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The Ultimate Blue Hive Guide

Welcome to the Ultimate Blue Hive Meta Guide. This article is written by Acid. We will be talking about basic hive composition, beequips, amulets, and other things. So let’s get started. LAST UPDATED: APRIL 2024

Pop Guiding

Cost-efficient boost materials, casual boost materials, intense boost materials, end of the article.

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After the Beesmas last year nerf Blue Hive meta changed slightly.

We are going to get you updated on what hives make the most right now.

Keep in mind that this is a BASE HIVE, everyone can change to their liking and game progression. This means that hives under level 19 hive shouldn’t use this hive, since it won’t make as much as they will need to run Bubble Bee and other bees.

Hive Composition

1 Tabby Bee
1 Gummy Bee
1 Digital bee
1 Windy Bee
7 Tadpole Bees
21 Buoyant Bees
1 Fuzzy Bee
3 Music Bees
1 Diamond Bee
1 Ninja Bee
1 Shocked Bee
1 Commander Bee
1 Frosty Bee
1 Bubble Bee
1 Bucko bee
1 Bomber Bee
1 Stubborn Bee
1 Bumble Bee
1 Looker Bee
1 Basic Bee

This is the BASE hive, which means it changes for different players.

IGNORE BEEQUIP PLACEMENTS ON IMAGE

If you have no friends or alts you may add more tads but it is very easy to find people to macro with

THIS IS AN ENDGAME HIVE THAT YOU OPTIMIZE FOR YOURSELF

As you progress to collect more and more honey you remove fillers and pollen boost bees for more buoyants

If you macro with other blue hives or have an alt:

If you have a fuzzy alt remove fuzzy bee for music bee

You can remove Tads and Add Buoyants/Fillers

(KEEP MORE THAN 6 TADS FOR BABY LOVE AND BLUE BOOST TOKENS) (*cough* *cough*)

Do this slowly while testing what works best for you.

The main ones are the Vicious Bee, Shy Bee, Ninja Bee, and Frosty Bee.

The benefits of having a Vicious Bee are the extremely useful hive bonus that many use to get materials faster, and it’s Blue Bomb+.

A Vicious Bee isn’t needed in a blue hive, but it’s not a crime to run it as it also gives an extra 15% bubble pollen.

Shy Bee has a great passive for nectar and a pretty good BAP hive bonus which is good. Ninja Bees have recently gotten a built-in critical chance buff which is powerfully combined with its Blue Bomb+. Also haste from Ninja Bees in moderation makes Windy Bee more viable as you can restore haste fast after tornadoes and you can summon many powerful and useful tornadoes. Frosty Bee is amazing due to it giving Blue Bomb+ and Blue boost tokens. Frosty Bee contributes to Pop Shower greatly, as Pop Shower needs 30 Blue Bomb tokens and 40 “Boost” tokens. Gifted Baby Bees could be run if the player does not have 6+ gifted tadpole bees as you need constant Baby Love.

Overfilling

Overfilling is when your pollen gain outpaces the balloon spawn rate or fills the balloons faster than you can produce them, causing your capacity to get filled instead. It’s a bad thing if you’re going back to the hive early because the pollen is going to your main capacity. This will lose possible opportunities to fill more balloons and get a bigger balloon at your hive which is the main source of honey.

If you are overfilling you decrease filler bees or reduce tads and add more buoyants. If you’re still overfilling, then you can add a photon bee or remove pollen boost bees or even remove a tabby bee. You could also add exhausted bee as it boosts white field capacity and the Pine field is 15% white so it could help (not recommended).

On honeydays you will be overfilling so you will need to remove most bees and run more buoyants.

Under-filling

Under-filing is when your balloons go back to the hive and are under 70% full thus resulting in hurting your income…

If you under-fill you decrease buoyant bees for more filler bees or tadpoles. Bigger pops will hopefully fix this issue as a higher pop aura buff is quite powerful.

Be sure to check out our guide on Waxing the Beequips.

The best way to use Waxes to enhance your Beequips

Beequips are extremely powerful with their great hive bonuses and bee buffs. Blue hives could run many different beequip mixes however this is the easiest one to get hold of and to use with this hive.

