Synopsis: Set in their vibrant but increasingly claustrophobic houseshare, Lisa’s neurosis begins to spiral out of control when she notices an ungodly torment, a plaguing horror...Ray has one whistling nostril. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 18:00: SHORTS SHOWCASE...

Synopsis: When Brian and Sammy, best friends since high school, meet up for their yearly Halloween night of trick or treating, Sammy needs to accept that growing up means the future of their friendship might look a little different for them. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY...

Synopsis: Are you tired of watching depressing or overly serious short films over and over again? Our film will introduce you to the world of alcoholic hideouts and absurd attempts to get love. During an unplanned visit to a local taproom called „Wild Eye Pub“, the...

Synopsis: Described by Deadline Hollywood as the "tragic true story" of Chris Gueffroy, it follows one of the last daring attempts to escape across the infamous Berlin Wall. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 18:00: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 1 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere:...

Synopsis: Set during the First World War in February 1916. In James Callaghan's last 15 minutes, his friends watch and wait as he's tied to a post and blindfolded after being found guilty of cowardice and desertion within the British Army. Fronted by 17-year-old,...

Synopsis: Three humans serve a giantess in a giant-ruled land. They try hide their true feelings. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 12:00: OSKA BRIGHT SHOWCASE AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 09:00 Country: Germany Director: Anita Bruneburg

Synopsis: Over the course of a year, May and her deaf husband grapple with the loss of their young son, Christopher. Screening: SUNDAY 18 MAY - 21:30: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 3 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 10:00 Country: UK Director: Jake Mark

Synopsis: UHURU is an intimate and emotive portrayal of life with Parkinson's disease in Tanzania. In a country with limited healthcare resources we follow the complex journeys of three people with Parkinson's. From the devastating impact of their symptoms to the...

Synopsis: An animated music video created to accompany Twayn's Christmas single, Christmas Market Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 19:00: MUSIC VIDEO SCREENING AT POP RECS Premiere: - Runtime: 03:13 Country: UK Director: Twayn Twins

Synopsis: SSFF 2024 - BEST MUSIC VIDEO WINNER. A second date goes frighteningly wrong, when a worn-out scarecrow comes to life. Screening: MONDAY 12 MAY - 21:00: 2024 WINNERS SHOWCASE 1 AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere: - Runtime: 03:56 Country: UK...

Synopsis: Retired rhubarb farmer Harry obsesses over his once award-winning crop. Under the care of his struggling wife Joyce, an unspoken condition causes Harry to experience increasingly vivid and disturbing visions. Screening: SUNDAY 18 MAY - 21:30: NORTH EAST...

Synopsis: Set against rugged cliffs and hidden coves along the North East coastline, Trigger Fish follows a local spearfisherman who, in the wake of his mother’s passing, finds solace diving into vibrant marine ecosystems. His journey brings fresh seafood from ocean...

Synopsis: SSFF 2024 - JUDGES RECOGNITION AWARD WINNER. Haunted by the grief of baby loss, Alice and Joe navigate their path to parenthood. With emotions high, will Alice lose faith in something that means everything? Screening: MONDAY 12 MAY - 21:00: 2024 WINNERS...

Synopsis: Two people meet by a campfire to discuss what happened to them seven Years earlier. This film deals with rape. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 14:00: DOCUMENTARY SHORTS SCREENING 1 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: World Premiere Runtime: 28:55:00 Country: France...

Synopsis: What happens to the old video tapes left to languish on your shelf? For the chatty, analogue inhabitants of stop-motion animation VHX, life is simply waiting for your turn to be played in the VCR. Little do they know however, there’s a fate far worse than...

Synopsis: A couple go on a date throughout Easington Colliery, County Durham. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 19:00: MUSIC VIDEO SCREENING AT POP RECS Premiere: - Runtime: 03:31 Country: UK Director: Steven Pattinson, Veronica Pattinson

Synopsis: SSFF 2024 - BEST YOUNG, EMERGING AND STUDENT WINNER. 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,...

Synopsis: One day, 54 passengers - from the front seat of his taxi, Archie experiences the world. Yet with long shifts, he has also lost touch with the most important people in his life. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 14:00: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX,...

Synopsis: SSFF 2024 - BEST COMEDY WINNER. Actor Jack joins a panto tour of care homes, and he is confronted with the reality of life, his future and where it ends. Jack is an unfulfilled actor who is desperate for some meaningful work. He agrees to join fellow...

Synopsis: Disabled dancers sharing joy, connection and identity through movement. Inspired by hope. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 11:00: ANIMATION SHORTS SCREENING 1 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: North East Premiere Runtime: 04:34 Country: UK Director: Jem...

Synopsis: A heartfelt drama that unfolds through the intimate lens of a home video camera. It tells the story of Luke, a firefighter, and his family, as they navigate the heartbreaking aftermath of September 11th. Capturing the family's everyday moments, juxtaposed...

Synopsis: Two interwoven moments in the relationship of a couple affected by the contaminated blood scandal, revealing their sacrifices, their love, and the things they never felt safe to say. Screening: SUNDAY 18 MAY - 21:30: BIFA SHORTS SHOWCASE SCREENING AT...

Synopsis: Linus, a world-renowned sneaker collector, is on the hunt for the iconic Nike Sunder, a shoe that disappeared off the streets over 20 years ago. Accompanied by a camera crew, his relentless quest leads him to Sunderland where he uncovers one of the North...

Synopsis: SSFF 2204 - BEST ANIMATION WINNER. Mary, Billybud and Fumbleton are three miniature, human actors who perform in an eighties kids TV series called “Wander to Wonder”. After the creator of the series has died, they are left alone in the studio. With their...

