DIRECTOR’S WELCOME
CONTENTS SATURDAY EVENTS First Job in Film
INTRO Welcome from the Festival Director Festival Map Festival Timetable Meet the Team
Welcome to Watersprite 2024! This year marks the 15th anniversary of the festival. Now the world’s largest international student film festival, Watersprite continues to bring opportunities to emerging filmmakers from around the world. Be sure to check out our packed weekend of free screenings, events and community building opportunities, both in Cambridge and on our new online hybrid platform. This year we celebrate the work of 46 extraordinary filmmakers, selected from a record-breaking 1758 submitted films from 93 countries. Their films will be screened in Queens’ College with live Q&As, a truly international insight into groundbreaking student filmmaking. Thanks to Amazon MGM Studios, we are able to offer our nominees with travel bursaries and free accommodation in Cambridge so that they can make the most of the festival. Join us online or in the Zoology Museum for the Watersprite Awards with Amazon MGM Studios, where this year’s winners will be announced. Watersprite has, at its core, a commitment to demystifying the route into the screen industries. This year we are thrilled to announce a new addition to the festival: Hubs. Realised by our incredible Head of Events, Flora O’Neill, Hubs consists of a day of free workshops with industry professionals for emerging filmmakers in the UK who are taking their next steps into the industry. We
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26 27 Reimagining The Film Set 29 Pick Me! 30 Aardman’s Very Small Creatures 31 The Sound of Cinema 32 How To Be A Good Boy 33 Poor Things: Building the Surreal 34 Watersprite Awards 35 with Amazon MGM Studios The Festival Hub
also welcome the Watersprite Ambassadors to this year’s festival, spreading our message of inclusivity across the country. This year’s programme of events is as diverse and exciting as ever. From First Job in Film to Aardman’s Very Small Creatures to The Sounds of Cinema, we are covering topics, genres and craft skills for film lovers and industry insiders alike. Our speakers are worldrenowned and we are so grateful to them for lending their time. Watersprite would not be possible without the dedication of the student committee, who have worked tirelessly to put together this year’s incredible festival. We are all grateful for the time and support of the board of trustees and steering committee over the past year. A special mention should go out to our Festival Chair, Hilary Bevan Jones, for her sheer dedication to this festival and unrelenting belief in its vision over the last fifteen years. This festival would also not be possible without our Festival Producer, Amber Hyams, whose dedication to the festival is endless and unwavering, she is a true hero. Finally, thank you – the audience, the nominees, the friends of the festival – for joining us in celebrating the future of film.
Creative Futures Spotlight Alumni Spotlight
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SCREENINGS Screening: Beneath the Surface Screening: Family Screening: Journeys Screening: Home Screening: Memory Screening: Becoming
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FRIDAY EVENTS Opening Ceremony RTS East Student Awards Watersprite Hubs
SUNDAY EVENTS Script Compass Development Prize Winning Films Screening and Closing Reception
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NOMINEES Awards and Prizes Nominated Films
38 40
THANK YOU 22 23 24
Partners and Sponsors Special Mentions Thank you from the Chair
58 62 63
Zeb Goriely Festival Director
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FESTIVAL MAP
WATERSPRITE GLOBAL AND LOCAL Cambridge Union, CB2 1UB
Fitzpatrick Hall, Queens’ College CB3 9ET
We are proud to be a hybrid festival, making our events and films accessible to international audiences across the globe. Be sure to get a free online festival pass to watch our live streamed events or catch-up on events on-demand. You can also watch all the nominated films until 8th March.
GET YOUR IN-PERSON TICKETS AND ONLINE FESTIVAL PASS AT: www.watersprite.org.uk/tickets
ACCESSIBILITY All of our festival locations are wheelchair and reducedmobility accessible, with fully accessible toilets.
Old Divinity School, St. John’s College, CB2 1TP
We are also proud to be offering BSL interpretation for our five Saturday events in the Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School. For more information, please see: https://watersprite.org.uk/accessibility To contact us about accessible seating, or any other access questions, please email info@watersprite.org.uk Reservation does not guarantee entry. Please arrive 15 minutes before the event to claim your place!
Zoology Museum, CB2 3EJ 4
Cambridge Arts Picturehouse, CB2 3AR
University Arms Hotel, CB2 1AD
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OF OUR EVENTS WILL BE LIVESTREAMED AND RECORDED AND THERE MAY BE PHOTOGRAPHERS PRESENT
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FRIDAY 1 MARCH OLD DIVINITY SCHOOLS
FITZPATRICK HALL, QUEENS’ COLLEGE
10:00 11:00 Screening: Beneath the Surface pg. 16 11:00 13:00
13:00 15:00
Watersprite Hubs 2024 pg. 24
15:00 17:00
Screening: Family pg. 17
Screening: Journeys pg. 18
17:00 19:00 CAMBRIDGE UNION 19:00 22:00
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RTS East Student Awards pg. 23 Opening Ceremony pg. 22
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SATURDAY 2 MARCH MAIN HALL, OLD DIVINITY SCHOOL
LIGHTFOOT ROOM, OLD DIVINITY SCHOOL
10:30 11:00 11:00 12:00 12:00 12:30 12:30 13:30
Pick Me! pg. 29
13:30 14:30
Aardman’s Very Small Creatures pg. 31
Reimagining the Film Set: Access as the New Norm pg. 30
15:00 16:00
16:00 17:00
Poor Things: Building the Surreal pg. 34
How to be a Good Boy pg. 33
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11:00 12:00
ARTS PICTUREHOUSE, SCREEN 1
UNIVERSITY ARMS HOTEL
Surprise Keynote*
12:00 12:30
Winning Films Screening pg. 37
12:30 14:00 Screening: Memory pg. 20
Screening: Becoming pg. 21
Closing Reception pg. 37
*Follow us online @waterspritefilm for the latest announcements regarding event details and timings.
IN-PERSON DISRUPTION ZOOLOGY MUSEUM
19:00 Late
MAIN HALL, OLD DIVINITY SCHOOL
14:00 16:00
14:30 15:00 The Sound of Cinema pg. 32
SUNDAY 3 MARCH
FITZPATRICK HALL, QUEENS’ COLLEGE
Screening: Home pg. 19
First Job in Film pg. 28
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For guests joining us in-person on Sunday 3rd March, we would like to draw your attention to the Cambridge Half-Marathon which is happening across Cambridge and may cause delay or disrupt your access to the venues. For more information and to see a map of its route please see here: https://cambridgehalfmarathon.com/
Watersprite Awards with Amazon MGM Studios (Invite Only) pg. 35
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THE WATERSPRITE TEAM
FESTIVAL PRODUCER:
Amber Hyams
STEERING COMMITTEE:
Helen Simmons Anna Keeley Isobel Leigh Chiara Di Filippo
Meet the team behind the largest student film festival in the world, comprised of students at Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Cambridge.
