28/3/2021
It is Sunday and today is the day when Beeston Film Festival draws to a close. While it is quite bittersweet as this is the last day of screenings, it is that much sweeter to the brilliant filmmakers whose films you’ve had the privilege to see since we will find out the winners of our very own B’Oscars. There is no need to despair because we have four more screening sessions for today and hopefully, we will be back next year and we will actually get to see each other in Beeston.
As yesterday, we kick off the day quite early with the rest of our animation selection. Next up, we have our non-fiction category followed by a diverse variety screening full of great films of all genres. And we close out the festival with our comedy finale to go out on a high note and with a laugh.
“Delphine “No Dogs”” is a British animated short telling the story of Delphine, a Jamaican woman who came to London seeking a better life during a time when non-British people were not welcome there. “No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish” was a saying that was generally accepted and this fascinating short with splendid paper cut animation illustrated a period of history that is dark and painful. With unique visuals and a story of great friendship between two outsiders, a black woman and an Irish woman, the story of Delphine will surely capture your heart.
“When Better Letters Met Barbara Enright”, an Australian film representing the non-fiction category, gives the audience a rare look onto one of the people behind the hundreds upon hundreds of signs, cards and other written art we see all the time. Barbara Enright writes, and she writes beautifully and her writings become an illustration. If you’ve ever wondered how a birthday card or a sign could possibly be made and who’s behind them, this is the documentary for you.
“Dinosaur” is a British drama from our variety selection. It follows an elderly man, who after the loss of his wife and his career, loses a sense of purpose in life. The film tackles grief, loss in various contexts, your sense of identity being stripped from you after significant changes in your life. Delivering some of the best performances in this year’s festival, Dinosaur is a drama that looks at a period of human life that isn’t frequently represented on the screen, at least not in such a hopeful way.
“1-800-D-Direct” headlines our comedy selection as well as our very last screening for this year. A British short set in 1960’s Manhattan, the colourful film with great female characters and amazing comedy is a little twist on ‘9 to 5’-esque inspired cinema. Well thought out pacing and masterful editing give this film the perfect foundation for comedic success. It’s the perfect film to kick off our very last screening and the category as a whole will have you parting with Beeston Film Festival for a year with laughter instead of tears.
Nineteen screening sessions, seventeen B’Oscars to be given out, seven days. As Beeston Film Festival 2021 slowly comes to its end, we hope you’re leaving the experience behind with great memories and that some of those films stayed with you forever, or at least for a while. Here’s to hopefully meeting up in person in Beeston next year!
Written by Sara Jakubcova