Synopsis: With his beloved family trade under threat from government cuts, a determined Mime artist rallies around his industry, and family, in a silent revolution. Screening: MONDAY 12 MAY - 19:00: OPENING NIGHT SHORTS SHOWCASE AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE...

Synopsis: When their mother dies, Susan becomes the primary carer for her learning disabled sister, Helen. As Susan struggles to adapt to her new role, their relationship faces fresh challenges when Helen wants to move into her own flat. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY -...

Synopsis: Cornwall, 1893: widowed Betty becomes the first person to cure tuberculosis. Interrogated by a sceptical medical investigator, she recounts the story of her miraculous, all-healing pearl comb, given to her by her late husband Lutey. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY...

Synopsis: A withdrawn woman's relationship with her husband is pushed to the brink when their dog's birthday dredges up a shared trauma. Screening: TUESDAY 13 MAY - 16:00: YOUNG, EMERGING & STUDENT SCREENING 1 AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere: -...

Synopsis: UK Airport Immigration Officer Sarah begins to question her role and institution when an unidentified passenger (whom Sarah believes to be an illegal immigrant) dies on an arrival flight from Egypt. Sarah attempts to discreetly return the body to Egypt but...

Synopsis: Two hungry men on a first date are faced with a difficult decision when only one dumpling remains on their plate. Who will have the final bite? Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00: COMEDY SHORTS SCREENING AT POP RECS Premiere: - Runtime: 03:35 Country: UK...

Synopsis: In a school where students are stressing out as the only thing that value them are their grades, appears a tale about “the Homework thief” who steals nothing but students’ homework. The stolen homework will get returned—with detailed annotations as well as...

Synopsis: After she can’t afford to go on her dream holiday, Emily builds a miniature model wonderland of her desired destinations. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 12:00: OSKA BRIGHT SHOWCASE AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 07:04 Country: UK Director: Harry...

Synopsis: In real-time, The Hold captures the journey and mindset of World Champion free-diver Alice Hickson as she holds her breath for 7 and a half minutes. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 12:15: DOCUMENTARY SHORTS SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: -...

Synopsis: A grumpy Welshman reluctantly visits his grandmother, only to discover she has only gone and got herself cursed! So now he needs to bloody save her (and the world) from a demon duck...before midnight. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00: COMEDY SHORTS...

Synopsis: The Removed examines the life long effects of forced adoption and one woman's search for a lost past. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 18:00: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 1 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: North East Premiere Runtime: 08:38 Country: UK Director:...

Synopsis: I-Ling’s experience whilst taking her Life in the UK test reminds her of the difficulties and constraints she faces as an immigrant working hard to get her citizenship. Screening: TUESDAY 13 MAY - 18:00: YOUNG, EMERGING & STUDENT SCREENING 2 AT THE DAVID...

Synopsis: Time is running out as two thieves prepare for their most explosive heist yet. Screening: TUESDAY 13 MAY - 16:00: YOUNG, EMERGING & STUDENT SCREENING 1 AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere: World Premiere Runtime: 01:36 Country: UK Director:...

Synopsis: A moving image and sound portrait of the aura; seizures in focused parts of the brain that result in sensory, physical and emotional disturbances, sometimes acting as warnings for convulsive seizures that may occur. Told through the voices of individuals who...

Synopsis: In desperate circumstances, a young woman, Nadiya, finds sanctuary inside her family wardrobe as she gives birth to her daughter. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 18:00: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 1 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: North East Premiere Runtime: 07:08...

Synopsis: Relentlessly working to discover the secret to time travel, Harry finally makes a breakthrough. With his newfound power, he re-navigates the breakdown of his marriage to ex-wife Helen. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 21:30: SCI-FI SHORTS SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX,...

Synopsis: The sounds of the silver spider is an audio look at the process of silversmithing. For this project I audio engineered the entire process using a range of microphones from hydrophones through to stereo mics to capture the micro aspect of the work. Screening:...

Synopsis: In 19th century rural Wales, a baby boy is stillborn. Under pressure from her husband’s family, the grieving mother enters into a desperate pact: to save her son’s soul, she will eat his unborn sins. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 20:00: HORROR SHORTS SCREENING...

Synopsis: Unhappy with his purchase, a man desperately tries to return a set of shelves back to the seller. There’s only one problem: the shelves are cursed. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00: COMEDY SHORTS SCREENING AT POP RECS Premiere: - Runtime: 04:32 Country: UK...

Synopsis: SSFF 2024 - BEST DOCUMENTARY WINNER. A nostalgic and bittersweet documentary about the destruction of a derelict primary school in East Durham. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 15:00: 2024 WINNERS SHOWCASE 2 AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere: -...

Synopsis: Desperate for change, 13-year-old Camran takes extreme measures to secure a better future for himself and his dad. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 14:00: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: North East Premiere Runtime: 13:16 Country: UK...

Synopsis: In the dead of night, creatures slink through the streets of London. Foxes howl to warn when they are close. A woman wakes up in the night to the sound of foxes and shortly after notices a strange figure outside her home. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 20:00:...

Synopsis: Two women living in a Christian fundamentalist, polygamous society become bound together in the same marriage. When their husband Jeremiah leaves for missionary work however, Kaidence and Galilee begin to develop exciting, illicit feelings for one...

Synopsis: There was a plan to build a cinema in the cliffs - it might have been here. Sinkhole is a poetic response to the archive and oral histories of Tyneside Cinema, an independent cinema in north-east England which has faced many waves of crisis. Through imagined...

