Tuesday 29 03 2022
Powerful films connected to University of the West of Scotland (UWS) were among highlights at the 15th annual Glasgow Short Film Festival.
The three short movies – Field Notes on Love, Life of Riley and Kin – were screened in front of a packed theatre at Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts, as the Festival returned to in-person screenings for the first time since 2019.
Lecturer Sam Firth directed Field Notes on Love (pictured below), a short documentary narrated by Olivier Award-winner and multi-time BAFTA nominee Juliet Stevenson.
She said: “Field Notes on Love is a video essay charting the journey of a female filmmaker in a relationship with a woodland ecologist. I’m delighted that it has been featured at the Festival, and the response has been very positive.
“Furthermore, I’m incredibly proud at the level of UWS involvement this year. Life of Riley and Kin are both thoughtful and thought-provoking, and really were Festival highlights.”
Shaun Hughes, also a lecturer at UWS, directed Life of Riley (pictured above), listed as one of the top highlights of the Festival by prestigious publication Directors Notes.
The film tells the story of a homeless man who must take responsibility for his actions when his only companion, his beloved dog, is injured.
Shaun added: “The Glasgow Short Film Festival is one of the highlights of the Scottish film calendar, showcasing powerful stories told in innovative ways, taking advantage of the succinct format."
“I’m very pleased that Life of Riley was able to make its world premiere at this event, in front of a home crowd.”
Kin by recent MA Filmmaking graduate Ruby Cedar (pictured above), is about a mother-daughter relationship, where the roles are reversed.
Ruby said: “It has been fantastic to see Kin screened at such a prestigious Festival, and I’m really happy at the reaction it’s had.
“UWS has been a great support through the making of Kin and I’m honoured to be showing alongside brilliant work by Sam and Shaun.”