IFFW | 2021
Online | December 3rd - 10th
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It's The International Film Festival of Wales's fourteenth year and we have an amazing line up!
The Festival aims to promote and support independent filmmaking, providing opportunities for independent filmmakers to have their films screened at great red carpet-style venues to a passionate audience of film professionals, film students, journalists and the general public.
There are a number of awards up for grabs at the Festival, including the prestigious Welsh Dragon Award for Achievement in Film on a Low Budget and the new Best Phone Film Award which was introduced to encourage creativity in these crazy times.
These films screened online from the 3rd through the 10th of December.
The Official Selection
The Daffodil List
The Film Festival Guild Daffodil List is for screenplays of outstanding quality.
These pieces are up for both the title of Best Screenplay as well as four
Runners-Up positions.
Winners will be announced the weekend of December 10th
Feature Films
Lightships
(102m)
Director & Writer: John Harrigan
Producers: Bill Houston, Lucy Harrigan & John Harrigan
Cast: Lois Temel, Lucy Harrigan, Usifu Jalloh, David Allard, Tereza Kamenicka, Ethan-James Harrigan, John Harrigan,
Josephine Arden & Carrie Crookall
Eve awakes in an unstaffed medical facility, awaiting diagnosis for a mystery illness. With no recollection of how, why or when she was admitted, she joins a group of outcast patients, who are attempting to recall what takes place during treatment inside a terrifying room known as the hole - a psychoactive space where testing takes place and encoded instructions are administered that each patient must follow if they wish to heal.
They cannot leave the locked down facility, for fear of what their sickness will unleash upon their families and the world beyond.
The Art of Love
(106m)
Director: Philippe Weibel
Writers: Klara Kallis & Philippe Weibel
Producers: Jennifer Lane, Cornel Moesli & Philippe Weibel
Cast: Alexandra Gilbreath, Oliver Walker, Kenneth Collard, Jasmine Blackborrow, Jeremy Swift & Michelle Greenidge
Eva is in her mid-50s and is stuck in a rut. Her marriage has lost all passion and she begins to write reviews for sex-toy start-up 'The Art of Love', hoping the extra cash will fund a holiday that could rekindle the spark. Adam, 34, earns his living as the face of the company, posing as Instagram's answer to Casanova. When the two are assigned a new project by their boss, Hector, they are less than enthusiastic about each other. But for the project to work, they need to leave their comfort zones, confront their loneliness and examine what they really want.
The Mother, the Son, the Rat, and the Gun
(115m)
Director: Philip Larsen
Writers: Philip Larsen & Patrick Kleven
Producers: Philip Larsen, Celina Øier, Arnar Benjamín Kristjánsson & Genevieve Sulway
Cast: Mary Conlon, Oliver Devoti & Chabris Napier-Lawrence
A patriarch is shot. His widow inherits the family business. It's not easy.
Short Films
2 Down
(Sam Farage, 7m)
A journey of a lonely backpacker in a vast, dreamlike landscape of a never-ending mountain range. The traveller seems to be completely lost in thought. Painful memories start to arise from the past and she is forced to dive into them. She must fight the demons of guilt, blame and sorrow within in order to break free from this mental dissonance and find forgiveness, acceptance and gratitude to replace them.
652 miles = 0
(or the wonderful convenience of videocalling)
(Giulio Gobbetti, 4m)
During a time of quarantine, global distances contract. The 652 miles separating the director’s London home from his grandmother in Italy are not any different than the distance between her and her neighbours. As most interpersonal relationships are brought into the online world, there is no better opportunity to teach her remotely how to do video-calls. At times funny, at times deadly serious, 652 miles = 0 is a touching account of a familiar relationship. It is a film about family, connection, and belonging, a film that lives neither in Italy nor in the UK, but somewhere in between.
Aire
(Marc Lesperut, 2m)
An emotional phone call of a nurse to her mother sets the tone of this short moving piece dedicated to all health workers fighting against corona virus all over the world.
Andreas Wolff - Solo
(Sion R. Joseph, 7m)
Welsh Music Video
Angel
(Shannon Greer & Carl Quinn, 3m)
Angel and Jordan are two friends without a care in the world but Angel’s mother disapproves of them playing together. Will their friendship endure?