Synopsis: An interview with a Scarecrow takes an unexpected turn when the birds arrive to prove that her fear isn't so irrational... Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 18:00: ANIMATION SHORTS SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: North East Premiere Runtime: 03:40...

Synopsis: Seven families, seven daughters, seven key moments in history. This film traces the Jewish journey from Russia in 1903 to Israel and Palestine in 2009. It depicts the challenge of families explaining their complex historical realities to their youngest...

Synopsis: Alex is returning home after news of her father’s diagnosis has become terminal. Her dad, a detective, is reluctant to give up on his work despite his health. He is consumed with a local case, the missing Jess Hope. Alex decides helping her dad and finding...

Synopsis: Scrub Me, Daddy' follows a young girl and her loyal kitchen sponge, both obsessed with the TV show 'Poppy and Puppet'. Together they go on a trans-formative journey to become closer to their idols. Originally created for Straight 8 2024 on one cartridge of...

Synopsis: A heart warming story about some unfortunate changes in Grant's (Don Warrington MBE) life, as he takes on a new challenge, a simple wooden shelf. How hard can it be? Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 18:00: SHORTS SHOWCASE SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND...

Synopsis: From musical duo ‘sunsets and bad bets’ comes Witnesses, a catchy, ethereal dance track landing somewhere between 90s electronica, downtempo lo-fi beats and Haitian-Canadian DJ Katrynada. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 19:00: MUSIC VIDEO SCREENING AT POP RECS...

Synopsis: STAR QUEST is a unique fusion of retro sci-fi and poignant human drama. We enter the final days of CONOR (Patrick Bergin), a once world-famous actor, now wasting away in a hospital bed. Jaded, rejected, he retreats into lost fantasies of former greatness,...

Synopsis: An ode to a postbox painted gold, and the mood that birthed it. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 12:15: DOCUMENTARY SHORTS SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: North East Premiere Runtime: 03:56 Country: UK Director: Julia Mervis

Synopsis: Sexually repressed Meghan (Sophie Duker) desperately wants to climax. At every opportunity however, she is thwarted by the persistence and condemnation of the Priest haunting her vagina (yes, really). Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00: COMEDY SHORTS...

Synopsis: In a future drained of colour, Oscar and his ailing husband struggle with a medical system where energy credits are the new currency. When a hospital visit reveals a zero credit balance, Oscar must join the human generators and physically power Alex’s...

Synopsis: When a Palestinian filmmaker based in Scotland unearths a rarely-seen Scottish film archive of Palestinian wild flowers, he decides to reclaim the footage. This tender film essay questions the role of image-making as a tool of both testimony and violence...

Synopsis: In a small town of 1960's India, where cinema is forbidden for women, a 14-year-old embarks on a quest to watch her first film. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 16:00: INTERNATIONAL SHORTS SHOWCASE AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: UK Premiere Runtime: 24:00:00...

Synopsis: A teenager with Down's syndrome helps herself, and others, to escape from accusations of witchcraft. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 12:00: OSKA BRIGHT SHOWCASE AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 13:48 Country: UK Director: Alexandra Maher

Synopsis: SSFF 2024 - BEST ART & EXPERIMENTAL WINNER. Shot on two rolls of Super 8, The Cakes I Would Bake is a languid love letter to cakes told by two French courtiers on the eve of the French Revolution. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 15:00: 2024 WINNERS SHOWCASE 2...

Synopsis: A girl attempts to swipe her way to happiness. After an exhaustive search, and astronomical body count, she resorts to assembling her dream boy from left over parts. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 18:00: SHORTS SHOWCASE SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND...

Synopsis: A restaurant dinner gets complicated when Lotte sees her sugar daddy on a date with another woman. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 16:00: INTERNATIONAL SHORTS SHOWCASE AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: UK Premiere Runtime: 16:30 Country: Norway Director: Ivar...

Synopsis: A postman in a submarine with a single package is slowly traversing the seabed. In an attempt to combat the boredom, he begins to imagine wild and surreal scenarios. However, as he continues on his journey through the depths, he begins to lose track of what...

Synopsis: In a London park, Roshni, a British Asian mother, cherishes a fleeting moment of peace with her two toddlers, Charlie and Alex, as they joyfully play. The tranquillity is shattered when Roshni's parenting choices are challenged by a self-righteous...

Synopsis: A single mother and her young son are forced to move into a house adjoined to a pub, falling prey to the invasive behaviour of their new landlord. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 18:00: SHORTS SHOWCASE SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime:...

Synopsis: SSFF 2024 - BEST HORROR WINNER. Pobl Bachyn is a new short comedy-horror film from Tarot about the triple threat of Welsh folklore, English tourists and (to a lesser degree) being hungover, all set on a farm on Ynys Môn in North Wales. Screening: WEDNESDAY...

Synopsis: Struggling with her mental and physical health, Katie discovers a unique coping mechanism: cold-water swimming. In the frigid depths of the North Sea, she is able to regain to control of her body, find community and live life. Screening: MONDAY 12 MAY -...

Synopsis: After the tragic loss of their wife and mother, Harry and Ann find themselves emotionally adrift. As the mother's birthday approaches, they must both navigate their way through grief in order to reconnect to make it through the day. Screening: SUNDAY 18 MAY...

Synopsis: A ride through memories of a troubled love Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 19:00: MUSIC VIDEO SCREENING AT POP RECS Premiere: - Runtime: 04:44 Country: UK Director: Roberto Colapietro

Synopsis: An elderly baker cooks up a sinister plan. But what should have been a piece of cake, becomes a very sticky affair... Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 19:30: NORTHERN EXPOSURE: FILM HUB NORTH SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 10:40 Country:...

