Crystal Palace International Film Festival (CPIFF) 2024

ARE YOU THINKING OF MOVING? WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2024

SCAN THE QR CODE TO FIND OUT WHAT’S AHEAD OR SPEAK TO US TO PLAN YOUR NEXT STEPS. Martin & Co Crystal Palace 70 Church Road, Crystal Palace London, SE19 2EZ T: 0208 771 9990 E: crystalpalace@martinco.com

Martin & Co Beckenham 163 High Street Beckenham, BR3 lAE T: 0208 650 5796 E: beckenham@martinco.com

“THE WORLD’S COOLEST!”

CRYSTAL PALACE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (CPIFF) 2024

Christened by filmmakers as the world’s coolest film festival, CPIFF was rated 3rd out of 12,000+ film festivals worldwide on Film Freeway!

Take your time to watch the trailers - every night is meticulously put together to thrill and entertain. This remarkable selection of creativity has been curated for over a year to showcase these independent films that, together, blow most major releases away. Try and catch as many nights as you can as this is a one time only experience. At the screenings you will meet and hear from filmmakers attending from all over the world. The Q&As held everty night are fascinating.

There’s short film, animation, horror/sci-fi, comedy, documentary & features.

Screening at the Everyman Crystal Palace, West Norwood Picturehouse & Stanley Arts, SE25, many nights quickly sell out.

Music legend Paul Weller said: “I’ve loved CPIFF, the whole independent movement is a wonderful thing.

Mike Reiss, writer of The Simpsons since it began said: “You run the very best

film festival we’ve ever been to - and we’ve been to a lot. This is as good as it gets!”

One of the UK’s best comedians, Shappi Khorsandi, (below) returns to present the CPIFF Awards & Comedy Night following Johnny Vegas, Kerry Godliman, Andy Zaltzman and Mark Steel (above). Book now!

Book your tickets early at cpiff.co.uk/schedule2024

PRESENTED BY

ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE: CPIFF.CO.UK Bromley Council has granted a blanket 18 certificate to nights held in the Everyman Cinema, this does not necessarily reflect content.

FRIDAY 8 March

P5/6/7

Captivating & Compact (15)

THURSDAY 29 February

7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £12.

Food and bar available.

P1

Launch Night (18)

SATURDAY 9 March

P7/8

7:15PM Everyman Crystal Palace SE19 2TE £16, includes a glass of wine, beer, soft drink & popcorn.

Food and bar available.

Horror/Sci-fi (18)

FRIDAY 1 March

WEDNESDAY

P2/3

International Film (15)

7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £12.

Food and bar available.

SATURDAY 2 March

P3

Long & Short Docs (15) 7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £12.

Food and bar available.

TUESDAY 5 March

Short Docs (15)

P3/4

7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £11.

Food and bar available.

THURSDAY 7 March

P4/5

Brilliantly Brief (15)

7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £11.

Food and bar available.

7.30PM Stanley Arts SE25 6AB £12.

Food and bar available.

13 March

P8/9/10

Sensational Shorts (18)

7:15PM Everyman Crystal Palace SE19 2TE £12.50.

Food and bar available.

THURSDAY 14 March

P10/11

Mixed Length Docs (18)

7:15PM Everyman Crystal Palace SE19 2TE £12.50.

Food and bar available.

FRIDAY

15 March

P12

Comedy Horror Night (18)

7:15PM Everyman Crystal Palace SE19 2TE £13.50.

Food and bar available.

SATURDAY 16 March

P12/14/16

Animation (12a)

7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £12.50.

Food and bar available.

SUNDAY 17 March

P17

Feature & Shorts (15)

7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £11.

Food and bar available.

TUESDAY 19 March

P18/19

Excellent Eclectic Mix 2 (18) 7:15PM Everyman Crystal Palace SE19 2TE £12.50.

Food and bar available.

WEDNESDAY 20 March P19/20

Mid Length Film (18)

7:15PM Everyman Crystal Palace SE19 2TE £12.50.

Food and bar available.

THURSDAY 21 March P20/22

Light/Dark Light/Dark (18)

7:30PM Everyman Crystal Palace SE19 2TE £12.50.

Food and bar available.

FRIDAY 22 March

P23/24

Super Short Shorts (15) 7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £12.

Food and bar available.

SATURDAY 23 March P26

Awards & Comedy(18)

7PM Stanley Arts SE25 6AB £29, includes glass of bubbles & fab food. With Shappi Khorsandi.

THURS 29 FEBRUARY

Launch Night (18) 7:15pm Everyman Crystal Palace SE19 2TE £16, includes a free glass of wine, beer or soft drink & free popcorn. Food and bar available.

Birthday Boy

Directed by Leo Lebeau A transgender boy celebrates his birthday with online games, away from the bullying he faces at an all girls school.

UK 20m

Birthday Boy

I’m not a robot

Directed by Victoria Warmerdam After several unsuccessful attempts to complete a Captcha, feminist Lara sets out to answer the disturbing question of whether she’s a robot, and therefore bought by her own boyfriend.