AWARDS
Zeb Goriely
Festival Director
Ruby Power
Head of Awards
Flora O’Neill
Head of Events
Amenie Groves
Head of Communications
Adrian Breuer Ayna Li Taira Bear Stephenson Candela Gil Hannah Wolter Julie Jaresova Lottie Wood Mingyang Ni Stanley Stott-Hall Stefan Tuchel EVENTS
Isabel Camara
Co-Head of Partnerships
Annusheh Qureshi Co-Head of Alumni Relations
Tess Bottomley
Co-Head of Partnerships
Jack Seaden
Co-Head of Video Production
Shinaza Taghian
Head of Creative Design
Lucas Warren
Co-Head of Video Production
Hannah Brecher
Co-Head of Alumni Relations
Claudia Vogt
Head of Creative Futures
Alex Velody Angie De La Puente Cuya Ayna Li Taira Ella Willams Gwynn Horbury Iris Bowdler Lily O’Neill Rose Rooney Syna Majumder Xander Pang Yuke Huang ALUMNI RELATIONS
Anitha Sundararajan Hedda Bird Ina Bi Sana Soomro CREATIVE FUTURES
Bonham Bax Treasurer
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Jess Wilson
Ceremonies Officer
Rose
Ceremonies Officer
Tavy Oursin
Partnered Events Officer
Jessica Folwell Lily Kemp Morayo Ibidunni Omotesho
FESTIVAL TRUSTEES:
Hilary Bevan Jones Bernadette Schramm Brian Woods Dorothy Byrne Farhana Bhula Femi Ladeinde
COMMUNICATIONS
Chloe Kwan Emily Stonebridge Jefferson Lin Lorelei Booth Lucy Miller Olivia Little Scotia Smith Soha Shanbhag CREATIVE DESIGN
Amy Brian Katya Perry Leana Carbonez Maddy Sanderson Sasha Haxell PARTNERSHIPS
Attie Christie-Miller Charles Klafsky Esme Thomas Finn Janson Jake Soloway VIDEO PRODUCTION
Elleiz Koreli Hannah Mawardi Jay Yolchiyeva Karina Bhojwani Madison Clash Maya Birch Parth Allahbadi Hannah Weber 11
CREATIVE FUTURES SPOTLIGHT
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT We are delighted to present the nominees for the annual Alumni Award, which every year celebrates filmmakers who were involved with the festival 10 years prior.
This year our Creative Futures Team brought new opportunities to local schools, to further their engagement with the creative industries.
Lewis Arnold 2014 Film: ECHO (Nominated for Performance)
OUR AIMS ARE: To show young people that there is a place for them in the industry and that their goals are achievable
Lewis Arnold is a multi-nominated and winning BAFTA drama director and executive producer. His recent work includes all seven parts of THE LONG SHADOW for New Pictures/ITV, James Graham’s SHERWOOD and Jimmy McGovern’s TIME for BBC Studios starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham.
To offer a space for young people to meet like-minded peers who could be potential collaborators To provide hands on experience in filmmaking
Ali Asgari 2014 Film: MORE THAN TWO (Nominated for Screenplay) Born in Tehran, Iran, writer, director and producer, Ali Asgari is a prominent Iranian cinema figure with many International awards to his name. His shorts have been nominated for Palme d’Or at Festival de Cannes. His third feature film premiered in Un Certain Regard section of Festival de Cannes 2023. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Viola Baldwin 2014 Film: WEDDING CAKE (Nominated for Animation) Viola Baldwin is a German born animator and artist. She’s contributed to VFX and feature CG films across the map ranging from animating “minions” to photo realistic dinosaurs. Her most recent work can be seen in Adam Driver’s 65, LYLE, LYLE CROCODILE and THE SEA BEAST.
We hosted two special screenings at the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse, thanks to Film Hub South East and BFI FAN, showing Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Fantastic Mr Fox. One of our school screenings was accompanied by a film quiz, bringing together local young creatives. In the run up to the festival, we hosted two workshops, offering hands on experience and insight into the creative industries. At a phone filmmaking workshop, hosted by NFTS student Tejas Ewing, people came together to try their hand at accessible filmmaking practices.
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Thordur Palsson 2014 Film: A HARD WORLD (Nominated for Fiction, Acting & Directing) Thordur Palsson is the creator and lead director of THE VALHALLA MURDERS which premiered in the UK in 2020 on BBC4 and is available on Netflix in over 190 countries. His debut feature film THE DAMNED is currently in postproduction.
Carla Pipó 2014 Film: BORN POSITIVE (Nominated for Documentary)
One of our partners - Kingdom Creative - also kindly hosted a day of workshops for local school students, showcasing all areas of filmmaking.
Carla Simón Pipó is a Spanish film director and graduate of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Both her 2017 debut feature ESTIU 1993 and her second feature, ALCARRÀS, were submitted to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to represent Spain for Best International Feature Film at the 90th and 95th Academy Awards, respectively.
We hope to have inspired a new generation of filmmakers, showing how many opportunities there are in the creative industries - while making some friends along the way.
Matan Radin 2014 Film: SOLO (Nominated for Cinematography) Matan Radin is an award winning cinematographer based in Berlin. His work has been shown at Sundance, San Sebastián Int. Film Festival, Max Ophüls, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, Zurich Film Festival, Munich Film Festival and AFI Fest. His work on the series HAMEFAKEDET / DISMISSED earned him the 2021 Israeli Academy Award for Best Camera.
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MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME The Watersprite Mentorship programme pairs Watersprite filmmakers with industry professionals who help guide them at a pivotal moment in their careers. The scheme continues to supports career development of underrepresented filmmakers and addresses inequality in the film industries, forming part of Watersprite’s objectives to strive towards a more inclusive, diverse future of film and support emerging talent. This year we received a record 115 applications and we are proud to announce our three new mentees for 2024, Saana Estibal, Neo Monyamane and Kiarash Dadgar Mohebi.
AMBASSADORS PROGRAMME
Our 36 nominated films have been curated into 6 strands by our student curators. Each film screening will be followed by a Q&A with the nominated filmmakers.
The films are also available to watch on our online festival platform from 23rd February to 8th March. Find out more about our nominated films on pages 40 to 57.
For the first time, Watersprite welcomed students from across the UK behind the scenes. Our inaugural Watersprite Ambassadors are creating a network of like-minded creatives across the UK, spreading our message of accessibility and diversity in the screen industries.
Interested in the Mentorship and Ambassadors Programmes? Get in touch! producer@watersprite.org.uk
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On Sunday 3rd March we will screen a selection of the winning films, followed by a closing reception with free refreshments in the University Arms hotel. Read more on page 37. 15
SCREENING: BENEATH THE SURFACE
1 March 2024 13:00 - 15:00 GMT Fitzpatrick Hall, Queens’ College
SCREENING: FAMILY
1 March 2024 10:30 - 12:00 GMT Fitzpatrick Hall, Queens’ College
Beneath the Surface presents films that speak to unexpressed desires, rising tensions, ideas, dreams, and the subconscious. The films focus on the inner world of their characters, featuring surreal worlds and often blurring the line between the real and the imaginary. Working together as a strand, the films make the invisible the main subject of their exploration.
Family is a children-friendly screening of seven films that navigate the challenges and developments in family relationships. Often adopting the unique perspective of a child as they come to terms with the world around them, these films explore divorce, loss of a loved one, and the ever-complex dynamic between parent and child, no matter their age. Content notices: Mental illness, animal cruelty/death, death, grief, abuse.
