Cambridge Film Festival 2021 Brochure

Cambridge 

FILM FESTIVAL 2021 

18 

25 

NOVEMber 

NOVEMber 

www.camfilmfest.com 

40TH 

FESTIVAL

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WELCOMe 

TO THE 40th CAMBRIDGE FILM FESTIVAL 

In 2004, when I first 

became involved with the 

Cambridge Film Festival 

(CFF), gloomy predictions 

of the ‘end of cinema’ were 

everywhere. Not of film as 

an artform, necessarily, but 

of cinema as a theatrical 

viewing experience: big 

screen, dark room, fellow 

travellers laughing or crying 

(or annoyingly munching) 

beside you. As passionate 

devotees of that experience, 

Tony Jones (former Festival Director) and I worked 

together to set up the Cambridge Film Trust, an 

arts charity promoting film culture and education – 

notably through our big, in-cinema Festival. 

Over the years, cinema-going hung in there, despite the rise of 

portable devices and streaming platforms, and we were proud to 

play our part. CFF screened silent films with live accompaniment, 

projected films in all kinds of unusual and outdoor venues 

(remember the riverside screenings?) and brought cinephiles 

and filmmakers together for Q&As and conversations in the bar. 

Then came Covid-19. Suddenly, cinemas were closed and our 

40th Festival could not take place: it felt like this really might 

be the end. 

We collaborated on a fantastic 

online event, AMPLIFY! and 

launched CFF@Home – and 

discovered a Festival-feeling was 

possible online, with Zoom keeping 

the conversations alive. But while 

we’re keeping online screenings, 

to help brilliant cinema reach as 

wide an audience as possible, that 

communal big screen experience 

will always be at the heart of 

what we do. 

A debt of gratitude is owed to 

Matthew Webb, Owen Baker, 

Cristina Roures, Esperanza Moreno 

Guerra, Becky Mann, Mike O’Brien, 

Hannah Hitchin, Rhea Finnie, 

George Agnew and the entire Festival team; for delivering 

this 40th Cambridge Film Festival that brings us all to the 

cinema again. 

This splendid celebration of world cinema would not be possible 

without them. Nor would it be as expansive without the generous 

and ongoing support of Studio 24, The Technology Partnership 

(TTP), the Eligator Sansom Family Fund, and the BFI. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported us in presenting this 

40th Cambridge Film Festival. 

I’m thrilled to welcome you back to the Festival. 

Isabelle McNeill 

Chair, Cambridge Film Trust 

It’s hard to convey how much our lives have changed since the 

39th Cambridge Film Festival (CFF). The pandemic has tested 

us all in unimaginable ways, yet the spirit, ethos and goals of 

the Cambridge Film Trust and Festival remain the same. We 

continue to bring established and new voices to Cambridge, 

opening windows for all onto vistas, stories and languages 

beyond. 

Key anchors in the programme whether Flee or Great Freedom, 

Ali & Ava or Luzzu, Fear or Playground, When I’m Done Dying, or 

I Am Here all explore transnational stories in an engaging and 

entertaining way, sharing an open, rich, expansive and multifaceted 

view of the world. There is humour, joy, sadness and 

terror that will warm, entertain, shake, awaken. 

Filmmakers have naturally responded to the pandemic. A 

special event with Ai Weiwei & Wang Fen (p.22) highlights their 

prolific filmmaking efforts which Weiwei describes as the most 

productive time in his filmmaking career. Elisabeth Vogler’s 

vibrant, miraculous single take along the Seine gives a joyous 

wander through Paris as people emerge from seclusion, in 

Roaring 20’s. 

A BFI Japan Season (p.14) features the masterful Ryûsuke 

Hamaguchi who blends Murakami and Chekhov, alongside 

new name Keita Fujimoto. Families will not want to miss 

Poupelle of Chimney Town evocative of Spirited Away or Howl’s 

Moving Castle. Camera Catalonia (p.12) returns with favourites 

Agustí Villaronga and Cesc Gay, the unmissable Balandrau, 

Frozen Hell and hard-hitting 15 Hours by Judith Colell. The 

Liberty strand (p.21) lays bare the events that led to a global 

movement in Ferguson Rises and explores the UK’s complicated 

relationship with immigration in Hostile. ShortFusion (p.23) 

offers a poignant reflection on world filmmaking. 

Gala screenings (p.6) provide a grand stage for Julia 

Ducournau’s Palme d’Or-winning Titane, Michael Showalter’s 

The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir: Part II 

and The Electrical Life of Louis Wain. Creativity on Film (p.18) 

presents a stunning animated adaptation of Coppelia featuring 

Darcey Bussell, who will also join us in Cambridge. Nature & 

Community (p.20) introduces Alexis Gambis’s Son of Monarchs, 

a rare feature that blends science with a deeply personal story. 

Screenings in-venue will be supported by an online programme 

which will allow attendees to see some of the Festival films 

from the comfort of their own home. We continue meanwhile, 

on our inclusive journey. 50% of the programme is female 

directed. We’ve also introduced simpler pricing to make the 

Festival as accessible as possible. 

Thank you to the programmers Yeşim Güzelpınar, Elle 

Haywood, Ramon Lamarca, Prerona Prasad who have 

joined me in long, expansive discussions on film. Hitomi 

Shinozaki’s advice on contemporary Japanese cinema has 

been paramount in selecting films and placing them in context. 

We continue to benefit enormously from the experience of 

Tony Jones who has advised throughout. Thank you also to 

the 40+ strong team of reviewers who have carefully watched, 

reviewed and championed submissions to the Festival. 

Laying the groundwork for the Festival has required 

an extraordinary volley of activity, and near constant 

communication with a far-reaching, international network 

of producers, sales agents, distributors and filmmakers in 

Tallinn, Sundance, Cannes, Gothenburg, Rotterdam, and 

Berlin film festivals and markets, and beyond. As we all adjust 

to a new world and ever-changing release plans, platforms 

and calendar, I’m especially grateful to Altitude Films, Beta 

Cinema, Curzon Artificial Eye, Metro International, Matchbox 

Films, The Match Factory, Modern Films, MUBI, New Wave 

Films, Peccadillo Pictures, Searchlight Pictures, Sovereign 

Film Distribution, Studiocanal, UDI, and Universal Pictures for 

placing their films and trust with us, as well, of course, to our 

hosts the Arts Picturehouse. 

We have considered more than 3000 filmmakers and their 

films. Whilst championing seasoned directors such as Céline 

Sciamma and Andrea Arnold, new voices Laura Wandel, 

Juan Pablo Félix, and Laura Samani, have all produced 

striking debuts. We have 95 titles from 44 countries, with 21 

UK premieres, and 5 European premieres in the programme. 

Seeing the Festival come together has been a rewarding 

experience and I look forward to sharing this with you all. 

Matthew Webb 

Lead Programmer & Executive Director, Cambridge Film Trust 

CambridgeFilmFestival2021 

3

CONTENTS 

5 Opening 

& Closing films 

6 GALA 

SCREENINGS 

8 INTERNATIONAL 

FESTIVAL HIghights 

10 Connection & 

Disconnection 

12 CAMERA 

CATALONIA 

14 JAPAN 

16 

2021 

SCHEDULE, TICKETS 

& VENUES 

18 Creativity 

on Film 

20 Nature & 

Community 

21 Liberty 

22 

23 SHort 

Fusion 

27 

Producing during 

the Pandemic 

Film Hub South East, 

YOUTH LAB 

28 CFF@Home 

30 Honour 

Board 

31 Index 

of films 

Developing your voice 

JESUS COLLEGE, MONday 22nd November, 15:00 - 21:00 

Jesus College, University of Cambridge, presents an 

afternoon celebrating the student short films created 

for the rolling Film at Jesus competitions. Master of 

Jesus, Sonita Alleyne OBE, who launched the initiative 

in October 2020, will introduce the showcase of films. 

Co-founder of Film at Jesus, Anja Diel, will invite 

participation in the next round of competition. 

Programme 

15.00 

17.00 

19.00 

Showcase of student films, introduced by Sonita Alleyne OBE, 

Master of Jesus College. 

Screenwriter James McCarthy will host an industry panel of 

screenwriters, film directors and producers, in a bid to help 

new filmmakers work towards making their first feature. 

Hitomi Shinozaki, Programme Advisor for the CFF40 Japan 

Season, will introduce a screening of Keita Fujimoto’s 

engaging drama, Just the Two of Us. 

FREE EVENT (booking required via camfilmfest.com) 

2019 Surprise fiilm: The Personal History of David Copperfield 

SURPRISE FILM 

Sun 21st Nov, 21.45 

CFF 

15 

Often met with laughs, whoops or groans, 

the Surprise Film has been a staple of the 

Festival since 2001. Each year, rumour and 

speculation grow to fever pitch, and no 

one – not even the projectionist – knows 

the film’s title until the first few frames on 

screen slowly reveal its true identity. So, 

for those amongst you who relish the taste 

of adventure, snap up your ticket early on 

and enjoy this unique experience. 

There will be no reviews or clues from 

us, but feel free to join the discussion on 

Twitter. Follow us at @camfilmfest and 

tag your suggestions with #CFFSurprise. 

4 CambridgeFilmFestival2021 camfilmfest.com

40TH 

OPENING FILM 

FESTIVAL 

CAMBRIDGE FILM FESTIVAL STAFF 

Operations Managers 

Cristina Roures & Esperanza Moreno Guerra 

Marketing Manager 

Owen Baker 

Events & Venues Manager 

Hannah Hitchin 

Festival Logistics 

Hitomi Shinozaki 

Corporate Partnerships & PR Manager 

Becky Mann 

Youth Lab & Young People’s Jury Lead 

Abigail Pollock 

Lead ProgrammER 

Matthew Webb 

Programming Panel 

Yeşim Güzelpınar (Turkish Film Programmer), 

Elle Haywood, Ramon Lamarca & Prerona 

Prasad (Artist Moving Image Programmer) 

Camera Catalonia Programmer 

Ramon Lamarca 

Programme Advisor for the Japan Season 

Hitomi Shinozaki 

Short Films Programmer 

& Submissions Coordinator 

Elle Haywood 

Brochure Editor/COORDINATOR 

Rhea Finnie 

Brochure designer 

Dan Taylor 

Friends & Patrons 

Elena Shampanova 

Projectionists & Technical Team 

George Agnew, Laurence Anderson, 

Tom Brooks & Hitomi Shinozaki 

Photographers 

Jean-Luc Benazet & David Riley 

Festival interns 

Musalina Dzhalil, Louise Grundy & 

Greté Kutkaité 

TAKE ONE FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 

Editor-in-Chief 

Rosy Hunt 

Managing Editor 

Jim Ross 

CAMBRIDGE FILM TRUST 

Isabelle McNeill, Simon Jones, Tony Jones, 

Jenny Nelson, Mike O’Brien & Matthew Webb 

ARTS PICTUREHOUSE 

General Manager 

Lorcan O’Neill 

Assistant General Manager 

Victoria Ayre 

Duty Managers 

Hitomi Shinozaki, Pėter Horvath 

& Thierry Preston 

PICTUREHOUSE CINEMAS 

Clare Binns, Keith Gehlert, Carol McKay 

& Madeleine Mullet 

Plus all the amazing volunteers, venue 

staff and all the hard-working film 

submissions reviewers. 