Netherlands: 22m

Cornerboy

Directed by Kai Kurve A bad boy gets possessed by a fly (aka the devil/death) which confronts him with his own personality. This narration is wrapped up in a fresh genre bending experimental dance film.

Germany 6m

The Good Cheese Madhero

Madhero

Directed by William Grave His curse was his blessing.

Latin Creole singer songwriter Jean Claude Madhero retells how his homeless experience on the streets of Paris fifty years ago made him the artist he is today.

Directed by Owen James A heartless business owner plans to fire an employee so that he can afford to buy himself a fancy new sports car, but an unusual encounter at a local supermarket may cause him to think twice.

Ireland 6m

UK 11m

Directed by Shirzan Anon Niloo, a teenage girl, resists the patriarchal ‘morality police’ who kidnap her from the streets of Tehran.

UK 11m

Cycles

You Can Kiss Me

Directed by Will Darbyshire When dinner with the new neighbours goes awry, an antisocial and severely codependent couple reignite the spark in their relationship by covering their tracks.

UK 14m World Premiere

Rise

Directed by Jan Jalenak Penelope’s search for the kind of love that’s missing in her life leads her to a motel room with another woman only to be confronted by the realities of her marriage.

London Premiere

USA 19m

1

King

FRI 1ST MARCH

Directed by Vasco Alexandre An experimental film choreographed to the song by Icelandic musician Brikcs.

International Film (15) 7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £12.

Food and bar available.

Iceland RT: 9m

V-Card

Directed by Brooklyn Braaten Remorseful about giving away what the world has deemed her most precious asset, this first-time bowler wrestles with a world where virginity is personified into a tangible v-card.

USA 8m European Premiere

Corruption on Earth

Directed by Omid Mirnour Iran has been awarded the World’s Best Regime. During his emotional acceptance speech, Iran’s supreme political leader Ali Khamenei insists on going into detail about his regime’s excellent achievements.

European Premiere

Instincts

Directed by Israa Al-Kamali A woman pretending to be a man has to correctly answer misogynistic riddles imposed by individuals with predatory-looking animal heads in order to ensure her safe return home at night.

USA 7m European Premiere

Ciela

Germany 12m

A Night of Gharam

Directed by Michael Gamarano Singleton Iman is fed up with her cheating husband. One day an opportunity presents itself for her to impersonate another man’s wife. This takes her on an unexpected adventure of self-realisation.

UK15m

A Night of Gharam

2

European Premiere

World Premiere

Taraz

Directed by Hassan Hajatpour Birgani While selling bread in the bazaar, Taraz’s mother is injured and falls ill by the agents of the public order office. Eleven-year-old Taraz, faced with poverty, inequality and his mother’s illness begins a hard effort to save her.

Germany 17m World Premiere

Directed by Mauricio Sierra An impressionistic fable, seen through the eye of a young outcast, Ciela with a vivid imagination who forms a secret friendship with an octopus. As her fantasy world collides with reality, Ciela sets off a chain of events that disrupt her sleepy fishing village.

Mexico 15m European Premiere

Grill

Directed by Jade Aksnes Tara is denied electricity bill support by Social Services, who tell her to get a free grill instead - a task that forces Tara to make uncomfortable decisions.

Inspired by true events.

Norway 18m London Premiere

Karma Khazi

Karma Khazi

Directed by Lee Phillips An anonymous street artist seeks inspiration for a new show in the unlikeliest of places.

UK 13m

UK Premiere

Jean Fell in Love

Directed by Romain Roellet Jean, 18 is the prodigy player of his rugby club.

As he and his team defend their title, Jean falls deeply in love with Ayoub, a player from the opposing team.

The brotherhood with his teammates turns out to be a lot more fragile than Jean ever thought it was.

Williams & Mansell: Red 5

Directed by James Wiseman Feature length documentary about the career of racing driver Nigel Mansell and the Williams F1 team. Focusing on both the development of the Williams Engineering F1 team from its incorporation in 1977 and the driving career of Nigel Mansell from humble beginnings in Birmingham, England.

UK 147m

France 20m UK Premiere

Molecular Chirality: A Scientific Documentary

Chiral molecules come in left- and right-handed forms; discriminating between them can make the difference between life and death.

UK 14m

Williams & Mansell...

SAT 2 MARCH

Long & Short Docs (15) 7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £12 Food and bar available.

Out of the Shadows

Directed by In a world affected by climate change, conflict, and economic instability, it is always the most vulnerable people that suffer – often from neglected diseases for which there is no cure. This documentary follows the work of scientists from Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sri Lanka, as they develop three Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), in the hope it cures patients who have lived in the shadow for too long.

Switzerland 15m

TUES 5 MARCH

For Your Eyes Only

Phoenix

UK 12m

Short Docs (15) 7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £11.

Food and bar available.

