Persuasive, illustrative and able to get over abstract details in attractive and compelling ways, animation is the perfect tool to document someone’s vision of the truth. These films – a selection of stylish and compelling short documentaries contain beautifully realised sequences and some of the most stunning animation in the festival.
After the screening there will be a Q&A with: Carla Mackinnon (Director, Devil in the Room); Matthew Brookes (Director, SPD & Me); Maryam Tafakory (Director, Visa); Gemma Atkinson & Fred Grace (Directors/Producers, Act of Terror) and Salvador Maldonado (Director, Drawing From Memory and From A to B and Back Again).
At Barbican book tickets
Old Man (Leah Shore, 2012)
Animated to snippets of phone conversations with helter-skelter serial killer Charles Manson, this reaffirms his ‘down to the bone’ madness.
USA, 5’45
Irish Folk Furniture (Tony Donoghue, 2012)
In Ireland, old hand-painted furniture is often associated with hard times, with poverty and with a time many would rather forget. In this sumptuous film we see 16 pieces of traditional folk furniture are repaired and returned home.
Ireland, 8’20
Drawing For Memory (Ali’s Story) (Andy Glynne & Salvador Maldonado, 2012)
During the war in Afghanistan, Ali, now ten, fled the country with his grandmother, leaving behind his parents who were unable to leave. An exploration of Ali’s pain of being separated from them, as well as living for years without knowing whether they were alive.
UK, 3’50
SPD and Me (Matthew Brookes, 2013)
A true and honest look at the symptoms and effect of Semantic Pragmatic Disorder and how the film’s Director has learnt to live with it.
UK, 3’40
Seams and Embers (Claire Lamond, 2013)
Young Jim follows his coalmining forefathers into a rough working life underground, while die-hard miners tell of how a rugged industry died hard.
UK, 6’15
Britain (Bexie Bush, 2011)
Eric and Lyn, two elderly people, are a pair of armchairs discussing the politics around Britain today.
UK, 2’40
Visa (Maryam Tafakory, 2013)
Produced for the Migrants’ Right Network, a film about recent immigration changes in the UK that are tearing many families apart.
UK, 3’10
American Homes (Joel Fox, 2011)
An animated history of residential architecture in America unfolds while notable figures in the world of design and architecture weigh in on what a house is and can be.
USA, 12’15
From A to B and Back Again (Rachel’s Story) (Andy Glynne & Salvador Maldonado, 2012)
Rachel, a young child, escaped her country of origin having suffered years of persecution because of her religion. After settling in to life in the UK, Rachel describes how she was suddenly taken to a detention centre, as her and her family were told they had to return to their country.
UK, 5’30
Eyes Closed (Samo (Anna Bergmann), 2012)
We don’t normally talk about death with children, but they know that everyone has to die – even their parents, and themselves too. What perceptions do children have about death and how do these perceptions change over time?
Germany, 5’45
Act of Terror (Gemma Atkinson & Una Marzorati, 2013)
While filming a routine stop and search of her boyfriend on the London Underground, Gemma suddenly found herself detained, handcuffed and threatened with arrest. ‘Act of Terror’ tells the story of her fight to bring the police to justice and prevent this happening to anyone else, ever again.
UK, 7’15
Good Grief (Fiona Dalwood, 2013)
Five real people share their true stories of losing something precious and what it has taught them about living.
Australia, 8’00
Devil in the Room (Carla MacKinnon, 2013)
Have you ever woken in the night unable to move, certain that you are not alone? An examination of what happens when dreams leak into waking life. It is about what is real, what is not, and if it even matters.
UK, 7’55
