Officially Selected Alumni Interviews

British Filmmaker Bugsy Steel’s short narrative “Fighter” is a story about determination, strength, and overcoming obstacles. Ten minutes before a boxing match, a teenage boxer with downs syndrome fights for his right to get in the ring. After its Best Acting Ensemble nomination and Best Post Production win at the Lift-Off Season Awards, Special Mention at London-Lift-Off, and […]

Danish Filmmaker Jacob Pilgaard’s short narrative “Behold, such Clown” is a story about grief, family, and atonement. On his very last day working as a hospital clown, Elias encounters his past when he meets a dying girl. A meeting which may finally give him redemption for his mistakes. Ahead of its screening at Manchester Lift-Off, we interviewed

British Filmmaker Ella Brolly’s short narrative “Automaton” is a story about grief, passion but most importantly forgiveness. After the death of her father, Eva returns home to attend to his life’s work: his automata. They shared a passion for mechanical clockwork figurines, but his was so great and all-consuming that he lost sight of the most

Danish Filmmaker Stefan Kjær Olsen’s feature narrative “Gælden (The Debt)” follows the journey of Michael, finally leading a stable life with his girlfriend, when his big brother Johnny suddenly re-appears. Johnny’s in big trouble because he owes a lot of money to some criminals. Michael reluctantly agrees to help… but you don’t get that kind of money

Turkish filmmaker Oğuzhan Çineli and Tanzanian filmmaker Asraf Said Mswaki’s feature documentary “White Potion” follows the life of a Witchdoctor in Tanzania, and the lives he influences, including the hunting of people with albinism for the use of their body parts in potions and spells. This eye-opening documentary will screen at Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival on

German Filmmaker Andreas Feix’s short animation “CITIPATI” tells a tale about life, death & rebirth, told from a unique, prehistoric perspective. Fresh off two Lift-Off Season Awards nominations, this heart wrenching animation will screen at Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival on Friday 9th February at 8:45pm at the Union Filmtheater as part of the Local Filmmakers Showcase. We

German Filmmaker Paul Philipp’s short “The Peculiar Abilities of Mr Mahler” tackles issues of politics and family in Germany 1987. This brilliantly gripping mystery will screen at Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival on Friday 9th February at 8:45pm at the Union Filmtheater as part of the Local Filmmakers Showcase. We interviewed director Paul to hear a little more about how this film

Estonian Filmmaker Lauri Randla’s short “Mausoleum” tells a story set in Moscow 1936, in a world of Stalinist terror where a human is less worthy than a fly. This fantastically dark satire received an incredible 7 nominations and a win for Best Art Direction, at the Lift-Off Season Awards 2017. The film will screen at Berlin

  After it’s second screening with Lift-Off in London, we interviewed Natasha Pring, writer and lead actor, of Wraps.   Hi Natasha. What was it that made you want to work in the film industry? Well my background has been mainly in theatre, as an actor. I’ve always felt that it’s one of the highest

After it’s London Lift-Off screening, Lift-Off’s Laura Jaramillo Duque interviewed the director and composer of The Happy Genius, Hannah McKibbin and Caspar Leopard, to learn more about this film that went down so well with the audience. Well first of all, how did the idea originally come to you Hannah? H: The film is based on