Directed by Timur Bekir Kitch has a stammer. He also raps. Struggling to navigate his life in East London with a condition that can be debilitating, Kitch found fluency and freedom in his extraordinary ability to rap.

UK 11m

Directed by Sergio Angot A short documentary that chronicles the end of the homonymous videoshop in London.

For Your Eyes Only 3

Trials Joke Theft

The Hearts of Bwindi

Directed by Charli Doherty This film spotlights the harmonious efforts of wildlife rangers and local communities safeguarding Uganda’s biodiverse, UNESCO-recognized Bwindi National Park.

Directed by Laura Mcmahon When a joke about a smart fridge lands two British comedians in the UK High Courts, stand up comedian Laura McMahon, decides to investigate the line between taking inspiration and outright taking when it comes to stand up comedy.

UK 24m

Psyche Abandoned

UK 17m European Premiere

Brilliantly Brief (15) 7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £11.

Food and bar available.

Smoke

Directed by Joshua Gallas A firefighter returns home after the most difficult shift of his life.

USA 15m European Premiere

Trickle

Directed by Matthew Cooper Desperate for a quiet pee, a man finds himself trapped in the midst of an unwelcome reunion.

UK 8m UK Premiere

Directed by Jane Thorburn The film weaves together real and mythical events to create connections between the history of the Crystal Palace in London and the sculpture called Psyche Abandoned.

THURS 7 MARCH

UK 9m

Image Hunting

Directed by Dominic Jack Lester Edie Raff was a professional photojournalist who made a lasting impact from the mid1970s to the early 1990s.

With a remarkable eye for composition, she embarked on solo assignments, traveling the world during a time when photographers ventured into places where cameras were not commonly found.

UK 15m

The Big Idea: Last Mile

Directed by Sarah Klein, Tom Mason When cryogenics expert Kitty Liao discovers that half of the world’s vaccines get spoiled during their last mile of delivery, she decides to dedicate her life to creating a solution.

USA 21m European Premiere

4

Round Robin

Directed by Jessica Morris On a sweltering summer‘s day, a family struggles to capture the perfect photograph for their annual Christmas card.

UK 12m

Coming of Age

Wider Than The Sky

Directed by Philip Taylor Jenny’s father has been diagnosed with cancer. To cope, this deeply creative child makes scenes inside shoeboxes into which she escapes. One day a chance encounter with a seemingly ordinary cafe owner provides the catalyst for a truly magical happening.

Directed by Zhao Wu Seventeen-year-old high school student Chen eagerly anticipates adulthood, longing to escape his indifferent and restrictive home environment. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he becomes entangled in a manslaughter case.

No Caller ID

Directed by James Hughes An under pressure personal assistant gets a call from a kidnapper threatening the life of his son unless he pays their ransom. Except, he doesn’t have a son.

UK 3m London Premiere

China 18m European Premiere

UK 11m

London Premiere

Firefly

Directed by Anne-Marie Scragg A young girl who is deaf, living in a rural fishing village with her widower Dad and Grandad, sees her life turned upside down when she is left with an increasingly abusive stepmother.

A story of resilience against adversity.

UK 16m

Hallowed

Directed by Olivia J Loader A psychological thriller centred around the protagonist Father Black. After news of a terminal diagnosis, he embarks on a maddened and desperate journey to church where he hopes to bargain with God. UK 10m World Premiere

European Premiere

Period Drama

Directed by Evie Fehilly When 15-year-old Jane must meet a man she is betrothed to, a meeting her entire family are counting on, not everything goes to plan when she gets her period for the first time.

UK 13m

Rickshaw

Directed by Raphaël Hernandez Supernatural happenings boggle the mind during a London Rickshaw ride.

UK 9m London Premiere

FRI 8 MARCH

Captivating & Compact (15) 7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £12.

Food and bar available.

Mångata

Directed by Maja Costa Little Alya and her father are crossing the Mediterranean Sea on a boat from Africa to Europe in search of a safe place to call home. Tragically, the boat sinks. Thanks to “Mångata the road to the moon”the rescuers spot little Alya, the sole survivor.

Germany 16m

5

I Have Heard You Calling in the Night

World Premiere

Back of the Net

Directed by Klara Kaliger Maya, an aspiring footballer, is given an opportunity that could offer her the future she’s always dreamed of. But now, she is torn between her final shot at going professional and caring for the person who first inspired her pursuit of this dream.

UK 17m World Premiere In the Heat

Directed by Paul Bertellotti When Cillian arrives at the platform just before sunrise, aiming for a permanent departure from life in Limerick, he can’t figure out why there are no trains. Not to be beaten, he calls the information line for help and gets far more than he bargained for.

The Deal

Love Language

UK 11m

UK 13m

Directed by Damien Nembhard Tasha, an enthusiastic secondary school student is deeply infatuated with her older boyfriend, Jamie. She finds herself trapped in a tumultuous web of love and manipulation.