ALI & AVA 

UK|2021 95 mins 

DIRECTOR 

WITH 

THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN 


DIRECTOR 

WITH 

CFF 

12A 

Clio Barnard 

Adeel Akhtar, Claire Rushbrook, Ellora Torchia 

Adeel Akhtar (Four Lions, Big Sick, Enola Holmes, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain) delivers another stand-out 

performance as the complex, multilayered, musical, vibrant and kind Ali. As Ali comes to terms with the 

breakdown of his marriage he encounters Ava (Claire Rushbrook), another lost soul trying to emerge from the 

shadow left by her former, now deceased, husband. Clio Barnard’s latest film explores themes of happiness, 

belonging, and confronting racism. Ultimately, it is also a story about reconciliation and finding one’s path. 

Barnard once again proves herself the bard of the British working class. In Ali & Ava, she abandons her 

occasionally bleak realism for a kind of stubborn hopefulness, letting the delight of unexpected connection 

break through the storm clouds. JUDE DRY, INDIEWIRE 

We are delighted to welcome actress Claire Rushbrook for a Q&A following the film. 

PRINT SOURCE 

Altitude Films 

Print source Studiocanal 

#CFF40 CambridgeFilmFestival2021 5 

THU 

18 

CLOSING FILM 

20.30 

CFF 

12A 

MON 

22 

THU 

25 

20.30 

20.00 

Will Sharpe 

Benedict Cumberbatch, Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, Andrea Riseborough, Toby Jones 

An all-star cast led by Claire Foy and Benedict Cumberbatch, narrated by Olivia Colman and featuring a trove 

of household names such as Taika Waititi, Richard Ayoade, Aimee Lou Wood and Nick Cave. Will Sharpe 

focuses on 1880s London eccentric Louis Wain (Benedict Cumberbatch) whose prolific depictions of our 

domestic feline friends were to foreshadow the explosion of cat memes and videos that we see today. The 

film charts the painter’s life as new governess Emily (Claire Foy) is introduced to the family home. Hired to 

educate Wain’s younger sisters, a romance soon blossoms. 

The man responsible for some of Victorian England’s most beloved feline paintings led rather an 

interesting life, as this delightfully odd biopic attests. PETER DEBRUGE, VARIETY

GALA 

SCREENINGS 

OPENING 

GALA FILM FRI 20.30 

THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE 

USa|2021 126 mins 

DIRECTOR 

WITH 

CFF 

15 

Michael Showalter 

Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Cherry Jones, Vincent D’Onofrio 

Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) returns with a humanising and gloriously colourful portrayal of 1970s global 

televangelist phenomenon Tammy Faye, played by Jessica Chastain. Showalter traces Tammy Faye’s rise from humble 

beginnings and the pivotal moment she met her husband, Jim Bakker. Together, they were formidable, establishing a 

colossal empire, which at its height reached millions of followers through television and broadcast. Bakker’s eventual 

financial and personal misconduct, however, led them to lose everything. Their experience was to foreshadow the rise 

of televangelism, strongly held money-led belief systems and cults of personality that are now commonplace. 

This biopic about Tammy Faye and her husband, the disgraced preacher Jim Bakker (played with oily charm by 

Andrew Garfield), walks a tricky tonal tightrope, touching on hypocrisy, religion, self-empowerment and denial. 

TIM GRIERSON, SCREEN INTERNATIONAL 

Print source 

Searchlight Pictures 

19 

UK 

P R E M I E R E 

Prepare to be dazzled by remarkable 

stories of mystical journeys, queer 

sexual liberation, the fight for 

recognition at work and the fall from 

stardom. The return to the big screen 

would not be complete without 

experiencing performances from 

Tilda Swinton, Franz Rogowski, 

Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, 

Benedict Cumberbatch, Honor Swinton 

Byrne and Richard Ayoade. 

BLUE BAYOU 

Print source Universal Pictures 

6 CambridgeFilmFestival2021 camfilmfest.com 

CFF 

15 

USa & CANADA|2021 115 mins 

DIRECTOR Justin Chon 

WITH 

Justin Chon, Alicia Vikander, Mark O’Brien 

SAT 

20 

18.15 

MON 

22 

20.40 

Alicia Vikander stars in this gripping story about citizenship, rights, and the heartache that many 

families experience when pulled apart under tough immigration laws and enforcement. 

Vikander, often acclaimed for roles that call for elegance and poise, has rarely been this forceful and 

immediate on-screen, and she and Chon achieve a portrait of a marriage that pulses with warmth, life 

and a ferocious mutual need.” ... “You’re meant to reflect on their experiences. You might also find 

yourself thinking of the migrant families traumatized and separated at the U.S.-Mexico border in recent 

years — a different dimension of the immigrant crisis that nonetheless resonates with this movie’s 

singular nightmare. It’s in Antonio’s love for his wife and children, and his fear of losing them, that Blue 

Bayou finds a core of wrenching emotional honesty that survives its more manipulative impulses. It 

knows the love it takes to build and nurture a family, and the violence it takes to tear that family 

asunder. JUSTIN CHANG, LA TIMES

23 

GREAT FREEDOM 

Grosse Freiheit 

CFF 

15 

AUSTRIA & GERMANY|2021 116 mins 

German with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Sebastian Meise 

WITH 

Franz Rogowski, Georg Friedrich, Anton von Lucke, Thomas Prenn 

Sebastian Meise’s latest offering won the 2021 Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at 

the Cannes Film Festival and is set for wider acclaim. Meise presents a heartfelt 

and gut-wrenching portrayal of life in a homophobic post-WWII Germany. Hans 

(Franz Rogowski) is systematically arrested and imprisoned. On arriving in 

prison, he is beaten by his cellmate, and murderer, Victor (Georg Friedrich) in 

full view of the prison guard. Their relationship soon develops, however, giving 

rise to a sense of freedom that was never possible outside the prison walls. 

Meise’s film is an exquisite marriage of personal, political and sensual 

storytelling, its narrative and temporal drift tightened by another performance 

of quietly piercing vulnerability from Franz Rogowski. GUY LODGE, VARIETY 

CONTENT WARNING Contains abuse and scenes of a sexual nature. 

Print source 

MUBI 

TUE 

20.15 

THU 

25 

13.15 

MEMORIA 

CFF 

12A 

Colombia, Thailand, UK, Mexico, France, Germany 

& Qatar|2021 136 mins 

Spanish and English with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Apichatpong Weerasethakul 

WITH 

Tilda Swinton, Elkin Díaz, Jeanne Balibar, Juan Pablo Urrego, Daniel 

Giménez Cacho 

Tilda Swinton (The French Dispatch, The Souvenir, Orlando) stars in Apichatpong 

Weerasethakul’s (Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives) sonic, otherworldly 

experience. An unmissable one-off Cambridge screening. 

The Thai master’s English-language debut – about an expat attuned to 

strange frequencies in Colombia – more than matches his past mystic odysseys. 

Apichatpong Weerasethakul offers us his own kind of exaltation and his own 

abolition of gravity” ... “Memoria is a beautiful and mysterious movie, slow 

cinema that decelerates your heartbeat. ★★★★★ 

PETER BRADSHAW, THE GUARDIAN 

Print source 

Sovereign Film Distribution 

SAT 

20 

20.45 

21 

THE SOUVENIR: PART II 


DIRECTOR 

WITH 

CFF 

15 

Joanna Hogg 

Honor Swinton Byrne, Tilda Swinton, Joe Alwyn, 

Richard Ayoade, Charlie Heaton 

Joanna Hogg’s hotly-anticipated follow-up to The Souvenir (CFF39) continues 

with Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne) still mourning the loss of Anthony. She has 

abandoned her script for her final film school project and sets out to recreate 

the magic and heartbreak of her relationship with a complex man, whose 

addiction led to his untimely end. Realising this film within a film, completes the 

semi-biographical story of Joanna Hogg’s journey into the filmmaking world. 

A movie that defied the laws of film industry gravity, and those big names in 

the credits don’t in themselves explain this: a film that has floated free of what 

might be expected commercially or in any other way and carries itself with a 

marvellous austere artistry and compositional flair. 


Print source 

SUN 

20.15 

Picturehouse Entertainment 

MON 

22 

15.45 

TITANE 

Print source Altitude Films 


CFF 

18 

WED 

24 

FRANCE|2021 108 mins 

French with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Julia Ducournau 

WITH 

20.45 

THU 

25 

20.30 

Vincent Lindon, Agathe Rousselle, Garance Marillier 

Interweaving cues from Cronenberg to Tarantino, tied together with exceptional 

performances from Agathe Rousselle and Vincent Lindon, and an almost human 

body-like score, Julia Ducournau’s Titane is a spectacular, brutal and hypnotic 

ride that keeps the viewer on a certain edge, not knowing what could possibly 

happen next. In 2021, Ducournau became only the second woman ever to win the 

coveted Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for this unforgettable film. 

Titane consolidates a filmmaking style based on visceral shock, grisly 

absurdism and high thematic ambition. Violence is often played for comedy. 

Cruelty collides with tenderness. Eroticism keeps company with disgust. Through 

the stroboscopic aggression of Ducournau’s images you can glimpse ideas about 

gender, lust and the intimacy that connects people and machines. 

A.O. SCOTT, THE NEW YORK TIMES 

CONTENT WARNING Contains scenes of a sexual nature, and strong violence 

which some viewers may find distressing.

INTERNATIONAL 

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS 

MEMORY BOX 

CFF 

15 

France, Lebanon & Canada|2021 104 mins 

French, Arabic & English with English subtitles. 

DIRECTORS Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige 

WITH Rim Turki, Manal Issa, Paloma Vauthier 

Print source 

UK 


Modern Films 

WED 

24 

16.00 

THU 

25 

A timely reflection on the zeitgeist of 1980s Beirut 

through the lens of a mysterious trove of photos, 

notebooks, and recordings that arrive one 

Christmas Eve. 

12.30 

A winning cast of fine actresses and an engrossing 

back-and-forth timeline that jumps from wartime 

Beirut under the bombs to the staid tranquility of 

modern-day Montreal. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 

A showcase of exceptional awardwinning 

cinema from the world’s 

festival circuit and film markets, 

taking us from Denmark to Turkey, 

from Beirut to France and beyond. 

Discover noteworthy debuts from 

filmmakers such as Laura Samani and 

Laura Wandel and venture into the 

latest films from acclaimed directors 

including Nisan Dağ, Jonas Poher 

Rasmussen and Céline Sciamma. 

FEAR 

Strah 

CFF 

15 

BULGARIA|2020 100 mins 

Bulgarian and English with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Ivaylo Hristov 

WITH 

Svetlana Yancheva, Michael Fleming, 

Ivan Savov, Stoyan Bochev, Krassimir 

Dokov, Miroslava Gogovska 

An exceptional combination of dark comedy 

and theatre from Ivaylo Hristov. Tallinn Black 

Nights’ grand prize winner, set in a rural village 

in Bulgaria, follows a lone black refugee Bamba 

(Michael Fleming) greeted at the edge of a forest 

by Svetla (Svetlana Yancheva) and her shotgun. 