Cysylltiad (Connection)
(Mared Rees, 12m)
Eleri has been caring for her mum, Luned, since she was a child. But both have become so invested in their reversed roles of parent and child, that they’ve lost sight of one another and the true connection between them.
Druids
(Shwan Nostrapour, 14m)
Journey back through the mysterious mists of time on an adventure with three bungling druids, a mischievous squirrel and a psychedelic chicken as they try to restore the balance of nature after a bizarre astrological event threatens to change their world forever.
Generation 328
(Veranika Nikanava, 19m)
A group of mothers defy Europe’s last dictatorship, fighting to free their children from draconian sentences in brutal Belarusian prisons.
HIDE
(Daniel Benjamin Gray, 11m)
Two brothers entertain themselves with a joyous game of hide and seek while their parents cook dinner. As one boy counts, the other quickly hides in a small cabinet full of glasses, stubbornly determined to win. Seconds pass… then minutes… years… and decades. Every so often the boy peeks out of the sideboard. What he sees is strange and unfamiliar. With each glance, everything and everyone he once knew changes and fades, until he is left alone.
Just Friends
(Marc Lesperut, 3m)
Sometimes the thrill when starting a new relationship leads to a downfall of irrespressible emotions. Our main character leaves an intimate voice message while confronting her doubts. She is looking for closure without no one else’s approval. She is now ready to fly alone.
Louder Is Not Always Clearer
(Toby Cameron, 17m)
A dinner party is a chance to unwind and relax for most, but for Jonny, who is Deaf, it’s a constant struggle to keep up with his friends and their ever-changing conversations.
Disinterested and tired of misunderstandings, Jonny leaves a dinner party to take the viewer on an audio-visual, time-traveling adventure, offering up moments from his life where his deafness has landed him in sticky situations.
Nan
(Matt Allen, 10m)
I'm a wedding videographer, my Nan was a registrar for the majority of her working life. So, I sat down with her one afternoon, asked her some questions about her career, her thoughts on marriage itself, and for a retelling of some standout memories.
Never Over - Harry Keyworth
(Scott Chalmers, 4m)
Every life faces barriers and challenges that must be overcome in order to keep doing what we love. It is this vision that guides the narrative of this video - an extended metaphor of fighting for what, and who we believe in.
oly. - "Pastlife"
(Katarzyna Sawicka, 4m)
According to the science of quantum physics, reality does not exist until it is observed. Witnesses to every human's life are other people and objects we surround ourselves with. When we're gone, the only trace of us is left within them.
Outside the Box
(Ross Mackenzie, 9m)
An office worker has an unforgettable day after discovering an intriguing box in the store cupboard.
(PAUSE)
(Marcelo Ignacio Lagreze, 2m)
The city was quiet and hauntingly beautiful. Peace flooded on the places that before, had noisy crowds. We were experiencing the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the environment on the subway, was not different. A place that used to be flooded with people, became into an empty place that invited us to a parenthesis, a PAUSE to think and reflect...
Please Don’t Stand Up When Room Is In Motion
(Josh Bennett, 45m)
'Please Don't Stand Up When Room Is In Motion' uncovers Ali (Novo Amor)'s journey over the production of his Welsh Music Prize-nominated album ‘Cannot Be, Whatsoever’. The title—plucked from the album’s artwork—refers to the idea of embracing the mess, chaos and clutter that surrounds the creative process of writing an album; not letting go and seeing where the path takes you.
Portrait
(Keir Siewert 13m)
Based on real accounts, a model takes matters into her own hands
to expose a serial predator in the photography world.
Prosperina - Boot
(Zach F Evans, 4m)
Blinded by popcorn media, this music video tells the tale of a young impressionable child, stopping through life with blissful ignorance, only for the illusion to be shattered by an unlikely visitor.
Shiney
(Paul Holbrook, 15m)
Two creative but impressionable kids hatch a plan to purchase their first packet of cigarettes, whilst clinging on to their prized possession; an impossible-to-get shiny gold football sticker.
Swansea Seagulls
(Elaine Artemieff, 3m)
A short mockumentary about the Welsh seagulls.