UK 11m World Premiere

In the Heat

Directed by Sam Chou When a bruised and battered man claiming to be Santa Clause is arrested for the murder of a child, the interrogating officers uncover a story more bizarre and horrific than expected.

World Premiere

Canada 17m UK Premiere

Eternal Hourglass

Hêri

UK 10m London Premiere

UK 11m London Premiere

6

Directed by Edward Palmer A young offender with an attitude butts heads with the wily prison psychiatrist, but who will end up outwitting who?

Tell Me You Love Me

Directed by Paulette Randall MBE A rooftop party for two, a brother and sister celebrate their love. She has escaped from a violent husband but her scars run deep. She makes the ultimate choice.

UK 11m

That’s Life

UK Premiere

Directed by Joanna Vymeris An elderly woman recollects and reconnects with her past as her memories fade back to her in the form of a dance, a dream, a nightmare.

The Deal

Directed by Lowri Palfrey A stressed mother with two small children receives a visit from a rather large hairy childhood friend who helps her get her life back together.

Directed by Kasra Firouzyar A millennial London couple find themselves at a crossroads. They can’t agree on whether it’s worth starting a family in a time of never-ending crises. But their night takes an unexpected turn when a thief threatens their lives.

UK 7m World Premiere That’s Life

World Premiere

SAT 9 MARCH

Horror/Sci-Fi (18) 7:30PM Stanley Arts SE25 6AB £12. Food and bar available.

In Your Hands

Romanesco

Directed by Tom Moran Trapped in an infinite dream with no means of escape, Mary contemplates an important decision while trying, and failing, to eat a boiled egg.

Directed by Luigi Sibona Late evening in a London barbershop, an awkward stranger becomes enamoured with a charming barber. An unlikely attraction sparks between them and after a life-changing shave for the stranger, the two go for a drink.

UK 11m

In Your Hands

UK 12m

World Premiere

The Taster

Directed by Sophia Bierend The Danube Delta, Romania. Near future.The young Romanian Ozana is chosen to work as the new taster girl for the occupying forces.

But already on her first day of work she breaks the most important rule - never look the leader in the eye.

Germany 29m World Premiere

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She Talks In Her Sleep

Dark Cell

UK 9m

France 25m

Directed by Jean-Michel Tari Two convicts in an orbital prison are doing what they usually do, which is to say, not much. Suddenly, two panicked guards armed to the teeth burst into their cell.

Directed by Paul Taylor Dan and Faye are a couple like any other, but when Faye begins sleep talking, her eerie, unconscious messages lead Dan to believe that something is coming for them.

Ron

Directed by William Prince Mel pays a visit to her new dementia patient, Ron. During her visit, Ron’s behaviour raises more concerns than she originally expected.

UK 7m

The Buyers

Directed by Felicia Manning A new homeowner grows suspicious of a neighbourly couple eager to help her unpack.

London Premiere

A Positive Contribution Directed by Nuri Moseinco In the near future, criminals are given a choice - go to prison or get their memories wiped and replaced with fictional ones so they can make a positive contribution to society. Charlotte, a doctor at the Memory Replacement Institute begins to question her own reality when a patient claiming to be her wife begs her to save their daughter.

UK 12m London Premiere Soulmate

UK Premiere

Soulmate

European Premiere 8

Sensational Shorts (18) 7:15pm Everyman Crystal Palace SE19 2TE £12.50.

Food and bar available.

A Day In February

USA 8m European Premiere

The Buyers

WED 13 MARCH

Directed by Richard Fenwick Anna, a lonely computer coder, has been nurturing an illegal romance with an AI in a computer simulation for the past six months. When her company uncovers the affair, she’s forced into a desperate battle to save her precious relationship.

UK 15m UK Premiere

Directed by Klaas Diersmann In another country, separated from her family, one phone call is all Galyna has to ensure their safety.

UK 7m

A Matter of Choice

Ruth

Directed by Paul Romero Méndez, Arturo M. Antolín Ruth, an elderly lady with dementia, becomes lost within her own home. As she tries to find answers she ends up losing herself further, confusing reality with memories from her past.

UK 13m

Pushing Daisy

Directed by Leah Revivo This short comedy follows over-zealous, business student Daisy and her first foray into the working world at a local funeral parlour.

UK 16m

Sage

Directed by Max Blustin The right words can resist even the most destructive hate.

UK 6m World Premiere

A Matter of Choice

Charlie’s Freedom

Directed by Louis Norton Selzer After unexpectedly finding a connection in the waiting room of an assisted-suicide clinic, Mallory and Drystan are left with a choice: do they stay or do they go?

Directed by Rachel Tillotson A gritty, sensitive short film with two parallel timelines that contrast Charlie’s struggles as a teenage carer with a mysterious day in her future.

UK 15m

UK 13m London Premiere

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Hello?

THURS 14 MARCH

Directed by Mac Montero It’s the 90s in London.

During her lunch break, a businesswoman calls her boyfriend for phone sex. It doesn’t quite go to plan.

