Featuring:
Run Like We
Dir. Rhys Aaron Lewis (UK)
It’s the 2012 London Olympics and the whole world is going crazy for the fastest man on the planet: Usain Bolt. Everyone apart from Alvin, an awkward 14 year-old who hates sports and constantly disappoints his Jamaican father, Lester – an ex-athlete who can’t understand why his son is “so soft”. So when Alvin is unexpectedly nominated to represent his class in the upcoming school sports day, it could be his last chance to make his dad proud and prove that he can be just like Bolt.
RISE
Dir. Jessica Rowlands (Zimbabwe)
A charismatic young boy who lives on a rubbish dump in Zimbabwe must convince a reclusive boxing coach to teach him to fight, and find safety and strength in a world that has left him behind.
A Friend of Dorothy
Dir. Lee Knight (UK)
Dorothy (BAFTA winner Miriam Margolyes) is a lonely widow whose body is failing, but her mind remains bright as a button. When 17-year-old JJ (Alistair Nwachukwu) accidentally kicks his football into her garden, he upends Dorothy’s daily routine of pills, prunes and crosswords, and an unlikely friendship blossoms. Despite being worlds apart in every way, the two come to find they have more in common than they could ever imagine. The cast includes Stephen Fry and Oscar Lloyd.
Lola
Dir. Grace Hanna (USA)
After Tessie’s grandmother, Lola, is diagnosed with dementia, Tessie makes it her mission to save Lola’s memories. Tessie has created a machine that transports her inside Lola’s mind — a majestic library. Every memory is a book, and Tessie is trying to save one very dear to her: a memory of her and her grandma singing karaoke.
Leaving Ikorodu in 1999
Dir. Rashida Seriki (UK)
In Ikorodu, 10-year-old Momo lives with her aunt Fade and uncle Mahmoud but she has been sent for by her mother who migrated to London ahead of her. During the road-trip to the airport, Fade becomes increasingly unsure of whether Momo’s departure from Nigeria is truly for the best. Starring Tobi Bakre.
Complicated Grief
Julius Amedume (UK/ Switzerland)
The fate of a couple unfolds in an unsettling way.
Softy
Dir. Joshua Reeves (UK)
BFI Network funded short film starring Ashley Walters (Top Boy, Bulletproof).
Goodbye Mama
Dir. Mykea Fairweather-Perry (UK)
Abigail, a resilient 9-year-old girl, assumes the role of caregiver for her depressed mother, desperately hoping to keep their fragile family intact during a visit from their social worker. As Abigail skillfully conceals her mother’s struggles, she soon discovers the heavy burden of responsibility that threatens to steal away her own childhood.
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