Paper Angel
(3) Beesmas Tree Hats
(2) Pinecones
(3) Beesmas Tops
(3) Elf Caps
(3) Icicles
Charm Bracelet
Peppermint Antennas ON BEAR BEE

Some people run Coal but it’s quite hard to find a good one and not many have it. Running a Sweatband depends on how good the stats are. Peppermint Antennas can be run depending on how good the stats are. The Toy Horn is to be run if constant Melody isn’t achieved.

Example Beequip Placements:

Beesmas Tree Hats:

BAR Buoyant Bees

Frosty/Ninja Bees

Beesmas Tops:

Elf Caps: (mixed with Convert Mutations)

Buoyant Bees

Frosty Bees

BAR buoyant bees

Here is a list of some key stats on amulets that you need for the current Blue Meta:

Ant Amulet:

Blue pollen % (Max 30%)

Pollen % (Max 5%)

Convert Rate % (Max 110%)

Critical Chance % (Max 3%)

Critical Power % (Max 50%)

Any off-color pollen stat % (Max 30%)

Snail Amulet:

Convert amount (+21 – +25)

Goo (+11% – 15%)

Pollen (+4% – +5%)

Stump Field (+56% – +65%)

Stick bug Amulet:

Capacity (+200,000 – +300,000)

Convert Rate (x1.20 – x1.25)

Blue Pollen (+25% – +30%)

Blue Bomb Pollen (+25% – +30%)

Moon Amulet:

Honey per pollen (+2% – +8%)

Bond from treats (+3% – +10%)

King Beetle Amulet:

Convert rate (+1% – +100%)

Bee attack (+1)

Supreme Star Amulet

Capacity (x2.5)
Blue pollen (+15% – +70%)
Convert Rate (x1.05 – x1.25)
Bee Ability Rate (+1% – +7%)
Critical Chance ( +1% – +7%)
Pollen (+5% – +20%)

Supreme Cog Amulet

+200,000 to +250,000 Capacity (increments of 5000)
+25% to +30% Blue Pollen
+15% to +20% Bubble Pollen
+5% to +10% Ability Token Lifespan

Supreme Star Amulet should be Pop Shower , Pop Guiding , or a good Solo Pop

Pop Shower > Pop Guiding > Solo Pop ; Assuming all are 5/5 and similar stat ranges

Blue relies on Pop Star to fill balloons and the capacity buff from Star Shower will be needed if you are over-filling with your current solo Pop Star. Also, the chance to catch a star from Star Shower makes it easy to get inspire stacks which are overpowered

Guiding Star also grants a permanent 1.25x capacity multiplier as well as a 2.5x pollen and capacity bonus for summoning a star

You can settle with a 5/5 solo pop and be fine. You don’t need a 5/5 double passive for blue unless you overfill.

Nectar Priority

Motivating (BP, CR, BAR)
Comforting (BP, CRH, CCR)
Satisfying (HH, RCR, WP)
Refreshing (BCR, RP, BAR)
Invigorating (RP, CR, BA)

Depending on how good your planters are, you can set priority to 70%-80%.

Blue extract
Free field boosters
Purple potion
Smooth dice
Optional pine tree winds (lower-end winds 1x – 7x)
Super smoothie
Loaded dice
Free field booster
Pine tree winds (8x+)

Most people will do casual boosts over intensive boosts for balloon blessing to save materials for Tide Popper + other endgame items.

Contact Acid for any questions regarding this article or general BSS advice for blue hives.

The Ultimate Endgame White Hive Guide!

The Ultimate Red Hive Guide

Isn’t 7 tadpole bees very low for a person with no fuzzy alt and no blue friends?

As I said you can optimise this hive to what you see on your graphs. Also it is very easy to find macro servers for blue online.

Thanks for the hive comp.

No problemo!

Excuse me but what are the natro macro settings?

Message acid on discord for more personalised help

Why no puppy bee with the antlers bequip for 20% cap

Discord Server

February 2024
January 2024
August 2023

Unleashing the Power of the Blue Hive - My Epic Journey to Quadrillions

Updated on Dec 27,2023

Introduction, gaming adventures: killing the coconut crab and m chi, the quest for mythic eggs, spending the jelly, boosting the hive, off-camera grinding: making honey, science bear's questline, stick bug and ultimate ant annihilation, leveling up bees and mutations, crafting and honey making strategies, achieving the ultimate blue hive, article: journey to the ultimate blue hive in bee swarm simulator.