Synopsis: A scorching summer day like any other. Chaos descends on a public swimming pool when the innocent game between a daughter and a father becomes a nightmare. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 18:00: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 1 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: North...

Synopsis: A man wakes up in a deadly game of rock, paper, scissors—again. He’s been here before, won before, and honestly? He’s over it. Tired of the endless life-or-death rounds, he just wants to lose this time and call it a day. But convincing his fellow players to...

Synopsis: A lonely lobster fisherman, the last of his kind, has a life changing encounter with a troubled young woman. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00: COMEDY SHORTS SCREENING AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere: - Runtime: 30:00:00 Country: UK...

Synopsis: A poor young man struggles to win over his interviewer after a devastating bombshell is dropped. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 19:30: NORTHERN EXPOSURE: FILM HUB NORTH SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 04:06 Country: UK Director: Funkẹ...

Synopsis: With I Feel Everything, Rye lays her heart on the line. As textured trip hop beats pin down trickling guitars, the Newcastle-based singer-songwriter reflects on the darkest corners of both herself, and the world around her. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY -...

Synopsis: On the shores of Liverpool, late-20s Ryan faces severe financial difficulties, compounded by his inability to read. Struggling for confidence, Ryan is offered a lifeline through the support of his friend Tyrone. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 18:00: DRAMA SHORTS...

Synopsis: An inquisitive White humanoid journeys from a grey limbo into the technicolour unknown, where dazzling rooms hide dark intentions, and survival depends on acclimatising to the rooms' temperatures... Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 11:00: ANIMATION SHORTS...

Synopsis: Having recently immigrated to Ireland, Isaac ends up homeless. His luck changes in a chance encounter with Victoria, an elderly blind lady: after returning her bag to her house, Isaac begins living – unbeknownst to Victoria – in her upstairs bedroom....

Synopsis: Young Romchyk aspires to become a ballroom dancer in his hometown of Lviv, Ukraine. Following a deadly missile strike, the boy and his widowed father are forced to seek refuge in London. Here, Romchyk must come to terms with his severe injuries in order to...

Synopsis: In a post-apocalyptic future, rats have inherited the earth. Freely foraging deserted, human-less spaces, one small rodent discovers that he is not the only creature on the hunt for food… Screening: MONDAY 12 MAY - 19:00: OPENING NIGHT SHORTS SHOWCASE AT THE...

Synopsis: OK/NOTOK is a genre bending love story set in the very near future with a darkly comic edge. Loretta, a working-class British Asian woman, attempts to navigate a turbulent world, a new stranger in her life and unskippable adverts. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY...

Synopsis: How far would you go to climb the corporate ladder? Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00: COMEDY SHORTS SCREENING AT POP RECS Premiere: - Runtime: 13:17 Country: UK Director: Sam Baron

Synopsis: Odd Socks is set in a world where humans live alongside sock-monsters. Maverick human detective McGuin must battle lies, deception, and every movie cliché in his hunt for the truth when a sock monster is murdered. Screening: MONDAY 12 MAY - 19:00: OPENING...

Synopsis: An elderly couple find their quiet life unsettled by their new neighbours’ disturbing allegations. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00: COMEDY SHORTS SCREENING AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere: - Runtime: 13:59 Country: UK Director: Nott...

Synopsis: A robot tries to break into a human facility, and is asked a security question... Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 21:30: SCI-FI SHORTS SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 01:00 Country: UK Director: George Summers

Synopsis: Through an animated conversation, scientists explore if everyone can live well without harming the environment and reveal how hope and creativity can inspire change. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 11:00: ANIMATION SHORTS SCREENING 1 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND...

Synopsis: "You don’t have to be crazy to work here, but it helps". One Big Family is a dark comedy short about a friendly HR catchup but set within the twisted world of a murder-happy death cult. The story satirises modern workplaces and the absurdities of corporate...

Synopsis: A young man must find a way to tell his childhood friend and first love the truth about what happened twenty years ago, when a single moment changed both their lives. When he can’t find the words, the conversation repeats, becoming increasingly surreal until...

Synopsis: SSFF 2024 - BEST SCI-FI & FANTASY WINNER. In a dystopian future Em and Ly seek a night of escapism in a friend's vacant home. When confined they are forced to confront the heartless extremities of their new world: their future, friendship and identities are...

Synopsis: It all comes out after a few pints... An overdue catch up down the pub between two old friends is thrown into chaos by the inclusion of a terrifying third wheel with an embarrassing secret. Screening: Comedy Shorts Screening Premiere: North East Premiere...

Synopsis: A brilliant but disturbed artist struggles to connect with his audience. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 21:30: SCI-FI SHORTS SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: UK Premiere Runtime: 16:22 Country: USA Director: Mora Carew

Synopsis: Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 19:30: NORTHERN EXPOSURE: FILM HUB NORTH SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: Country: UK Director:

Synopsis: When a lonely young photographer befriends a ghost he can see through his camera, he is compelled to help him remember how he died. Screening: TUESDAY 13 MAY - 16:00: YOUNG, EMERGING & STUDENT SCREENING 1 AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere:...

Synopsis: Competitive swimmer Connie dreams of qualifying for the 1979 National Squad. In her way is Coach Sanderson, and his abusive, manipulative behaviour towards the girls on Connie’s swim team. Screening: SUNDAY 18 MAY - 21:30: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 3 AT...