An exceptional, heartwarming, deeply affecting 

and funny story ensues as one begins to consider 

life beyond the small confines and attitudes 

of the village and what the village represents. 

Captured in a sharp black and white evocative of 

The Lighthouse. 

Print source 

ProFilm 

Mon 

22 

18.15 

THU 

25 

18.00 

FLEE 

CFF 

12A 

Denmark, Sweden, Norway & France|2021 90 mins 

Danish, English, Dari, & Russian with English 

subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Jonas Poher Rasmussen 

WITH Daniel Karimyar, Farhin Mijdzadeh 

Amin, a successful academic with a loving partner, 

recalls fleeing Afghanistan to start his new life in 

Denmark. A documentary genre-defying approach 

sees Amin and long-time friend in conversation as 

animated characters, bringing not only themselves, 

their homes, and even the recording equipment into 

the frame. Many moments during Amin’s journey 

and that of his family, who also tried but failed to 

make the same passage, are brought home to us in 

exquisite detail. 

A powerful and poetic memoir of personal 

struggle and self-discovery that expands the 

definition of documentary. 

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 

Print source 

FRI 

19 

18.35 

Curzon Artificial Eye 

WED 

24 

20.45 


LUZZU 

CFF 

15 

MALTA|2021 95 mins 

Maltese with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Alex Camilleri 

WITH 

Jesmark Scicluna, Michela Farrugia, 

David Scicluna 

Stunning, bucolic Maltese vistas provide the 

backdrop to Alex Camilleri’s daring and authentic 

portrayal of a dying way of life. Sundance Film 

Festival acting award winner Jesmark Scicluna, 

a professional fisherman by day, is cast as a 

character of the same name, who is hurled into the 

dark underworld of illicit swordfish trading and 

illegal markets to keep his young family afloat. 

Extraordinary performances from non-actors 

traverse livelihoods which are impossible to 

maintain with the increased cost of living, fishing 

quotas and regulation. 

Accomplished debut from Maltese-American 

filmmaker Alex Camilleri profiles little-represented 

lives with intelligence and integrity. VARIETY 

Print source 

UK 


FRI 

19 

20.40 

Peccadillo Pictures 

SUN 

21 

19.45 

19 

PETITE MAMAN 



DIRECTOR Céline Sciamma 

WITH 

CFF 

PG 

Joséphine Sanz, Gabrielle Sanz, 

Nina Meurisse, Stéphane Varupenne, 

Margot Abascal 

A poetic and sweeping opening sequence sets the 

scene for Céline Sciamma’s (Portrait of a Lady on 

Fire, Tomboy, Girlhood) feature. Nelly (Joséphine 

Sanz) is first seen saying goodbye to the residents 

at the nursing home where her grandmother has 

just passed away. Whilst sitting in the back seat of 

their car as she sets off home with mother Marion 

(Nina Meurisse), Nelly extends her arm around 

the headrest to share her snacks. This simple and 

thoughtful gesture sets the tone for an exquisite 

portrayal of childhood, coming to terms with loss 

and finding solace in friendship. 

Print source 

MUBI 

FRI 

18.00 

SUN 

21 

18.00 

PLAYGROUND 

Un Monde 

UK 


CFF 

15 

Belgium|2021 73 mins 


DIRECTOR Laura Wandel 

WITH 

Maya Vanderbeque, Günter Duret, 

Karim Leklou 

In this multi-award-winning debut by Laura Wandel, 

Abel (Günter Duret) and Nora (Maya Vanderbeque) 

are starting a new school but it’s not easy. Abel 

does not make friends and is regularly set upon 

by the other boys in his year. Whilst Nora makes 

more progress, she is soon cast in the same light as 

her brother. A startling portrayal of the difficulties 

of fitting in and the lengths humans will go to, to 

become part of the group. 

Playground is a sit-up-and-take-notice blend of 

outstandingly natural performances enhanced by 

spot-on cinematic choices. LISA NESSELSON, 

SCREEN INTERNATIONAL 

CONTENT WARNING Contains scenes of abuse. 

Print source 

TUE 

23 

18.30 

THU 

25 

New Wave Films/Verve Pictures 

11.00 

ROARING 20’S 

CFF 

12A 



DIRECTOR Elisabeth Vogler 

WITH 

Vladimir Seguin, Alice de Lencquesaing, 

Noémie Schmidt 

Elisabeth Vogler’s first feature is a seamlessly 

choreographed single take along the glorious 

Parisian streets and a beautiful reflection on 

human connection. An ensemble cast featuring 

Noémie Schmidt, Alice de Lencquesaing, and 

a host of new faces, are linked in a continuous 

passage and dialogue through the city as they 

each emerge, in turn, from the seclusion of the 

pandemic, talking about their futures, pasts, new 

loves and loves lost. There is a shared trajectory 

not only in the shared passage through the city 

but a communal future echoing titles such as The 

Iron Ministry. 

Print source 

SAT 

20 

Films Boutique 

18.00 

TUE 

23 

16.30 

SMALL BODY 

Piccolo Corpo 

CFF 

15 

Italy, France & Slovenia|2021 89 mins 

Italian with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Laura Samani 

WITH 

Celeste Cescutti, Ondina Quadri 

Laura Samani takes us on an epic journey over 

mountains and seas in this beautiful period drama 

set in Italy in 1900, shot in Friuli Venezia-Giulia 

and featuring dialect from the region. It follows 

the quiet and determined Agata (Celeste Cescutti) 

as she makes her way through many hazards and 

dangers whilst travelling to a remote region to 

perform a miracle for her stillborn child. 

This is independent filmmaking at its most 

bold, resourceful, and philosophically ambitious. 

DIANA SANCHEZ, TORONTO INTERNATIONAL 

FILM FESTIVAL 

CONTENT WARNING Contains scenes of 

pregnancy loss and kidnapping. 

Print source 

Alpha Violet 

WED 

24 

18.30 

THU 

25 

16.30 

20 

WHEN I’M DONE DYING 

TURKEY|2020 87 mins 

Turkish with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Nisan Dağ 

WITH 

Oktay Çubuk, Hayal Köseoglu 

CFF 

15 

Nisan Dağ takes us into the buzzing rap scene in 

Istanbul and a glorious combination of music, 

composed by Da Poet, and colour provided by the 

neon lights so characteristic of the global music 

scene and Istanbul inner-city streets. Love and 

heartbreak follow, as the talented though ill-fated 

rappers Fehmi (Oktay Çubuk) and Yunus (Eren 

Çigdem) are consistently held back by Fehmi’s 

addiction to the cheap chemical drug bonzai. 

Strong parallels with The Souvenir, as Fehmi’s new 

love Devin (Hayal Köseoglu), a talented DJ, tries 

to help him. 


drug abuse. 

Print source 

SAT 

20.00 

MON 

22 

Magnolia Pictures International 

20.45 

#CFF40 CambridgeFilmFestival2021 9

CONNECTION 

& DISCONNECTION 

UK 


KARNAWAL 

CFF 

15 

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Norway, Bolivia, 

& France|2020 97 mins 

Spanish with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Juan Pablo Félix 

WITH 

Print source 

UK 


Alfredo Castro, Martin López Lacci, 

Monica Lairana, Diego Cremonesi 

Beta Cinema 

SUN 

21 

13.30 

WED 

24 

20.30 

Juan Pablo Félix channels his own experience in 

dance and competitions into an exceptional first 

feature, alongside seasoned cinematographer 

Ramiro Civita, a San Sebastian Film Festival Silver 

Shell winner. Part thriller/road movie/family drama 

and coming-of-age story, we follow Cambra (Martin 

López Lacci) as he tries to make the national final 

that could change his life in rural Argentina. The 

surprise reappearance of Cambra’s father El Corto 

(Alfredo Castro) however, who has been given short 

leave from jail, throws up lots of other questions and 

obstacles that Cambra must overcome. 

The pandemic has led to a monumental 

distortion in how we interact with 

each other, with technology becoming 

a lifeline for loneliness, while others 

have logged off from the online bustle. 

This selection of films embraces 

the complexities of family life, the 

search for companionship in our 

communities, and looking for our 

wider purpose. 

ATABAI 

CFF 

15 

Iran|2020 106 mins 

Persian & Turkish with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Niki Karimi 

WITH 

Hadi Hejazifar, Sahar Dolatshahi, 

Javad Ezati 

Lauded director Niki Karimi takes us into a world 

of tradition, hopes and expectation. Kazem (Hadi 

Hejazifar) returns from a business trip to discover 

that his brother-in-law has sold his orchard to a 

stranger, Shirazi. Kazem finds himself falling in 

love with Shirazi’s daughter but first must face his 

past. With its intertwined use of Azari and Farsi 

languages, alongside the fabulous landscapes of 

North West Iran, this film brings a fresh perspective 

to Iranian cinema and seeks to build bridges 

between generations and communities. 

Print source 

AI Film Pro 

SUN 

21 

11.15 

THU 

25 

15.45 

Beyto 

CFF 

15 

SWITZERLAND|2020 98 mins 

Swiss German & Turkish, with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Gitta Gsell 

WITH 

Burak Ates, Dimitri Stapfer, Ecem Aydin 

A poignant story set in Switzerland follows 

Beyto (Burak Ates) as he tries to reconcile family 

expectations and Turkish heritage, with his 

relationship with swimming coach Mike (Dimitri 

Stapfer). As Beyto’s parents become aware of his 

new love, they head back to Turkey to arrange 

a marriage with his childhood friend Seher. 

Whether the wedding goes ahead or not will have 

consequences for all. 

A realistic and sensitive portrait of a budding 

and seemingly impossible love. It’s a sincere and, 

at times, touching film which speaks of a form of 

intimacy transcending gender and sexual 

orientation. GIORGIA DEL DON, CINEUROPA 

Print source 

FRI 

19 

Matchbox Films 

18.30 

THU 

25 

11.45 


EURO 


UK 


23 24 25 

EVERYTHING IN THE END 

CFF 

12A 

United States & Iceland|2021 74 mins 

English, Icelandic & Portuguese with English 

subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Mylissa Fitzsimmons 

WITH 

Hugo De Sousa, Joi Johannsson, Raul 

Portero, Elizabeth Austin, Lilja Þórisdóttir 

Stranded in a small Icelandic town, a young 

Portuguese man named Paulo seeks out human 

connections and intimacy during the Earth’s 

final days. This uplifting story centres around 

conversations with strangers, reflecting on loss, 

love, death and hope when time has run out. 

This is a profound debut from filmmaker Mylissa 

Fitzsimmons, who builds a moving narrative 

against the beautiful backdrop of Iceland, giving 

characters the space to process the past and 

present. It is a poetic take on the quiet apocalypse 

story, about placing our trust in others, and finding 

peace in our final moments. 

Print source 

TUE 

18.00 

WED 

Hello Charles LLC 

12.30 

THU 

16.45 

THE LAUREATE 


DIRECTOR 

WITH 

CFF 

15 

William Nunez 

Tom Hughes, Diana Agron, 

Laura Haddock 

We hope to welcome director William Nunez and 

actors Tom Hughes and Laura Haddock for a Q&A 

following the film. 

