We at Kino Short Film are still reeling from the excitement of the first annual People’s Film Festival! If you were able to join us then you know just how amazing of an experience it was. We SOLD OUT both our Opening Night and Awards Gala, watched 44 amazing short films over the two days, listened to some amazing pitches about our filmmakers exciting next projects, networked, and drank into the wee hours at one of London’s vibe-iest arthouses.
We’d like to take a moment to thank all who attended, our amazing volunteers, our sponsors, and of course the filmmakers themselves. Congrats to all the winners!
Photos by Tristan Kassam
AWARD WINNERS
BEST PICTURE
£1000 FILM FUND GRAND PRIZE
TMI
Directed by Ita Fitzgerald.
When a mother reads her teenage son’s texts it triggers an awkward conversation which is way too much information. A humorous and touching comedy about miscommunication.
The £1000 Film Fund was awarded by popular vote from the audience. As the recipient of the £1000 Film Fund, Ita’s next project will be supported by Kino Short Film with £1000, and Festival Jurors will help Ita stretch that £1000 by acting as Executive Producers on her project.
BEST MICRO BUDGET SHORT
HEY YOU
Directed by Jared Watmuff. Produced by George Hayward.
When two men arrange a hook-up, is who’s top or bottom all they should be worried about?
Hey You exposes how, with the convenience of social media and dating apps, our hard-fought rights and freedoms can be taken for granted -- and how, for many others, that fight isn’t over.
Best Micro Budget Short was awarded by popular vote from the audience and is recognised as the best film of the festival made with a budget of under £1000. As a prize, Jared received a one-year subscription to Continuum (value $695) sponsored by BorisFX.
BEST LOW BUDGET SHORT
TMI
Directed by Ita Fitzgerald. Produced by Fiona Wright.
When a mother reads her teenage son’s texts it triggers an awkward conversation which is way too much information. A humorous and touching comedy about miscommunication.
Best Low Budget Short was awarded by popular vote from the audience and is recognised as the best film of the festival made with a budget of £1000 - £5000. As a prize, Ita received a one-year subscription to Sapphire (value $895) sponsored by BorisFX.
BEST SPONSORED SHORT
THE PLUNGE
After a night of passion Emily tells Jay that she’d like to use a strap-on. Scared of losing a girl he has a connection with, Jay reluctantly agrees.
Best Sponsored Short was awarded by popular vote from the audience and is recognised as the best film of the festival made with a budget of £1000 - £5000. As a prize, Simon received one-year subscription to the Boris FX Bundle (value $1195)
AUDIENCE AWARD
QUIET CARRIAGE
Directed by Ben S. Hyland
A man must decide whether to intervene and stop a casual commuting rule breaker, or live with a lifetime of regret. A comedy about a passive man with an overactive imagination.
The Audience Award was awarded by popular vote from the audience and is recognised as the best film of the festival made that was not included in our 9 Jury Nominees for Best Picture. As a prize, Ben got a chance to be included in the The Big Pitch for his shot at winning the Best Picture £1000 Film Fund.
JURY HONORARY AWARDS
BEST DRAMA SHORT
SAFEKEEPING
Directed by David Yorke
Leaving their dangerous home life behind, Jessica and Charlie will embark on a journey that will change their lives forever.
Best Drama Short was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, David received a one-year subscription to Mocha Pro (value $595) Sponsored by Boris FX.
BEST COMEDY SHORT
THE PLUNGE
After a night of passion Emily tells Jay that she’d like to use a strap-on. Scared of losing a girl he has a connection with, Jay reluctantly agrees.
Directed by Simon Ryninks
Best Comedy Short was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, Simon received 2 Festival Passes to the 28th Raindance Film Festival sponsored by Raindance.
BEST DIRECTOR
David Yorke, SAFEKEEPING
David Yorke is an award-winning director with over 10 years of experience in short films, music videos and broadcast television. Since graduating in 2008 he has worked as a freelancer on a variety of productions, including feature films, music videos, adverts and both corporate and promotional projects.Acquiring these skills within production he now concentrates on writing and directing his own short films and music videos.
Best Director was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, David received a 1 Year Raindance Membership, and a £1,000 Voucher redeemable on Raindance courses. Sponsored by Raindance.