Synopsis: Music video for Nev Clay’s song Cuddy’s Cave from his recent album So Little Happened for So Long. It’s a personal tribute to everything those from a certain generation know and love about life in the North East. Filmed by Jason Thompson, Sound Ideas Media....

Synopsis: An idealistic young teacher's faith in kindness is ripped apart as she struggles to save a destructive child from being kicked out of school. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 20:00: HORROR SHORTS SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: North East Premiere...

Synopsis: Set in the 13th century, Fishwife follows Maggie who has been left on the rocks as a sacrifice for a Sea Monster. Maggie appears to be a shy, obedient woman who believes she is performing her duty to her people. As she begs for death on the shore, Maggie...

Synopsis: SSFF 2024 - HONOURABLE MENTION. When uptight retiree Mrs Foster begins chemotherapy she's thrown together in the treatment room with Maisy, a whirlwind inquisitive child aspiring to be a lesbian. As treatment progresses the pair's fortuitous bond offers...

Synopsis: Short film about the working class sport of pigeon racing. Screening: SUNDAY 18 MAY - 21:30: NORTH EAST SHORTS SHOWCASE AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 05:13 Country: UK Director: Ian Paine & Daniel-John Williams

Synopsis: With spiralling debts and a partner at the end of her tether, mid-40s freelancer Alex desperately needs work. When a golden opportunity at a trendy agency becomes available, Alex will have to play their game to land the role. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY -...

Synopsis: RTS Winner - Student: Animation Screening: TUESDAY 13 MAY - 20:00: ROYAL TELEVISION SOCIETY: NORTH EAST & THE BORDERS WINNERS AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere: - Runtime: 02:26 Country: UK Director: Ziyan Li

Synopsis: Horse trainer Neil Hormann is inventing bone conduction sound therapy earphones for horses. If successful, the earphones could change the equine sport industry, moving away from the abrasive and jarring whip to a holistic nonviolent approach. Screening:...

Synopsis: Constructed of archival footage spanning over a century, In the Veins is both a detailed history of the mining industry in Yorkshire and North East England, and a heart-wrenching story of the people devastated by its demise. Produced by the Yorkshire and...

Synopsis: Jeremy is a young man who is Autistic and wants to find love for the first time. He tries online dating and is negotiating that landscape, and after a false start, he does some soul searching for the right venue, enter Jessica, could she be the one?...

Synopsis: RTS Winner - Student Drama Screening: TUESDAY 13 MAY - 20:00: ROYAL TELEVISION SOCIETY: NORTH EAST & THE BORDERS WINNERS AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere: - Runtime: 07:43 Country: UK Director: Will Croston

Synopsis: Late-20s Saskia has just moved into her first house. Excited by the possibilities of a new, independent life, her dream is tainted by an unexpected visitor. Screening: SUNDAY 18 MAY - 21:30: BIFA SHORTS SHOWCASE SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: -...

Synopsis: During a rugby match, determined 9 year-old Alisha repeatedly clashes with Ben, a boy from the opposing team. Soon, she discovers the cause of their conflict lies off the field. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 18:00: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 1 AT OMNIPLEX,...

Synopsis: "KEMI" is a 3-minute documentary that intimately portrays a young Black Christian woman who has borderline personality disorder & is a domestic abuse survivor. Her journey of healing is deeply rooted in her faith, spirituality, and poetry. The narrative...

Synopsis: SSFF 2024 - BEST DRAMA WINNER. British-Somali teen Muna (Kosar Ali) 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...

Synopsis: A couple seek to find solace in the aftermath of a domestic tragedy. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 14:00: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 06:30 Country: UK Director: Olivia J. Middleton

Synopsis: Since childhood, Luna has had a powerful sense of creativity. Now 24, she writes obsessively in order to manage her complex mental illness and addiction issues. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 12:15: DOCUMENTARY SHORTS SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND...

Synopsis: On a train, a girl makes distant eye contact with the man sat across from her. Lucid Dreaming, a breathless dance performance piece, captures the hidden desires and uncertainties bound up in these brief, everyday encounters. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY -...

Synopsis: Music video for local artist Liz Corney. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 19:00: MUSIC VIDEO SCREENING AT POP RECS Premiere: - Runtime: 04:44 Country: UK Director: Adam Opie

Synopsis: A little shrew searches for Hope as she makes her way across a bombed-out city. The film is being used as part of a fund raiser for the War Child charity. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 19:00: MUSIC VIDEO SCREENING AT POP RECS Premiere: - Runtime: 04:12...

Synopsis: Haunted by her past kisses, Annie must confront the one kiss she refuses to acknowledge. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 19:30: NORTHERN EXPOSURE: FILM HUB NORTH SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 06:30 Country: UK Director: Katja...

Synopsis: When a food critic arrives at a restaurant, the staff think things couldn't get any worse until a mischievous rat is spotted in the kitchen. Kentucky Fried Rat was written and performed by members of the Washington Young Film Makers Collective for the Bright...

Synopsis: Under the floodlights of a London drag bar, three intertwined tales unfold: a seasoned drag queen is confronted by the arrival of a young new star, a young couple try to save their relationship despite their secrets, and a washed-up actor meets with his...

Synopsis: Lucy finds herself constantly haunted by her expressive critical demon, which never seems satisfied with what she does. Awakened by her hip-hop soul, Lucy bravely confronts her whiny demon—through a rap battle! Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 11:00: ANIMATION...

Synopsis: When a new router arrives, Tom thinks it’s the end of his lockdown wifi woes. But the new router has mysterious powers. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 12:00: OSKA BRIGHT SHOWCASE AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 13:02 Country: UK Director: Daniel...

