers a number of his prospective clients dismembered in their own homes. Mistaken for the serial killer and hounded by the police, Norman must persevere in order to bring wellbeing and clarity to a world where everything has stopped making sense.