Mixed Length Docs (18) 7:15pm Everyman Crystal Palace SE19 2TE £12.50.

Food and bar available.

Meet Daniel

UK 3m

Bedtime

Directed by Matt Davies Craig gets a call from his brother Alfie and brotherly love is pushed to the limit.

UK 10m UK Premiere

London Premiere

Rose

Directed by Charlotte Couture Rose works as a dancer in a club. Now in her late thirties, she’s been told she’s getting too old for the job - but she has a teenage son to support at home and rent arrears piling up. So when Rose was diagnosed with bowel cancer six months ago, she decided to keep it a secret, for fear of losing her livelihood.

UK 15m London Premiere

Opening Up

Directed by Oz Arshad Reluctant-dater Jas hadn’t meant to kiss Adam. But she couldn’t help herself.

UK 11m London Premiere

Opening Up

London Premiere 10

Directed by Aris Katsigiannis Daniel speaks about his Maasai culture, beliefs, marriage, circumcision and unity. Learn the value of equality through a young Maasai who does not see colour or religion but unity and oneness.

Greece 5m

Small Change

Directed by Max Fisher A lonely thief makes a surprising new friend.

UK 7m

Knuckles Everything Is Out To Get Me

Dir: Dustin Curtis Murphy A 1950’s housewife, struggling with her mental health, reflects on her failed marriage and history of domestic abuse. Her depression is fuelled by the fact that her ex-husband now appears to be happily re-married with a newborn baby. But there’s more to his happiness than meets the eye.

UK 9m

Directed by Lauren Luxenberg, Alfie Barker A short doc-drama biopic from the life of rapper, Knucks, a nostalgic visual inspired by his latest project, Alpha Place.

UK 16m London Premiere

London Premiere

Unconditional

Directed by Theo Gee In this captivating 15-minute short documentary ‘Unconditional’ delves into the incredible story of renowned canine behaviorist Will Atherton, whose life takes a dramatic turn when his dog becomes his saviour after a period of dark depression and a suicide attempt, revealing the extraordinary power of love and resilience in the face of despair.

My (Refugee) Life

Directed by Sam Forsdike Following the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of five refugees starting a new life in the UK. UK 25m

UK 16m

Unconditional

Your Hundred Year Life

Directed by Bill Jones, Ben Timlett “Happy Birthday, you’re 100!” Good news? Not if the pension system’s bust. All over the world, populations are ageing and the money’s drying up.

UK 52m

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Lore

FRI 15 MARCH

Comedy Horror Night (18) 7:15pm Everyman Crystal Palace SE19 2TE £13.50.

Food and bar available.

Trial 22

Directed by John Ferrer Trapped in a mysterious underground experiment, a group of people must survive against monsters, traps and each other.

UK 9m

Marvin the Vampire

Directed by Adrian León It’s Marvin’s first day at the vampire support group where they discuss personal problems as well as bigger ones such as the climate crisis.

UK 25m

Lore

Directed by James Bushe, Patrick Ryder, Greig Johnson Four‚ ‘scare’ loving friends book a horror-themed camping excursion. That night around the campfire, Darwin, their strange and creepy guide, asks them all to tell a story that they fear and to burn a totem that will help feed the evil that lives there.

Directed by Siddharth Gautam Within the fractures of family bonds, a doorway materializes, propelling Stephen through a life-altering odyssey that reshapes his existence and weaves an indelible tapestry of change for his loved ones.

USA 10m European Premiere

UK 87m

SAT 16 MARCH

Animation Night (12a) 7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £12.50.

Food and bar available.

The Discarded

Directed by Uli Meyer A character designer struggles with the design of a cartoon cat and ends up on a short trip through the looking glass.

UK 3m

The Discarded

12

Doorway

European Premiere

Games People Play

Directed by Jim Hall The body count climbs and the carnage continues village to village. One person witnessing the horror of war has to make a split decision to stop the madness before getting off the Paris Metro.

USA 3m UK Premiere

Green light

Directed by Kim Sung-min With the ecosystem destroyed after a nuclear war, Mari, a survivor, does all she can to rebuild. When she stumbles upon a robot soldier in an abandoned city, everything changes.

South Korea 15m

Ana Morphose

Ana Morphose

Directed by Joao Rodrigues A little girl reads herself to sleep. As she dozes off, the physical world starts melting into an alternate reality where the contents of a book rule over the laws of physics.

Portugal 10m

You Decided to Wave Your Arm...

Little Fan

Directed by Sveta Yuferova, Shad Lee Bradbury An unexpected encounter will grow into a meaningful friendship.

Germany 5m

Leap of Faith

Directed by Martina Doll, Anaïs Dos, Coline Reverbel, Kenzo Talma, Edgard Vernier, Lisa Vlaine A little girl is on holiday at the beach with her little brother, when suddenly, it’s love at first sight.