Synopsis: A young woman is confronted by her inability to access her own anger as she makes a final attempt to acknowledge it through the act of hugging her father. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 18:00: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 1 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime:...

Synopsis: After being sexually assaulted on a night out, traumatised Leonora struggles to recover. Gardening, through a metaphorical world of animated, psychedelic flora, delicately explores her path towards healing. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 18:00: ANIMATION...

Synopsis: SSFF 2024 - AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD WINNER. A puppeteer is pushed to the limit when her puppet starts getting bigger, but no one believes her. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 15:00: 2024 WINNERS SHOWCASE 2 AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere: -...

Synopsis: SSFF 2024 - HONOURABLE MENTION. It’s 2006. Sixteen-year-old Lola has been in her room for three days and refuses to come out. She confesses to a camcorder a tale of first love and lost virginity, before finally revealing the secret keeping her locked inside....

Synopsis: In isolation on the moon, a gardener tends to his small patch of life. When another person appears, he is forced to confront his fears of connection. Will he nurture a bond that could bring light to his lonely existence, or will his anxiety keep him in...

Synopsis: Rich, a man struggling immensely with the loss of his wife to the lysosomal storage disorder, Niemann-Pick disease type C. As he navigates life after her passing, a seemingly chance encounter with a stranger changes the course of his perspective......

Synopsis: On the Isle of Sheppey, two boys try to enjoy a last day together. Their adventures are captured by Gabriel, who has cerebral palsy, on an old camera. But as the day goes on, fears about the future cloud their friendship. Screening: SUNDAY 18 MAY - 21:30:...

Synopsis: 17 year old Abi struggles to care for her family whilst battling child poverty and social deprivation. The dangers of the outside world are minuscule compared to the burden inside her four walls. Love is the only sticking plaster to keep them all safe, and...

Synopsis: HOUSE HUNTERS paints a twisted picture of an all-too-believable future, where prospective tenants are prepared to go to just about any lengths to secure a place to call home. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 20:00: HORROR SHORTS SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND...

Synopsis: Henry meanders through Wyrmlands, the remains of England consumed by the giant worm of capitalism. Amidst his despair, he recalls an act of kindness. As a child, innocent and loving, he saved an injured worm. Perhaps salvation is possible if he can reconnect...

Synopsis: Sisters Christine and Faye run Historyland, the North’s 38th most popular ‘educational’ attraction. Things get complicated when a bailiff, Vince, turns up, chasing a debt racked up by the sisters’ recently deceased father. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00:...

Synopsis: High Level' is the first in a collection of duologues on bridges set around the northeast, written and directed by northeast based women/non-binary creatives, to help build up slates and a creative collaborative community. Screening: SUNDAY 18 MAY - 21:30:...

Synopsis: Abandoned at the factory farm, a young chick named Henrietta searches for a place to nest. When she is found by a lonely young girl, the pair strike up an unlikely bond. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 11:00: ANIMATION SHORTS SCREENING 1 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND...

Synopsis: After his colleague self-destructs by eating ice cream, android Clu tries to process his emotions. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 21:30: SCI-FI SHORTS SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: North East Premiere Runtime: 15:00 Country: Germany Director:...

Synopsis: A nature reserve on the English Channel is a place of wonder and solace, shaped and haunted by violence. Headland is a moving tale of life on a pebble beach reclaimed from the ocean, where the age-old tradition of sea rescues intersects with recent migrant...

Synopsis: In lively a North East estate, a sex worker makes her usual call to a regular, somewhat older client. They talk over tea and biscuits before getting down to business. The chat doesn't stop there either. Screening: SUNDAY 18 MAY - 21:30: NORTH EAST SHORTS...

Synopsis: Under the sheets, Connor and Jake’s domestic bliss is put to the test. It’s bedtime, and someone’s in the mood – but do they actually know each other back to front, inside and out?... Porn, Plato, and power tools feature as they seek the answer in this...

Synopsis: People are starting to believe that Denmark doesn’t exist. One woman does everything she can to convince her best friend that it does. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00: COMEDY SHORTS SCREENING AT POP RECS Premiere: North East Premiere Runtime: 08:57...

Synopsis: Newly-qualified midwife Mary experiences the most physically and psychologically challenging night shift of her career as she oversees two life-and-death pregnancy cases. Screening: SUNDAY 18 MAY - 21:30: BIFA SHORTS SHOWCASE SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX,...

Synopsis: Hate the dentist? So does Tara. Self-conscious about her dead tooth, she is determined to fix her smile. In her way is the day – and dentist – from hell… Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 20:00: HORROR SHORTS SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: UK Premiere...

Synopsis: A young woman becomes increasingly attached to the taxidermied corpse of her housemate’s cat. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 12:00: OSKA BRIGHT SHOWCASE AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 04:38 Country: UK Director: Josie Charles & Nathan...

Synopsis: What does your Elf on the Shelf actually do at night? and are they just there to check on the kids? After the introduction of Elf on the Shelf into a family, the father becomes ever more convinced that there’s something wrong with their festive friend...

Synopsis: Monks Father Martin and Brother Thomas lead a devout life in the countryside - until an unexpected disruption threatens to unravel their peaceful monastic existence. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00: COMEDY SHORTS SCREENING AT POP RECS Premiere: North East...

Synopsis: Crippled by anxiety, Shintaro spends his days alone in his apartment. When his kindly neighbour offers him a strange gift – a cucumber – he is forced to come to terms with his introverted, socially withdrawn approach to life. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY -...

