From December 6th-December 8th, HollyShorts is embarking on a brand new offshoot of the critically-acclaimed festival, with the inaugural HollyShorts London! With dozens of films from all over the world on display at this new screening, it felt like the time to highlight some of the best and brightest from this, the first of hopefully many showings in the great city. So here are the top fifteen films from the first-ever HollyShorts London! There are also so many more films to enjoy, and all of them will be available on BitPix, sometime following their screening at the Festival. Be on the lookout for all the incredible submissions! Those of you who are in or around London can also check things out in person from December 6th-8th at the Curzon Soho Theater.
My Week With Maisy – Comedy legend Joanna Lumley stars in a film that is anything but funny, and that definitely made me cry. Starring alongside Myanna Buring, Lumley plays Emily Foster, a recently diagnosed cancer patient who is just starting their first round of chemotherapy. She is joined by Maisy, a young child who is now a veteran of the treatment, and the two strike up an unlikely friendship during their treatment sessions. It’s an emotionally powerful and engrossing story, with writer Mark Oxtoby and director Mika Simmons creating a beautiful piece of art with this film.
Original Skin – Writer Eve Hedderwick Turner and director Mdhamiri A. Nkemi deliver on an incredible story that blends alternate reality with the very real struggles of queer communities in this film that sees people who engage in sex swap bodies. Sorcha Groundsell and Olive Gray star as two women who undergo this change, as Bea (originally Groundsell) struggle with her identity as a queer woman in a deeply religious community. At a club, she meets Lexi (originally Gray), and after their sexual encounter, it’s Bea (now Gray) that has to go to her friends and family with this obvious revelation. It’s a touching tale of identity and how it can change perception, either complicating your struggle, making you feel free and comfortable in this version of you, and likely a bit of both.
Bill – Deana Taheri writes and stars in this film, directed by Emily Dhue, that sees her work (kind of) alongside Yianni Sines, and sees Taheri as Lillith, a downtrodden wife whose husband is just honestly a piece of trash, belittling her and shaming her for her looks and habits until Lillith takes matters into her own hands, and instead turns the table on her husband in a way that is very dark, but also deeply funny.
Three Things We Won’t Talk About – Jessamine-Bliss Bell and Max Rinehart star in this Jessie Craig Roche film that sees Bell playing an unnamed woman who is reflecting on several choices in her life that exemplify the relationship with her boyfriend, and how she’s compromised herself for the sake of a man that doesn’t seem willing to do the same. These quick looks into her life see her realize that her relationship isn’t what she thinks it is, and those realizations bring everything to a head for her mentally. It’s a challenging watch, but one that is well worth it for the message it relays.
Sister Wives – Mia McKenna-Bruce, Michael Fox and Louisa Connolly-Burnham (who also writes and directs this film) star in this beautiful film about love, its complications, and how it can present itself in so many different ways. This film does a lot of things really well as it shows the polygamous lifestyle of certain religious faiths, and how they can completely change a dynamic. It also does a fantastic job of distorting time a bit, as it’s hard to tell what era this film is in for a good portion of it, until it leans into the time frame it establishes itself in. Kaidence, the wife of Jeremiah, is informed that he’s been convinced to take a second wife into their home, as she’s been unable to give them children. So in comes Gaililee, who is younger and seemingly more fertile, being brought in as the kind of replacement for her in the life of herself and her husband. But as time passes and the two women spend more time with one another, especially when their husband goes away for religious work, they find themselves building a bond that goes far beyond what they expected. It’s a beautiful film, full of hope and light and love and determination in ways that were very unexpected but very welcomed. Connolly-Burnham should really be applauded for bringing something like this to life.
Wild Animal – Beth Park’s film that focuses on the struggle of new mothers dealing with postpartum psychological disorders (in this case psychosis) is a hell of a ride as we see Mallory (Charlotte Riley) find a baby, abandoned on the walkway of a remote dam. In an effort to help the child, Mallory goes through a series of trials to find the person who discarded the newborn and make sure the baby is safe. That trail leads to a lot of revelations, discoveries and troublesome issues for Mallory as reality begins to set in.
Under The Blue – Steph Parry and Ed White star in this film that was co-written and co-directed by James Curle and Linda Ludwig that focuses on the trials and tribulations of the police force. PC Morgan, an overworked and overstressed officer, finds her lunch break interrupted by a crime that had occurred at the shop in which she was trying to find something to eat, only to find herself locked into what she believes is a petty crime, that only gets more complex as time goes on. It’s an interesting and gripping plot that really builds tension without unnecessary escalation, with the cast doing an excellent job in their roles.