Content notices: Sexism, misogyny, mental illness, blood, ableism, violence.
1. Noham 1. Plastic Touch
Page 50
Country: Spain Runtime: 12’00 Nominated for: Editing (David Alonso Beliën, Leonor Segovia)
4. By Fire
Page 41
Page 48
Country: Belgium Runtime: 18’58 Nominated for: Fiction (Gillie Cinneri)
2. On Purpose (Mèta)
6. Nøkkelbarn
Country: UK Runtime: 12’55 Nominated for: Cinematography (Evan Bridges)
Page 57
Country: UK Runtime: 11’49 Nominated for: Costume Design (Victoria Lucy White)
Page 49
5. The House of Residue (La Maison des Résidue)
Page 43
Country: France Runtime: 3’31 Nominated for: Experimental (Noah Jachez)
Country: Argentina & Venezuela Runtime: 8’00 Nominated for: Experimental (Verónica Albornoz, Muriel Sago and Florencia Silva)
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6. Hubble’s Law Country: Lithuania Runtime: 17’58 Nominated for: Directing (Arnas Balčiūnas)
Page 49
Country: Norway Runtime: 21’16 Nominated for: Fiction (Sindre Mangen Haram)
Page 54
3. Daddy
Page 42
4. Mum’s Spaghetti
Page 47
Country: Germany Runtime: 11’13 Nominated for: Directing (Ella Knortz)
3. Drown the Name (Ahogar El Nombre)
Page 40
Country: Belgium Runtime: 14’49 Nominated for: Performance (Stanislav Duvetter)
Country: Lithuania Runtime: 15’00 Nominated for: Performance (Elena Vasiliauskaitė)
2. What Lies Between Us
5. Allégresse
7. To the Moon and Back
Page 56
(月見ごこち)
Country: Japan Runtime: 12’05 Nominated for: Animation (Li Shuqin)
Page 45
Country: UK Runtime: 10’53 Nominated for: Animation (Lisa Kenney) Production Design (Luke Stronach)
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1 March 2024 15:30 - 17:30 GMT Fitzpatrick Hall, Queens’ College
SCREENING: JOURNEY
2 March 2024 10:30 - 12:00 GMT Fitzpatrick Hall, Queens’ College
SCREENING: HOME
Our lives can be understood in terms of passage from one stage to another, and these shorts focus on pivotal and vastly different periods in the lives of their protagonists. From journeys to end a life to ones that strive towards new beginnings, these films document both literal and figurative transformations of character and relationships.
Home is the space of shelter defined by feelings of safety and security. These films challenge this definition exploring what it means to have, lose and search for somewhere to call home. Content notices: Mental illness, animal cruelty/death, death, grief, abuse.
Content notices: Animal cruelty/death, death, grief, suicide and/or self-injurious behaviours, needles, pregnancy and/or childbirth, hateful language directed towards religious groups.
1. Bits 1. Song of the Tadpole
Page 51
Country: UK Runtime: 07’39 Nominated for: Original Film Music (Louis Marlowe)
4. The Globe Trotters
Page 53
Page 40
Country: UK Runtime: 3’08 Nominated for: Animation (Rosa Sawyers)
Page 44
Country: UK Runtime: 23’00 Nominated for: Screenplay (Roger Alsina Uribe)
Page 46
Country: Germany Runtime: 18’56 Nominated for: Cinematography (Leon Hörtrich) Sound Design (Auksė Jurevičiūtė, Marius Pakštas)
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6. Common Ground
Page 42
Country: USA Runtime: 15’39 Nominated for: Costume Design (Gabriel Patrick Snyder)
2. Song of Waves (Le Chant des Vagues)
Page 52
5. Paradise Express
3. Homemaker
Page 45
Country: UK Runtime: 12’00 Nominated for: Screenplay (Solomon Smith)
Page 50
Country: Israel Runtime: 16’52 Nominated for: Screenplay (Neta Benyamini)
Country: UK Runtime: 9’00 Nominated for: Social Impact (Ciara Kerr)
3. In the Rough (Matter Sommer)
Page 52
Country: Iran & USA Runtime: 14’00 Nominated for: Production Design (Saman Hosseinpuor)
Country: France Runtime: 4’37 Nominated for: Social Impact (Colombe de Vallavieille)
2. Four Deaths
5. Suitcase
6. Near Light
7. Cloudy
Page 41
Country: Singapore Runtime: 6’59 Nominated for: Sound Design (Lee Zhaoheng Ryan)
Page 48
Country: UK Runtime: 15’25 Nominated for: Documentary (Niccolò Salvato)
4. The Steak
Page 55
Country: Iran Runtime: 8’13 Nominated for: Directing (Kiarash Dadgar)
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SCREENING: MEMORY
2 March 2024 12:30 - 14:00 GMT Fitzpatrick Hall, Queens’ College
SCREENING: BECOMING
2 March 2024 14:30 - 16:00 GMT Fitzpatrick Hall, Queens’ College
These films hold a desire to remember and a fear of forgetting. Memory of a place, situation or individual can stimulate environmental thinking and inspire a call to action. Memories can also be disorientating; they can be distorted and fleeting, twisting the shape and form of the films themselves.
Spanning cultures and continents, fiction and documentary, these five films explore critical junctures in the formation of identity. Whether it be the calculated curation of an online image or the process of interrogating one’s future, these films grapple with the process of ‘becoming’, of accepting - or rejecting - oneself and their decisions.
Content notices: Death, Grief, Flashing imagery, Abuse
Content notices: Sexism and/or misogyny, abuse, pornographic content, death, grief, suicide and/or self-injurious behaviours, transphobia, blood, mental illness, needles.
1. Remember?
Page 51
Country: UK Runtime: 12’38 Nominated for: Costume Design (Florence Earnshaw)
4. Lullaby For The Lost
Page 47
Country: UK Runtime: 15’00 Nominated for: Experimental (Tom Potter)
Page 54
Country: Italy Runtime: 11’01 Nominated for: Documentary (Veronica Ciceri)
3. Walking In These Shoes Country: Canada Runtime: 12’21 Nominated for: Social Impact (Christian Hui, Samuel López)
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Page 56
5. The Birthday Party (Il Compleanno di Enrico)
Page 57
Country: Germany Runtime: 16’18 Nominated for: Editing (Luis Schubert)
Sound Design (Haydon Anderso)
2. The Last Skiers
1. vic
Page 53
Country: Germany, France, Italy Runtime: 17’16 Nominated for: Production Design (Paula Meuthen) Editing (Francesco Sossai) Cinematography (Giulia Schelhas)
2. Idrissa Abara
Page 55
Country: USA Runtime: 03’45 Nominated for: Original Film Music (Aalisha Jaisinghani)
Page 46
Country: Spain Runtime: 10’40 Nominated for: Performance (Jorel Paranoidomm)
3. Do You See Me in the Camera (湖水)
4. The W(hole)
5. Harvest
Page 44
Country: UK Runtime: 21’38 Nominated for: Documentary (Sophia Seymour)
Page 43
Country: China Runtime: 10’44 Nominated for: Original Film Music (Zheng Liu)
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RTS EAST STUDENT AWARDS
FRIDAY EVENTS DOORS OPEN
19:45 EVENT
20:00 - 21:00 DRINKS RECEPTION
Join us at the Cambridge Union for the official opening of Watersprite 2024.