France 8m

Leap of Faith

14

Vinny

Directed by Declan Boyle This short animation takes us on a nostalgic journey with an anthropomorphic vinyl record.

Ireland 3m World Premiere

Boom

Directed by Gabriel Augerai, Romain Augier, Laurie Pereira De Figueiredo, Charles Di Cicco, Yannick Jacquin A couple of silly birds try their best to protect their eggs from a volcano eruption.

France 6m

You Decided to Wave Your Arm, Until The Last Piece of Light Slides off Your Palm

Directed by Yama (Sihan) Li Amidst the ebb and flow of passing souls, a ceaseless train roars, its cry echoing through the rarified, scorching air. Yet, you yearn solely to dance. Ämidst the throng, vigorously sweeping your hands. You just want to dance, engulfed in the mist, wildly emancipating the self. Navigate through the frontiers of the mind, erasing memories of being compressed and obscured.

USA 4m

Boom

For You

Directed by Luca Paulli A letter from a father to his two-year-old son, capturing a summer day in the park, a world filled with wonders yet to be discovered and a looming danger.

Italy 3m World Premiere

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The Market

The Market

Directed by Lulu (Jung) Chen It’s a story about a young woman who finds herself in a haven for lost souls after a tragic experience. With no recollection of her traumatic past, she travels deeper into The Market, where fragments of her memories become obstacles she must overcome in her cathartic journey towards inner peace.

Canada 4m

Seniors 3000

Directed by Julien David A biomechanical fusion between Marlene, a secretary who has been working for 30 years, and the model x3000 printer is going to create a new generation of workers: the senior 3000.

The revolution in the work world is underway!

Roasted

Directed by Goulwen Courtaux An adventurous chicken discovers the horrible truth about humans and poultry and decides to take its revenge.

France 2m

Directed by Taye Cimon, Pierre Coëz, Julie Groux, Sandra Leydier, Manuarii Morel, Romain Seisson In the open sea, a flamingo lands on an aircraft carrier.

To keep the runway clear and get the planes to take off, the military have to get rid of it. But the flamingo and its congeners return relentlessly to put pink on the grey war machine.

France 8m

Code Rose

Now The Wolves Will Run

Directed by Verity Drew Firth Short animated film highlighting the struggles children and women face to be seen and treated fairly and equally in society around the world.

UK 2m

Une Belle Nuit

France 16m

Atomic Chicken

Directed by Thibault Ermeneux, Lucie Lyfoung, Solène Polet, Capucine Prat, Morgane Siriex, Anna Uglova A chicken coop set up at the foot of a nuclear power plant sees its daily life turned upside down by a series of comic, cartoon-style mutations.

France 5m

Seniors 3000

Une Belle Nuit D’été

Directed by Sam Castelli, Aleksandar Savic, Yannis Brun, Barbara Derail, Arthur Dupuy, Enzo Leboucher A group of animals decide to avenge the death of one of their own one beautiful summer night.

16

Code Rose

France 7m

Atomic Chicken

SUN 17 MARCH

Feature & Shorts (15) 7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £11.

Food and bar available.

My Week with Maisy

European Premiere

My Week with Maisy

Directed by Mika Simmons A middle-class Daily Mail reader, Joanna Lumley, whose cup is half empty, is anxious about starting chemotherapy. The last thing she needs is to share the treatment room with a ‘know-it-all child’.

UK 18m European Premiere

Young Hot Bloods

London Premiere

Young Hot Bloods

Directed by Jade Ang-Jackman An unassuming seamstress is confronted by an undercover policeman seeking to track down members of the suffragette movement.

UK 10m London Premiere

UK Premiere

Feast of Fire

Directed by Kinga Dębska Nastka was born with cerebral palsy. As a result, her world consists of a window in her room through which she can see the street and observe passers-by. Her sister, Łucja is a dancer in the national ballet, deadly ambitious and career-focused.

However, Łucja suffers a severe injury soon after she gets a leading role. She blames Nastka for that.

Poland 99m UK Premiere

Feast of Fire

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The Last Garden

TUES 19 MARCH

Excellent Eclectic Mix (15) 7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £12.50.

Food and bar available.

Intrance

Directed by Diana Olifirova Spiralling through spaces redefining my identity, culture, memories and future.

From Ukraine to the UK and back, from precipice of infinite possibilities comes a self-portrait, exploring fear, resistance, bravery and change.

UK 4m

Intrance

Sundown

Directed by Gabriel Alborough Alzheimer’s Disease has changed Gail’s life in a challenging and surprising number of ways, opening new doors for her creativity, but asking her to confront what life is like when both your past and future are uncertain.

Muna

Directed by Warda Mohamed British-Somali teen Muna is desperate to go on the school trip - to have fun with her mates, escape the monotony of her household and, of course, provide the greatest playlist of all time (!!). But her parents aren’t so sure.