Print source 

Metro International 

MON 

22 

18.00 

WED 

24 

13.45 

Esteemed war poet Robert Graves (Tom Hughes), 

married to Nancy Nicholson (Laura Haddock), writes 

to American poet Laura Riding (Dianna Agron) 

seeking to rekindle his passion for poetry and writing. 

As Riding enters the family home and a patriarchal 

world of London’s writers and clubs, worlds are 

turned upside down. William Nunez’s ten-year-long 

battle to make The Laureate has produced a film 

that questions who is active and passive in the lives 

that we lead and the consequences of our actions. 

Endorsed by Graves’ family, this film provides an 

entry point into a world recovering from war and the 

creative works that followed in response. 

UK 


INTL 


THE MASSACRE OF 

CFF 

ANRÖCHTE 15 

Das Massaker von Anröchte 

GERMANY|2021 63 mins 


DIRECTOR Hannah Dörr 

WITH 

Print source 

Hendrik Arnst, Julian Sark, 

Max Bretschneider 

UCM.ONE 

Anröchte is the scene of a massacre, as people 

are randomly beheaded. When detectives Konka 

(Hendrik Arnst) and Walter (Julian Sark) investigate, 

they discover the dark side of the area. As the mayor 

refuses to acknowledge the murders, local youths 

become suspects and the detectives are thrown into a 

disorientating situation. With a blend of meticulously 

framed shots, a razor sharp script and German techno 

beats; The Massacre of Anröchte fully embraces the 

absurd. From philosophical questions around good and 

evil and the sheer frustration of trying to make sense of 

this unusual crime, this is a memorable black comedy. 

FRI 

19 

THE SEED 

Die Saat 


14.15 

WED 

24 

13.15 

CFF 

15 



DIRECTOR Mia Meyer 

WITH 

Hanno Koffler, Dora Zygouri, Anna 

Blomeier, Andreas Döhler, Robert 

Stadlober, Lilith Julie Johna 

Comparisons with Ken Loach are justified in this 

highly emotional, taught tour de force by Mia 

Meyer, which will see its International Premiere in 

the Festival, following its debut in Berlin. Building 

site supervisor Rainer (Hanno Koffler) is challenged 

by the arrival of lower-paid workers, whose 

presence threatens the status quo. As labour action 

ensues, led by Rainer, he’s faced with losing his job 

when his staff cross the picket line and his boss 

holds him accountable for the disruption to work. 

Rainer’s daughter meanwhile has also been drawn 

into a dangerous confrontation with another girl, 

mirroring her father’s plight. 

Print source 

SAT 

20 

16.00 

Missing Films GbR 

MON 

22 

12.30

CamERA 

CATALONIA 

UK 


THE BELLY OF THE SEA 

El ventre del mar 

CATALONIA|2021 72 mins 

Catalan with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Agustí Villaronga 

WITH 

Print source 

CFF 

18 

Roger Casamajor, Muminu Diallo, 

Oscar Kapoya 

Antidote Sales 

SUN 

21 

18.10 

THU 

25 

20.15 

Camera Catalonia’s favourite, Agustí Villaronga, 

returns to the Festival with a hard-hitting court 

drama that pits a surviving officer and a sailor from 

the French ship Medusa, which sank off the coast of 

present-day Mauritania, in a moral and historical 

confrontation. Popularised by Géricault, a hero of 

French Romanticism, his iconic work, The Raft of 

Medusa, depicted the torturous journey of the sailors 

cast adrift on a makeshift raft, whilst the officers sailed 

away securely in lifeboats. Villaronga’s emotive and 

distinctive style places the events from 1816 into a 

modern narrative that challenges whether the same 

would and is happening today. 

UK 


UK 


We are delighted to bring back our 

Camera Catalonia strand to the big 

screen! Our journey through the best 

of recent Catalan cinema will take us as 

far as the Dominican Republic, sailing 

through the Mediterranean waters 

with stories full of pathos and drama, 

but without forgetting the necessary 

snippets of comedy and humour that 

can be found in everyday life. 

Supported by 

15 HOURS 

CFF 

15 

15 HORAS 

CATALONIA, Dominican Republic|2021 90 mins 


DIRECTOR Judith Colell 

WITH 

SAT 

20 

Sterlyn Ramírez, Marc Clotet, Stephany 

Liriano, Katherine Montes, Felix Germán 

On the surface, Manuel (Marc Clotet) is an 

exceptionally talented world-famous conductor and 

feted public persona. This facade hides his angry, 

violent outbursts towards his suffering wife Aura 

(Sterlyn Ramírez). Set in the Dominican Republic, 

this story of domestic abuse highlights the difficulty 

in raising women’s voices when confronting 

domestic abuse in the context of traditional 

family values and the complexity of navigating 

government support agencies. Aura’s painful 

journey and escape from her abuser is also a path 

to self-discovery and freedom. 

CONTENT WARNING Contains scenes of abuse. 

We are delighted to welcome director Judith 

Colell for a Q&A following the film. 

24 25 

BALANDRAU, FROZEN HELL 

Balandrau, infern glaçat 


Catalan with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Guille Cascante 

Print source The Open Reel 


15.30 

THU 

25 

14.00 

CFF 

12A 

Fresh from opening the DocsBarcelona Festival, 

Balandrau, Frozen Hell, sensitively portrays a real 

tragedy. It is a story of survival, sorrow and guilt, in 

which Guille Cascante recreates the events of 30th 

December 2000. Moments away from a new year, 

a perfect storm suddenly came down the Catalan 

Pyrenees, trapping several mountaineers and skiers, 

leaving very few survivors to tell their stories. What 

follows is deeply personal and moving reflections 

by those who did survive and their rescuers, 

encapsulated in guilt and sadness at having lost 

close friends and partners on that fateful day. The 

beauty of the mountains, captured in gorgeous 

widescreen photography, contrasts with the 

merciless rage of natural disasters like this one. 

Print source 

WED 

Lastor Media S.L. 

16.15 

THU 

18.15

21 

THE ODD-JOB MEN 

Sis Dies Corrents 

CFF 

12A 


Catalan, Spanish and Berber with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Neus Ballús 

WITH 

Mohamed Mellali, Valero Escolar, 

Pep Sarrà 

Following hot on the heels of the world premiere 

in Locarno, Neus Ballús (The Plague, Staff Only) 

continues to explore her cinematic combination 

of reality and fiction in a distinctively personal 

way. Three very different characters, who only 

share their profession of handyman, and their 

relationship whilst at work, are the main elements 

that Ballús employs to analyse prejudices towards 

migration in Europe and the quirkiness of human 

nature. Reminiscent of Jacques Tati, she uses 

deadpan and life-affirming humour to depict 

the three characters navigating through the 

extraordinary that can be found in everyday life. 

Print source 

SUN 

BETA CINEMA 

16.00 

WED 

24 

19.00 

THE PEOPLE UPSTAIRS 

SENTIMENTAL 

CATALONIA|2020 81 mins 


DIRECTOR Cesc Gay 

WITH 

Print source 

CFF 

15 

Javier Cámara, Belén Cuesta, Alberto San 

Juan, Griselda Siciliani 

Filmax 

SUN 

21 

18.15 

TUE 

23 

16.15 

Cesc Gay (Truman, Ficció) writes and directs a highly 

entertaining romp, which delves into love, sex and 

relationships, through an excruciatingly funny 

evening with two very different couples. Javier 

Cámara (Talk to Her, Sex and Lucía) delivers a brilliant 

and sardonic performance alongside a terrific Belén 

Cuesta. As a couple, they have a visually beautiful, 

organised life in their perfect apartment but they 

are constantly at odds with each other. The loud 

noises from their very amorous neighbours upstairs 

highlight the challenges in their own relationship 

and this leads to a heightened crescendo, as all 

neighbours get together for a dinner party with 

unexpected consequences. 


JAPAN 

2021 

GB 


POUPELLE OF CHIMNEY TOWN 

Entotsu Machi no Poupelle 

JAPAN|2020 100 mins 

Japanese with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Yusuke Hirota 

WITH 

Print source 

CFF 

PG 

Masataka Kubota, Mana Ashida, 

Shinosuke Tatekawa, Eiko Koike, Shingo 

Fujimori, Jun Kunimura 

Kiyuki Inc. 

SAT 

20 

18.30 

TUE 

23 

18.15 

Based on Akihiro Nishino’s bestselling book of the 

same name, this is a beautiful and touching story 

of a young boy Lubicchi (played by child actor 

Mana Ashida) who refuses to believe that the world 

is enshrined in smoke and that there are instead 

worlds and stars beyond. Immediately post COP26 

in Glasgow this year, there is a strong and timely 

ecological message that we can always live more in 

harmony with the environment and with each other. 

A masterpiece of animation full of surprise and 

discovery. WATANABE REIKO, NIPPON.COM 

In partnership with the BFI, the 

Festival is proud to present a window 

onto contemporary Japanese cinema, 

featuring a selection of exciting new 

films by Japanese directors Ryûsuke 

Hamaguchi, Yusuke Hirota, Keita 

Fujimoto and Costa Rican filmmaker 

Allegra Pacheco. Delve into tales of 

blossoming new relationships, 

the societal pressure of excessive 

working, and the latest Haruki 

Murakami adaptation. 

CLOSE-KNIT 

CFF 

15 

Karera ga honki de amu toki wa 



DIRECTOR Naoko Ogigami 

WITH 

Tôma Ikuta, Mugi Kadowaki, 

Kenta Kiritani 

Naoko Ogigami’s multi-award winning feature 

centres around 11-year-old Tomo who, after 

being neglected by her mother, is taken in by her 

uncle Makio and his transgender girlfriend Rinko. 

Together they create a loving home for the young 

girl. The film opens audiences up to progressive 

conversations and curiosity around sexuality, 

gender and identity, while continuing to embrace 

Ogigami’s tradition of making sensitive and 

emotionally-healing cinema. 

One might find the tremendous emotional 

swells of Close-Knit so moving at times that one 

can barely hear the sound of fresh ground being 

broken in Japanese cinema. THE FILM STAGE 

Print source 

Nikkatsu 

FRI 

19 

15.30 

19 

DRIVE MY CAR 15 

Doraibu mai kA 

JAPAN|2021 179 mins 

Japanese, Korean, English, Cantonese, Mandarin, 

Tagalog, Indonesian, German & Malaysian with 

English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Ryûsuke Hamaguchi 

WITH 

Hidetoshi Nishijima, Tôko Miura, 

Reika Kirishima 

Based on Haruki Murakami’s short story Men 

Without Women, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s Cannes 

Film Festival award-winning screenplay examines 

relationships, responsibility and guilt, centred on 

the relationship between theatre actor-director 

Yûsuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and his 

screenwriter wife Oto (Reika Kirishima). 

Reaches a new grandeur with this engrossing 

adaptation about a theatre director grappling 

with Chekhov and his wife’s infidelity. 

★★★★★ PETER BRADSHAW, THE GUARDIAN 

Print source 

FRI 


20.05 

SAT 

20 

20.30 


UK 


EURO 


20 

JUST THE TWO OF US 

Futari no sekai 



DIRECTOR Keita Fujimoto 

WITH 

CFF 

15 

Masatoshi Nagase, Shiori Doi, Motomi 

Makiguchi, Kazumi Kondo 

Keita Fujimoto’s first feature sees Shunsaku 

(Masatoshi Nagase), a talented artist, left immobile 

by a car accident and cared for by his father Gohei 

Takagi (Motomi Makiguchi). Frustrated with his 

life, he resorts to insults and appalling behaviour 

towards anyone who cares for him. Hanae Hirahara 

(Shiori Doi), who has been completely blind for 

the last five years, becomes Shunsaku’s carer and 

delivers a dose of reality that challenges him to 

look at his situation differently. 