21:00 - 22:30
We are delighted to invite you to the RTS East Student Awards 2024! Join us to celebrate this year’s fantastic selection of student films from across the East of England, in categories including Drama, Animation, Factual and Craft Skills. The Awards ceremony and reception will be hosted on Friday, 1st March 2024 at the Old Divinity School, St John’s College, University of Cambridge, in collaboration with Watersprite International Student Film Festival. The event is ticketed and spaces are limited. To book your ticket, please register on the RTS website or scan the QR code.
ENTRANCE AND REGISTRATION
DRINKS RECEPTION IS INVITE ONLY
AWARDS CEREMONY
18:15
19:00 - 20:00
DRINKS RECEPTION
CANAPÉS AND DRINKS
18:15 - 19:00
20:00 - 22:00
The livestream will be public on our website accessible for free with our Online Festival Pass
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THANK YOU
TO OUR INCREDIBLE WORKSHOP FACILITATORS FOR MAKING THIS DAY POSSIBLE.
This year we launched Watersprite Hubs - a day of free training and community building for aspiring filmmakers across the UK. This day is for anyone struggling to find their next steps in film and reaches those who fall between the gaps of existing training schemes and access initiatives.
WE SELECTED 90 OF THE MOST EXCITING AND PROMISING EMERGING ARTISTS ACROSS 6 STRANDS:
Producing Writing Editing Cinematography Production Design Documentary Filmmaking
Helen Simmons Producing Strand
Daniel Lawrence Taylor
Anne Morrison
Brian Woods
Documentary Strand
Documentary Strand
Nick Read
Documentary Strand
Writing Strand
Editing Strand
Col Goudie
Laura Morrod Editing Strand
Production Design Strand
Christina Moore
Tom Wightman
Harriet Edge
Ciara Gaughan
Shobha Pand
Hubs was created by emerging filmmakers for emerging filmmakers. We recognise how difficult it can be to enter the industry, and we are so excited to open up opportunities for those who need it the most. We hope to create a small change in the approach to training with big results for the individual. Thank you to all of our facilitators and to those who came to speak to our attendees at our Creative Careers Fair.
Pitching Workshop
Special thanks goes to Bray Film Studios for supporting all the accommodation for our Hubs cohort - making this day truly accessible to all. 24
Film4
Pitching Workshop
VFX Workshop
Kingdom Creative
Cinematography Strand
VFX Workshop
Salon
Editing Strand
VFX Workshop
Union VFX
CV & Showreel Workshop
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SATURDAY EVENTS
FIRST JOB IN FILM 2 March 2024
11:00 - 12:00 GMT
Main Hall, Old Divinity School
Do you want to be a filmmaker, but don’t know where to start? Join our panel of early career professionals who will be able to give you practical advice on how to start your career in film. From agent’s assistants, to runners, to trainee schemes this panel will cover a range of entry points into the world of film.
THE FESTIVAL HUB The Festival Hub is located in St John’s Old Divinity School and acts as the bustling centre of the festival throughout the weekend. Gather here while you wait, relax between events and and meet our committee members. To mark our 15th year anniversary, this year we are delighted to present the Watersprite Gallery, showcasing the impact the festival and its alumni have had since the festival started in 2009. Within the gallery is our Micro Cinema with a rotating programme of past interviews, films and more. This is also the place to purchase our exclusive Watersprite 2024 merchandise and to enter our 15th anniversary raffle. The top prize is two festival passes to Raindance (worth £300) and tickets are just £1 so be sure to try your luck!
Information Stand Watersprite Merchandise Networking Space Watersprite Gallery Raffle Station
Finding a first job in film can be daunting - hear from our panellists Charlotte Matheson (Producer of film podcast Girls on Film and Mark Kermode’s Live in 3D at the BFI), James Macnab (Production Assistant for Coptertura Productions), Matthew Gray (Agent’s Assistant for Curtis Brown), Mojola Akinyemi (BFI Trainee Scheme recipient, writer/director), Chakira Alin (writer/director) and Hannah Samuel-Ogbu (Development Intern) on how to take those steps and put yourself in the best position to start your career! This panel will be followed by an informal networking session in our Festival Hub.
Charlotte Matheson
Charlotte was the Festival Director of Watersprite Film Festival 2023 and whilst studying, she worked for the internationally-recognised Young Director Award in Paris as Project Manager. Now she produces the world’s top podcast for women in film, Girls On Film, and the monthly chat show, Mark Kermode Live in 3D at the BFI. Recently, she hosted the London Premiere of Carol Morley’s TYPIST ARTIST PIRATE KING at Raindance Film Festival.
Hannah Samuel-Ogbu
Hannah currently works in Scripted Development at Carnival Films (Downton Abbey, Stan Lee’s Lucky Man, Belgravia). She has previously worked as a Reader and Script Editor at production companies such as Esperanto Filmoj and Terra Kulture. Alongside her day job, she works as a Freelance Producer, having worked across TV, Theatre, Film and Documentary. Her most recent producing work includes EMIN AIRI (dir. Mojola Akinyemi), a horror short which just premiered at the BFI.
OPEN ON: Saturday Sunday 26
10:30 - 17:00 GMT 10:30 - 12:00 GMT 27
FIRST JOB IN FILM 2 March 2024
11:00 - 12:00 GMT
Main Hall, Old Divinity School
Mojola Akinyemi
Mojola Akinyemi is a filmmaker and playwright. She is an alumni of the 2021 BFI Academy x BAFTA Mentorship Program and the BFI Academy x Lux Artists Programme. Her most recent screenplay, ‘baby’ was shortlisted for the Watersprite Screenplay Competition 2023 and is currently in development. She is a current member of the Momentum programme run by We Are Parable, and she is the founder of the theatre and film production collective Tigers, Not Daughters.
James Macnab
Since being Head of Events for Watersprite 2022 James has gone on to work as a runner at Lipsync Post and as a production assistant on an upcoming feature film by Coptertura Productions. In 2023 he co-wrote his first short film, ‘Danced’, and is currently writing more LGBTQ+ stories for the screen.
PICK ME! FROM BRIDGERTON TO AN ANATOMY OF A FALL - HOW TO MAKE A HIT 2 March 2024
12:30 - 13:30 GMT
Main Hall, Old Divinity School
After last year’s Barbenheimer phenomenon, we’ve all become more aware of the power of film marketing. But how exactly did they gain such hype? Join us for a panel discussion taking a look into how to make a hit - from selling an indie French film to UK audiences, to building suspense for a long-awaited sequel. We’ll be joined by Sara Frain, Director of Marketing and Distribution for Picturehouse Cinemas (behind the UK release of films such as Anatomy of a Fall and Scrapper), Kat Blair, founder of her own publicity company and certified expert in building buzz for new releases (behind Bridgerton and I Hate Suzie), as well as Cathy Anderson, former Publicity Director for 20th Century Fox, and founder of North of the Wood, a creative PR consultancy.
