A selection of short films that offer different snapshots of local stories, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.
From a portrait of the unofficial King of Deptford (Terry of Terry’s Discount), to an exploration of the 1981 New Cross Massacre, all of these films offer a unique picture of different Lewisham localities, personalities and stories.
Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries – Dir. Andrew DawsonThe cemetery commemorates the dead as well as offering a vital green space for those seeking nature, solitude, or rich grave iconography. The documentary features users of the cemetery, as well as spending time with poets, social reformers and cafe owner who have gone before.
Debtford – Dir. april forrest lin 林森Debtford is an experimental non-fiction short centring on a room I used to rent in Deptford combining 16mm footage, archive materials, and modern horror to explore this room as a case study for the rental experience, the material conditions underpinning history, and the gaps within the archive.
Head Culture 2 Pre Big Bang to Deptford – Dir. Brian Francis and Louise FrancisA vast Monolithic head adorns a Creative Virtual Reality Unit and then experiences a journey through space and time from before the Big Bang via White and Black holes. It proceeds to earth, where it continues its travels to the streets of Deptford to finally meet with other Monolithic heads.
King of Deptford – Dir. Sasha Denny & Daisy AllenOn bustling Deptford High Street, a small discount store is home to Terry — a local legend, former butcher, and unofficial agony uncle to the community he’s served for decades. Shot on Super 8mm film, King of Deptford is a tender and heartfelt portrait of a man who’s more than just a shopkeeper — he’s the soul of the street.
Love Over Gold – Dir. Sasha DennyAn intimate and moving short documentary about Daisy Allen, an Irish artist who moves to South East London. A chance discovery opens another view of her late mother.
Soldiers From Ends – Dir. Mya Onwugbonu“‘Soldiers from Ends’ is a poetic documentary – an endeavour designed to share some of the untold stories in black history, both past and present. Following the bars of young black poet, Blaize Alexis-Anglin, we see the ends change and learn about the New Cross Massacre from January 1981.
Uncanny Waters – Dir. Ray MaloneA short doc about an intergenerational LGBTQ+ project by Heads Bodies Legs Collective. It follows a queer community creating costumes and performance around the Thames and its tributaries, and celebrates the power of queer imagination to create futures of care beyond the brutality of the present.
Programme supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery.
