BEST UK SHORT
The breeding ground for the most important new filmmakers, short film is an incredibly vibrant and vivid area of filmmaking, seemingly becoming more exciting and respected on its own terms year on year; it boasts a far higher glass ceiling in terms of gender and ethnic diversity than the world of feature films. Here we recognise a powerful British voice working in short form, challenging the well-trodden cliché that a short film is somehow flimsier than a feature.
13
A London-based worker becomes increasingly isolated and falls into a psychological tailspin as he struggles to make a connection with the world at large.
Natasja Maria Fourie
Natasja Fourie is an acclaimed international photographer, director and award-winning screenwriter. Fourie’s feature screenplay Blood In The Water was shortlisted for the prestigious Sundance Screenwriters Lab in 2015. Her photography has been exhibited internationally at New York Photo Festival, Arles Photo Festival and Los Angeles Photo Festival amongst others.
ANGELS OF OUR PAST
Skip and his 11 years-old son Adam’s solitary life in hiding is threatened by a visitor from their past. What follows forces Adam to make a choice, one that will shape his life forever.
Angels Of Our Past is having its World Premiere as part of EEFF 2018.
Max Law
Max Law has produced, written and shot commercials, music videos and films all over London and New York. This is his third short film.
EMKHATSINI (BETWEEN)
A woman finds herself, lost in the deserted Swazi outback when she tries to locate an elusive community leader.
Toa Stappard
Toa Stappard has directed six short films and is currently developing his first feature: an expanded version of Emkhatsini. His previous short, Goalie, won the Audience Award for Best Short Film at EEFF 2016.
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Master Of Ceremonies explores the relationship between low self-esteem and grandiosity and the harmful effects this can have on a persons mental health. As the world faces a crisis of masculinity, this piece looks at the internal workings of a young man’s mind as his false sense of identity rapidly disintegrates and he is forced to confront his own isolation.
Master of Ceremonies is having its World Premiere at EEFF 2018.
Toby Wharton
Toby is from London and trained in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He has played many lead roles on stage and screen. This is Toby’s first short film.
POMMEL
Set within the world of competitive gymnastics, Pommel is a coming-of-age drama about the tumultuous relationship between two young east Asian brothers as they compete for recognition and approval in an up coming gymnastics competition.
Paris Zarcilla
Born in London, England in 1986, originally studied 3D animation, Paris moved to directing music videos which led to commercials and national campaigns for brands and fashion houses. He is currently writing a mini series for tv which he’ll direct under digital Emmy nominated production company Refinery.
SOME SWEET OBLIVIOUS ANTIDOTE
When 13 year old Ivie starts speaking in Shakespearean verse her friends find it weird and her mother is outraged. She takes her to church to be ‘cured’ but when Ivie calls the Paster a vile toad her mother seeks the help of a psychiatrist.
Christiana Ebohon Green
Christiana is an award-winning drama director and a former mentee on Women in Film & Television’s 2015 mentoring scheme. Her credits include EastEnders, Doctors, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.
WALE
An 18 year old youth offender is trying to start his own business as a mobile mechanic. But enterprise isn’t so easy when you’re a young, black male with a criminal past.
Barnaby Blackburn
Barnaby is a Creative Director and writer. For the past 6 years, he has written and created several promos and commercials for the BBC, Nike, and Land Rover, and worked with a wide range of talent such as Idris Elba, Charles Dance, and Kenneth Cranham. Wale is his first short film.
WRENCHED
Sam and Alex are a couple on their holidays in Italy. En route to the airport to return home, they suffer a flat tyre and are forced to pull over. Stuck in the middle of nowhere at night, tensions begin to rise as Sam is adamant he can change the tyre despite not having a clue how to do so.
Wrenched is having its World Premiere as part of EEFF 2018.
Jonny Ruff
Jonny Ruff is an award-winning director based in London. He graduated from the University for the Creative Arts in 2011 with a BA in Film Production. His previous short film, Heavy Weight, was part of the BFI and British Council’s #FiveFilms4Freedom; a global LGBT campaign.