Cathy Anderson
With over 20 years of experience Cathy is an award winning communications consultant, strategic publicist and creative producer. She was Publicity Director at Twentieth Century Fox working with some of the world’s most pioneering filmmakers and critically acclaimed films. In 2019 she founded her company North of the Wood, which focuses on strategy, partnerships, content and publicity. Cathy is also coach and mentor for those in the early stages of their career in film publicity and beyond.
Chakira Alin
Chakira is a writer/actor/director. Chakira was a member of the Footlights and her debut play Heroes won the inaugural Mustapha Matura Award as well as the Marlowe Other Prize. As a result of her win, she was mentored for a year by playwright Roy Williams MBE. She is an alumnus of the Royal Court Introductory Writers’ Group. Chakira recently set up her own production company, Quite the Cowboy, and is working on a slate of film projects.
Kat Blair
Matthew Gray
Sara Frain
Matthew Gray currently works at Curtis Brown, where they are an Assistant to three Agents in the Theatre, Film and Television department, supporting an exciting array of showrunners, screenwriters, directors, and producers. Prior to this, they have worked freelance as a script reader, script editor, and an assistant on the Screen Fringe stage-to-screen project with Screen Scotland and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
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Kat’s background is in TV production and she has been working in publicity for over 15 years. Recent award-winning projects include Bridgerton, I Hate Suzie & Patrick Melrose. On deciding to go freelance at the end of 2016 Kat Blair Publicity was born. Clients include Netflix, BBC, Sky, Endor Productions, Little Island Productions, Balloon Entertainment & Rollem Productions.
A Marketing and Film Distribution Director with more than 25 years of experience and a collaborative leader in the industry, Sara has overseen the marketing of over 200 independent films in the UK. She is known for her innovative and forward-thinking strategies across an extensive range of brands and campaigns and currently oversees the strategy of all films released by Picturehouse Entertainment. She is akso responsible for the marketing and brand of Picturehouse Cinemas.
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AARDMAN’S VERY SMALL CREATURES
REIMAGINING THE FILM SET ACCESS AS THE NEW NORM 2 March 2024
12:30 - 13:30 GMT
Lightfoot Room, Old Divinity School
Whilst many able-bodied actors are admired and given awards for their portrayal of disabled characters, there are still countless boundaries to entering the world of film as a disabled artist. However, in the past few years artists and activists have been campaigning to make sure that the screen industries, be that sets, cinemas or make-up trailers, really are a space accessible to everyone. We will be joined by the formidable Julie Fernandez (The Office), the UK and Europe’s leading Access Coordinator; and rising star Connor Curren (Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, CBBC’s Dodger), the first autistic actor to play Christopher in the National Theatre’s Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, to discuss the current climate of being disabled artists both in front of and behind the camera, and how creating an accessible film set should be the default - and never an afterthought.
2 March 2024
13:30 - 14:30 GMT
Main Hall, Old Divinity School
One of the very first names that comes to mind when thinking about animation is the legendary makers of Wallace and Gromit, otherwise known as Aardman. We are so excited to be joined by animator and director Lucy Izzard to share her journey of directing her first series with Aardman. The Very Small Creatures is the BAFTA-nominated series from Aardman, commissioned by Sky Kids. The series follows the adventures of five toddler-like clay creatures who explore a child’s play area when no one’s around – learning about their physical world, themselves and each other, through curiosity, play and heaps of fun. If you’ve ever wondered about the whimsical and gruelling world of stop-motion animation, this is a talk you don’t want to miss! There will be a chance for a Q&A with Lucy during this session.
Julie Fernandez
Julie Fernandez is an Actress, Campaigner and Consultant. In her 30 year acting career she was the first wheelchair using actor in a long running soap as well as Brenda in The Office. She is also a documentary maker, Disability Rights Campaigner and Accessiblity Trainer. Julie is the most experienced Access Coordinator in Europe. In her new role at Casarotto Ramsey & Associates, Julie will lead on training and then representation of access coordinators entering the industry.
Lucy Izzard
Lucy Izzard is a BAFTA-nominated writer and animation director at Aardman Animations. She created and directed the stop-frame preschool series The Very Small Creatures. A Kingston-Upon-Thames University alumnus, she has worked with multiple renowned animation companies since winning the BBC Three New Talent Award for Animation in 2005.
Connor Curren
Connor Curren is an autistic actor who made his stage debut starring in the National Theatre’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Connor has also recently appeared in Casualty and CBBC’s Dodger alongside Nicola Coughlan and Christopher Ecclestone.
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HOW TO BE A GOOD BOY
THE SOUND OF CINEMA 2 March 2024
15:00 - 16:00 GMT
Main Hall, Old Divinity School
Calling all film music enthusiasts - From blockbuster action to heartfelt drama, explore the art of composing music that brings movies to life. Whether you’re an aspiring composer or simply fascinated by the magical world of film music, this event is for you. Two award-winning industry professionals Natalie Holt (Paddington, Loki) and Oleta Haffner (Note of Defiance) will discuss what makes an original score iconic, how to encapsulate and enhance emotion with music, and how to forge a career in the film industry as a composer. Get ready to dive deep into the world of film scoring and gain valuable insights from those who do it best! There will be a chance for a Q&A with Natalie and Oleta during this session.
2 March 2024
15:00 - 16:00 GMT
Lightfoot Room, Old Divinity School
King Baby is your newest queer obsession. Kit & Arran first met as love rivals ten years ago, pistols at dawn and all that jazz…but they both survived unscathed and discovered a shared passion for crafting mischievous, provocative and genre-bending stories. They are now the trans/cis co-writing/directing duo you never knew you needed, making work that is characterised by challenging inequity through absurdist humour and searing allegory. Join us for a talk discussing transness, masculinity, and artifice. If you’ve ever wondered how healthy collaboration works on a film set, this talk is for you! Both award-winning professionals, Kit & Arrran will also be talking about their past projects, as well as the planned duology of films to follow King Baby. There will be a chance for a Q&A with Kit & Arran during this session.
Oleta Haffner
Oleta Haffner BMus MMus ALCM is the Jonas Gwangwa Composition Initiative Award Winning composer based in the UK. Her collaborative spirit has led her to work with directors across a spectrum of mediums, including films, animations, and theatre productions. She has also composed music for the concert hall. Oleta has contributed her musical talents to a variety of animated shorts featured on Mashed, a Channel 4 YouTube channel. Her portfolio also includes music for awardwinning, Oscar, and Bafta-qualifying short documentary film, “Note of Defiance,” as well as the short films ‘Aurora’, ‘Just Jackie’, and ‘Bye Love’.
Natalie Holt
Natalie Holt is a multi-award winning British composer who trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the National Film & Television School. She is the first woman to score a live action Star Wars project. Her numerous film and television credits include the Obi-Wan Kenobi (Disney+) with John Williams, the Marvel television series Loki (starring Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson), the Netflix film Fever Dream (Dir: Claudia Llosa) the BBC’s Wallander (starring Kenneth Branagh), Knightfall (starring Mark Hamill), Paddington (starring Hugh Bonneville), Deadwater Fell (starring David Tennant) and the award-winning BBC drama Three Girls.