With her air of self-confidence and stubborn 

determination, she commands attention in every 

scene. But she also displays a vulnerability that 

invites sympathy, despite the melodramatic turns 

her story takes. JAPAN TIMES 

Print source 

SAT 

15.45 

Free Stone Productions 

MON 

22 

16.00 

19 

SALARYMAN 

CFF 

15 

Costa Rica & Japan|2021 79 mins 

English & Japanese with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Allegra Pacheco 

WITH Allegra Pacheco 

In this harrowing and insightful documentary, 

Costa Rican artist Allegra Pacheco explores the 

reality and myth of the ‘Salaryman’ in Japan. 

These people are typically white collar workers 

expected to commit excessive hours to work, at the 

compromise of home and social lives. Late nights 

and intense drinking sessions result in many of 

them passed out in the streets, raising questions 

around the ethics of our global working practices 

in a capitalist society. Exploring the impact this 

has on both men and women, Pacheco not only 

seeks to raise awareness about the situation, 

but gives a platform for those affected to share 

their stories. 

CONTENT WARNING Contains discussion 

of suicide. 

Print source 

FRI 

12.15 

SAT 

20 

Legs Limitada 

12.00 

WED 

24 

14.45 

21 

WHEEL OF FORTUNE 

CFF 

AND FANTASY 15 

GUZEN TO SOZO 

JAPAN|2021 121 mins 


DIRECTOR Ryûsuke Hamaguchi 

WITH Kotone Furukawa, Ayumu Nakajima, Hyunri 

Another sleek and stylish film by Ryûsuke 

Hamaguchi begins with Gumi and Meiko (Kotone 

Furukawa) in electric conversation and the news 

of a potential new love interest. Professor Segawa 

(Kiyohiko Shibukawa) keeps his school office 

door wide open to avoid potential accusations 

of harassment and misconduct, yet even being 

visible doesn’t stop an erotic reading with an older 

student being recorded that causes trouble for 

both. The finale presents a school reunion and 

chance encounter between two people who vaguely 

remember one another. As their encounter develops, 

they enact the roles of the people they thought they 

were. Winner of the 2021 Silver Bear Grand Jury 

Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. 

Print source 

SUN 


20.30 

MON 

22 

18.15 

CLASSICAL 

MUSIC FOR 

MODERN 

LIFE 

WITH MARK KERMODE 

SATURDAYS 1PM-3PM 


SCHEDULE OF FILMS 

THU 18 NOV 

Arts Picturehouse 

Screen 1 

20:30 Ali & Ava 5 

FRI 19 NOV 


Screen 1 

12:45 Forced Change 20 

14:45 Ferguson Rises 21 

16:45 Forest Rebels 19 

18:35 Flee 8 

20:30 The Eyes of Tammy Faye 6 

Screen 2 

12:15 Salaryman 15 

14:15 The Massacre of Anröchte 11 

15:45 Son of Monarchs 20 

18:00 Petite Maman 9 

20:05 Drive My Car 15 

Screen 3 

11:30 SHORTS to Debate 24 

13:30 SHORTS to Contemplate 24 

15:30 Close-Knit 14 

18:30 Beyto 10 

20:40 Luzzu 9 

SAT 20 NOV 


Screen 1 

11:15 Film, the Living Record 19 

of Our Memory 

13:45 Coppelia 18 

15:45 Just the Two of Us 14 

18:15 Blue Bayou 6 

20:45 Memoria 7 

Screen 2 

11:00 SHORTS to Expand 25 

13:15 Hostile 21 

15:30 15 Hours 12 

18:00 Roaring 20’s 9 

20:00 When I’m Done Dying 9 

22:00 SHORTS to Unnerve 26 

Screen 3 


14:00 512 Hours 18 

16:00 The Seed 11 

18:30 Poupelle of Chimney Town 14 

20:30 Drive My Car 15 

SUN 21 NOV 


Screen 1 

11:15 Atabai 10 

13:30 Karnawal 10 

16:00 The Odd-Job Men 13 

18:00 Petite Maman 9 

20:15 The Souvenir: Part II 7 

Screen 2 

12:00 SHORTS to Expand 25 



of Our Memory 

18:10 The Belly of the Sea 12 

19:45 Luzzu 9 

21:45 Surprise Film 4 

Screen 3 

10:45 SHORTS to Cheer 23 

12:45 Growth With Hope 20 

14:30 SHORTS to Embrace 25 

16:15 SHORTS to Journey 26 

18:15 The People Upstairs 13 

20:30 Wheel of Fortune 15 

and Fantasy 

HOWARD THEATRE 

11:00 Coronation 22 

13:00 Q&A with Ai Weiwei & 22 

Wang Fen followed by 

screening of Cockroach 

Please 

note, not all 

of the films in the 

Festival have been 

certificated by the BBFC, 

some have been given 

advisory 

certificates by the 

Festival. 

ONLINE 

Advance tickets can be purchased via: 

www.camfilmfest.com 

Adult £12.50 

Adult Picturehouse Member £10.50 

Retired/Student £11.50 

Retired/Student Picturehouse Member £9.50 

Child £6.50 

Matinee (1pm-5pm) £6.50 

Morning (10am-1pm) £3.00 

Online (CFF@Home) £6.50 

5 Film Online Pass £20.00 

IN PERSON 

at the Arts Picturehouse 

F-RATED 

There are 

no adverts or 

trailers before 

the films 

at CFF. 

Launched in 2014 by our good friends at 

FilmBath, the F-Rating is applied to films by 

cinemas and film festivals, giving moviegoers 

an easily identifiable label, so they can choose 

films that fairly represent women on screen and 

behind the camera. Highlighting these films 

sends a clear message that women can and 

should have more than just a supporting role 

within the industry. Find out more about the 

F-Rating at f-rated.org. 

The F-Rating is applied to all films 

which are directed by women and/or 

written by women. 

Tickets for the online CFF@Home screenings are only 

available via camfilmfest.com (not at the Arts Picturehouse). 

SILVER 

SCREEN 

Over 60s for films at Arts Picturehouse on 

Tuesdays and Thursdays that start before 

16:45. Includes a free hot drink and biscuits! 

The Triple F-Rating is the gold 

standard. It is applied to all films which 

have significant women on screen, as 

well as being directed and/or written 

by women. 


MON 22 NOV TUE 23 NOV WED 24 NOV Thu 25 NOV 


Screen 1 

10:45 Nico 21 

12:30 The Seed 11 

14:30 SHORTS to Contemplate 24 

16:30 I Am Here 21 

18:15 Fear 8 

20:30 Ali & Ava 5 

Screen 2 




18:00 The Laureate 11 

20:40 Blue Bayou 6 

Screen 3 

12:00 SHORTS to Cheer 23 

14:00 SHORTS to Embrace 25 

15:45 The Souvenir: Part II 7 

18:15 Wheel of Fortune 15 

and Fantasy 

20:45 When I’m Done Dying 15 


18:00 Rohingya 22 

JESUS COLLEGE 

15:00 Student film showcase 4 

17:00 Industry panel with 4 

James McCarthy 



Screen 1 

12:00 I Am Here 21 


of Our Memory 

16:30 Roaring 20’s 9 

18:30 Playground 9 

20:15 Great Freedom 7 

Screen 2 

11:30 Son of Monarchs 20 

13:45 SHORTS to Debate 24 

16:15 The People Upstairs 13 

18:15 Poupelle of Chimney Town 14 

20:30 Cow 20 

Screen 3 

13:30 Ferguson Rises 21 

15:30 Hostile 21 

18:00 Everything in the End 11 


Screen 1 

11:45 Cow 20 

13:45 The Laureate 11 

16:00 Memory Box 8 

18:15 Coppelia 18 

20:45 Titane 7 

Screen 2 

10:45 SHORTS to Unnerve 26 


14:15 Forced Change 20 

16:15 Balandrau, Frozen Hell 12 

18:30 Small Body 9 

20:30 Karnawal 10 

Screen 3 

11:00 SHORTS to Journey 26 

13:15 The Massacre of Anröchte 11 


16:30 Film Hub South East 27 

Showcase 

19:00 The Odd-Job Men 13 

20:45 Flee 8 


Screen 1 

11:00 Playground 9 

13:15 Great Freedom 7 

15:45 Atabai 10 

18:00 Fear 8 

20:00 The Electrical Life of 5 

Louis Wain 

Screen 2 

11:45 Beyto 10 

14:00 15 Hours 12 


18:15 Balandrau, Frozen Hell 12 

20:30 Titane 7 

Screen 3 


12:30 Memory Box 8 

14:45 Nico 21 

16:30 Small Body 9 

18:30 The Afterlight 18 

20:15 The Belly of the Sea 12 

VENUES 

The Cambridge Film Festival is committed 

to following the most up-to-date 

government guidance on Covid-19 to 

make your visit with us a safe one. 

We welcome masks in our venues. 

THE ARTS PICTUREHOUSE 

38-39 St Andrew’s Street, Cambridge, CB2 3AR 

www.picturehouses.co.uk 

The Arts Picturehouse screens a year-round programme of the best 

in new and classic cinema over three screens (including one THXcertificated 

for best quality sound). All screens are licensed, so you 

can take your drink from the café-bar in with you. You do not have 

to be a member to view films at the Arts Picturehouse, but if you are 

you’ll receive discounts on tickets. 


Downing College, Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1DQ 

www.dow.cam.ac.uk 

A beautifully-appointed, 140-seat theatre which is not only a home 

to the College’s flourishing Dramatic Society but an especially 

elegant venue for regular music events by visiting artists and a 

popular stage for academic lectures and conferences. 

JESUS COLLEGE 

Jesus Lane, Cambridge, CB5 8BL 

www.jesus.cam.ac.uk 

In the heart of Cambridge, its extensive grounds protecting it from 

the noise and bustle of the town, Jesus College is a community of 

more than 1,000 members, including around 500 undergraduates, 

400 graduates and research associates, and over 100 Fellows. 

COVID-19 

The Cambridge Film Festival 

is committed to following the 

most up-to-date government 

guidance 

THE 

on 

ARTS 

Covid-19 

PICTUREHOUSE 

to 

make your visit with us a safe 

one. We welcome masks in 

our venues. 

JESUS COLLEGE 



CREATIVITY 

ON FILM 

UK 


COPPELIA 

CFF 

PG 

Netherlands, Germany & Belgium|2021 82 mins 

No dialogue. 

DIRECTORS Jeff Tudor, Steven De Beul & Ben Tesseur 

WITH Michaela DePrince, Daniel Camargo, Vito 

Mazzeo, Darcey Bussell 

We are delighted to welcome Darcey Bussell to a 

screening of the film. 

