FORM-Idea

Ausgang, Sofie directed by Zoe Munlyn is a fascinating look at the mixed-race community living in Germany during the Nazis period.   The fate of black and mixed-race Germans is something which is often ignored in any depiction of the era, so the story of its central mixed-race teenager in Ausgang, Sofie is an intriguing premise.  The short film focuses primarily on her life a supporter of the Nazis regime until she finds out that the figure she adores, Hitler, is in the process of creating a society which will ultimately reject her.  What is particularly intriguing about this well directed film is that as it moves forward in time it highlights the role that black and mixed-race actors played in the German propaganda film industry.  An industry, which gave many who remained, the means by which they could survive.

Anuja is a powerful and much need look at the plight of child labour.  Sensitively directed by American philosopher turned filmmaker Adam J. Graves and set in India.   The film, made with the support of the local charity, Salaam Baalak Trust,  looks at what happens when Anuja, a precocious nine-year-old orphan, who quits school to work alongside her sister at a local garment factory. There though, a former teacher tracks her down and offers her a place at a prestigious academy.  Anuja now faces a choice, which will determine not only her future but that of her family.  With the number of child labourers growing around the world, Anjua tackles a very important issue.

Anuja | The Human Spirit | Indy Shorts Film Festival (eventive.org)

The short Fireline, highlights the role that prison labour often plays in combating the numerous wild fires plaguing America’s west coast.  Director Robin Takao D’Oench’s gripping short follows incarcerated firefighter Otto Reyes (played here beautifully by the actor Bobby Soto) who we see being refused parole and then subsequently being ordered to combat yet another uncontrolled wildfire. Throughout his ordeal Otto desperately tries to call his daughter, his only contact with the outside world.  Fireline shines a light on the little-known practice of the use of incarcerated labour in America today.  

The Final Copy of Ilon Specht which is directed by two-time Oscar® winner Ben Proudfoot, is a moving deathbed account of the unsung advertising genius who coined L’Oréal’s iconic “Because I’m Worth It” slogan in 1971, a four-word feminist manifesto that, against all odds, changed advertising forever.

With Love, Charlie is a very timely short about the cost of war on those who are forced, to fight them.  Jae, a South Korean fluent in English, found himself forced to enlist in the northern army due to his unique skill as an interpreter. Across the globe, Charlie is one of 1.5 million Americans who were drafted to fight in the Korean War against communism. The convergence of their paths on the battlefield culminates in a fateful encounter. With wars currently raging around the world, Jaren Hayman’s short skilfully illustrates the point that long after the guns are silent there will always be consequences for those who fight them.

Special Delivery is a hilarious short about a foley artist for pornography who takes her work very seriously until that is she finds herself falling in love with an actor who turns up on her door step to do some vocal dubbing.  The film highlights the fact that most pornography is not particularly interesting since there is a disconnect between our bodies and our emotions.   In Special Delivery the true passion comes from just watching these two fall in love.Director: Emily Everhard

My personal favourite is An Angel on Oxford Street.  An animated short narrated by former Doctor Who star, Christopher Eccleston, scripted by the celebrated writer Geoff Thompson and directed by Paul Shamassian.  This beautiful film charts the chance encounter between a northerner in London for a job interview and a homeless man living on the streets of city.  Warned by his mother that he would find Evil in the capital he in fact finds something altogether different. The encounter will change the central character’s life forever.  An Angel on Oxford Street, is a powerful comment on Britain’s current social landscape. The Holly Short festival skilfully illustrates how less can often be more. 

Beverly Andrews is an African American playwright, director, documentary filmmaker and performer.  A recipient of the 2017 Roland Rees playwright’s bursary and shortlisted twice for the Alfred Fagon award.  Writer and producer of film/theatre hybrid Sophia, screened at several international film festivals, winning two international awards. Sophia was originally recorded as an audio podcast and is available on Spotify as part of the Forgotten Women podcasts.  Her play about Afghanistan called Annawon’s Song, made the shortlist of the Sundance Institute’s theatre lab and premiered at London’s 2019 Vault festival and was runner up for most anticipated production of the festival.  Her play Love Bites premiered in New York’s Dream Up festival.  Awa’s Journey, funded by the Arts Council of England, was choosen by renown artist and twice Turner prize nominee, Yinka Shonibare as a guest project.   Beverly is the director of the documentary “I am Going to Make a Miracle” which has won three international awards and was bought by Sky Arts in New Zealand.  Beverly is also alumni of two Sundance Institute’s collab film directing courses and is a former immersive artist in residence to Britten Pears Arts, through the European Network of Opera Academies. And has written her first libretto for the opera, Water, the play version of Water recently premiered at the Royal Thimpu College in Bhutan.   Her first short story Bricktop has been recently published in the literary magazine, Fleas on the Dog and her short story about Ukraine has been published in 100 Subtexts magazine. She is also a contributing journalist to FORMIdea and a past contributor to NewAfrican magazine, The Middle East magazine and Inter Press Services.