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Kit & Arran
Arran has twenty years of experience in the film industry directing narrative features and music videos for major labels. Kit comes from a background of award-winning writing and directing for theatre, with a particular focus on honing performance. As a trans and cis male duo, their work often investigates and critiques masculinity, identity and the normative structures that so often go unquestioned. Kit & Arran’s first co-written/directed feature, King Baby, was completed in 2023 and will premiere at International Film Festival Rotterdam 2024.
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POOR THINGS: BUILDING THE SURREAL 2 March 2024
16:00 - 17:00 GMT
Main Hall, Old Divinity School
Yorgos Lanthimos’ multi-Oscar-nominated feature Poor Things has left audiences pleasantly disturbed. Set in surreal reflections of European cities (London, Lisbon, Paris), its world is as quirky and bizarre as Bella Baxter’s journey through it. Creative Director and Visual Effects Supervisor Simon Hughes (All of Us Strangers, The French Dispatch, District 9) leads a masterclass on how visual effects can bring worlds of pure imagination to life.
Simon Hughes
Creative Director Simon Hughes joined Union VFX in 2012, bringing with him a rare breadth of knowledge gained from nearly two decades of experience with studios in both the UK and Canada. Hughes’ early experience working on the likes of Gladiator, several of the Harry Potter films and Kingdom of Heaven gave him a firm grounding in the production of high-end visual effects for blockbuster features. Simon’s work on Poor Things has earned him a BAFTA award nomination for Special Visual Effects and was also shortlisted for the 96th Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects.
WATERSPRITE AWARDS WITH ZOOLOGY MUSEUM AMAZON MGM STUDIOS Brought to you by Amazon MGM Studios, our Awards Ceremony will celebrate the incredible work of 36 nominated films from 17 countries across the globe. From Argentina to Singapore, this is sure to be a spectacular evening of international talent. Be sure not to miss the highlight of the weekend.
(invite only)
19:00 Late TUNE IN ONLINE FOR FREE
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NEW IN 2024:
THE SCRIPT COMPASS DEVELOPMENT PRIZE “Script Compass is a multi-awardwinning screenplay development company working internationally across all creative industries. We work with filmmakers and production companies to ensure projects progress rapidly and achieve their full potential. Our awardwinning screenplays inspire actors, captivate producers, and motivate investors. We are excited to announce our collaboration with this year’s Script Compass Development Award winner. Our goal is to work together to transform their short film into a full-length feature. Using our method of Process-driven development, we apply a combination of analytical tools to uncover the script’s workings. These tools are based on pragmatic understandings of how stories work, how drama is created, what actors need from characters, and how cinematic storytelling works on the page.”
Join us in a final celebration as we re-screen a selection of winning films - announced at the Watersprite Awards with Amazon MGM Studios. After the screening, all attendees are welcome to attend our closing reception in the University Arms Hotel where tea, coffee and pastries will be provided. A final chance to speak with fellow festival-goers as we wrap up this year’s festival.
Arts Picturehouse
- The Script Compass Team
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Please note: content warnings will be provided at the door
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NOMINATED FILMS
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Our 1758 submissions have been whittled down to 36 selected films from 17 countries. Thank you to our nominee travel sponsor, Amazon MGM Studios, for helping us welcome the 46 nominated filmmakers to the festival this year. Keep reading to find out more about the selected films and the awards they are nominated for. The winning filmmakers will be announced at the Watersprite Awards with Amazon MGM Studios (page 35).
GENRE AWARDS SEVEN.ONE STUDIOS FICTION AWARD
Allégresse
DOCUMENTARY AWARD
Harvest
ANIMATION AWARD
Bits
UNION VFX EXPERIMENTAL AWARD
Drown the Name
Nøkkelbarn
Near Light
Mum’s Spaghetti The House of Residue
The Steak
The Last Skiers To the Moon and Back Lullaby for the Lost
SPECIAL AWARDS AND PRIZES WYCHWOOD MEDIA SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD NEIL GAIMAN FILM OF THE YEAR AWARD
Homemaker
Song of the Waves
DADDY
Hubble’s Law
The Steak
CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD
By Fire
In The Rough
The Birthday Party
SALON EDITING AWARD
Plastic Touch
The Birthday Party
vic
SCREENPLAY AWARD
Common Ground
Four Deaths
Paradise Express
ORIGINAL FILM MUSIC AWARD
Do You See Me In The Camera
Song of the Tadpole
The W(hole)
UNITED AGENTS PERFORMANCE AWARD
Idrissa Abara
Noham
On Purpose
PRODUCTION DESIGN AWARD
Mum’s Spaghetti
The Birthday Party
The Suitcase
COSTUME DESIGN AWARD
Remember?
The Globe Trotters
What Lies Between us
SOUND DESIGN AWARD
Cloudy
In The Rough
Lullaby for the Lost
Walking in These Shoes
The Winners of Best Fiction, Best Animation, Best Documentary, and Best Experimental go head-to-head for the top award of the evening.
KINGDOM CREATIVE AUDIENCE AWARD
This is your chance to pick a favourite! Vote online or in-person for your favourite film. The winner will be announced at our Awards Ceremony with Amazon MGM Studios.
SCRIPT COMPASS DEVELOPMENT PRIZE
Selected by Script Compass, the winner of this prize will receive a development package to transform their short into a feature.