Directed by Matthew Camfield In 2048 Earth’s sun began it’s solar maximus cycle, increased solar activity caused massive coronal mass ejections, decimating communication, electronic systems and the earths magnetosphere, scorching the surface of our once vibrant planet, the only escape underground re-purposed nuclear bunkers built centuries ago at a time long since forgotten.

UK 20m

UK 19m

Making Space for Nature

UK 15m

Directed by Ian George Sciacaluga A celebration of Ralph Vaughn Williams’s “Lark Ascending” seen through poetry and visual landscape.

Sundown

UK 8m

Office Royale

Directed by Sam Baron How far would you go to climb the corporate ladder?

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UK 14m

Making Space for Nature

Heaven Happy Curly

Happy Curly

Directed by Qin Qin A young man Hong was mocked by his roommate for being a 19-year-old virgin.

His roommate takes him to a secluded hair salon where he could be deflowered.

That night he finds the secret of the prostitute in the hair salon.

Directed by Niamh Lynch, Ben Pike, Cailum Khan, Richard Carter Describing the creative’s thirst for future-proofing, the need to say exactly what’s going on and how different you are to everyone else.

UK 3m

The Group

UK 11m

Directed by Blok Set in 1837, we bear witness to a gentleman’s duel on the outskirts of London, England.

UK 12m

WED 20 MARCH

Mid Length Film (18) 7:15PM Everyman Crystal Palace SE19 2TE £12.50.

Food and bar available.

Ensouled

USA 15m

Directed by Louise Ford How far will a group of women go to get an unsuspecting new parent to join their WhatsApp group?

A Dishonourable Death

Heaven

Directed by Moe Najati Deep within the enigmatic Eternia facility, Clara carries a heavy burden of concealed grief. But within these mysterious walls, her life is about to transform in ways she never imagined.

UK 15m European Premiere

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Sidney

Directed by Iris Breward Fresh out of clown school, Sidney has high aspirations for his first children’s party booking. But things take a turn when he is dragged into a power struggle with the birthday boy’s dad.

UK 10m

Ill Fares The Land Lo Sguardo (The Look) Directed by Edoardo Ulivelli An unexpected invitation shakes a shy young man’s vacation in Tuscany.

UK 25m

Directed by Patrick Ireland A young boy finds a mermaid washed up on the shores of his seaside home while his older brother is swept up in the rising tide of far-right nationalism.

UK 18m London Premiere

Chairs

Directed by James Hughes A man regales his peculiar obsession with chairs to his new psychiatrist.

UK 20m London Premiere

Bandits

Bandits

Directed by Nick Alexander Caught in the cycle of temporary housing amidst the UK’s cost of iving crisis, a young single mother resorts to extreme lengths to try and change the course of her son’s future.

UK 25m UK Premiere

Frontier Grenzholz

Directed by Axel Schuldes 19-year-old Aniela lives with her 54-year-old husband Boguõ in a small lumberjack hut in the war-ravaged Poland of 1941.

Germany 26m UK Premiere

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THURS 21 MARCH

Light/Dark Light/Dark (18) 7:30pm Everyman Crystal Palace SE19 2TE £12.50.

Food and bar available.

The Myth

Directed by Rebecca Stephens Medusa is ruminating in her bedroom, recounting the events that occurred at Athena’s party. During the party Poseidon assaults Medusa.

When she discloses this to Athena, their friendship takes a sorrowful turn. The emotions and betrayal that arises, birth the legend of Medusa.

UK 12m London Premiere

Cages

Directed Johnny Russell With Maggie’s pet shop days away from foreclosure, desperation drives her down a path of unlawful activity to save her beloved animals.

UK 18m

21

Truck Fishing in America

Mission I’m Possible

Directed by Joe Bor A film about motivational speaker Rick Hope.

New Zealand 14m

Great Trees

Directed by Joe Bor A short film about trees and friendship.

Directed by Shelley Delaney Truck Fishing in America is the story of Danny and Jerry, lost white men at odds with their own failed expectations. Men who work part of the year and drink the rest.

Men who in other guises could be rioting in the capital or dying of an overdose.

Darkly comic, Truck Fishing in America paints an arresting picture of a small victory and a terrible loss.

USA 16m European Premiere

UK 9m

Stillness

Directed by Rachel Fowler A photographer comes to take remembrance portraits for a family who have suffered a stillbirth.

UK 11m

I See Her

Directed by Sukki A woman trapped in a forced marriage experiences an alternate future in which a neighbour helps her out of her situation, only to realise none of it will exist without the awareness and understanding of strangers, and access to the resources she’ll need to be free.

UK 7m 22

European Premiere

Where We Belong Stillness

Directed by Madoka Belda Yamamoto Inspired by the Japanese Buddhist tradition of offering food for the dead, a British-Japanese woman tries to reconnect with her origins by taking care of her mourning grandmother and, in the process, discovers the presence of her dead grandfather closer than ever.

UK 15m

FRI 22 MARCH

Super Short Shorts (15) 7:30PM Picturehouse West Norwood SE27 9JU £12.

