Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival 2025
Network Round Shorts
Monday 7th April - Sunday 13th April
1. Me
Director/Writer/Producer: LEE min kyu
Country of Origin: Republic of Korea
Synopsis: A few days after fighting with her girlfriend Eunyoung, a flower bloomed on Jenny's cheek. Jenny calls her ex-boyfriend, who had flowers on her body, to remove the flowers on her cheeks.
2. Fudge Sundae
Director/Writer/Producer: Georgia Redman
Producer: Jon S Baird
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis:
Jack has a secret that he must confess to his pregnant wife Kate. She’s recently developed a craving that she can’t get enough of - what better time to confess to her than during her favourite dessert?
3. Gaining senses
Director/Writer: Adrien Machado
Producer: Olivier Capelli
Country of Origin: France
Synopsis: Vincent returns from external operations after a killing and reintegrates civilian life in his native region of the Pyrenees.
Behind his insomnia is a disorder linked to Agathe, whom he dreads finding.
4. I Made The Time Machine
Director & Producer: Luke Walters
Writers: Jaime Carroll & Luke Walters
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis: When a burned-out university professor discovers a wild-eyed man claiming to be the legendary H.G. Wells, he’s dragged into the adventure of a lifetime. Wells isn’t just a famous author—he’s a time traveler stranded in the present, desperate to fix his busted time machine and get back to 1895. Joined by two curious students, the unlikely team dodges modern-day mishaps, tampered timelines, and a few too many history lessons as they race to repair the machine before time itself unravels.
5. Ryan Can't Read
Director/Writer: Rhys Chapman
Writer: Lewis Bray
Producer: Bryony Pulizzi
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis: Academy award winning Slick Films present "Ryan Can't Read"
Ryan (Lewis Ian Bray), a lad from Liverpool is facing immense financial hardship and the overwhelming burden of keeping up with his bills. A lifeline is thrown his way when his friend Tyrone, portrayed by James Nelson-Joyce, offers him a chance at redemption. A working class story about overcoming the difficulties we face.
6. Watering Hole
Director/Writer: Eva Blackwell-Rogelj
Producer: Ellie Lomas
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis: Two girls go out to get free drinks from men in a local pub. As their night and sobriety descends they realise just how different their morals are, and just how dangerous UK nightlife can be.
7. I'll just Have Cats
Director: Kay Proctor
Producer: Katie Stacey
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis: I'll just have cats documentary follows 21-year-old Kay Proctor as she delves into Britain’s evolving views on queer parenthood and questions whether she even wants children herself. Through conversations with queer parents and professionals, Kay confronts complex questions about her future. This award-winning documentary, recognised with multiple Royal Television Society Student Awards, offers a candid exploration of family, identity, and choice in modern Britain.
8. The Flower Bike Man
Director: Courtney Kerr
Producer: Allie Ford
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis:
A Florida transplant transforms ordinary bicycles into colorful works of art that don the city of Amsterdam. Originally inspired to make his wife’s bicycle stand out amongst the others, after epilepsy induced seizures affected her memory, a loving gesture has turned into so much more. His bicycles not only provide for an interesting photographic subject, but serve as a vehicle for social impact, spreading love as a cure for even the darkest of days.
9. Anonymous Heroes
Director/Writer:Daniel Lutz
Producers: Teresa Ochoa, Bruno Lutz
Country of Origin: Mexico
Synopsis: "Anonymous Heroes" is a captivating documentary that follows the journey of Ignacio, a passionate mountain guide and climbing instructor. Through his personal story and dedication to his community, the film explores significant events that have left a lasting impact on multiple generations.
10. dipolar bipolar
Director/ Writer/Producer: Quankai li
Country of Origin: Japan
Synopsis: The title of this film is “Bipolar Bipolar” which means “two extremes”.
It symbolizes the two extremes of bipolar disorder. The story is about many rocks in my head, a cat and a dog.
The dog often appears during the day and the cat at night. Of these two beings that live in my head, the cat's presence always makes me feel mentally ill and triggers all sorts of bad emotions and all sorts of bad feelings. Therefore, I prefer dogs to cats. So after I try to curtail my evenings and save more time for the dog, the results don't seem to get any better.
11. Mayo - Juanes
Director/Writer: Maria Camila Calle Lopez
Producers: Alejandra Laverde,Pamela Yepes
Country of Origin: Colombia
12. 92
Directors & Writers. Andrew McDermott, Simon Fisher
Producers. Teresa Espejo & Rocketbox Films
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis: 92 is about a band trying to record their first album. It takes place in a recording studio in 1992. Archie (singer) and Fynn (songwriter) are arguing. The other two members of the band, Ralph (bass player) and Brian (drummer) observe, while Jerry (recording engineer) and Izzy (Fynn’s girlfriend) wait in the booth. Will they manage to put their differences aside and make it work?
13. It's Not Me, It's You
Director, Writer & Producer: Coco Taylor
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis: Lottie is falling in love with Josh, but as she navigates the emotional rollercoaster of their relationship she starts to wonder if she is being loved or love-bombed. Within the narrative of an ordinary Boy-Meets-Girl romance runs an undercurrent of gaslighting. Ultimately Lottie has to choose between compromising to save her relationship or regaining her self-esteem.
14. Dorians
Director, Writer & Producer. Robyn Grace Dilnot
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis: An action fantasy short film following the story of a group of orphans surviving in the forest. Theo believes living in isolation keeps them safe from killers. Life's simple until they reach the forest's edge and encounter other people. The Dorians.
The Dorians accept them. Theo develops a relationship with Pip. Struggling to adapt to this new way of life, he returns to isolation. Theo's sister is left vulnerable.
The Dorians unsuccessfully convince him to come back. He is faced with a heartbreaking discovery, which provokes his return. Having a new lease of life, his relationship with Pip is restored.
15. The Lost Merckx
Director, Writer & Producer: Richard Hoddinott
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis: The story of how an important personal bicycle from the world's greatest ever cyclist, Eddy Merckx, ended up living in the attic of an old bicycle shop just outside Manchester, in the North West of England.
