Worcester Film Festival Our 2023 Officially Selected Films

A Ray of Hope: HAWFC – The Gym of Champions

Matt Colin Evans

Genre: Documentary, Short

"HAWFC (Holyhead and Anglesey Weightlifting and Fitness Centre) has produced more weightlifting medal winners than anywhere else in Wales, thanks to Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Ray Williams. However, HAWFC is more than just a medal factory."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 39m17s

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Alfons Jitterbit – Class Trip Chaos!

Mark Schlichter

Genre: Family, Coming of Age

"In a last-minute dash across town, Alfons just barely manages to catch the bus for his class trip to the Baltic Sea. In his luggage: lots of adventures, funny pranks and … disaster - his mother's clothes?! Alfons can’t believe he accidentally mixed up the suitcases, just when he was planning on showing his new classmate Leonie how cool he is. In a desperate bid to impress her - and to the astonishment of his best friends Benni and Emilia - Alfons comes up with a bright idea: he will run for class president."

Country: Germany

Language: German (English Subtitles)

Length: 1h30m

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Arabesque

Nick Archer

Genre: Drama, Thriller

"The quiet and introverted Elodie wants nothing more than to dance, and yet there are those who seek to take her gift and use it for their own ends."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 29m10s

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Art

Ben Kernow

Genre: Comedy, Drama

"Life at the end of the line has always been tough. With the cost of living going up and pressure to cash in on their now quaint fishing cottage's financial potential, Biddy and Rob find themselves at the end of the line in more ways than one. However Biddy has a plan, Biddy has an idea, Biddy has a desire to paint. The question is will any of her work save them from financial ruin, and who at the end of the line will take notice?"

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 13m56s

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By Any Other Name

Daniel Deville

Genre: Drama

"Within the chilling underworld of sex-trafficking, the heart-wrenching bond between two sisters unfolds. One sister, ensnared in the shadows of exploitation, fights for her very survival, while the other, a determined working-class mother, wages a relentless battle against insurmountable odds to bring her sister home."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 24m39s

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Candlelight

Scott Newton

Genre: Animation, Family

"In a dusty attic, a tall dinner candle springs to life. As the playful and curious candle explores, learning to hop, skip and dance, it discovers a second candle..."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 6m47s

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City on Screen

Matthew R. Ford

Genre: Documentary

"Documentary exploring the history and contribution of Birmingham (U.K.) in Film and T.V. 
Featuring interviews with filmmakers and creatives from the U.K.'s second city."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 56m16s

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Daeva

Ben Monk

Genre: Horror, Dark Comedy

"Best friends Will and Chris have their bond strained by a malevolent force."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 27m28s

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Deeper Still

Max Callaby

Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Drama

"Sheltering from a storm an explorer comes across 
an ancient cave. Inside is a miner tirelessly 
mining. Who is this miner? Why won’t they take a 
break? As the two develop a bond the true nature 
of the miner's quest is revealed."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 5m32s

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Departure

Andrew Harmer

Genre: Sci-fi, Drama

"Robert is convinced that he is about to be 'taken' from the very specific location of a beautiful park. His daughter, Beth is concerned for his welfare and finds him in the park confused. Robert is adamant that a similar fate happened to his late wife. Beth, the voice of rationality, attempts one last time to explain to her dad that her mum wasn’t taken, but died."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 9m39s

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Disturbed

Liam O'Brien

Genre: Music Video

"In this music video for Louie Novak, we follow the journey of a mysterious man, who finds himself captured by a group of henchmen. He must break free, and embark on a quest to reclaim an immensely powerful secret!"

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 2m34s

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Dosed

Nadine O’Mahony

Genre: Drama, Comedy

"Florence must choose between bailing out Polly, her best friend and partner in crime or coming clean to her loving but suspicious girlfriend Tabitha."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 6m54s

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Down in the Basement

Linas Jusevicius

Genre: Drama

"Alan, a troubled 40-year-old man, struggles with his repressed sexuality as his life falls apart after his wife discovers that he’s been leading a double life as a gimp."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 20m

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Earworm

Timothy Choi

Genre: Horror

"Forced to quarantine inside their apartment together, a couple struggles to maintain their identities after being infected by a memory-eating parasite."

Country: United States

Language: English

Length: 12m52s

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English Tea

Peter Renzullo

Genre: Reggae, Music Video

"A music video about how, in spite of your troubles, a nice cup of tea can inspire you and help you feel better."

Country: Australia

Language: English

Length: 3m42s

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Erica’s Game

Eben Skilleter

Genre: Drama

"The marriage of a failed children's author and his jaded wife is put in jeopardy when their child goes missing in the woods, apparently acting out a fantasy her father himself created..."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 10m47s

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Everybody Wants To Be Loved

Katharina Woll

Genre: Drama

"A blisteringly hot summer day. Psychotherapist Ina notices something is wrong with her. But she doesn't have time to worry about it: Patients are waiting at the practice, her daughter is threatening to move in with her father, her boyfriend wants to emigrate to Finland, and her self-centered mother is celebrating her 70th birthday. Ina wants to please everyone. But then everything changes."