Food and bar available.

Saving Art

Directed by Remi R.M. Moses Instead of telling his newly diagnosed five-year-old son that he has Leukaemia; Brian tells Arthur that the chemotherapy will give him superpowers.

UK 15m

Saving Art

A Plus

A Plus

Directed by Michael P. Spencer Two dedicated parents who want only the best for their ten year old daughter, take matters into their own hands and have to consider what they are willing to do to ensure her success.

UK 8m

The Other Home

Directed by Elena Escalante A tale set between two worlds. When Neil decides to run away from home, strange things begin to happen.

UK 12m

A Warrior’s Dance

Directed by Steven Olugbenga Eniraiyetan Toby, a 14-year-old British African boy is given a opportunity to perform in his school’s cultural show.

However his father insists he focuses on his education.

UK 14m

ROCKETVANSTUDIO.CO.UK PHOTOSHOOTS SCREENINGS PRIVATE PARTIES EXHIBITIONS EVENTS

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Work Life

Directed by Kevin Ung Four corporate co-workers unknowingly cross paths during a chaotic weekend that leaves their lives intertwined through improbable twists of fate.

Cope

USA 13m UK Premiere

Directed by Anthony Sutcliffe Liam has 6 weeks to live.

No one knows. Not his colleagues. Not his friends.

Not even his wife. But as the indignities that make up a life mount up, he just counts the days down.

This Bitter Earth

Directed by Diana Ali Chire April, a celestial special agent for the Heavens is tasked with convincing Raff, a disgruntled guardian angel, to give up Earthly delights and return to his duties.

USA 7m

UK 5m

Maria

Directed by Panagiota Florou, Kathrin Sylwestrzak Maria, a young actress, tries to get to a casting that her agent thinks she is not ready for. Maria is determined to convince her. If she succeeds, she will finally recite a monologue that holds all her grim secrets.

The School System

Feeling Lucky

UK 3m

Directed by Emily Lucienne While he sleeps, she makes a desolate choice.

Germany 11m

UK 7m

Directed by Anna-Marie Ramm A couple show their true colours when they discover that they’ve won the lottery.

Immaculate Deception

UK Premiere

Original skin

Directed by Mdhamiri Nkemi In an alternate world where having sex means swapping bodies with the other person, a young woman struggles to be herself, defying her small conservative community where swapping is taboo. A deeply intimate portrait of identity in transition.

Directed by Jesse Roth Is the school system really meeting the needs of our youth? How could it be improved? We answer these questions.

UK 3m

UK 12m

The Natural

This Bitter Earth

24

Directed by Charlie Rowe After a young actor’s second terrible audition for a masterclass hosted by his theatrical hero, he follows her to a cafe in search of advice.

UK 12m

CPIFF Merchandise available at cpiff.co.uk/posters

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The CPIFF Awards & Comedy Night with Shappi Khorsandi

The Trainers

SAT 23 MARCH

Directed by Farzana Dua Elahe Three desperate women collide in the world of behavioural training, forming an unlikely partnership as they navigate the high stakes of their glamorous and chaotic new career.

Awards & Comedy (18) 7pm, Stanley Arts SE25 6AB £29. Complimentary glass of bubbles and fab food all night!

We are honoured to have, Shappi Khorsandi, one of the biggest names in British comedy present our awards night.

Bar open.

UK 11m World Premiere

Linda

The Snip A Funny Kind of Journey

Directed by Joe Bor A film about a driver who has had an incredible past.

UK 2m

Directed by Ben S. Hyland Tony and Lindsay are looking for a permanent solution to their family’s fertility, but for Tony, the simple procedure poses a threat to his fragile masculinity.

UK 10m

26

UK 8m

UK 10m

7 Minutes

Directed by Ricky Gervais A desolate train track seems the perfect spot to end it all, until someone else turns up with the same idea. Awkward.

Directed by Joe Lycett Linda gets a job in a post office, but her tall tales soon raise suspicions.

Crack An Egg

Herbert & Humphrey

Directed by Siddharth Joshi A short mockumentary about an ordinary guy living in a house with an extraordinary ghost, both trying to kill each other but end up falling in love.

UK 22m

Directed by Sam Bailey A jittery groom has his nerves calmed by his Best Man’s old ritual of ‘cracking an egg on his head’. However for these two old friends their choice of ‘egg’ is one belonging to Ridley Scott’s Alien. An elaborate play-out ensues, leading the groom through terror, fear, but finally a wonderful pre-wedding zen.

UK 4m

THE END We would like to say a very special thanks to Lucy & James at Martin and Co Crystal Palace for their continued support, to all of the businesses that advertise in the programme each year. To Lambeth & Croydon councils and all the train stations for allowing us to put up posters and to our absolutely fantastic volunteers who work so hard. Big thanks to ALL the filmmakers who submitted. We simply couldn’t do it without any of you.

And to you the public for attending the screenings. Hope you loved it. Do come again!

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