Short Film Competition: Stay in Control

What does it mean to feel safe? To feel in control?

From finding comfort in the mundane during wartime (Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid), to adopting a new language (Contradiction of Emptiness), to fighting your child’s friend’s Dad (1:10), we all cope differently.

Ranging from the profound to the ridiculous, our final short film competition programme shows there’s no one right way to keep your hands on the wheel.

The Death of a Hero (Dir: Karin Franz Korlof, Sweden 2024, 14 mins)

Is this the Mansion I Will Live in? (Dir: Rafelle Fillastre, Belgium 2024, 6 mins)

We Did Not Consent (Dir: Dorothy Allen Pickard, UK 2024, 18 mins)

Contradiction of Emptiness (Dir: Irina Rubina, Germany 2024, 3 mins)

Thoughts on Peace in an Air Raid (Dir: Vyacheslav Turyanytsya, Ukraine 2024, 16 mins)

1:10 (Dir: Sinan Taner, Switzerland 2024, 18 mins)

What are Solidarity tickets?

We recognise that not everyone has equal access to live events and that the cost of entry is a barrier to some people. Solidarity tickets are free tickets available for anyone who needs it. If you're not sure whether that's you, refer to our guide below (thank you to Matchbox Cineclub for sharing this guide).

Solidary tickets are for you if you agree with any of the following statements:

• I frequently stress about meeting basic needs (including food, clothing, housing and transportation) and don’t always achieve them.
• I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting my basic needs.
• I rent lower-end properties or have unstable housing.
• I sometimes can’t afford public or private transport. If I own a car/have access to a car, I am not always able to afford petrol.
• I am unemployed or underemployed.
• I qualify for government and/or voluntary assistance including: food banks and benefits.
• I have no access to savings.
• I have no or very limited expendable income (expendable income might mean you are able to buy tea or coffee at a shop, go to the cinema or a concert, buy new clothes, books and similar items each month etc.)
• I rarely buy new items because I am unable to afford them.
• I cannot afford a holiday or have the ability to take time off without financial burden.