In association with Cardiff Students’ Union, Film Production Society introduced Cardiff University’s second annual film festival on Thursday, 23rd October at Y Plas. With six short films, each presenting a unique and thought-provoking storyline, these screenings celebrated the dedication and passion behind cinematic projects. Each director took to the stage to deliver a speech before their film was played. Sharing their gratitude to the team behind their project, there was a palpable sense of community that was impossible to miss.

“Beginning with The Gaffer…”

directed by Samay Dixit, who revealed he was inspired by his two loves: “football and filmmaking”, the audience was immediately hooked with sharp, fourth-wall-breaking humour that landed every time. Followed by The Audition, directed by Liam Bryan, a dark, psychological exploration into the price of chasing perfection, the atmosphere of the room was transformed into something more reflective. Joseph Cohen, winner of Best Actor at the Chicago Filmmaker Awards this year, particularly stood out to me as one to keep an eye on.

“Detective satire, The Adventures of Eskel Mclaughlin…”

written and directed by Ben McElfarick, welcomed the second half of the night. With a sharp wit, its flair earned some of the night’s biggest laughs from the audience. The comedy continued with Shayan Fouladi: Nashta’s Late Night With The Storyteller, an “egomaniacal tale” narrating the consequences of being chronically online in
today’s digital world.

“The first-ever animation piece, Lost Tapes of Hazy Memories…”

written, directed, animated, and edited by Samay Dixit, introduces a complete contrast to The Gaffer, with a haunting tale of a girl who discovers deeper meanings of life through cassette tapes from her past self. Another thought-provoking piece was See You Next Year, written and directed by Lydia Tilston and Beatrice McGarvey, which delved into the feeling of nostalgia between old childhood friends; “will the ghosts of the past come back to haunt them?”.

The evening also supported a meaningful cause, with all raffle proceeds donated to MEDICINEMA. Alongside the exciting announcement that the Film Production Society is launching the Dragon Awards, celebrating standout student talent, with voting closing on Saturday 25th October!

Cardiff University’s student filmmakers have proven themselves as ones to watch, impressing many, not only me, with their dedication and passion for the craft.