BEST PERFORMANCE (DRAMA)
Vivienne Bell in TROUBLED WATERS
Viv is struggling with motherhood after the birth of her second child. Convinced there’s something wrong with her newborn, she tries to confide in her absent husband Terry, but is met with disinterest. As she rapidly finds herself questioning her sanity she turns to medication and drink to ease her through this parental dystopia.
Her health quickly deteriorates and she begins to realise just how much she is slipping through the net when she lets her frustrations out on her children. She begins to question the risk she is putting both her children, and herself, in.
Best Performance (Drama) was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, Vivienne received Free Entry into 6 UK Actor’s TweetUp Events sponsored by UK Actors TweetUp.
BEST PERFORMANCE (COMEDY)
Amit Shah in QUIET CARRIAGE
A man must decide whether to intervene and stop a casual commuting rule breaker, or live with a lifetime of regret. A comedy about a passive man with an overactive imagination.
Best Performance (Comedy) was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, Amit received Free Entry into 6 UK Actor’s TweetUp Events sponsored by UK Actors TweetUp.
BEST FIRST TIME FILMMAKER
Remi Laudat, MI O LE KU
For some young black youths growing up on a crowded London council estate, survival is key.
These young men and women are often stifled by the pressures of navigating life in seemingly hostile spaces - struggling to develop a real understanding of and connectedness to a heritage passed and dismissed by repressive, Western systems. It is in this tense, urban environment that 21 year old Jakob must cultivate his own identity and status - a battle that takes place both on the streets and within his own subconscious.
A frustrated young man, who struggles to nurture his talent for art against the harsh realities of growing up in a single parent home within a working class area, Jakob abandons his creative passions to follow the easiest perceived path presented to him: becoming a small time “shotta” (drugs dealer) and hustler. We follow him through a usual day, handling ‘business’ with his ‘friends’. Yet things quickly become more complicated, spiralling into realms unknown as visions of his African ancestry push him in the direction to reach his full potential. To become the man he is destined to be.
Best First Time Filmmaker was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, Remi received Free Submission to next year’s Kino London presents The People’s Film Festival.
BEST HORROR SHORT
RUPTURED Directed by James Mansell
Truly immerse yourself like never before.
Best Horror Short was awarded by our festival jury. As a prize, James received a Distribution Opportunity on Fun Size Horror’s next Horror Short Film Anthology. Award Sponsored by Fun Size Horror.
Check out James Mansell’s portfolio www.james-mansell.com
BEST SCI-FI SHORT
MEMORY MAN
Directed by Christopher M Armstrong
In a future where psychic abilities are outlawed, the Memory Man makes a living dealing with uncomfortable memories for other people. Until the arrival of a hostile new client, finally forces him to confront unfinished business of his own.
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
AMA
Directed by Georgie Yukiko Donovan
Filmmaker Georgie Yukiko Donovan explores the story of the Ama divers - the last of Japan's 'women of the sea' and their fight to preserve their 3,000 year old way of life.
BEST ANIMATED SHORT
THE SHADOW OF THE SUN
Directed by Ido Hartmann
7 years ago Boaz has cut all ties with his parents, brother & sister, his friends, and his previous world. The film tracks the story of his disappearance and embarks in a surreal journey into the memories he left with his family.
Check out Ido Hartmann’s portfolio www.idoharti.com and fb.me/idoharti
BEST LGBTQ SHORT
HEY YOU
Directed by Jared Watmuff
When two men arrange a hook-up, is who’s top or bottom all they should be worried about?
Hey You exposes how, with the convenience of social media and dating apps, our hard-fought rights and freedoms can be taken for granted -- and how, for many others, that fight isn’t over.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SHORT
HELENE
Directed by Mathieu Nolhier
A young woman talks about her journey with Hélène. Passion then destruction, who is really Hélène?
BEST STUDENT SHORT
BABY
Directed by Vincent D'Alesandro
Baby (Alexa Swinton), a distracted, seven-year-old girl in a cheaply stitched princess dress, spends her days in and around the food court where her mother works. Baby and Ma, now quite used to this routine, are visited by an unwanted guest who changes the course of their tranquility.
