Xiaohongshu
Film Screening and Q&A
Film maker Tomisin Adepeju will present a screening of BIFA winning and BAFTA nominated short films by some of the most exciting film-making voices working today.
The films traverse themes around Love, cultural identity & familial dissolution. The post screening discussion will explore the creative journey of the film-makers, the craft of making DIY films and equally navigating your creative voice whilst working with institutions like BFI, FILM 4 & BBC FILMS.
Who’s it for?
This event is made for the next wave of storytellers. Whether you’re a student, an emerging creative, inspired by film, media, and arts, this is your space. If you’re a curious with bold ideas, love short films that push boundaries, or want a behind-the-scenes look at how filmmakers bring original visions to life, this one’s for you.
Excited about carving your own path in the industry without sacrificing your voice? Come through, get inspired, and hear directly from filmmakers doing exactly that... Read about them below!
YASMIN AFIFI
Yasmin Afifi is a London-based director/writer whose short Jellyfish and Lobster won the Best British Short Award at this year’s BAFTAs. Her films have screened at platforms including Aesthetica, London Film Festival, Tirana and Underwire. In her projects, she loves using the medium of comedy, magical realism and absurdism to explore taboo and dark subject matters. Afifi often inserts grounded characters into more conceptual worlds to explore stories with heart and relevance. We asked her about the BAFTA-winning Jellyfish and Lobster and touched on upcoming projects.
MATTY CRAWFORD
Matty Crawford is a BAFTA nominated writer-director and Screen Star of Tomorrow 2025. His films cross genre and burrow under your skin, blending unflinching emotion with bold visual storytelling. He is a former Sundance Ignite Fellow and graduate of the National Film and Television School in the UK. His short films have gone to broadcast, whilst screening at festivals such as Toronto International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival and SXSW, whilst collecting a number of awards including the Midnight Shorts Jury Award at SXSW, Narrative Short Film Award at San Francisco International Film Festival, Best Live Action Short at Warsaw Film Festival and a BFI Future New Talent Award. He is currently developing his debut feature.
JESSE REECE-LEWIS
Jesse is a writer-director from Brighton, with a particular interest in working-class stories and giving voices to those with invisible disabilities. He studied at Bournemouth Film School where he wrote, directed, and edited his graduation short, BLEACH. The film went on to screen at several festivals worldwide and won 4 RTS awards including the National Best Short Film award.
He then went on to write and direct his second short, EYELASH, a self-funded adaptation of Neil Hilborn’s heart-breaking poem, OCD. The film was a huge success and earned great critical acclaim, collecting over 15 awards during its festival circuit and was nominated in the Best British Short category at the BAFTAs, 2021. Jesse’s latest short, MOTHER OF MINE, tells the story of a family coming to terms with loss, the film premiered at London Film Festival 2023 and stars the fantastic Robert Webb in a unique, dramatic role. He is also currently developing several other ideas, including his debut feature, HEATWAVE, as well as a series idea called MY LONDON.
