A massive thank you to everyone who participated in the London Lift-Off Film Festival 2020. It's been absolutely fantastic having so many filmmakers involved and seeing the global support for true indie film...
The judges' votes have been counted and added to the audience's feedback. Huge congratulations to the filmmakers who screened with us! A special well done to the following films...
Festival Winners
Best Short Film
(next screening with Lift-Off in London 2021)
Leopard
Dir. James Arden
Synopsis: Rocky, a born-and-bred London teenager, begins to question the strict routine set by her father - as well as deeper feelings about her own identity - after meeting a free-spirited girl in a local launderette.
Best Short Film
(next screening with Lift-Off in London 2021)
Seeing Green
Dir. Tom McNie
Synopsis: In this silent, rite-of-passage film; a single mother grapples with the antics of her teenage son which tests their relationship. After a trying day, can a shift in perspective bring them closer together…?
Best Short Film
(next screening with Lift-Off in London 2021)
The Call Centre
Dir. Louisa Connolly-Burnham
Synopsis: Paige, an introverted, unassuming young woman spends her days setting up people's life insurance in a drab North London call centre. She is bored of her life, longing for intimacy and connection that she unexpectedly finds on the phone to a charming customer called David. Convinced there was something between them she decides to break the rules to go and find him. An adventure first fuelled by loneliness and lust turns into something much darker when Paige finds herself out of her depth with a total stranger.
Season Award Nominations
The Lift-Off Season Awards is an annual event which celebrates the very best of indie film. Following each Lift-Off film festival, films which have excelled in their respective category are nominated and invited to attend the prestigious Lift-Off Season Awards, culminating at the end of the Lift-Off season. Click here for more information about the Lift-Off Season Awards.
Radio Vanille
Dir. Jack Laurance
Synopsis: Vanilla, a byword for boring, is anything but.When a local Madagascan journalist decided to cover Vanilla related news in his local community he discovered a world of vanilla gangs, mob justice and murder. Despite being kidnapped twice, Marino continues to expose the truth about Vanilla in Madagascar. From the vanilla gangs to the billion dollar multinational flavouring businesses, to the consumer; we are all culpable.
Nominated for Best Short Documentary
Absent
Dir. Libby Burke Wilde
Synopsis: Absent is a short film based on multiple true stories which gives a frank portrayal of the awkwardness, sensitivity and often humiliation that characterises many early experiences of menstruation. Through a series of quotidian but emotionally charged moments, the film follows the story of a young girl, Chloe, who, sitting on a school bus, is made aware of a stain on her clothing by another boy which, much to the amusement of his friends, leaves her visibly mortified.
Nominated for Best Cinematography
Sweet Street
Dir. Coz Greenop
Synopsis: Isabella, a sex worker and drug addict, struggles to survive Leeds’ red-light district. A romantic encounter offers respite, but happy endings are hard to find when you’re working on the sweet street.
Nominated for Best Director Coz Greenop
The Thing Before The Thing
Dir. Mike Piccirillo
Synopsis: Twelve years ago, a group of friends developed an incredible bond during their college mentorship program. They find themselves reuniting many years later to celebrate the retirement of Harris, the man that brought them together. With time having sent these friends in different directions, they pick up where they left off so long ago. They also find out that even though their mentorship program is over, their relationships with one another continue to evolve.
Nominated for Best Feature Live Action Narrative
Audience Chioce
The Audience Choice award is given to the filmmakers whose film received the most votes during the festival. The filmmakers will be invited to join us on the Lift-Off YouTube channel for a directors commentary roundtable. Join in the conversation as we delve deeper into each film. This event is LIVE and due to take place on Thursday 8th October.
No Roses On A Sailor's Grave
Dir. Daniel Oron
Synopsis: 73 years after Royal Navy veteran Patrick Thomas' ship vanishes during World War II, he is the last of the handful of survivors still living. Fate brings Patrick and completely stranger, archaeologist John Henry Phillips together. Fuelled by their unexpected bond and the rapid passing of the Second World War generation, John makes a shocking promise to find the ship and build a memorial with Patrick by his side.
Call For a Poetic City
Dir. Elisabeth Felson
Synopsis: Poetic is Political. Horse-riding in a large city centre isn't a touristic endeavor, but undertakes a unique role at the community level. Let us not be anthropocentric.
Little Boxes
Dirs. Olivia Hollreiser
Synopsis: Bobby learns the importance of having a younger sister who cares for him.