Vincent D'Alessandro is a third year BFA Filmmaking student at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE (DRAMA)
Shea Whitehead in BABY
Baby (Alexa Swinton), a distracted, seven-year-old girl in a cheaply stitched princess dress, spends her days in and around the food court where her mother works. Baby and Ma, now quite used to this routine, are visited by an unwanted guest who changes the course of their tranquility.
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE (COMEDY)
Jessica Fostekew in DON’T SELL THE TIGER
When their father dies, three sisters return to the family home to pack up his belongings. But they can't agree on the fate of one family heirloom - a mysterious bronze tiger.
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST (DRAMA)
SAFEKEEPING
Leaving their dangerous home life behind, Jessica and Charlie will embark on a journey that will change their lives forever.
Jodie Price
Charlie Price
Bobbie Pidgeon
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST (COMEDY)
THE PLUNGE
After a night of passion Emily tells Jay that she’d like to use a strap-on. Scared of losing a girl he has a connection with, Jay reluctantly agrees.
Lydia Wilson
Omar Khan
Sakuntala Ramanee
Tamsin Heatley
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Huw Brentnall, HARRY METCALF: BIG GAY MESS
In the wake of a sudden and unexpected breakup, Harry Metcalfe, a relatable bisexual idiot, has to deal not only with the emotional fallout of being newly alone, but also the social, financial, and existential horrors of being a human in his 20’s in the rural town of Norwich.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Joel Honeywell, MI O LE KU
For some young black youths growing up on a crowded London council estate, survival is key.
These young men and women are often stifled by the pressures of navigating life in seemingly hostile spaces - struggling to develop a real understanding of and connectedness to a heritage passed and dismissed by repressive, Western systems. It is in this tense, urban environment that 21 year old Jakob must cultivate his own identity and status - a battle that takes place both on the streets and within his own subconscious.
A frustrated young man, who struggles to nurture his talent for art against the harsh realities of growing up in a single parent home within a working class area, Jakob abandons his creative passions to follow the easiest perceived path presented to him: becoming a small time “shotta” (drugs dealer) and hustler. We follow him through a usual day, handling ‘business’ with his ‘friends’. Yet things quickly become more complicated, spiralling into realms unknown as visions of his African ancestry push him in the direction to reach his full potential. To become the man he is destined to be.
BEST EDITING
Tom Turner, A GLIMPSE
A blossoming relationship unfolds when two strangers have a chance encounter in a London cafe.
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Thom Robson, FROM FRAGMENTS
FROM FRAGMENTS tells the story of an elderly couple that must battle through the grips of dementia to finish the swan-song of their lifelong love.
The film explores the burden ‘love’ places on us: to compromise, to sacrifice and (most of all) to cherish.
A true multi-disciplinary collaboration between a musician, two dancers and a filmmaker. The film combines these three artforms to envisage the devastating emotional reality of dementia.
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Ruth Darling, PISTACHIO BOY
Pistachio Boy tells the story of Peter, a pistachio-obsessed newsagent cashier. After a special customer visits his shop, he finds himself caught up in fascination with the fleeting individual.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Karmjit Kalla, QUIET CARRIAGE
A man must decide whether to intervene and stop a casual commuting rule breaker, or live with a lifetime of regret. A comedy about a passive man with an overactive imagination.
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Anthony Lynch, RUPTURED
Truly immerse yourself like never before.
BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM
ABSENCE OF LIGHT by Beatrice Aliné
You can measure the light but you can’t measure the dark. In duality we see one as the opposite of the other. Yet darkness is the absence of light. And an absence is not a measurable thing. It simply does not exist.
Light protects us from our fundamental fear of the dark. But remember where there is light, there must be shadow. We live in a technological era where our dependence on energy is greater than ever before. It became an irreplaceable commodity.
So one question arises quickly. What's left to do if the sun pulls the plug on you? The answer lies within the perception of the viewer.
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
KISS ME MALIBU Directed by Mikael Arriz
Horror-comedy film about the insecurities and overthinking that TV shows, religion, culture and belief systems create in us during male-female relationships and in courtship. It makes fun of us and the roles we take in that process, without making any moral judgements. The story is narrated through a song.
This is a personal and independent project where the director also created the music for the video.
Check out Mikel Arriz’s portfolio valledelcielofilms.com & www.instagram.com/valledelcielofilms