In the vast gaming world of Bee Swarm Simulator, there are countless adventures awaiting the players. From battling tough enemies to collecting rare loot, the game offers an immersive experience. One player, in particular, embarked on a Journey to Create the best possible blue hive in the game. Join us as we Delve into their gaming adventures, strategies, and achievements.

In the bustling world of Bee Swarm Simulator, players are captivated by the beauty of the Blue Hive and its incredible honey-making capabilities. Our protagonist, a dedicated gamer, decided to take on the challenge of building the ultimate blue hive. After returning from a vacation, they set out to conquer the game, facing various obstacles along the way.

The gameplay adventure begins with our gamer tackling formidable enemies like the Coconut Crab and M Chi. Fueled by determination and hunger, they embark on a mission to defeat these adversaries and earn valuable rewards. Despite setbacks and moments of frustration, the gamer manages to triumph over these formidable opponents.

With a small collection of eggs, the gamer yearns for the elusive Mythic Egg from the M Chick. The quest for this rare prize serves as their constant motivation. Despite numerous attempts, luck seems to elude them. Each encounter with the M Chick brings hope, but ultimately ends in disappointment. The pros, the gamer hones their skills and gains valuable resource rewards, but the cons, they fall short of obtaining their desired Mythic Egg.

Creating the Best Blue Hive

Determined to make their blue hive the envy of all other players, the gamer decides to invest their ample reserves of honey into improving their hive. With careful planning and strategy, they delve into the world of hive enhancements.

With 600 billion honey just sitting in their inventory, the gamer realizes the need to invest their resources wisely. An initial step involves spending 60,000 jelly, acquired mysteriously, on improving their hive. They follow the "poor people strategy" of spending until they obtain Legendary bees in the hopes of getting a Mythic Bee, like the legendary and gifted W-M-BE. While the results are not as expected, they manage to acquire valuable bees and Continue their quest.

To further enhance their hive, the gamer decides to activate boosts to maximize their honey production. Utilizing various resources like Bubble Blow, Nectar, and Smoothies, they boost the effectiveness of their field bees. With diligence and perseverance, they manage to achieve a significant increase in honey production.

Realizing the need for consistent honey production, the gamer employs an off-camera grinding method. Utilizing their custom macro setup, they tirelessly grind for hours, striving to amass an impressive Fortune of honey. With each passing day, their honey reserves grow, allowing them to finance further improvements to their hive.

Completing Quests and Challenges

To unlock additional features and rewards, the gamer takes on various quests and challenges. They engage in rigorous battles against enemies like fireflies, spiders, and ants, earning tokens, resources, and experience along the way. With each completed quest, their Sense of accomplishment grows, propelling them closer to their goal of the ultimate blue hive.

Leading the charge in quest completion, Science Bear presents a series of quests that test the gamer's knowledge and abilities. From acquiring Sparkles to annihilating ants, the gamer completes each task with unwavering determination. Rewards such as items, treats, and star treats pour in, further fueling their progress.

The journey continues with encounters against the Stick Bug and the Ultimate Ant Annihilation quest. Armed with determination and perseverance, the gamer fights through hordes of ants and scorpions. Although the battles are tough, they manage to emerge victorious, gaining valuable experience and rewards.

Understanding the importance of leveling up their bees, the gamer invests time and resources into this task. The vast number of treats they possess allows them to level up all their bees, ensuring maximum efficiency and honey production. They also experiment with mutations, aiming for the coveted Gatherer and Conversion rate traits to optimize their bee colonies.

In their pursuit of the ultimate blue hive, the gamer also delves into crafting and honey-making strategies. They utilize resources such as purple Potions to boost their honey production and donate to the field boost. They also explore various fields like Bamboo, Mushroom, and Clover, acquiring tokens and rewards that aid their progress.