Synopsis: Struggling with the loss of her own mother, Emma must now fill the shoes of the families matriarch and take care of everyone else first. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00: COMEDY SHORTS SCREENING AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere: North East...

Synopsis: Is it possible to be cute but fierce? Can you be both, or maybe neither? Delving into the contradictions and expectations that compose modern femininity, Does That Make Me a Woman? explodes our understanding of what a ‘woman’ may really be. Screening:...

Synopsis: A shadow knight explores an interdimensional palace while being chased by the roots of an ever-growing rose. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 19:00: MUSIC VIDEO SCREENING AT POP RECS Premiere: World Premiere Runtime: 04:54 Country: USA Director: Isabel...

Synopsis: Declan Flynn, a man struggling for self-acceptance, is preyed upon by a gang of self-described ‘Queer-bashers’ in Dublin, 1982. Based on the true story seen as a major catalyst for Ireland’s LGBTQ Pride movement. Screening: MONDAY 12 MAY - 19:00: OPENING...

Synopsis: Home alone and unable to sleep, a young woman begins to experience strange lapses in her reality as her sleep deprivation reaches deadly new depths. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 20:00: HORROR SHORTS SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: World Premiere...

Synopsis: A picture paints a thousand words; a painter picks a fight with authority. A fight to emote. Screening: TUESDAY 13 MAY - 16:00: YOUNG, EMERGING & STUDENT SCREENING 1 AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere: - Runtime: 09:02 Country: UK Director:...

Synopsis: Body positive, fun original song by Rachel Stockdale about Where All The Extra Pounds Came From. Telling the story of her youth in Middlesbrough in the North East of England and her weight gain journey from a size 8 to a size 18. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY...

Synopsis: Living at a higher altitude creates a harsh environment for Paul Johnson to farm in, but that doesn't stop him from doing everything in his power to protect the wildlife that lives there, even if it has a significant impact on his own life. Screening:...

Synopsis: The Wing dares to be gentle, tackling the most childlike and visceral feelings of love. An emotion directly linked to the days Fab Detry spent dreaming of meeting someone and strolling along the Lignon, the French river of his childhood. The guitar theme is...

Synopsis: When the remains of the deceased are dug up in a cemetery, Heinz is usually on the spot. For 40 years, he has been taking care of what no one else wants to do. Carefully, he whispers to the dead as if they were still alive. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY -...

Synopsis: A poetic short film about a young woman grappling with the haunting echoes of past relationships and her unraveling sense of self. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00: COMEDY SHORTS SCREENING AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere: North East...

Synopsis: Sarah, 13, has a degenerative neurological condition and lives in a local hospice. As she grieves the loss of her friend Ben, an encounter with a music therapist helps Sarah to appreciate life beyond her physical condition. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY -...

Synopsis: One night, Pyjama awakens alone in his room, immersed in nostalgic thoughts. Suddenly, mysterious shadows appear and captivate him. His bed comes to life and carries him away in a strange and magical dance. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 16:00: INTERNATIONAL...

Synopsis: Two struggling freelancers try to meet the client’s brief for a sexy, edgy car insurance ad. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 19:00: MUSIC VIDEO SCREENING AT POP RECS Premiere: - Runtime: 05:23 Country: UK Director: Rebecca King

Synopsis: After a protest turns violent, young activists Nell and Esme are forced to go on the run. Tasked with lying low, they squat in a beautiful and seemingly empty mansion, awaiting further instruction. But a greater danger engulfs them when another interloper...

Synopsis: After 30 years of too many downs and not enough ups on life’s rollercoaster, Billy embarks on a final lost weekend in the funfair of a town that is Blackpool. The place he loved as a kid seemed as good as anywhere to end it all. Well, at least try to....

Synopsis: This short documentary follows four bird watchers, exploring the intricacies of the hobby. The Leader of the RSPB Newcastle group, a recently retired couple and a young man provide a window into the world of birding as we discover Why they began and join...

Synopsis: Benji, the new electronic waste disposal unit, is perfect for recycling in the home. The entire family are delighted with their set of Benji bins, until Dad decides to recycle more than just household waste… Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 21:30: SCI-FI SHORTS...

Synopsis: Set in a picturesque Ukrainian village in the midst of the 19th century, the film revolves around themes of love, loss, despair, and hope. In the heart of a young girl, true love blossomed, which, however, led to the darkest night in her life… The story that...

Synopsis: In a charming Lithuanian village, a delicate bond between a father and son unravels through an ancestral beer-making tradition as they prepare for the annual harvest celebration. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 16:00: INTERNATIONAL SHORTS SHOWCASE AT OMNIPLEX,...

Synopsis: Three balding brothers travel to Istanbul to get a hair transplant. Stuck with each other in a hotel far from home, their insecurities grow faster than their hair. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 18:00: ANIMATION SHORTS SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND...

Synopsis: When a young visually-impaired girl begins to lose her sight during a much longed-for family holiday by the sea, she is torn between proving nothing is wrong and the difficult of being believed. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 18:00: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 1 AT...

Synopsis: SSFF 2024 - NORTH EAST RECOGNITION AWARD WINNER. 'Bonny' arrives at a sea-side town's renowned Chip Shop in search for work, only to find the chippy and it's long time employees on the brink of sinking completely. They're in debt and a slimy, vape-sucking...

Synopsis: Michael Best is a man trying to better. Fresh out of prison he wants to try and live a better life and prove his loved ones wrong that he is a good man. With plenty of bridges to build, he sets off in hope to right his wrongs. Can he change his ways and who...

