Louis le Prince International Short Film Competition 3
The third of four programmes in our major international competition for short films, with selections from Brazil, Denmark, France, Iran and Martinique.
Unveiling temporal realities from diverse corners of the globe, our third Louis le Prince programme thoughtfully captures the universal challenge of accepting differences. The theme subtly emerges from complex familial, societal, historical, religious, and political relationships woven throughout the films. Sensitive yet daring Amarela and Takeaway poignantly illustrate the struggles of navigating cultural appreciation and appropriation in an alienating environment, revealing complexities of identity. Meanwhile, An Orange from Jaffa confronts entrenched antagonisms, underscoring the vital need to coexist and reconnect on a deeply human level. Together, the selected stories offer a compelling cinematic commentary on our collective journey toward understanding and acceptance.
Amarela
São Paulo, July 1998. The day of the World Cup final between Brazil and France has arrived and 14-year-old Erika Oguihara, a Japanese-Brazilian teenager, is eager to celebrate a world title for her country. As tensions rise, Erika’s sense of belonging is violently thrown into question.
André Hayato Saito | Brazil | 2024 | 15 mins | UK Premiere
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In a remote village in Kurdistan, a mother is desperate to see her son who has been away on military service. When it is a daughter that arrives at her doorstep, not a son, she is forced to reassess everything she thought she knew about loving her child.
Saman Hosseinpuor | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 2024 | 18 mins | UK Premiere
Sirènes - Mermaids
Bearing a severe economic and social crisis in northern Martinique, fisherman and restaurateur struggles to make ends meet. Yearning for feminine companionship, his eight-year-old daughter decides to summon mermaids with a conch shell, triggering her widowed father's volatile outbursts. Evoked turmoils tragically reveal the unforeseen mysticality woven into their lives.
Sarah Malléon | Martinique | 2024 | 16 mins | UK Premiere
Takeaway
Delivery person Sheena is delivering food in a Tesla-filled cottage neighbourhood, when behind the door she finds her childhood friend Calvin living a new life in the upper class with his girlfriend Pernille. Keen to uncover their hypocrisies, Sheena invites herself in for a caustic and unsettling dinner.
Darshika Karunahara | Denmark | 2023 | 14 mins | Yorkshire Premiere
An Orange from Jaffa
Mohammed, a young Palestinian, embarks on a tense journey to cross an Israeli checkpoint with a temporary Polish residence card. After being turned down by other drivers, Farouk, a well-meaning taxi driver, offers him a ride. However, they soon encounter severe trouble when the checkpoint authorities discover Mohammed’s previous failed attempt to cross. The film powerfully captures the oppressive reality of life under occupation and the personal costs involved.
Mohammed Almughanni | Palestine | 2023 | 27 mins | Yorkshire Premiere