Life is precious. Death is inevitable. It’s what we do with our time that makes the difference. Life and Death short film programme at the 13th British Urban Film Festival.
The exploration of those living with mental health issues, human responses to societal changes such as gentrification and the normality of dysfunctional family structures makes for a riveting screening of 13 short films exploring themes of life, death, dysfunctional families, and personal trauma.
The Fox and The Rabbit (dir. Garry Crystal)
Francis Henry runs his family’s century-old tailors and seems to be doing everything he can to bring about its downfall. In the evening, he visits his unwell father and taunts him with news of the declining business.
Cla’am (dir. Nathaniel Martello-White)
A dark, surreal comedy about a local man who becomes convinced that a vast conspiracy is behind the impossibly rapid gentrification in his London area. But is it all in his head, or is the truth even darker than he imagines?
To The Power of 10 (dir. Richard Kattah)
A story documenting the battle inside the mind of a sufferer of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and the effect it has on their life.
Dark Days (dir. Daryl Grizzle)
A young woman shares intimate anecdotes of her life, highlighting her daily battle with depression.
Spite (dir. Tenisha White)
The emotional journey of a mother fighting against the world to get her daughter back.
Family Reunion (dir. David Kitchen)
A close-knit, London family are mourning the loss of Uncle Bernie. The sadness is lifted, however, with plans for up-coming celebrations; a tenth birthday, Dad's sixtieth and a family reunion. As plans get under way a secret is revealed. Will it be hidden or will this family be torn apart forever?
Support (dir. Christina Ebohon-Green)
A pair of estranged siblings wrestle with the decision to give doctors permission to end the treatment of their comatose father.
Spilt (dir. Aki Omoshaybi)
Natalie (dir. Mikey Murray)
A transsexual woman travels home to her father's funeral in order to gain closure with her family.
Nowhere Yet (dir. Gabriel Bagnaschi)
A teenage boy living in a tough Edinburgh neighbourhood has to figure out how far he's willing to go to save his break-dancing crew when his best friend starts pushing for a street gang.
Johnno’s Dead (dir. Chris Shepherd)
Serving twelve years behind bars for a crime you didn't commit focuses the mind. Everything becomes crystal clear. All of the injustice poisons the soul and there's nothing left but to settle old scores.
I Was 3 (dir. Alfie Barker)
One morning Laura finds her face with the caption “Missing” in a newspaper article, it soon becomes apparent that her childhood has been a lie.
All of Me (dir. Daphne Schmon)
Viv, a talented musician, faces late stage Leukemia that threatens the life she's built in London. Her best hope is a bone marrow transplant from her estranged family, but reconnecting means confronting a difficult past.
Tickets are £12 https://www.berniegrantcentre.co.uk/see/film-life-and-death-shorts/
www.britishurbanfilmfestival.co.uk