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DIRECTING AWARD
Nominee Travel Sponsor:
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Allégresse Serge, a funeral agent, finds himself entrusted with the custody of his daughter, Inès, as well as the ashes of a stranger. Screening: 1 March 13:00 - 15:00 Runtime: 10’53 Country: Belgium Nominations: Fiction (Gillie Cinneri)
Bits A short animation exploring the surreal beauty of nature and biology. Screening: 2 March 10:30 - 12:00 Runtime: 13’08 Country: UK Nominations: Animation (Rosa Sawyers)
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By Fire Anya is a wide-eyed uncorrupted understudy who has to replace the actress she idealises in the role of Medea, as she navigates within a morally distorted theatre company. Screening: 1 March 10:30 - 12:00 Runtime: 12’55 Country: UK Nominations: Cinematography (Evan Bridges)
Cloudy While avoiding a conversation with his mum, Elliot encounters a peculiar little creature in need of his assistance! Screening: 2 March 10:30-12:00 Runtime: 12’55 Country: Singapore Nominations: Sound Design (Lee Zhaoheng Ryan)
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Common Ground When Dylan returns from university to his rural childhood home he faces a decision between his duty to the land and his desire for freedom. Screening: 2 March 10:30 - 12:00 Runtime: 12’00 Country: UK Nominations: Screenplay – Solomon Smith
Daddy A young woman rents a dad for one evening. Screening: 1 March 13:00 - 15:00 Runtime: 11’13 Country: Germany Nominations: Directing (Ella Knortz)
Do You See Me In The Camera (湖水) An independent filmmaker meets Xiaojie at a LGBTQ event. She keeps following and recording Xiaojie’s life, until she dies in an accident. Screening: 2 March 14:30 - 16:00 Runtime: 10’44 Country: China, UK Nominations: Original Film Music (Zheng Liu)
Drown the Name (Ahogar El Nombre) A woman awakens in her subconscious but does not recognize it. The incessant search for a sphere that will give her back what she has lost will lead her to a power struggle that seems to have no end. Screening: 1 March 10:30 - 12:00 Runtime: 8’00 Country: Argentina, Venezuela Nominations: Experimental (Verónica Albornoz, Muriel Sago, Florencia Silva)
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Four Deaths Story of a man told in four episodes where each one revolves around a death. Screening: 1 March 15:30 - 17:30 Runtime: 23’00 Country: UK Nominations: Screenplay (Roger Alsina Uribe)
Harvest A raw and visceral exploration of the director’s personal journey harvesting eggs in the midst of uncertainty around motherhood. Screening: 2 March 14:30 - 16:00 Runtime: 21’38 Country: UK Nominations: Documentary (Sophia Seymour)
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Homemaker Anya is a wide-eyed uncorrupted understudy who has to replace the actress she idealises in the role of Medea, as she navigates within a morally distorted theatre company. Screening: 1 March 10:30 - 12:00 Runtime: 12’55 Country: UK Nominations: Cinematography (Evan Bridges)
Hubble’s Law (Hablo Desnis) A mute guy struggles to fit in at a construction site. Tensions rise among the workers when a colleague gets badly injured. Screening: 1 March 10:30 - 12:00 Runtime: 17’58 Country: Lithuania Nominations: Directing (Arnas Balčiūnas)
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Idrissa Abara Idrissa, an ill scrap-metal collector living in Barcelona, gets back in touch with his roots when he discovers an unusual object amongst the garbage. As his health worsens, his creativity takes shape. Screening: 2 March 14:30 - 16:00 Runtime: 10’04 Country: Spain Nominations: Performance (Jorel Paranoidomm)
In the Rough (Matter Sommer) 13-year-old Linus, the son of success-oriented GermanLithuanian parents, begins to question the values of the adult world when he meets the fisherman Arūnas during a holiday in Lithuania. Screening: 1 March 15:30 - 17:30 Runtime: 18’56 Country: Germany Nominations: Cinematography (Leon Hörtrich) Sound Design (Auksė Jurevičiūtė, Marius Pakštas) 46
Lullaby for the Lost A sleeping man’s fading memory of his late Mother unravels through a recurring, hypermnesic dream that reverberates and transforms throughout his life, tracing from his final dream back to his first. Screening: 2March 12:30 - 14:00 Runtime: 15’00 Country: UK Nominations: Experimental (Tom Potter) Sound Design (Haydon Anderson)
Mum’s Spaghetti MC mastermind Poppy and her beatboxing border terrier Snoop are the new kids in town – and they’re ready to make their reputation known. Straight As and bubble baths are their way of life – but when confronted by an older crew en-route her first day at school, Poppy quickly changes her tune. Screening: 1 March 13:00 - 15:00 Runtime: 14’49 Country: UK Nominations: Animation (Lisa Kenney) Production Design (Luke Stronach) 47
Near Light A young man, convicted murderer, has a chance of redemption when he enters the best Italian university of economics, going back and forth from prison to university every day. Screening: 1 March 15:30 - 17:30 Runtime: 15’25 Country: Italy, UK Nominations: Documentary (Niccolò Salvato)
Noham
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Nøkkelbarn
Young Erik is forced to make a family-fracturing decision. Screening: 1 March 13:00 - 15:00 Runtime: 21’16 Country: Norway Nominations: Fiction (Sindre Mangen Haram)
On Purpose (Mèta)
Family drama about mental health, told through the eyes of a 7 year old
An 8-year-old girl Mėta is desperate to find help for her injured dog.
Screening: 1 March 13:00 - 15:00 Runtime: 14’49 Country: Belgium Nominations: Performance (Stanislav Duvetter)
Screening: 1 March 13:00 - 15:00 Runtime: 15’00 Country: Lithuania Nominations: Performance (Elena Vasiliauskaitė)
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Paradise Express Naomi is accompanying her terminally ill mother to undergo euthanasia in Switzerland. As the moment to say goodbye approaches, their walls of laughter and denial begin to crack. Screening: 1 March 15:30 - 17:30 Runtime: 16’52 Country: Israel Nominations: Screenplay (Neta Benyamini)
Plastic Touch Lucy has to choose between freedom and who she is in love with. Screening: 1 March 10:30 - 12:00 Runtime: 12’00 Country: Spain Nominations: Editing (David Beliën, Leonor Segovia)
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Remember?
An old divorced couple with Alzheimer’s see each other for the first time in 10 years. Screening: 2 March 12:30 - 14:00 Runtime: 12’38 Country: UK Nominations: Costume Design (Florence Earnshaw)
Song of the Tadpole The heart-warming life story of a girl and her pet tadpole. Screening: 1 March 15:30-17:30 Runtime: 7’39 Country: UK Nominations: Original Film Music (Louis Marlowe)
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Song of the Waves (Le Chant des Vagues) Adrift in the Mediterranean, a migrant boat is confronted with a strange phenomenon... Screening: 2 March 10:30 - 12:00 Runtime: 16’52 Country: France Nominations: Social Impact (Colombe de Vallavieille)
Suitcase Far from his own homeland, a Kurdish refugee lives in his suitcase. Screening: 2 March 10:30 - 12:00 Runtime: 15’00 Country: USA Nominations: Production Design (Saman Hosseinpuor, Ako Zandkarimi)
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The Birthday Party (Il Compleanno di Enrico)
December 1999. I remember that, amidst the Millennium Bug anxiety, I went to the birthday of Enrico, a kid who lived with his family in an old and isolated farmhouse. Screening: 2 March 12:30 - 14:00 Runtime: 17’16 Country: Germany, France, Italy Nominations: Editing (Francesco Sossai) Production Design (Paula Meuthen) Cinematography (Giulia Schelhas)
The Globe Trotters With the help of his friends, a terminally ill young man lives out his bucket-list, though not in the way he expected. Screening: 1 March 15:30 - 17:30 Runtime: 15’39 Country: USA Nominations: Costume Design (Gabriel Snyder)
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The House of Residue (La Maison des Résidus) The architecture logs of the WIPP nuclear waste disposal from 2030 to the year 10 000. Screening: 1 March 10:30 - 12:00 Runtime: 3’31 Country: France Nominations: Experimental (Noah Jachez)
The Last Skiers
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The Steak A birthday ceremony preparation gets upside down as something horrible takes place. Screening: 2 March 10:30 - 12:00 Runtime: 8’13 Country: Germany, France, Italy Nominations: Fiction (Kirash Dadgar) Directing (Kirash Dadgar)
The W(hole)
A precious statement on the fragility of nature, told by a generation of Italian skiers who have seen the slopes they learned to ski on turn into arid, yellow hills.
A 2D animated allegory based on my BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) experience and selfhealing process. It is about a girl who finds a hole in her body and embarks on a journey of filling it.
