Director Siri Rodnes presents her film about a non-conforming eight-year-old who challenges gender expectations when forced to make an Easter Bonnet with the girls. Bravely subverting convention, she also learns that the grown-up world is not quite so black and white. Nominated for best short film at the Scottish Baftas and the Berlin International Film Festival, this short from burgeoning new talent Siri Rodnes gives us a fresh and important new perspective on growing up.
When schoolgirl Leanne can’t afford a sanitary pad she lines her underwear with toilet paper and ends up bleeding in front of her class during a presentation. Leanne overcomes this humiliation with an act of rebellion - against a bully, a teacher, and against the stigma which acts as a barrier to her needs. Director Alison Piper introduces this multi award-winning short film, which has also affected policy on free sanitary protection in Scotland.
Director Sean Dunn introduces his thought provoking short, set between the recent Scottish Independence vote and the Brexit referendum. Raising questions around nationalism and identity, the story follows Irene as she struggles to find her place in the world as a mother and wife. A British Film Institute 'Pick of the Week'.
At first glance, Paul is always good for a laugh. He has a joke for every situation, or so it seems. A quirk of a catastrophic head injury, Paul's humour no longer impresses his wife, Lindsay. Film-maker Hannah Currie asks where love goes once the jokes wear thin, with this Bafta Scotland award-winning film.
Jim is an isolated ex-miner who works as a night-shift security guard facing his last day at work before retirement. He spends the night patrolling the slag heap of a former coal mine - a remnant of Scotland's industrial past. This award-winning film explores the intrinsic relationship of an individual to work and asks what is left when, at the end of a lifetime of labour, a man loses his purpose.
Johnina returns to the Isle of Lewis for her father’s funeral. However, after many years away there are long-buried secrets to be confronted. With the help of a wayward duck, Johnina exacts a revenge for past wrongs that shocks the God-fearing community of her childhood. Directed by Alison Piper and written by Julia Taudevin, this female-led film won the screenplay award at the Underwire film festival.
John is consumed by guilt after a reckless act that results in the death of his best friend, Isaac. Everyone in the town is wary of him, and Isaac’s younger brother attacks him, goaded on by his friends. It is only through reconciliation with the younger brother, however, that both he and John can process their grief and move on.
A coming-of-age drama about Andrew, an isolated 16-year-old schoolboy at a rural Scottish boarding school. Andrew is marginalised by his peers and finds comfort only in his friendship with his sympathetic teacher Mr Hepworth. Hepworth is giving Andrew extra Latin lessons and after one such lesson, Hepworth asks to photograph Andrew holding some speciality books. It may be less innocent than Hepworth makes out, but Andrew agrees to help, not knowing where it may lead. Film-maker Tom Nicoll’s exploration of grooming in public schools, played at the prestigious Palm Springs Film Festival.