Take Control
(Luke Walters, 15m)
Student Bethany is thrust into a difficult situation after boyfriend Aaron finds out her future plans which then leads to an altercation that will change her life forever.
The Conversation
(Daniel Paida Larsen, 11m)
Benjamin has run away to a rural town in hope of getting away from the questions that torments him, his battle with his personal faith and doubt. Then all of sudden he starts meeting people that seemingly knows everything about him, even more than he knows himself.
The Dreams Of Lonely People
(Marek Leszczewski, 24m)
After twenty years in prison, a man returns to his family home to die alone. A mysterious figure from the magical world of nature begins to appear in his surroundings. Getting to know her could be the best time of his life. What are the real consequences of this meeting?
The Important Day
(Olesia Aleinikova, 20m)
Misha is an unusual child. They say “the head in clouds” about such people. A violin virtuoso, he does not just play music, he sees it. Every sound, every note is a colour. The melody is a colourful pattern. Misha perceives the world delicately, but cannot get along with agemates. They dislike this strange timid guy, especially because the adults emphasize his talent and praise him. He is a genius and a future star for the teacher but a sissy for the boys.
The Removal
(Leonardo D'Andrea, 11m)
Burdened by the memories of a life full of pain, trauma and regret, Victor undergoes a surreal medical procedure that promises to rid the patient of any negative feeling.
Unnecessary Things
(Dmytro Lisenbart, 14m)
Could a robot adopt a pet in the near future? – Sure, why not. – Could this pet be a human? – Well, it could be possible in the future. – Could they become friends? – Probably yes. - …And what would become of the robot afterwards? – Listen, to hell with your questions!
The Awards
2021
Best Feature Film
Lightships
The Art of Love
*The Mother, the Son, the Rat, and the Gun*
Best Short Film
652 miles = 0 (or the wonderful convenience of videocalling)
Aire
Andreas Wolff - Solo (Official Music Video)
Connection
Druids
Just Friends
Louder Is Not Always Clearer
Nan
Never Over - Harry Keyworth
oly. - "Pastlife"
(PAUSE)
Please Don’t Stand Up When Room Is In Motion
Prosperina - Boot
Shiney
Swansea seagulls
Take Control
The Conversation
The Dreams Of Lonely People
*The Important Day*
The Removal
Unnecessary things
Best Student Film
Swansea seagulls
*The Dreams Of Lonely People*
The Removal
Best Music Video
Andreas Wolff - Solo
Never Over - Harry Keyworth
oly. - "Pastlife"
*Prosperina - Boot*
Best Cinematography
*Just Friends*
Please Don’t Stand Up When Room Is In Motion
The Dreams Of Lonely People
Best Sound Design
*Louder Is Not Always Clearer*
The Removal
Unnecessary things
Best Director
Olesia Aleinikova (The Important Day)
Paul Holbrook (Shiney)
*Philip Larsen (The Mother, the Son, the Rat, and the Gun)*
Best Actor
Jonny Cotsen (Louder is Not Always Clearer)
Oliver Walker (The Art of Love)
*Thomas Ottersen (The Conversation)*
Best Actress
*Alexandra Gilbreath (The Art of Love)*
Emma Falcon (Take Control)
Lois Temel (Lightships)
Best Supporting Actor
*Bruce Jones (Shiney)*
Lars Reynert Olsen (The Conversation)
Ross Leyshon (Take Control)
Best Supporting Actress
Chabris Napier-Lawrence (The Mother, the Son, the Rat, and the Gun)
Grace Gilbert (The Removal)
*Sian Reese-Williams (Cysylltiad/Connection)*
Welsh Dragon Award
Cysylltiad (Connection)
*Never Over - Harry Keyworth*
oly. - "Pastlife"
Rising Star Award
*Josh Bennett (Director of Please Don’t Stand Up When Room Is In Motion)*
Marek Leszczewski (Director of The Dreams of Lonely People)
Shwan Nostrapour (Director of Druids)
Best Screenplay
Face Painters (written by Giovanni Sanseviero)
LEGENDS (written by Danny Alex)
The Greek Passage (written by Lorenzo Guarnieri)
The Imbalance (written by Naomi Lisner)
*The Split (written by Nicola Green)*
.