Nomadic Shorts

A special programme of short films exploring identity, resilience and diversity within nomadic communities. Featuring the world premiere of My Sister, My Best Friend, which was made through this year’s Misleór Short Documentary Grant. Screening followed by Q+A with filmmakers and a wine reception at the bar.

Bihttoš (Rebel)
Directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers
This film is an unconventional documentary that explores the complex relationship between a father and daughter. Through animation, re-enactments, and archival photos, writer/director Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers (Blackfoot & Sámi) delves into the dissolution of her parents' mythic love story and how it has coloured her perception of love in her adult life.

Agape
Directed by Ethan Donoghue
A young Traveller woman is forced into a marriage with a man she can never love. Meanwhile, the woman she really loves has no choice but to watch as everything goes downhill.

Listen
Directed by Hamze Bytyçi

This haunting, poignantly narrated short animated film describes the witnessing of an unspeakable tragedy in contemporary Russia. It is a story heavy with the silence of those who did not speak up to protect others, and those who no longer have a voice. It is told from the perspective of Holocaust survivor Lydia Krylova.

Шилүүс (Mountain Cat)
Directed by Lkhagvadulam Purev-Ochir
In contemporary Mongolia, a teenage girl with a heart disease is forced to see a shaman for healing. When opportunity presents itself, she expresses her true feelings and desires to the shaman.

Morit Elena Morit (Wake Up Elena Wake Up)

Directed by Anders Sunna & Inga Wiktoria Påve
This atmospheric tale follows a young girl and her reindeer as they try to escape the menacing darkness of colonial oppression in Sápmi. Guided by a spirit, she is reminded to listen to her inner voice and trust her instincts. Both directors draw inspiration from their family traditions.

Take Us As We Are

Directed by Liza Mortimer
Based on the 1969 BBC archive documentary, Where Do We Go From Here, and the family roots of Minty Smith, Take Us As We Are cultivates the spirit of freedom of the Gypsy and Traveller community - a nomadic culture still prevalent as ever.

My Sister, My Best Friend

Directed by Kathleen Ward
As children, Biddy and Annie were inseparable. Immersed in their culture and life on the road, together they went exploring, playing, baking, begging and foraging. When their family was taken off the road and forced to live in houses, Biddy and Annie remained incredibly close, keeping their culture and traditions alive through their children and grandchildren. After Biddy’s passing earlier this year, Annie and her family pay tribute to a remarkable and truly loved woman.