Country: Germany

Language: English, German (English Subtitles)

Length: 1h20m

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Ghanimah

Sai Karan Talwar

Genre: Drama

"The war on terror, the 7/7 bombings, the loss of the son's mother and the allegiance to either Islam or Britain. What will unfold. Family, Duty or Honour? A heated argument occurs when Abdullah (Mikhail Sen - House of Dragon, A Suitable Boy) declares he is joining the British Military to the shock of his pacifist father Omar (Adil Akram - Spectre, What's Love got to do with it?) and anger of his fundamentalist older brother Moh (James El-Sharawy - Tyrant, EastEnders). As their debate unfurls past resentments and revelations rise to the surface, boiling to a point where they can no longer contain themselves."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 8m51s

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Good Grief

Robert Sharp

Genre: Drama

"Four mothers experience the agony of child loss in a film that highlights the importance of grief. Featuring BAFTA winner Vicky McClure (This is England)"

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 10m19s

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Gridlock

Hugo Kilner

Genre: Drama

"In his first year at university, Alex decides to seek support for his mental health. But getting the help he needs proves to be far more difficult than first expected."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 22m38s

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Hidden

Haruka Chambers

Genre: Music Video

"Axiom are shooting a music video, when a mysterious presence turns their world upside down."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 4m14s

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Honey Trap

Eleanor Kenny

Genre: Comedy, Drama

"Three friends recount the series of events of their revenge plot against a cheating boyfriend, however they soon find themselves in a sticky situation."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 14m54s

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If We Lived

Andre Pierre, Matt Mills

Genre: Comedy, Drama

"A young woman discovers she only has 12 hours left to make the most of her existence, whilst this is unknown to her friends."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 14m45s

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Inter-Continental Bunker Mission (I.C.B.M.)

Julian Vogel

Genre: Documentary, Comedy

"How the f**k would one survive the nuclear apocalypse? Two friends without a clue set out on a journey to survive the end of the world. An atomic cocktail of journalistic, archival, and D.I.Y. Bunker Building, I.C.B.M. addresses the ever growing survivalism trend, the personal price of survival, and the perpetual state of preparedness the world has found itself in since the birth of the atomic bomb."

Country: Sweden

Language: English, Japanese, Swedish (English Subtitles)

Length: 1h20m

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Iyov

Sergey Spirin, Andrei Beresnev

Genre: Drama

"A man who loses his beloved, and everything else he holds dear, prompts him to question the meaning of life. The internal conflict leads him into depression, where the only way out seems to be suicide."

Country: Georgia

Language: Georgian (English Subtitles)

Length: 13m5s

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Just 14

Steve Broster

Genre: Comedy

"A teenage boy following his beloved football team during their unlikely nearly 80’s title challenge. A coming of age comedy with the teenage coping with bullying, his first love, death of a grandparent and everything else the season throws at him."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 9m30s

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Lachie & John

Lee McClenaghan

Genre: Drama

"When Rosie leaves unexpectedly, John is left emotionally stranded. Although he attempts to keep daily life running as normal, he is clearly out of his depth until his young son Lachie takes him under his wing."

Country: Australia

Language: English

Length: 8m58s

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Life Over Death

Gillian Davies, Simon Lucas

Genre: Documentary

"Members of our Worcestershire production team have had a fascination with the local legend of a hidden charnel house* (a medieval crypt filled with bones) for decades. There have been no documented films or photographs to prove its existence. Until now. Following a series of fateful circumstances, the Conteur team were granted unprecedented and exclusive access to this secret chamber. Little did we know, this was just the beginning of the story. The keeper of the bones, Dr. John Inge, Bishop of Worcester, provides the primary voice in this documentary, reflecting upon his dying wife, acclaimed author Denise Inge, who, in her final year, found comfort in the hundreds of bones laid to rest directly beneath their home."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 13m35s

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Moulding the Future

Steve None

Genre: Documentary

"A documentary short telling the story of the importance of heritage within the urban re-development of an iconic 250 year old iconic factory. The Spode works in Stoke-on-Trent was a pioneer in global ceramic development but today, it has an uncertain future. This film explores how communities can be engaged to give invaluable insight into the architectural design process and the importance of acknowledging the past, to shape the future."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 19m35s

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Movin Apart

Haydn Rogers

Genre: Music Video

"A story about an artist who is in a process of rediscovery, as a lost individual trying to find the light."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 4m 13s

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My Possessive Father

Eve Pitt

Genre: Drama, Thriller

"Lila currently lives with Callie her best friend since childhood. However Lila’s life is completely controlled by her incredibly toxic father who recently died. Since his death, Lila’s life has completely opened up to who she really is. However, her dad isn’t ready to leave Lila’s life and continues to control Lila, except this time from the dead."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 14m42s

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No Way Back

Daniel J. Ratcliffe

Genre: Drama, Thriller

"Two young men contemplate what it means to be a killer on the drive back from their first murder."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 13m19s

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Odd One Out

Micky Wozny

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Musical

"A cycle of prejudice is broken when one ostracised outsider breaks the pattern with rebellious celebration."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 3m26s