Print source 

Urban Distribution International 

SAT 

20 

13.45 

WED 

24 

18.15 

The 150-year-old ballet of Coppelia is reinvigorated 

in this beautiful animated, live-action feature. The 

peace of a quiet town is disrupted by the arrival of 

Doctor Coppelius (Vito Mazzeo), a sneaky man with 

a cunning plan. Swan, performed by the enchanting 

Michaela DePrince, suspects something is afoot. 

She must save her town and partner Franz (Daniel 

Camargo) from the Doctor, who plans to use their 

hearts to spark life into his ‘perfect’ robotic woman 

and take over. This world-class ensemble of dancers 

also includes Darcey Bussell, in a classic tale where 

love saves the day. 

UK 


From the archiving of cinema to 

improvisational lockdown theatre, 

celebrate the talent and innovation 

behind all art forms. In this strand 

you can encounter an absorbing, 

meditative performance within the 

Serpentine Gallery, refresh your 

memory of the ballet Coppelia retold 

through modern animation and 

experience a rare screening of a new 

35mm print recalling stories from 

the golden age of cinema. 

THE AFTERLIGHT 

CFF 

12A 


Multiple languages with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Charlie Shackleton 

Fragments of hundreds of films from around the 

world, from the early years of the medium, bring 

together an ensemble cast of actors with one thing 

in common: each is no longer alive. Together, 

they contend with a fragile existence lived solely 

through these traces of their work. Existing only on 

a single 35mm print, The Afterlight is a rare gem of 

a film that constructs an original narrative through 

collective memory. Every time the print is shown, 

it becomes further eroded by wear and time, 

until it fades forever. This exquisite film captures 

the tactile beauty of the physical print, and a 

traditional tale that evokes the magic of the past. 

Print source 

Loop 

THU 

25 

18.30 

20 21 23 

FILM, THE LIVING RECORD 

CFF 

OF OUR MEMORY PG 

Spain|2021 119 mins 

English and English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Inés Toharia 

WITH 

SAT 

11.15 

SUN 

15.45 

Ken Loach, Costa-Gavras, Wim Wenders, 

Bryony Dixon, Fernando Trueba, 

Aboubakar Sanogo 

Film archivists, curators, technicians and 

filmmakers from around the world come 

together to showcase the important work of film 

preservation and why it is needed in documenting 

the history of the art. The narrators are custodians 

of film, whose work behind the scenes safeguards 

the survival of motion pictures. It is a task they 

undertake based on their closely held belief in the 

artistic and cultural value of the moving image, in 

tune with a shared mantra that a film might one 

day transform someone’s life. 

Print source El Grifilm Productions, 

Film Option International 

TUE 

14.00 


EURO 


UK 


19 21 

FOREST REBELS 

Die Waldgänger 

CFF 

12A 



DIRECTOR Gordon Kämmerer 

WITH 

FRI 

Marie Rathscheck, Gordon Kämmerer, 

Max Thommes 

A young Berlin theatre company comes to the 

“Staatstheater Cottbus” to rehearse for a play 

about the history of the forests in Germany 

and how this is tied to culture and identity. 

A documentary team is onsite to capture the 

rehearsals, but the impact of the pandemic 

causes the team to lock down in the building to 

complete the play. From jealous rivalries between 

cast members, to the warm humour of day-to-day 

theatre life, this mockumentary brings together 

an unruly bunch of artists determined to keep the 

show alive with a dose of dry, sharp humour. 

Print source 

16.45 

SUN 

14.00 

Staatstheater Cottbus 

MON 

22 

12.15 

512 HOURS 

CFF 

U 


English. 

DIRECTORS Adina Istrate & Gia La Salvia 

WITH Marina Abramović, Hans-Ulrich Olbrist, 

Klaus Biesenbach, Giuliano Argenziano, 

Lynsey Peisinger, Daniel Hatton 

Print source 

Film Republic 

SAT 

20 

14.00 

As long queues snaked for hours through Kensington 

Gardens to the Serpentine’s doors, gallery patrons 

had no idea what was waiting for them inside. 

What did visitors to Marina Abramović’s latest 

show expect? What daring and audacious acts 

would unfold? Those invited in were asked to 

surrender possessions, all digital devices, and with 

no connection to the outside world, ultimately 

themselves. Was this an experiment in art, 

connection, obedience, meditation? A modern day 

emperor’s new clothes story reflects on Marina 

Abramović’s 2014 show. This is an exclusive Festival 

edit being shared for the first time in the UK following 

its premiere at CPH:DOX. 


NATURE 

& COMMUNITY 

COW 

CFF 

PG 


English. 

DIRECTOR Andrea Arnold 

Andrea Arnold returns to the Festival with a 

thought-provoking non-sentimental look at these 

majestic animals and the roles that they play in 

our lives, whether on the dinner table or in the 

dairy yard. 

Andrea Arnold’s first documentary is a meaty 

slice of bovine socio-realism. With this 

documentary, Andrea Arnold has created a kind of 

agribusiness pastoral about the daily life of cows 

on a working dairy farm. Her camera simply gets 

up close and personal with cows as they moo and 

trot around and give birth and stare with 

mysterious placidity into the camera. 



bovine birth. 

Print source 

EURO 


MUBI 

TUE 

23 

20.30 

WED 

24 

11.45 

19 

FORCED CHANGE 

United States|2021 70 mins 

English and English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Rennik Soholt 

WITH 

CFF 

12A 

Jared Andrukanis, Andre Batiste, Daniel 

Brown, James Clark, Nathaniel Collins 

Forced Change is a feature documentary that uses 

the path of destruction left behind by Hurricane 

Katrina, as a vehicle to bring to life unique 

human stories that shed light on what it means 

to be home. Filmed at critical moments over 

the past fourteen years, this is a heartbreaking 

retrospective of four unique people that left New 

Orleans after the hurricane, became displaced 

and never returned home. It highlights the value 

of community, the importance of memory, the 

strength in having to uproot your life and start 

over, but also shows the iconicity of New Orleans 

and its rich history. 

Print source 

UK 


FRI 

12.45 

103rd Street Productions 

WED 

24 

14.15 

The urgency of global warming and 

climate change is at the forefront 

of this programme of fiction films and 

documentaries. Explore the world of 

eco farming, walk the land with bovine 

creatures and return home to the 

comfort of the forest, to contemplate 

how we treat the natural world 

and identify where we find hope in 

protecting it for future generations. 

21 22 

GROWTH WITH HOPE 

Taiwan|2021 79 mins 

Chinese with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Jessica Wan-yu LIN 

WITH 

Yang Ru-men, Yang Xin-ji, 

19 

SON OF MONARCHS 

Hijo de Monarcas 

Print source Wide Management 


CFF 

PG 

The Qingshui Wetland in Jinshan is the best known 

farming wetland along the north coast of Taiwan. 

Situated at the northmost tip of the country, it has 

become the first stop of the birds migrating south. 

This vibrant documentary embraces the beauty 

of eco farming, and acknowledges the dedication 

of the locals to the land. From educating school 

kids, to bringing in scientists to monitor the animal 

population, director Jessica Wan-yu LIN takes us 

on this critical journey that champions new ways 

to protect our environment. 

Print source 

SUN 

12.45 

MON 

14.15 

THU 

25 

Public Television Service Taiwan 

10.45 

CFF 

15 

Mexico & USA|2020 97 mins 

Spanish and English with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Alexis Gambis 

WITH 

FRI 

15.45 

TUE 

23 

11.30 

Tenoch Huerta Mejia, Alexia Rasmussen, 

Lázaro Gabino Rodríguez 

A rare movie that centres science (biology, CRISPR, 

gene editing, and bioethics) within a very personal, 

moving narrative. Scientist Mendel (Tenoch Huerta 

Mejia) moves to New York to follow his work, leaving 

his family behind in Mexico. The death of Mendel’s 

grandmother forces him to return there and face 

the childhood trauma of losing his parents due to 

the flooding of the local mine where his brother still 

works. Multiple awards include the Alfred P. Sloan 

Feature Film Prize for scientifically-themed work at 

the Sundance Film Festival. 

Son of Monarchs is a visually daring hybrid of 

science and art anchored by a riveting performance 

by Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta (Narcos, upcoming 

Black Panther II) JUDE DRY, INDIEWIRE

LIBERTY 

UK 


19 

FERGUSON RISES 

United States|2021 83 mins 

English with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR 

WITH 

CFF 

15 

Mobolaji Olambiwonnu 

Michael Brown Sr, Renita Lamkin, Tory 

Russell, Osagyfo Sekou 

In 2014 Darren Wilson, a white police officer, 

fatally shot 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was 

unarmed. This led to protests across the state and 

caused a ripple effect throughout the United States 

of America. Ferguson Rises is a film charting the 

history of this incident that resulted in the current 

Black Lives Matter movement and conversations 

across the world about racial injustice. It is also a 

story of loss and healing, including interviews with 

Michael Brown Snr who talks about his grief and 

his hopes for a better world. 

Print source 

Philmco 

FRI 

14.45 

TUE 

23 

13.30 

UK 


I AM HERE 

CFF 

12A 

South Africa|2021 73 mins 

English, Hebrew & Yiddish. 

DIRECTOR Jordy Sank 

WITH Ella Blumenthal 

Jordy Sank’s (Atlanta, Durban) multiple awardwinning 

I Am Here centres on the occasion of Ella 

Blumenthal’s 98th birthday. Surrounded by family, 

Ella reflects on her astonishing WWII survival 

story. Transferred between several concentration 

camps, Ella saw her parents, close family and 

friends taken away and killed, yet somehow 

managed to survive and tell her story. Through 

many nail-biting encounters and a keen ability to 

be out of the firing line, Ella is liberated by Allied 

forces to then marry and move to South Africa. 

Viewers will see strong parallels with Flee and 

the beautifully evocative hand-drawn animation 

woven throughout. 

Print source 

Mon 

22 

16.30 

Metro International 

TUE 

23 

12.00 

UK 


The festival presents a collection 

of stories on migration, racism, 

politics and unity that have called 

attention to injustices and the 

work that is still required to create 

a fair and just society. The strand 

includes documentaries reflecting on 

government policies, surviving the 

Holocaust and collective protest, 

to fiction features about searching 

for courage after feeling excluded 

from society. 

HOSTILE 

CFF 

15 


English with English subtitles. 

DIRECTOR Sonita Gale 

Sonita Gale’s documentary takes a deep dive 

into Britain’s complicated relationship with 

immigration. The film explores the lives of 

international students, members of the Windrush 

generation and ‘highly-skilled migrants’ who have 

been challenged by government policies, and a 

hostile reception that is not always welcoming 

of their presence, alongside the added pressures 

of the Covid-19 pandemic. Through personal 

anecdotes and emotional interviews, the 

effects of Brexit, discrimination and law present 

questions about citizenship, identity, belonging 

and fraternity. 

Print source 

SAT 

20 

Galeforce Films Ltd. 

Print source UCM.ONE 


13.15 

TUE 

23 

15.30 

NICO 

CFF 

15 


English, German, Persian & Spanish with English 

subtitles. 

