Ones to watch: girls making films

Having see some incredible shorts at Underwire Festival over the past few days, and spoken with some ambitious and intelligent women about their work, I thought I would just mention a few of the films that made me feel proud of the work being produced by talented females in the UK. Look out for these ladies at future film festivals…

https://vimeo.com/70256090

Bear Trap – South African storyteller Ceara McEvoy wrote, directed and produced this whimsical short looks at attraction and obsession in the midst of some fantastical settings. A deserved winner of the Under 25s category at Underwire.

https://vimeo.com/71270304

There’s A Tin Cup Rolling – A film by London-based filmmaker Oonagh Kearney, this reflective piece looks at chance encounters in East London. As a commission for Floating Cinema it nicely weaves the Regent’s Canal into the story.

Katya & The Scarlet Sails – Written and directed by Vika Evdokimenko, and edited by Hoping Chen (who was nominated in the Best Editor Competition), the film looks at the fantasy and reality of love of a young woman whose romantic notions are inspired by the Soviet 60s film, Scarlet Sails.

The German Who Came To Tea – Kerry Kolbe made this charming film that reveals the memories of Annie Day, who at 100 reminisces about an enduring friendship with a German Prisoner of War. It’s a heart warming tale told by a woman whose eyes still shine brightly at the memory of sharing fish and chips with a new friend.

The Trip – Prano Bailey-Bond won the and won the Best Director Award at Underwire for this short, originally made for Unchosen – Film Campaigns Against Human Trafficking. Based on the real case study of a young Vietnamese man trafficked to the UK, it’s a harrowing and moving piece of work. Prano also made this spooky little music video a few years ago.

And if you missed Underwire this year look out for future celebratory screenings and insightful events at the website.