After countless hours of grinding, battling, and refining their strategies, the gamer finally achieves their goal of creating the ultimate blue hive. With a combination of highly leveled bees, optimized mutations, effective hive boosts, and a surplus of honey, their hive becomes a marvel to behold. Their hard work and dedication pay off as they bask in the glory of their accomplishments.

The journey to the ultimate blue hive in Bee Swarm Simulator is a testament to the perseverance and determination of our gamer. Through trials and tribulations, they navigate the game's challenges, acquiring valuable knowledge and skills along the way. Their story serves as a testament to the endless possibilities and achievements that await in the vast gaming world. As fellow gamers, let us be inspired by their quest and forge our own paths to greatness.

Highlights:

Embark on a quest to create the ultimate blue hive in Bee Swarm Simulator.
Battle formidable enemies such as the Coconut Crab and M Chi.
Strive to obtain rare Mythic Eggs from the M Chick.
Strategically spend resources to enhance the hive and maximize honey production.
Engage in off-camera grinding for consistent honey accumulation.
Complete quests and challenges to unlock valuable rewards and upgrades.
Level up bees, experiment with mutations, and optimize hive efficiency.
Utilize crafting and honey-making strategies to boost production.
Achieve the pinnacle of success with the ultimate blue hive.
A testament to dedication, perseverance, and the thrill of gaming.

Q: How can I create the ultimate blue hive in Bee Swarm Simulator? A: Creating the ultimate blue hive requires strategic gameplay, maximizing resource utilization, completing quests, leveling up bees, and optimizing honey production methods. The key is to focus on enhancing your hive, obtaining valuable bees, and refining your strategies.

Q: What are some tips for leveling up bees and acquiring mutations? A: To level up bees efficiently, invest in treats and allocate resources accordingly. Mutations can be acquired through experimentation and breeding different bee combinations. Aim for beneficial traits like Gatherer and Conversion Rate for optimal honey production.

Q: What are some effective honey-making strategies? A: Utilize boosts, such as purple potions, to increase honey production. Donate to field boosts and explore different fields like Bamboo, Mushroom, and Clover to acquire tokens and rewards that enhance honey-making capabilities.

Q: How do I complete quests and challenges in Bee Swarm Simulator? A: Engage in battles against enemies, collect tokens, acquire resources, and fulfill specific objectives outlined in the quests and challenges. Persistence, strategy, and skill are key to completing these quests and unlocking valuable rewards.

Q: How can I optimize my honey accumulation in Bee Swarm Simulator? A: Consistent grinding, maximizing honey production boosts, and utilizing efficient hive setups are key factors in optimizing honey accumulation. Additionally, participating in events and taking advantage of resource-rich environments can greatly enhance honey production.

Q: What is the significance of achieving the ultimate blue hive? A: Achieving the ultimate blue hive represents the pinnacle of success in Bee Swarm Simulator. It showcases mastery of gameplay mechanics, dedication to maximizing efficiency, and the thrill of becoming an exemplar in the game's community.

The above is a brief introduction to Unleashing the Power of the Blue Hive - My Epic Journey to Quadrillions

Let's move on to the first section of Unleashing the Power of the Blue Hive - My Epic Journey to Quadrillions

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Rising brit actor harry lawtey to play young richard burton in ‘mr. burton’; independent to continue sales at cannes.

Sheffield DocFest Announces 2024 Lineup, Including Tilda Swinton Feature Directorial Debut, Talks By Idris Elba, Walter Murch, Roger Ross Williams

By Matthew Carey

Matthew Carey

Documentary Editor, Awards

Tilda Swinton Joins Colin Farrell In Edward Berger's Netflix Pic 'The Ballad Of A Small Player'; Filming To Start This Summer

Kevin Macdonald's Klitschko Doc & Roger Ross Williams To Feature At Sheffield DocFest

Sheffield 2024 will not lack for star power. In addition to Oscar winner Swinton, Idris Elba and the team behind the upcoming National Geographic Documentary series Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color will take part in a public talk. Elba narrates the episodic, which “sheds light on the immense contributions of over 8 million individuals who fought heroically for the Allied forces and whose stories have largely gone untold,” per NatGeo. Elba’s grandfather fought in WWII.

Actor Michael Sheen will record a live edition of the podcast The Last Witness , created by investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor in collaboration with Sheen. It’s a true crime series involving an environmental horror story. BBC Radio 4 will begin airing the 10-parter on June 24.