DIRECTOR 

WITH 

MON 

22 

10.45 

THU 

25 

Eline Gehring 

Sara Fazilat, Javeh Asefdjah, Sara 

Klimoska 

14.45 

In summertime in Germany Nico enjoys the carefree 

balance of her work as a nurse and hanging out with 

friends. Heading home one evening, she is racially 

attacked and hospitalised. Feeling helpless from 

the incident, Nico decides to take up martial arts to 

regain her confidence. This also leads her to build a 

connection with another woman, Ronny, at the local 

fairground. The navigation of trauma is a complex 

journey and actor Sara Fazilat conveys both Nico’s 

vulnerability and strength. A powerful story that 

respects the anger of a young woman feeling 

detached from her old life and follows her courage in 

learning to trust again. 

CONTENT WARNING Contains discussion of 

violence and assault.

PRODUCING DURING THE PANDEMIC 

WITH AI WEIWEI & WANG FEN 

Howard Theatre, Downing College, University of Cambridge 

21-22 November FREE (booking required via camfilmfest.com) 

Ai Weiwei and Wang Fen talk about their prolific filmmaking 

efforts. With a digital-first release strategy during the pandemic, 

this is an opportunity to see their work in the Howard Theatre in 

Downing College. Revisit Wuhan at the beginning of the outbreak, 

join the pro-democracy protests on the streets of Hong Kong 

and follow the plight of the Rohingya. 

A Q&A with Ai Weiwei and Wang Fen will be held on Sunday 21st at 1pm following 

an 11am screening of Coronation. Cockroach will be shown after the Q&A and 

Rohingya will screen on the evening of the 22nd. 

Delivered by the Heong Gallery and 

Downing College, University 

of Cambridge 

SUN 

21 

11.00 

CORONATION 

CFF 

12A 

Germany|2020 115 mins 

Mandarin with English subtitles. 

On December 1, 2019, the first patient with Covid-19 symptoms was 

identified in Wuhan. Filmed entirely by ordinary citizens living in Wuhan, 

Coronation chronicles the state’s control of citizens’ lives and access to 

information during an unprecedented health crisis that spilled into the 

rest of the world in 2020. It questions whether humanity, transparency 

and trust were sacrificed in order to maintain the Chinese state’s image of 

omnipotence. Produced and directed remotely by Ai Weiwei in Europe. 

SUN 

21 

13.00 Live Q&A with Ai Weiwei and Wang Fen, followed by a screening of Cockroach 

COCKROACH 

CFF 

12A 

Germany|2020 93 mins 

English and Cantonese with English subtitles. 

Cockroach is a poignant and dramatic visual record of the final moments 

of an independent, democratic Hong Kong. In 2019 Hong Kong erupted 

into months of street demonstrations, police suppression and violence 

in response to a proposed bill which allowed for extradition to mainland 

China for criminal prosecutions. Cockroach captures the fear and 

frustration in Hong Kong in the lead-up to the imposition of the National 

Security Law in Hong Kong on 30 June 2020. 

MON 

22 

18.00 

ROHINGYA 

CFF 

15 

Germany|2021 122 mins 

English. 

Rohingya is a continuation of Ai Weiwei’s previous films Human Flow (2017) 

and The Rest (2019), which spotlight the plight of refugees. Forced out of 

Myanmar since 2017, over 900,000 of Myanmar’s ethnic Muslim Rohingya 

minority now live in a refugee camp at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, making 

it the largest refugee settlement of our time. Filmed over several months, 

Rohingya records the community’s everyday life, social rituals, the camp’s 

unique landscapes, and the light of humanity amid one of the greatest 

displacements of our time. 

Print source 

Ai Weiwei 


Sit Down and Shut Up 

Ireland, 2021, 13 mins. Dir. Cian O Connor. 

A David vs Goliath tale about the opera 

of football, the city of Limerick, and a 

game that no one remembers that three 

men will never forget. 

Out of Time 

France, 2021, 9 mins. Dir. Delphine 

Montaigne. 

Felix faces being kicked out of an 

establishment by the director, but what 

is this place? 

Shorts to 

CHEER 

CFF12, 88 mins 

Grin from ear to ear at these uplifting tales. 

Sun 21, 10.45 Mon 22, 12.00 

Courtroom Sketches 

France, 2021, 16 mins. Dir. Karleener. 

Edmond, a courtroom sketch artist, 

intervenes unexpectedly during hearings 

of over-indebted people. 

Lemons 

UK, 2021, 4 mins. Dir. RVBBERDUCK. 

Two lemons walk into a petrol station. 

The Rev 

UK, 2021, 16 mins. Dir. Fabia Martin. 

A repressed vicar in the midst of an 

identity crisis is asked to organise a lastminute 

funeral. 

SHORTfusion 

Cupids 

US, 2021, 10 mins. Dir. Zoey Martinson. 

Three kids try to save their teacher, who 

is destined to a life on the sofa with cats, 

from a lonely summer. 

Mila 

US, Canada & Italy, 2021, 20 mins. Dir. 

Cinzia Angelini. 

A little girl’s life takes an unexpected turn 

during World War II. 


Shorts to 

DEBATE 


Powerful narratives of our current times. 

CONTENT WARNING This strand contains 

scenes of abuse, bodily harm, graphic suicide, 

mental illness and violence. 

Fri 19, 11.30 Tue 23, 13.45 

The Kicksled Choir 

Norway, 2020, 18 mins. Dir. Torfinn Iversen. 

Gabriel hopes to join the local choir, known for their 

kindness towards refugees, but his father isn’t keen. 

Shorts to 

CONTEMPLATE 


Reflecting on emotional cruxes and times of change. 

CONTENT WARNING This strand contains scenes of 

a sexual nature, abuse, kidnapping, mental illness, 

pregnancy, discussion of death and sexual assault. 

Fri 19, 13.30 Mon 22, 14.30 

Iniquity 

UK, 2021, 20 mins. Dir. Oliver Goodrum. 

Michael is on the brink of a new start in life, until his 

past comes back to haunt his future. 

Hunting Bears 

UK, 2020, 10 mins. Dir. Jason Ruddy. 

When Andy can no longer face the responsibility of 

caring for his brother, a trip down memory lane seems 

to be the only answer to his problems. 

Uncle 

UK, 2020, 13 mins. Dir. Michelle Jones. 

The coming-of-age story set in 90’s London, of a 

teenage girl whose uncle dies in prison awaiting trial. 

Birthday Boy 

UK, 2021, 20 mins. Dir. Leo Lebeau. 

Birthday Boy follows a transgender boy, Alex, as he 

experiences bullying at a private all girls school. He 

lives a double life in online games, where he feels he 

can express his true identity. 

Sounds of Nature 

Germany, 2021, 15 mins. Dir. Eliza Petkova. 

During a walk, a dental nurse realises the distance 

between her and her ailing mother. 

You Look Fine 

UK, 2021, 4 mins. Dir. Katie Byford. 

Syd attends a doctor’s appointment while coping 

with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, 

following a recent incident of sexual assault. 

An Invitation 

China, 2020, 13 mins. Dir. Yeung Tung & Hao Zhao. 

An 8-year-old boy reluctantly visits his divorced father 

in Hong Kong, who wants him to become a Hong 

Kong citizen. 

Bump 

UK, 2021, 15 mins. Dir. Rory Keenan. 

Leaving her house in some distress amidst a blazing 

row with an unseen person, heavily pregnant Pearl 

appears to be on a curious mission. 

Waves 

UK, 2020, 16 mins. Dir. Margarita Milne. 

On a surfing trip, an Australian woman questions her 

decision to move to the other side of the world for love. 

SHORTfusion 

Georgia 

Republic of Korea, 2020, 25 mins. Dir. Jayil Pak. 

When the police refuse to investigate their daughter’s 

alleged suicide, two computer-illiterate parents decide 

to design a protest banner. 


Shorts to 

EMBRACE 


The coming together of community and kindness. 

CONTENT WARNING This strand contains scenes 

of mental illness and suicide references. 

Sun 21, 14.30 Mon 22, 14.00 

Voce 

UK & Italy, 2021, 15 mins. Dir. Emily May Smith. 

An inhibited young woman is tasked to deliver news to 

her estranged Nonna (grandmother) in southern Italy. 

Snorrie 

Netherlands, 2021, 12 mins. Dir. Victoria Warmerdam. 

Absurd tragicomedy about thirty-something Freek 

reuniting with his imaginary friend from the past, 

who is looking for closure. 

Just in Case 

UK, 2021, 14 mins. Dir. Kirsty Robinson-Ward. 

Rachel lives with bipolar disorder and the invisibility 

of her condition has become all too real for her 

family. 

An Irish Goodbye 

Ireland, 2021, 23 mins. Dir. Ross White & Tom Berkeley. 

Against the backdrop of a farm in rural Northern 

Ireland, estranged brothers Turlough and Lorcan 

reunite following their mother’s death. 

Soft Rain 

Singapore, 2021, 7 mins. Dir. Sacha Geodegebure. 

A man suffering from depression is rained on by pink, 

fluffy balls from the sky. 

Break Any Spell 

Canada, 2021, 13 mins. Dir. Anton Jøsef. 

When April sets off to battle in the the world of 

live-action role-playing, her mother’s early-onset 

Alzheimer’s disease reaches a breaking point. 

Shorts to 

EXPAND 


Broaden your perspective in a swirl of creativity. 

CONTENT WARNING This strand contains 

scenes of nudity and discussion of death. 

Sat 20, 11.00 Sun 21, 12.00 

Boobs 

Canada, 2021, 8 mins. Dir. Marie Valade. 

A surrealist journey through a woman’s lovehate 

relationship with her breasts, her body, her 

femininity. 

Spotted Yellow 

Iran, 2020, 12 mins. Dir. Baran Sarmad. 

A young girl with a yellow spot on her face, suddenly 

feels the signs of a giraffe in her life. 

Bluebird Society 

Turkey, 2020, 17 mins. Dir. Deniz Bensusan. 

In a community where the torture of one person 

allows freedom of another, will Efil stay or leave? 

Diseased and Disorderly 

UK, 2021, 14 mins. Dir. Andrew Kötting. 

A film that uses the paintings, drawings and collages 

of the neurodiverse artist Eden Kötting to make 

imagistic gold. 

To Err LOCAL 

UK, 2021, 11 mins. Dir. Nanci Cruz. 

When Kiara, an AI satellite, is sent to observe a 

blackhole, she forms a friendship with Noelle back 

on Earth. 

The Wall 

China, 2021, 30 mins. Dir. Shulei Zhou. 

A wall smasher, Baiqiang, accidentally enters a 

demolishing room where artist, Xiang Fei, lived 

before, and an unprecedented force grows. 


SHORTfusion 

Shorts to 

JOURNEY 


Broaden your perspective in a swirl of creativity. 

CONTENT WARNING This strand contains sexual 

references, strong language and scenes about 

death and mental health. 

Sun 21, 16.15 Wed 24, 11.00 

Guide Me Home LOCAL 

UK, 2020, 15 mins. Dir. Stefan Georgiou. 

David arrives in London with dreams, but when things 

don’t go to plan he starts to slip between the cracks of 

the city. 

Nursery Rhymes 

Singapore, 2020, 10 mins. Dir. Michael Kam. 

Drawing inspiration from his memories of his 

grandmothers, Michael Kam imagines their childhood 

spent under different imperialist rule. 

A New Perspective 

France & Italy, 2021, 18 mins. Dir. Emanuela Ponzano. 

As pre-teens search a forest for valuable objects, 

they’re brought face-to-face with people escaping 

persecution. 