Twenty – This Jason Hogan (credited online as Jason Imlach) film is a fascinating look at the struggles of a young dancer who is attempting to live her dream as she’s asked to try out for a big opportunity, even as her life begins to fall apart around her. Finding herself without a place to say and attempting to find friends while balancing the biggest opportunity of her life, Emily (Lydia Brayshaw) does her best to stay positive, dedicated and precise, even through all the obstacles in her way. It’s a gorgeous, quiet film that really delivers on acting through movement and expression in a way that is incredibly captivating.
Gardening – Directed by Sarah Beeby, with the story crafted by Beeby and Louisa Wood, who also wrote the film. A visually and stunning film, Gardening is a beautiful animated piece that explores healing in the aftermath of sexual assault. The film works hard, and succeeds, at giving a voice to victims of sexual assault, their thought processes, how both perpetrators and survivors are treated and the impact that treatment has. The film puts a spotlight on communication in a very unique way, and examines how consent can be ignored or missed, and what kind of conversations are necessary to fix what’s been damaged. The film does a fantastic job of exploring these themes, with the talented voice cast of Evanna Lynch, Speech Debelle, Chetna Pandya, Freddie Fox, Simon McBurney and Ellen Thomas all combining to bring this incredibly important film to life.
Calf – Jamie O’Rourke’s dark and powerful film is brought to life by a great cast of Isabelle Connolly, Kate Nic Chonaonaigh and Stephen Hogan and focuses on young Cait, the daughter of a farmer, who stumbles upon a mechanical accident that leaves her with a difficult choice, the context for its difficulty being slowly revealed as the film goes on. It’s a brutal but impactful layer to the film that really adds so much to it, and it’s storytelling done in the best way, allowing the viewer to see, build the world that is unfurling around them, and then show it in all it’s dark glory, forcing the viewer to reckon with the lives being portrayed on-screen.
Clodagh – This Portia A. Buckley film stars Bríd Ní Neachtain and Katelyn Rose Downey, two Irish actors who work incredibly well together, with the former playing Mrs. Kelly, the housemaid for the local priest and the head of the county’s dance academy, who finds a rare, special talent in Clodagh (Downey). As Mrs. Kelly finds out some disappointing information about her new star student’s ability to stay under her tutelage, the deeply religious woman must make an important decision that could test her morality. Fantastic acting work by both actresses, bringing a lot of emotion and tension to what is, on the grand scheme, a small story, but one that is almost the whole world of their characters.
Empty Your Pockets – Tara Aghdashloo’s film about an airport security officer is an interesting and unique slice of life story, as Kiarash Dadgar stars as Hassan, who is just looking to keep his job, follow the rules and make a living in airport security as he deals with several passengers, all of them with their own needs and quirks. As he attempts to navigate both handling passengers and the people he works with, he attempts to find his place in an occupation rife with politics, shady practices and unruly people. It’s a really interesting film, with a great cast and a story that is rarely told, especially in this fashion, making it a brilliant look into a seemingly ordinary life, but done in a wholly original way.
Saint Vassily – Masha Egieva’s film about a Russian priest and his conflict with a KGB agent who is attempting to locate his fellow religious figure, it stars Michael Shaeffer and Billy Gunnion as two people on opposing sides; one, an agent of the regime looking to root out those who don’t stick to the Russian doctrine, and a man of faith looking to help guide his lost friend back into the light of the Lord.
A film by Masha Egieva, this film stars Michael Shaeffer and Billy Gunnion and focuses on a Russian priest, who in looking to help a fellow member of his faith and occupation, finds himself of the opposing side to a KGB agent who is looking to root out impropriety in the Russian church. It’s a powerful display of faith, loyalty, and of attempting to do what’s right for those who you know have good in their hearts.
Anuja – Adam J. Graves tells the incredible story of Anuja (Sadja Pathan), a nine year-old who quits school to work with her sister in a clothing factory, only for it to be discovered that she’s a math savant, showing incredible abilities that others want to help blossom while others try to use to their advantage. Given the choice to leave her sister to go to a boarding school to help her intelligence flourish or stay at home and help, the new paths that present themselves begin to define how life will be for them both after its made. It’s a touching, occasionally fun and incredibly well put together film that deserves every bit of praise its gotten.
Anaïs – A film that made a lot of waves earlier this year, Anaïs is the story of the titular person, Anaïs Quemener, a long-distance runner, cancer survivor and healthcare worker who has dedicated her life to helping others. In the film, director Hélène Hadjiyianni does an excellent job of showing Anaïs both in motion and during the times she stops to take a breath, in both the real and the metaphorical sense. It’s a beautiful, inspiring film that is full of heart, determination and the spirit of following your passion, regardless of what obstacles may be put in front of you.
While these are some of the top films from this opening festival in London, there are so many more that are well worth the time. Check back for more news about the festival, including awards and any other announcements! We’ll be back soon with more from the best in short films!
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