“It’s hard to get your head around,” Sheen tells the BBC. “This story is about the first of the forever chemicals. And there are so many of them since then. We want people to understand what they are doing right now. There were moments in this story when a little voice inside my head was screaming.”

In all, Sheffield DocFest 2024 is presenting 48 World Premieres, 14 International Premieres, 17 European Premieres, and 29 U.K. premieres, originating from 56 countries of production. As previously announced, the festival will open on June 12 with the world premiere of Oscar winner Kevin Macdonald’s Klitschko: More than a Fight , about former heavyweight boxing world champion Vitali Klitschko and his brother Wladimir. Vitali’s greatest challenge has come as mayor of Kyiv, protecting the Ukrainian capital in the face of brutal aggression from Russia.

This year’s festival theme is Reflections on Realities. Scroll for the full program.

Sheffield City Hall, one of DocFest's main venues.

“In planning this year’s edition of DocFest,” said Annabel Grundy, Sheffield DocFest managing director, “we have reflected about where we can make a difference, how our programming can counteract false narratives and over simplification, and how we can support our ecosystem at a time when independent journalism, co-authored narratives and deeply reflective works are critical in helping us make sense of the world. I am deeply proud of the team who have created a careful, compassionate and balanced program always with the filmmakers in mind.”

The Sheffield DocFest 2024 lineup totals 109 films — 80 features and 29 shorts. Films screen in three competitive categories – International Competition, International First Feature Competition, and International Short Film Competition. The festival features additional strands: Rhythms focuses on music documentaries and performances; Debates “features films on wide-ranging important topics which need to be discussed”; People & Community includes stories that celebrate “togetherness through family, friendship and communities”; Journeys includes “transformations and explorations”; Memories explores “how the past informs the present”; and Rebellions focuses on stories of people “striving for social change and fighting for what matters.”

'In the Rearview' director Maciek Hamela (L) with Sheffield DocFest Creative Director Raul Niño Zambrano

Raul Niño Zambrano, Sheffield DocFest creative director, said in a statement, “Curating a program is a collaborative effort, and I am incredibly grateful for the dedication and commitment of our international advisers, consultants, and staff who have invested their time in assessing all the films, artworks, and talks. The selection we have made together serves as an invitation for reflection, dialogue and empathy, and we can’t wait to share all these stories with our international audience.”

FULL PROGRAMME LISTINGS

Opening Night Film

Klitschko: More than a Fight – UK – Kevin Macdonald – 2024 (World Premiere) (International Competition)

International Competition Honoring films that best display strong artistic vision and courageous storytelling. This award is Academy Award accredited.

At the Door of the House Who Will Come Knocking ( Ko će pokucati na vrata mog doma ) – Maja Novaković – Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2024 (World premiere)

Maja Novaković’s impressive feature debut blurs the lines between perception, memory and imagination, paving the way for existential contemplation about alienation and connection with poetic grace.

Co-directors Tilda Swinton and Bartek Dziadosz travel the world to understand what it means to learn, and along the way uncover playful food for thought – for adults and young people alike.

Klitschko: More than a Fight (Opening Night Film, listed above)

Light Darkness Light – Landon Van Soest – Canada, UK, USA, 2024 (World premiere)

Emmy award winner Landon Van Soest stuns with a portrait of a blind Anglican priest who becomes one of the first recipients of a bionic eye.

Mother City – Miki Redelinghuys, Pearlie Joubert – South Africa, 2024 (World premiere)

Apartheid’s legacy made Cape Town one of the most unwelcoming cities for Black Africans, until a social movement for affordable housing challenged the status quo.

Pavilion 6 – Goran Devic – Croatia, 2024 (World premiere)

As the Croatian population clamours for the vaccination against the COVID-19 virus, this film presents a portrait that offers some insight into a nation’s collective psyche.

Relentless Memory (Memoria Implacable) – Paula Rodríguez Sickert – Chile, Argentina, 2024 (World premiere)

An indigenous Mapuche activist and researcher unveils a multitude of atrocities committed against her ancestors, whose story has been silenced for over a century.

