Thank you to all the filmmakers who participated in the 2025 August Lift-Off Showcase!
We want to extend a giant thank you to everyone who took part and a special congratulations to all the incredible talent that went into making these projects.
August Showcase 2025
Unspoken
Director/Writer/Producer: Michelle Crees
Producer: Charlie Bird
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Genre: Romance, Drama
Synopsis: Scotty and Sebastian have not seen each other in nearly six years. Reuniting for one day, they discuss old scars, stories and lost emotions. However, the connection they share and the tension between them begins to take over and inevitably means they must decide whether to let each other go, forever.
The Waywarede
Director/Writer: Tommy Peter Walton
Producer: Georgie Edwards
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Genre: Romance, Drama
Synopsis: A sickly noble boy runs from his past, and his darkest fears, becoming entangled with a group of survivors. All of them moments from becoming beasts of their own making.
MC - a short film about moral crediting
Director/Writer: Mohammadreza Bidgoli
Country of Origin: Islamic Republic of Iran
Genre: Short Narrative
Synopsis: An Israeli soldier returns to reclaim a love he believes still belongs to him. What begins as gentle flirtation slowly reveals a deeper logic of entitlement. MC is a minimalist allegory on moral crediting — a quiet reflection on the power dynamics between Israel and the international community, dressed as a love story.
THE BOWL [Pilot]
Director/Writer: Jamie Sacco, Amelia Stephanides
Producer: Amelia Stephanides
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Genre: Comedy, Sitcom
Synopsis: Cost of living, no student loan, over 25 category on X-Factor, working full time. Is this really what adulting is all about?
The Bowl is about everything and nothing—the time in between when things happen. The little moments that separate the big events but somehow become events themselves. The tiny adventures that unfold when you're surrounded by a cast of weirdos and freaks you call your best pals.
For Lucie
Director/Writer: Amy Louise Pemberton
Producer: Mandrake Media
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Genre: Drama
Synopsis: When a devastating family secret comes to light, Nick and Liz must confront painful truths that will change their lives forever.
SIMON
Director/Writer/Producer: LS David
Producer: Juantxu Álvarez
Country of Origin: Spain
Genre: Short
Synopsis:A unique video game character, created by a 13-year-old child in a life simulator, narrates the unfortunate story of his life from the moment he was generated. Full of hatred and resentment, he will seek answers about its world and the malevolent “God” that controls it.
Reel Terror
Directors/Producer: Ted Bennett
Writer: Cal Brockel
Producer: Charlie Adlard
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Synopsis: Lawrence, a detached film collector, visits Ron to buy vintage film reels. Intrigued by one labeled Nancarrow's Mirror. Lawrence secretly switches it with another reel and takes it home. As he watches the eerie film, supernatural occurrences plague his house, with a shadowy figure appearing. Obsessed, Lawrence ignores these disturbances. Ron, desperate to retrieve the reel, confronts Lawrence, who refuses to return it.
One More Day
Director/Writer/Producer: Toby Griffin
Producer: Georgie Craddock
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama
Synopsis: With the gift of time travel, Ed can live his perfect life. However, when his grandad dies, Ed discovers his gift is a curse.
16th Annual Lift-Off Season Awards
The Lift-Off Season Awards is an annual event that celebrates the very best of indie film. Following each Lift-Off film festival, films that have excelled in their respective category are short listed for a Season Awards Nomination. At the end of the year, once all the 12 city-based festival have taken place, the shortlisted nominated films are reviewed again by the jury and Official Nominations are designated. Click here for more information about the Lift-Off Season Awards.