Synopsis: When a customer attempts to redeem their coupon, the promotion forces a robbery. Screening: TUESDAY 13 MAY - 18:00: YOUNG, EMERGING & STUDENT SCREENING 2 AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA Premiere: North East Premiere Runtime: 02:15 Country: UK...

Synopsis: From a distance, museum co-workers Clara and Laura watch two visitors flirting. As Laura explains the ‘six scientific signs’ of affection to Laura, the pair becoming increasingly intrigued by the couple’s developing relationship. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY -...

Synopsis: When Sam splits up with her partner, she moves back into her childhood home with her mother and neurodivergent brother. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 12:00: OSKA BRIGHT SHOWCASE AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 14:00 Country: Canada Director: Lucy...

Synopsis: With Casual, Midwest pop princess Chappell Roan delivers a dreamy, country-infused ballad scorning the bullshit of quick-fling situationships. The lover who wronged her? A mysterious, semi-aquatic Siren. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 19:00: MUSIC VIDEO...

Synopsis: When her mother is diagnosed with Motor neurone disease, performance artist Ellis’ life of motion is forced into a world of stillness. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 14:00: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: North East Premiere Runtime:...

Synopsis: After collecting his nephew from his Sister in law’s house, Toby is in for a long weekend. Toby and Liam appear to have nothing in common, and even simple small talk seems a tall task. After his wife Katie is unexpectedly pulled into work, it’s now solely up...

Synopsis: Breaking The Plateau follows a young woman who attempts to quit her waitressing job but falls into a plate-polishing nightmare from which there seems to be no escape. Screening: TUESDAY 13 MAY - 18:00: YOUNG, EMERGING & STUDENT SCREENING 2 AT THE DAVID...

Synopsis: A depressed housewife seeks out a troubled young man from her past, with disastrous consequences. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 14:00: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: North East Premiere Runtime: 16:59 Country: UK Director: Paul...

Synopsis: An experimental film embracing the visual and aural exploration of a microscopic universe existing inside a glass of water revealed and brought to life. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00: COMEDY SHORTS SCREENING AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA...

Synopsis: A Tale of Swords and Smoke is the epic story of two young adventurers journeying across a far away land. Screening: FRIDAY 16 MAY - 12:00: OSKA BRIGHT SHOWCASE AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 06:52 Country: UK Director: Michael Strachan...

Synopsis: A is for Ant’ is an immersive film by British photographer Jack Davison that explores the alphabet through a captivating blend of real action and animation. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY - 19:00: COMEDY SHORTS SCREENING AT THE DAVID PUTTNAM MEDIA CENTRE CINEMA...

Synopsis: A couple fight across three possible lifetimes. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 19:30: NORTHERN EXPOSURE: FILM HUB NORTH SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 06:30 Country: UK Director: Anna Davis

Synopsis: Mowgli is music video performed by 90BRO, an outspoken Sunderland raised rap artist, activist and spoken word poet from Pakistani and Indian heritage. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 19:00: MUSIC VIDEO SCREENING AT POP RECS Premiere: - Runtime: 03:33 Country:...

Synopsis: On Halloween, Olivia's mask slips as she uses sex to repress traumatic flashbacks. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 14:00: DRAMA SHORTS SCREENING 2 AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: North East Premiere Runtime: 15:00 Country: UK Director: Ana Pio

Synopsis: Trapped between waking life and dreams, Olly delves into his childhood memories, navigating the fantastical dream worlds his sister created to shield them from family strife. A journey into the buried past that shapes who we are. Screening: TUESDAY 13 MAY -...

Synopsis: A scouser in his late 20s seeks out an ADHD diagnosis to regain control over his life. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 19:30: NORTHERN EXPOSURE: FILM HUB NORTH SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 05:00 Country: UK Director: Tom...

Synopsis: Adam and Miranda just want a simple meal at a burger chain, but their waiter’s relentless questioning about allergies spirals out of control—from awkward badge-wearing to full-blown allergy tests at the table. As the waiter unravels under corporate pressure...

Synopsis: For two centuries, the Sycamore Gap tree stood as an iconic sentinel along Hadrian's Wall, shaping the landscape and lives of Northumberland. Its sudden destruction triggered an international outpouring of grief. This film examines the tree's cultural and...

Synopsis: In the mountains of China, a young Buddhist man travels alone. In his journey through nature, he embarks on a simultaneous journey towards ‘anatta’ – a state of no-self, or emptiness – with aid from a haunting white Buddha. Screening: THURSDAY 15 MAY -...

Synopsis: Marmar listens to the stories told by her grandmother’s friends as they play an illicit game of cards. Based on childhood memories and shared stories, And Granny would dance is a tale of love, grief and resilience. At its heart, it is a tribute to the...

Synopsis: On The Hunger and the Cannibalism, Brazil’s Queen of ‘Afro-shock-chic’ Aricia Mess teams up with Chico Cesar to produce a funky, drum-driven dance track, infused with catchy synths and wailed vocals. Screening: WEDNESDAY 14 MAY - 19:00: MUSIC VIDEO SCREENING...

Synopsis: Audio Caña enjoys telling fantastic stories to his loved ones. But when he claims there's a giant alligator living in his pond, no one believes him. With his 6 year-old granddaughter, Audio will try to prove the alligator's existence. to everyone. Screening:...

Synopsis: Straight8 project starring the filmmaker's father as he reignites his love of acting. Screening: SATURDAY 17 MAY - 19:30: NORTHERN EXPOSURE: FILM HUB NORTH SCREENING AT OMNIPLEX, SUNDERLAND Premiere: - Runtime: 02:58 Country: UK Director: Megan...