Shorts to 

UNNERVE 


A chilling dose of horror and the unexpected. 

CONTENT WARNING This strand contains scenes 

of a sexual nature, bodily harm and violence. 

Sat 20, 22.00 Wed 24, 10.45 

Rocks and Crows 

Switzerland, 2020, 4 mins. Dir. Anne Thorens. 

Lucas is playing in the yard of his building with his 

plastic pistol. But his game takes another twist when 

he starts playing with crows. 

Catch a Butcher 

UK, 2021, 11 mins. Dir. Cassiah Joski-Jethi. 

Catch A Butcher is a short horror set in 19th Century 

India, where a nurse’s first night on the job descends 

into terror as she discovers the truth behind the 

disappearances of mixed race babies. 

Down 

UK, 2021, 6 mins. Dir. Guy Harvey. 

A hole in London lures people to jump inside, growing 

larger, deeper and seemingly more unstoppable with 

each victim. 

Itch 

Malta, 2021, 8 mins. Dir. Susannah Farrugia. 

A psychological horror about a novice nun who 

develops a severe skin condition which continues 

to worsen along with her mental state as she 

struggles with her feelings for another nun. 

Banshee LOCAL 

UK, 2021, 6 mins. Dir. Matt Ditko. 

A string of bizarre missing person 

cases leads two troubled teenagers 

to investigate their town’s forbidden forest. 

Verzasca in Red 

Switzerland, 2021, 11 mins. Dir. Nadina Dollie. 

Maria experiences an ethereal sexual awakening on a 

summer vacation. 

Black Slide 

Israel, 2021, 11 mins. Dir. Uri Lotan. 

Eviah and his best friend sneak into 

the Black slide, the most terrifying 

ride in Aqua Fun. 

Ali and His Miracle Sheep 

UK, 2021, 25 mins. Dir. Maythem Ridha. 

Guided by his grandmother’s haunting 

Sumerian lament, 9-year-old mute Ali 

takes his sheep, Kirmenta, for sacrifice 

on a journey across Iraq’s landscape. 

Malakout 

Iran, 2020, 11 mins. Dir. Farnoosh Abedi. 

A piano player tries to bring his wife back to life, but 

the deal awakens the devil inside him. 

They Salivate 

France, 2020, 20 mins. Dir. Ariane Boukerche. 

They Salivate is the story of a kiss. A couple kiss each 

other in their deserted living room. The party begins 

and one guest drinks the couple’s last kiss. 

EVIE 

Australia, 2021, 18 mins. Dir. Alex von Hofmann. 

In a world decimated by nuclear war, a young girl 

living in the Australian countryside must venture 

alone to a distant farmhouse to seek medical 

supplies for her dying father. 


BFI Network + Film Hub South East 

Showcase 

Arts Picturehouse, Wednesday 24th November, 16:30 - 18:30 

YOUTH LAB 

FREE EVENT 

This event is an opportunity to watch new BFI Network films, made by filmmakers 

from across the South East Region. You will have the chance to hear from the 

filmmakers about their experience and attend a talk about available funding from 

the BFI Network South East Talent Exec, Thomas Wightman. 

During the pandemic The Youth Lab, made up of 

16- to 24-year-olds, has met regularly over Zoom 

to discuss various topics around cinema and 

the film industry. They have also taken part in 

specially organised online workshops with high 

profile guests such as Mark Kermode, Simran 

Hans, Anna Smith and Anna Bogutskaya. This 

year’s Youth Lab Jury will comprise current 

Youth Lab participants, who will announce their 

winning film before the end of the Festival. 

If any young people would like to join the 2022 

cohort, please email Abby, the Youth Lab 

lead, at abby@cambridgefilmtrust.org.uk. 

Birthdays Christenings Mother’s Day Father’s 

Day Long Service Awards Congratulations New 

Home Baby Shower Leaving Gift Get Well Soon 

Thank You Weddings Anniversary Employee Rewards 

Company Christmas Gifts and even Afternoon Tea! 

Available to 

BUY NOW 

Birthdays Christenings Mother’s Day Fathe 

Day Long Service Awards Congratulations N 

Home Baby Shower Leaving Gift Get Well So 

Thank You Weddings Anniversary Employee Rewar 

Company Christmas Gifts and even Afternoon Te 

The Love Cambridge 

GIFT CARD 

With over 200 participating businesses in Cambridge the choice of where to spend is huge – shopping, 

dining, leisure and much more - making the Love Cambridge Gift Card the perfect present for everyone! 

For a full list of businesses signed up to accept the Love Cambridge Gift Card 

please visit www.love-cambridgegiftcard.com 

LOOK 

What’s 

NEW 

Available to purchase online at 

WWW.LOVE- CAMBRIDGEGIFTCARD.COM 

delivered by 


5 films 

Stream 

for 

£20 

When the first lockdown was announced back 

in March 2020 we feared the 40th edition of THE 

Cambridge Film Festival would not go ahead 

that year. We immediately began making plans 

to save the Festival, and ensure that film 

lovers could continue to access outstanding 

films not available via other platforms. 

First came a partnership with three other UK film festivals to produce AMPLIFY!, a 

virtual film festival that ran throughout November 2020 and attracted an audience of 

over 15,000, not just from Cambridge but UK-wide. 

Since then we have presented a range of online events under the CFF at Home umbrella, 

with highlights from 40 years of the Cambridge Film Festival in the CFF Rewind season, 

and films selected and introduced by special guests such as Mark Kermode, Sarah Gavron, 

and Terence Davies through the incredibly popular “A Film I Love…” series. 

All of these online presentations have been building to this, our very first blended, real 

world and online Cambridge Film Festival. 

If you can get to the Arts Picturehouse between the 18th and 25th of November we’d love 

to see you there, but if you can’t or if you just want to enjoy even more films, then we 

have a wide selection of CFF40’s features and shorts available through the CFF at Home 

platform right up until December 5th! 

All of the CFF at Home titles are available UK-wide and there is a fantastic Festival pass 

which allows you to stream 5 films for £20! 

Visit camfilmfest.com for full 

details and tickets. 


SUN 

21 

NOV 

MON 

22 

NOV 

TUE 

23 

NOV 

WED 

24 

NOV 

THU 

25 

NOV 

FRI 

26 

NOV 

SAT 

27 

NOV 

SUN 

28 

NOV 

MON 

29 

NOV 

TUE 

30 

NOV 

WED 

01 

DEC 

THU 

02 

DEC 

FRI 

03 

DEC 

SAT 

04 

DEC 

SUN 

05 

DEC 

FERGUSON RISES 

FORCED CHANGE 

FOREST REBELS 

SALARYMAN 

SHORTS TO CONTEMPLATE 

SHORTS TO DEBATE 

SON OF MONARCHS 

THE MASSACRE OF ANRÖCHTE 

WHEEL OF FORTUNE AND FANTASY 

15 HOURS 

512 HOURS 

FILM, THE LIVING RECORD OF OUR MEMORY 

HOSTILE 

JUST THE TWO OF US 

SHORTS TO UNNERVE 

WHEN I’M DONE DYING 

GROWTH WITH HOPE 

KARNAWAL 

SHORTS TO CHEER 

SHORTS TO EMBRACE 

SHORTS TO EXPAND 

SHORTS TO JOURNEY 

BEYTO 

FEAR 

NICO 

EVERYTHING IN THE END 

MEMORY BOX 

BALANDRAU, FROZEN HELL 


MAIN FUNDER 

40TH 

FESTIVAL 

DONOR 

SUPPORTERS 

INSTITUTES, FOUNDATIONS AND TRUSTS 

SENIOR MEDIA PARTNER 

MEDIA PARTNERS 

VENUE PARTNERS 

PATRON 

FRIENDS 

Anne Bailey, Anne Beamish, Lola Caball Roures, Janet Fox, 

Rachel Knight, Rob Marsden, Gavin Midgley, Chris Shaw, 

Lucy Sheppard, Stuart Wren 


Index of Films 

Features 

15 Hours 12 

512 Hours 19 

Afterlight, The 18 

Ai Weiwei Trio: Cockroach, 22 

Coronation and Rohingya 

Ali and Ava 5 

Atabai 10 

Balandrau, Frozen Hell 12 

Belly of the Sea, The 12 

Beyto 10 

Blue Bayou 6 

Close-Knit 14 

Cockroach 22 

Coppelia 18 

Coronation 22 

Cow 20 

Drive My Car 14 

Electrical Life of Louis Wain, The 5 

Everything in the End 11 

Eyes of Tammy Faye, The 6 

Fear 8 

Ferguson Rises 21 

Film, the Living Record of 18 

Our Memory 

Flee 8 

Forced Change 20 

Forest Rebels 19 

Great Freedom 7 

Growth with Hope 20 

Hostile 21 

I Am Here 21 

Just the Two of Us 15 

Karnawal 10 

Laureate, The 11 

Luzzu 9 

Massacre of Anröchte, The 11 

Memoria 7 

Memory Box 8 

Nico 21 

Odd-Job Men, The 13 

People Upstairs, The 13 

Petite Maman 9 

Playground 9 

Poupelle of Chimney Town 14 

Roaring 20’s 9 

Rohingya 22 

Salaryman 15 

Seed, The 11 

Shorts to Cheer 23 

Shorts to Contemplate 24 

Shorts to Debate 24 

Shorts to Embrace 25 

Shorts to Expand 25 

Shorts to Journey 26 

Shorts to Unnerve 26 

Small Body 9 

Son of Monarchs 20 

Souvenir: Part II, The 7 

Surprise Film 4 

Titane 7 

Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy 15 

When I’m Done Dying 9 

ShortS 

Ali and his Miracle Sheep 26 

A New Perspective 26 

An Invitation 24 

An Irish Goodbye 25 

Banshee 26 

Birthday Boy 24 

Black Slide 26 

Bluebird Society 25 

Boobs 25 

Break Any Spell 25 

Bump 24 

Catch a Butcher 26 

Courtroom Sketches 23 

Cupids 23 

Diseased and Disorderly 25 

Down 26 

Evie 26 

Georgia 24 

Guide Me Home 26 

Hunting Bears 24 

Iniquity 24 

Itch 26 

Just In Case 25 

Kicksled Choir, The 24 

Lemons 23 

Malakout 26 

Mila 23 

Nursery Rhymes 26 

Out of Time 23 

Rev, The 23 

Rocks and Crows 26 

Sit Down and Shut Up 23 

Snorrie 25 

Soft Rain 25 

Sounds of Nature 24 

Spotted Yellow 25 

They Salivate 26 

To Err 25 

Uncle 24 

Verzasca In Red 26 

Voce 25 

Wall, The 25 

Waves 24 

You Look Fine 24 


40TH 

FESTIVAL 

WE WOULD LIKE 

TO THANK 

PRINCIPAL PARTNERS 

THIRD PARTNERS 

Catherine Jones – the Cambridge jeweller since 1963 

Celebrating our 60th anniversary in 2023 

Own a piece of Cambridge 

SERVICES: 

Commissions 

Redesign heirlooms 

Repairs 

Valuations 

9 Bridge Street Cambridge CB2 1UA +44 01223 361596 online@catherinejones.com wwww.catherinejones.com

Cambridge Film Festival 2021 Brochure

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