Filmmaker Q&A

Earlier in the year, local filmmakers were invited to enter the festival’s short film competition by submitting films with the theme ‘Small Voices, Big Impact’. One winner and two runners up were selected with other entries appearing in the programme.

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The festival kicks off on Saturday 27th November at the Bridge House Theatre with a Q&A session with two of the Coventry-and Warwickshire-based filmmakers of the winning short films: Brian Harley and Cassiah Joski-Jethi. Hosted by Live & Local's own and Coventry City of Culture Poet Laureat, Emilie Lauren Jones, join the event to watch the short films and discover more about the filmmaking process and inspiration behind the films.

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Cassiah Joski-Jethi is an award-winning writer/director who graduated from the University of Birmingham Drama and Theatre Arts programme. Her screen work has been awarded in the West Field Screenwriting Awards (finalist); BBC Script Room Drama (longlist); and Moondance International Film Festival (winner). Her short film ‘Kindling’ was awarded a runner up prize in the short film competition. The film follows a young girl who escapes an abusive home when her imaginary self comes to life. An homage to fairy tales, the film looks at the power of the mind to persevere and rise above adversity. (Running time: 9 min)

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Brian Harley is an award-winning filmmaker and founder of Short Night Films based in Coventry. With a background in fine art, Brian has written and directed a number of acclaimed short films. Currently, Brian works as the Marketing and Outreach Coordinator for CineCov on behalf of Flatpack Festival. His short film ‘The Allotmenteers’ was chosen winner of the short film competition. It celebrates a Coventry community’s efforts to revive a derelict allotment site. (Running time: 25 min)

What Brian says about the Big Picture Festival:

“Big Picture Festival cares about connecting and reconnecting audiences to cinema experiences which I am very passionate about. I got involved with Big Picture Festival because it also clearly values short form filmmaking and emergent filmmakers. It respects their voices and provides vital exposure and encouragement.”

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Daniel Alexander *, whose short music film ‘I Can’t Breathe’ was awarded a runner up prize in the film competition, is an award-winning director and filmmaker based in Birmingham. He is a BAFTA crew member and sits on the board of the region’s industry screen body, ‘CREATE CENTRAL’. Daniel was also part of the Screen Skills industry advisory task force team and was recently made an Associate Artist of the Birmingham REP Theatre. ‘I Can’t Breathe’ was created in memory of all the black men and women killed wrongfully in police custody. (Running time: 6 min)

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The Q&A will take place at the Bridge House Theatre on Saturday 27th November at 10:30AM with screenings of the three directors’ films. All short films will also be available to watch as part of the online festival programme. 
 

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* Daniel Alexander is unable to attend the Q&A session