Screening: 2 March 12:30 - 14:00 Runtime: 11’01 Country: Italy, UK Nominations: Documentary (Veronica Ciceri)
Screening: 2 March 14:30-16:00 Runtime: 3’45 Country: USA Nominations: Original Film Music (Aalisha Jaisinghani)
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To the Moon and Back (月見ごこち)
Since I was born, the moon has circled the Earth 9,125 times. We all grew older with each orbit, but the moon never seems to age. A story about my grandma, her death, and my childhood. Screening: 1 March 13:00 - 15:00 Runtime: 12’05 Country: Japan, China Nominations: Animation (Shuqin Li)
Walking in these Shoes
A social justice inspired postmotem tribute to the late HIV activist Derek Yee, long-time volunteer of Casey House, who was denied admission to the HIVspecialty hospital during his end of life and died alone at home. Screening: 2 March 12:30 - 14:00 Runtime: 12’21 Country: Canada Nominations: Social Impact (Samuel Lopez, Christian Hui) 56
What Lies Between Us When two lovers wake up tangled in wildflowers in the middle of nowhere they must navigate the landscape and their insecurities as they struggle to confess how they feel. Screening: 1 March 10:30 - 12:00 Runtime: 11’49 Country: UK Nominations: Costume Design (Victoria White)
vic Vic is an influencer. A pornographic video depicting her appears online. She posts: deepfake! For real? Screening: 2 March 14:30 - 16:00 Runtime: 16’18 Country: Germany Nominations: Editing (Luis Schubert)
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Leading Partners and Award Sponsors
Donors
Venue Partners
ST JOHN’S COLLEGE
QUEENS’ COLLEGE
In Kind Partners
Prize Partners
Supported By With support of the BFI Film Audience Network, awarding funds from the National Lottery in order to bring this project to more audiences across the UK. 58
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SPECIAL MENTIONS We express our deepest gratitude to the numerous individuals and organisations whose support has been instrumental in shaping this festival into what it is. Thank you to our online judges for rating films during the first stage of selection. Thank you to our jurors for their thoughtful and essential contributions: Alasdair Bayne, Amy Richardson, Andreas van Riet, Andrei Lacraru, Ania Przygoda, Ann Herdman Smith, Anna Castelaz, Anne Morrison, Anny Tubbs, Anushka Naanayakkara, Apoorva Satish, Aubin Ramon, Azhur Saleem, Basile Vuillemin, Becca Nichols, Caio Bezerra, Careen Koleilat, Cathy Elliott, Clara Kokseby, Clara Zita, Cynthia Okoye, Daniel Karslake, Daniel Maculan, Danny Moltrasi, Dave Fox, David Williams, Devyani Shekar Claeys, Edward Bulmer, Effie Pappa, Ellen Jones, Emer Landers, Emma Dennis-Edwards, EmmoLei Sankofa, Eugenia Hamilton, Felix Klee, Geoffrey Maguire, Hakan Çelik, Hannah Collins, Hannah Goodier, He Zhu, Iain Whitewright, Isabelle Croissant, Jamie-James Medina, Jared Taylor, Jeremy Page, Jermaine Blake, Jessica Riches, Jezza Neumann, Jim Cornish, Johanna von Fischer, Joshua Freemantle, Karla Williams, Katie Battcock, Laura Jayne Hodkin, Lewis Brierly, Lewis Taylor, Lotte Thomas, Lucinda Syson, Lucy Donaldson, Lucy Wilcox, Lucy Williams, Lynn Song, Mahyar Mandegar, Malaika Bova, Marcel Theroux, Mariayah Kaderbhai, Marina Ortega Mira, Matisse Gonzalez, Matthew Gray, Matyas fekete, Melusine Loveniers, Michal Sikora, Mimi Vlaovic, Mina N. Köksal, Nat Hill, Natasja Briers, Neil Henderson, Nick Godart, Nick Long, Nick Read, Nicky Bligh, Nisha Parti, Oliver Kassman, Pedro Aquino, Philip Ilson, Quentin Haberham, Raluca Petre, Ro Rowan, Rosemary Baker, Rupert Jones, S. J. Jananiy, Sam Heasman, Sebastiana A. Etzo, Sheida Sheikhha, Simon van der Borgh, Sophie Stemmons, Stefan Henrix, Sukey Venables-Fisher, Suri Krishnamma, Susi Wilkinson, Sverre Sordal, Thalia Witherford, Tomas Vengris, Vicky Smith, Victor Fan
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Amy Cresswell Anglia Ruskin University Cathy Anderson Claire Mohacek David Williams Elaine Sterne Harriet Edge-Partington Jemma Buckley Kat Blair Leah Byrne Lorcan O’Neill Melisa Tracy
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NAHEMI St John’s College Cambridge Nick Long The BFI Film Audience Nick Yeandle Network Philip Greer The Film & TV Charity Natalie Hill The Film Hub South East team Queens’ College Cambridge The Team at Kingdom Richard DeCordova Creatives Rose Butler The Young Film Network team Rowena Herdman-Smith Trinity Hall Cambridge Sam Heasman Union VFX Sam White William McGregor Shobha Pandya
THANK YOU FROM THE CHAIR Over the last 15 years I have had the pleasure of chairing Watersprite, seeing filmmakers flourish and our community grow. This year is particularly special as we are initiating several new strands, bringing more film lovers together than ever before. I extend a warm welcome to our new Student Ambassadors from Warwick, Edinburgh, Bristol, UCL and Aberystwyth and to our inaugural Hubs cohort of over 70 aspiring filmmakers from all corners of the UK. And of course, a welcome to our extraordinary nominees, who have travelled from all around the world to share their fantastic films with us and celebrate new voices in international cinema. It is thanks to so many individuals and organisations that Watersprite has grown the way it has and reached this 15-year milestone. I would like to thank our dedicated Board of Trustees: Brian Woods, Farhana Bhula, Femi Ladeinde, Bernadette Schramm and Dorothy Byrne and our Steering Committee Helen Simmons, Anna Keeley, Isobel Leigh and Chiara Di Filippo. Their constant guidance is truly invaluable. Of course, thanks also to the incredible student team who balance running the day to day of the festival with their studies. Two demanding full-time tasks! Special thanks must go to this year’s multi-talented Festival Director Zeb Goriely, Head of Awards Ruby Power, Head of Communications Amenie Groves, Head of Creative Futures Claudia Vogt, CoHeads of Partnerships Tess Bottomley and Izzy
Candela, Co-Heads of Video Production Jack Seaden and Lucas Warren, Head of Alumni Relations Hannah Brecher and Treasurer Bonham Bax. A special thanks to Head of Events Flora O’Neill for her remarkable determination in pioneering our new access day, Watersprite Hubs. Plus a huge thank you from all of us to Producer Amber Hyams who has tirelessly joined all of us and all the ideas and initiatives together. I must also thank our generous sponsors and partners, without whom none of this could happen. This year we welcome back loyal friends Amazon MGM Studios, Neil Gaiman, David Yates’ Wychwood Media, Seven.One Studios, Casarotto Ramsay, United Agents, RTS East, Young Director Award, Film Hub South East and Salon Rentals. We were also joined by new partners and sponsors Bray Film Studios, Kingdom Creative, Union VFX and Script Compass. We are so grateful to them for enriching and supporting our community. I hope you all enjoy the festival, meet some wonderful people and watch some wonderful films. And, finally, congratulations to all our nominees – we all look forward to following your future work and are thrilled you are now a part of the Watersprite community. Hilary Bevan Jones Festival Chair
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