DIGITAL SHORTS: CineCity event - Sunday, November 18th 2007

For the first of two Final Cut screenings in the 2007 CineCity Film Festival, we presented this collection of brand-new work from the cream of Britain's new filmmaking talent. The UK Film Council's Digital Shorts scheme is the country's premiere development opportunity for up-and-coming filmmakers and we selected the very best for tonight's event. All films were completed this year and each one is a testament to the high quality of work produced in our independent sector. This is what Final Cut is all about!

GET OFF MY LAND - Director Douglas M. Ray - 5 mins
A young couple’s walk through the countryside leads to a confrontation with the landowner and an unlikely challenge – to put it mildly.

SMALL THOUGHTS - Directors Robert Green, Daniel Howe and James Clarke - 5 mins
These Wolverhampton animators have taken the random musings of primary school kids and given them a unique visual treatment with a mix of CGI and hand-drawn animation. In this clever and, at times, very funny film, we hear their thoughts on subjects as diverse as Christmas, pirate ships and the dreaded after-school activities.

BIRDFEEDER - Director Jo Tidbury - 9 mins
This excellent fantasy is set in a ‘possible’ future where seagulls have risen to the top of the food chain and humans forced down the pecking order (excuse the pun).

THE APOLOGY LINE - Director James Lees - 11 mins
The most talked-about short documentary of the year is based around the creation of a real-life Apology Line where members of the public can anonymously confess to absolutely anything over the phone. Lees came up with the idea after hearing of the original apology line project in New York, conceived by artist Allan Bridge. This stark and at time moving film uses UK phone-ins.

MISSING LINK - Director Cecilia McAllister - 5 mins
This sci-fi shocker is set in the near future when global warming has caused icebergs in Antartica to melt and ancient ice to find it’s way to the surface. Two scientists take delivery of one particular piece containing a frozen insect and, foolishly, decide to defrost it. The rest is (our) history.

CLOSE AT HAND - Director Jez Alsop - 6 mins
Fresh from the 2007 Edinburgh festival, this powerful film tells the story of a man struggling to regain consciousness after being caught in the blast from a huge explosion. Max’s returning memory is blurred by stark visions of his family which may or may not be the confused musing of a brain close to death.

IN MY HEAD - Director Lysander Ashton
Glen’s afternoon drink takes a bizarre twist with the arrival of his imaginary friend Clint - who is adamant that Glen is, in fact, a figment of his imagination!

MESSAGES FOR MARIA - Director Chris Baugh - 9 mins
Young Frank thinks he can win feisty Maria's heart by staging a daring robbery that will help her out of a financial jam. Unfortunately, he invites her along...

PIANISSIMO - Director Pat Kelman - 7 mins
A piano teacher is stalked by a disturbed ex-pupil with murder on his mind.

OFF BEAT - Director Will Becher - 4 mins
In a simple world where watching TV and eating biscuits is paramount, a news report about a police holiday causes a stir. One viewer decides this is the perfect opportunity for a crime spree. Starring the voice of BBC Radio 4's Michael 'Moral Maze' Buerk.

MEETING - Director Bill Maryon - 5 mins
Another meeting and yet another humiliation for the boss’s PA. But this time the worm turns…

CHERRIES - Director Tom Harper - 14 mins
The second of tonight's films set in a scary near future is this powerful and extremely well made drama from the director of the award-winning Cubs, screened by Final Cut last year. Cherries imagines a prolonged 'war on terror' in which the British government is forced to extend the draft to include sixth-formers.