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One More Day Forever

Fraser Robert Anderson

Genre: Music Video

"A girl returns home to a village made from paper and memories, where musicians perform in the cobbled cafe courtyard by the water, and the individually placed crowd witness her choose unexpectedly. The song the girl sings with the musicians is about a desire for human connection which was born out of two songs written ten years apart."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 3m55s

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Oxygen

Gavin Medza

Genre: Music Video

"Music video for the song 'Oxygen' by Birmingham Indie band DINKY. The song is taken from the band's second studio album 'Open Letters'. The video acts as both a prequel and sequel to a previous narrative based video."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 4m15s

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Parallel

Zoe Broad

Genre: Drama

"The story of two people at pivotal points of their tumultuous lives who meet on a rural railway bridge. One ready to jump, the other ready to walk away."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 14m39s

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Personalized Futures

Max Delfino

Genre: Sci-fi

"In a future in which a personalized algorithm decides which major students have to pick, Kate, an econ major with an artistic calling, is faced with the choice of trusting the system or trying to subvert it from within."

Country: United States

Language: English

Length: 9m31s

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Requiem

Emma Gilbertson

Genre: Drama, Horror

"In 1605, against the backdrop of the witch trials, Evelyn engages in a game of cat and mouse against her father, Minister Gilbert, in order to be with Mary, the woman she loves."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 24m54s

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Run Away

Christopher Cosentino

Genre: Animation, Horror

"Alex runs away from home and quickly discovers how dangerous the world can be."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 4m11s

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Same But Different

Eric Grech

Genre: Comedy

"Warning! This is the story of a man who knows what he wants in love. 
The love journey of a childish man who wants a love story but only on his own terms."

Country: France

Language: English

Length: 10m23s

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Sonar

James Hughes

Genre: Sci-fi, Fantasy

"A swimmer detects an unusual sound late at night and she decides to investigate."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 6m26s

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Takbir

Jordi Calvet

Genre: Thriller

"After two ISIS attacks eerily resemble passages from his latest book, a TV writer finds himself under thin ice when he realises that the new TV show he’s been approached to develop by a mysterious Turkish production company might be used as a blueprint for the terrorist group’s new attack."

Country: Spain

Language: English, French, Italian, Spanish (English Subtitles)

Length: 14m49s

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The Boat

Luke Morgan

Genre: Drama

"When Dhuckia grows up, she wants to be a boat-maker like her Dad. But when he finds out that she is showing the early symptoms of Leprosy, he must make a terrible choice. Based on a true story."

Country: Ireland, Nepal

Language: Nepali

Length: 15m46s

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The Magical World Of Miracles

Elle Van Knoll

Genre: Family, Adventure

"In this sweeping tale of love and loss, we follow siblings Elsie and Theo as they set out on the adventure of a lifetime to find a real life miracle that they hope will fix everything that’s gone awry."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 27m20s

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The Moon Followed Me To Falmouth

Joël Gibbs

Genre: Animation, Music Video

"A seafarer sings the story of how he, as a young man, left Falmouth looking for a new life on the High Seas. During his voyage, he recounts how the moon began to follow him, watching his every move."

Country: United States

Language: English

Length: 4m21s

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The Orange Horse

Joshua Heineman

Genre: Animation

"Based on the children's book by Hsu-Kung Liu, an orange horse is looking for his long lost brother. What he finds instead is a friendship he never expected and a new way to define family."

Country: United States

Language: English

Length: 5m51s

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The River

Liam Banks

Genre: Horror, Thriller

"Sarah retreats to the river to escape family drama, but discovers something far more disturbing lurks beneath the water."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 14m51s

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This Able Man

Raphael Arp Rodrigues

Genre: Documentary

"This Able Man is a powerful documentary showcasing the sport of Wheelchair Basketball, revealing how, despite the massive hurdles that life puts in front of them, some paraplegics manage to turn their lives around in a positive way and manage to fulfil their own inner human goals."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 10m10s

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Unwanted

Darci Hugh-Clink, Jagnoor Singh

Genre: Thriller

"When an introverted college student bumps into a classmate at a party, she must win their friendship before she loses them forever."

Country: Australia

Language: English

Length: 8m32s

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Wary

Kai Stuart Wissler

Genre: Drama

"Daniel McMillan is a popular young man from a conservative and affluent family, groomed to one day take over his family's global corporation. While he seemingly has everything one could wish for, his life is entirely devoid of any meaningful relations. The only person in his life who seems to truly understand and care for him is his friend Evan Simmons. As Daniel's feelings for his friend deepen into something more than friendship, he struggles to accept a side of him that might defy expectations put upon him by himself, his parents, and his peers."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 10m58s

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Washed Up

Liam J. M. Wilson

Genre: Animation, Adventure

"A fish gets washed up onto the beach where a group of hungry seagulls await..."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 2m32s

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Write Off

Emma Morley

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Drama

"Award winning TV screenwriter Beth Cresswell has recently discovered Jake Chambers, star of her hit series, The Package, wants to leave."

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Length: 13m41s

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