Stone Mountain – Daniel Newell Kaufman – USA, 2024 (World premiere) (Roger Ross Williams Selection)

An eye-opening film that grapples with a country’s inability to reconcile a racist past.

International First Feature Competition (supported by Netflix) This competition honours the future of non-fiction film and celebrates promising new talent.

Bad Reputation (Mala reputación) – Marta García, Sol Infante Zamudio – Uruguay, Argentina, 2024 (World premiere)

In Uruguay, a sex worker has had enough – she wants proper recognition for her work and its inclusion in mainstream labour unions.

The Boy and the Suit of Lights (niño y el traje de luces) – Inma de Reyes – Scotland, UK, 2024 (World premiere)

A young boy grows up in a Spanish town with dreams of being a bullfighter in an age when tradition and modernity are in constant conflict.

Dreams Travel With the Wind (sueños viajan con el viento) – Inti Jacanamijoy – Colombia, 2024 (International premiere)

A filmmaker movingly chronicles his Wayuu grandfather’s wrenching history, weaving his memories into a haunting narrative of cultural resilience and loss.

Kilometre ( Кілометр ) – Hanna Tykha – Ukraine, 2024 (World premiere)

When a vast Chinese factory complex in rural Ethiopia undertakes ambitious expansion plans, the promises of industrialisation are brought into question.

Made in Ethiopia – Xinyan Yu, Max Duncan – Canada, Ethiopia, USA, UK, 2024 (International premiere)

My Sweet Land (Տունս քաղցր ա) – Sareen Hairabedian – USA, France, Ireland (World premiere)

How do you turn a child into a child soldier? This sensitive portrait of 11-year-old Vrej, who lives in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, attempts an answer..

Silent Men – Duncan Cowles – Scotland, UK, 2024 (World premiere)

Director Duncan Cowles takes us on a journey through male mental health, stigma and taboo in the UK.

Charts the plight of the Wet’suwet’en people, fighting for their land and territory against the Canadian government’s massive fossil fuel pipeline expansion plans.

International Short Film Competition This Academy Award, BAFTA and BIFA-accredited award honours the best creative approaches in documentaries under 40 minutes.

The Backstreet – Romain Beck – UK, 2024 (World premiere) (Shorts: Body as Archive)

An intimate exploration of four decades of desire, community, love and loss through the eyes of regulars at The Backstreet, an iconic London gay leather club.

Dancing Palestine – Lamees AlMakkawy – UK, 2024 (World premiere) (Shorts: Body as Archive)

In a culture continually threatened with erasure, dancing the dabke, the traditional folk dance of Palestine, becomes an essential form of resistance for young Palestinians.

Perfected Grammar – Andrea Suwito – Hungary, Portugal, Belgium, Indonesia, 2024 (World premiere) (Shorts: Body as Archive)

Through language lessons with her mother, a daughter learns more about her Indonesian roots, her mother’s painful journey, and her longing for a place to call home.

We Are Fallen Angels – Rosa Vendelboe Vestergaard – Denmark, 2024 (World premiere) (Shorts: Building a Life)

A young singer and influencer lives in a dream world of her own making, but behind this glitzy veneer lies a much more complicated reality.

Angular Phoenix ( Latitude fénix ) – Welket Bungué – Portugal, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, 2024 (World premiere) (Shorts: Haunted by the Present)

Reanimating a Baron and the Black Princess, this speculative film summons figures from the past through bodies of the present, in a visceral call for reconciliation.

De Occulta Imagine – Stefano P. Testa – Italy, 2024 (International premiere) (Shorts: Haunted by the Present)

Bringing his cinematic alchemy to the archives of the Italian Labour and Democratic Movement, director Stefano P. Testa transmutes the past with an inimitable presence.

Blue (Bleu) – Ana Vijdea – Romania, Belgium, Portugal, Hungary, 2024 (World premiere) (Shorts: More Souls Than One)

A piercingly intimate glimpse into the complex dynamics in a family where obedience is obligatory and emotions are as unpredictable as the sea.

Our Lady Who Burns ( Nossa Senhora Que Queima ) – Alice dos Reis – Portugal, 2024 (World premiere) (Shorts: Sculpted Lands)

On a Portuguese mountain, saintly apparitions and alien encounters interweave with the story of a pregnant cat, in a series of paranormal encounters.

