Ffilm Cymru Wales sparks new short films

Beacons shines a light on Welsh talent, supporting emerging filmmakers from Wales to make a cinematic calling card with funding, training, mentoring and advice.

From Welsh language folk horror to animated documentary, this fresh slate of short films reflects Wales’ wealth of distinctive voices and vibrant stories. Ffilm Cymru are also proud to see two filmmakers progress from their Ffolio scheme with BBC Arts, BBC Cymru Wales and Arts Council of Wales, and continue their creative journey through film with Beacons. 

Introducing the 12 new short film projects to the Beacons development slate, BFI NETWORK Wales Manager Jude Lister comments, “These are all extraordinarily rich, compelling and relevant pieces of storytelling from Welsh talent across live-action fiction, documentary and animation. We’re thrilled to be supporting the projects’ development through Beacons.”

Fisitor

Writer/Director: Llŷr Titus
In this Welsh language folk horror, Ioan is mourning the loss of his husband when he is visited by a sinister presence. Writer Llŷr Titus won a Tir Na N-Og award for his debut novel Gwalia, and his first play Drych was produced by Cwmni'r Fran Wen.

G Flat

Writer/Director: Peter Darney
Producer: Brett Webb
An 84-year-old stroke survivor hires a sex worker, leading to an unexpected climax. Queer writer-director Peter Darney works in film and theatre. As a screenwriter Peter has various projects in development, including co-writing the feature film Dragged to Church with Eve Miles for Vox Pictures / Fullwell 73 and Clapham Trashbag based on his play 5 Guy’s Chillin’.

Geronimo

Writer/Director: Geraint Morgan
Producer: Catrin Lewis Defis
An amusement arcade owner fears that the old woman who inhabits his dreams is not only driving him mad, but also bleeding his business dry. Writer-director Geraint Morgan has a wealth of experience directing television for S4C among others, as well as across theatre, radio and novel writing.

Gobaith Mul

Writer: Melangell Dolma
Director: Sarah Bickerton
Beddgelert, an idyllic village in the heart of Eryri. But how can you make a life here amidst the wealthy tourists and holiday houses, especially if you're a young girl with no stable home, only a pair of holey trainers? Writer Melangell Dolma and director Sarah Bickerton have collaborated on various theatre productions, including Melangell's first play Bachu, which was directed by Sarah and performed at the National Eisteddfod in 2019.

Hell Week

Director: Gemma Green-Hope
Producer: Sofie Isenberg
Imagine spending half of every month falling apart and the other half picking up the pieces… and not even knowing why. This documentary blends 2D and stop-motion animation to visualise the experience of PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). Director Gemma Green-Hope has worked on short films, music videos, and commissions for organisations such as Mind Pembrokeshire and The School of Life.

Hounds of Annwn

Writer: Bethan B. Hughes
Directors: Bethan B. Hughes & Bryony Evans
Producer: Lauren Orme
Executive Producer: Helen Brunsdon
A 2D digital animation that tells the tale of a wounded warrior returning to their village only to be hunted by a pack of mysterious dogs. After a desperate pursuit, they must confront their past to find peace in their future. Directors Bethan B. Hughes and Bryony Evans have many years’ experience on animated TV series, and the film is produced by BAFTA-shortlisted Beacons alum Lauren Orme (Creepy Pasta Salad).

Lull

Writer/Director: Alice McKee
A strange young woman tells a bedtime story to an insomniac in this psychological thriller from Alice McKee, who was recently nominated for a BAFTA Cymru award for her short documentary The Nest.

The Queer Trichotemy 

Director: Ren Faulkner
Producer: Toby Cameron, On Par Productions
This documentary tells three queer stories through three life-changing appointments: a haircut, a tattoo and a massage. Director Ren Faulkner has previously made documentary shorts and worked with producer Toby Cameron’s On Par Productions as a Camera Operator and Editor, in addition to being Camera Assistant on several BBC Wales documentaries.

Seven

Writer/Director: Krystal S. Lowe
A woman wakes up, overwhelmed in the midst of a period of depression, until a car journey leads to a moment of unexpected vulnerability and release in which she reimagines herself. Dancer, choreographer and filmmaker Krystal S. Lowe made her debut short film Daughters of the Sea through Ffilm Cymru’s Ffolio scheme. Her follow up Complexity of Skin, co-written with Matthew Gough, was commissioned as part of the BBC’s Culture in Quarantine.

Spectre of the Bears

Writer: Ioan Morris
Director: Josh Hicks
One man’s obsession with crisps becomes unhealthy, and it’s not because he’s eating them. An animated comedy about nostalgia, corporate conspiracy and bear-shaped potato snacks. Writer Ioan Morris and director Josh Hicks share a love of graphic novels and comic books, having both released their own published works. Ioan has worked as a concept designer in animation and as a composer for audio dramas. Josh’s credits in animation include co-directing two music videos for the Foo Fighters.

Sputum Cup

Writer/Director: Oliver Gabe
After moving her elderly father into her living room to care for him, Beth begins to fantasize about the freedom and solitude of the Wild West in the old cowboy films her father watches relentlessly. Oliver Gabe has progressed from Ffilm Cymru’s Ffolio scheme, through which his debut short film The Sin Eater is in production.

White and Black

Writer: Nyla Webbe
Directors: Nyla Webbe & Onismo Muhlanga
Producer: Mohammed Miah
Two teenagers share their feelings, knowledge taboos and stigmas about having dual heritage. Writer-director Nyla Webbe is developing this drama with young people from Newport through creative education initiative G-Expressions.  

The teams will now develop their short films with guidance from Ffilm Cymru, BFI NETWORK Wales and BBC Cymru Wales, including training and mentoring opportunities for the filmmakers, before at least five are selected to progress into production at the end of November.

Nick Andrews, BBC Cymru Wales Head of Commissioning, says “What we’ve got here is an incredible range of stories from a brilliant cast of writer, directors and performers. This is why Beacons is so important it provides opportunity for Welsh creatives to do important and distinctive work, work that could go on to hit iPlayer and be seen across the UK. Ultimately the commissioned few will become a delightful boxset and delight audiences.”

Six Beacons shorts are currently available to stream free on BBC iPlayer, featuring Hannah Daniel and Georgia Lee’s dark comedy Burial, Sion Thomas’ farming drama Dirt Ash Meat, Tina Pasotra’s story of empowerment and resilience I Choose, Joseph Ollman’s coming-of-age thriller Bitter Sky, Clare Sturges’ poignant exploration of grief The Arborist, and Efa Blosse-Mason’s charming animated love story Cwch Deilen.