Flowers ( Flores ) – José Cardoso – Ecuador, South Africa, 2024 (World premiere) (Shorts: Staying with the Trouble)

An Amazon ethnocide is justified by a war in Ukraine. It’s streamed online by the filmmaker, while in the garden his three-year-old son marvels at the flowers.

Youth Jury Award

This award is selected by some of the UK’s most passionate young documentary lovers.

Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story – Michael Mabbott, Lucah Rosenberg-Lee – Canada, 2024 (European premiere)

Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee’s ode to the forgotten soul musician Jackie Shane documents a life of eclipsed stardom and trailblazing trans musical history.

An iconic singer’s life, music and lyrics are deeply intertwined with the struggle for freedom in a country known as Africa’s last colony.

Life on the Edge – Johnny Langenheim, Sebastian Feehan – UK, 2024 (World premiere)

An Inuit educator navigates the stunning snow-covered landscapes of northern Greenland as he seeks to help people in their struggles with mental health.

MADANIYA ( مدنياااااو ) – Mohamed Subahi – Sudan, 2024 (World premiere)

Writer-director Mohamed Subahi documents the citizens’ revolt that toppled 30 years of repressive rule in Sudan and the one word that inspired it.

My Sextortion Diary ( Diario de Mi Sextorsión ) – Patricia Franquesa – Spain, 2024 (UK premiere)

Pati’s world turns upside down when a stolen laptop results in blackmail, sending her spiralling into the world where anyone’s privacy can be hijacked.

The Ride Ahead – Samuel Habib, Dan Habib – USA, 2024 (European premiere) (Youth Jury Award)

Samuel wants the life any average 21-year-old desires, and he’s determined that his disability will not get in the way of achieving his dreams.

Tim Hetherington Award (presented in association with Dogwoof)

Photojournalist and filmmaker Tim Hetherington was committed to humanitarian and social concerns throughout the world. This award recognises films that best reflect his legacy.

Black Snow – Alina Simone – Denmark, USA, 2024 (UK premiere)

A Siberian mother’s uncovering of a coal scandal thrusts her into conflict with Russian authorities, sparking a perilous quest for truth and justice.

Breaking the Cycle – Aekaphong Saransate, Thanakrit Duangmaneeporn – Thailand, 2024 (European premiere)

When Thailand’s military junta finally held elections in 2019, the son of a media mogul stood as a candidate, turning the country’s political world on its head.

Democracy Noir – Connie Field – Denmark, USA, Germany, Hungary, 2024 (International premiere)

An opportunity for imprisoned fathers to spend time with their daughters is the focal point of this moving documentary about the United States´ broken carceral system.

No Other Land – Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor & Yuval Abraham – Palestine, Norway, 2024 (UK Premiere)

Documents the alliance between a Palestinian activist and an Israeli journalist.

State of Silence – Writers: Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor & Yuval Abraham – Mexico, 2024 (European Premiere)

Follows a handful of journalists who speak of the atrocities and threats they face for reporting from the frontlines of Sinaloa, Tapachula, Morelos, and other cities in Mexico.

Days of Reflection

No Other Land – Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor & Yuval Abraham – Palestine, Norway, 2024 (UK Premiere) (Tim Hetherington Award)

State of Silence – Writers: Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor & Yuval Abraham – Mexico, 2024 (European Premiere) (Tim Hetherington Award)

Yintah – Jennifer Wickham, Brenda Michell, Michael Toledano – Canada, 2024 (European Premiere) (International Feature Competition)

Witnesses: Captivity That Kills – Maryna Roshchyna, Tetiana Symon – Ukraine (International Premiere)

A film created by the team of the Ukraine War Archive project, that presents unique testimonies about the Russian war collected in 2022-2023.

Roger Ross Williams Selection – Social Impact Documentaries (supported by Netflix)

Sugarcane – Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie – Canada, USA, Italy, 2024 (European premiere) (Memories)

A powerful account of tragic injustices perpetrated against the Native American community by the Catholic Church.

The Battle for Laikipia – Daphne Matziaraki, Peter Murimi – Kenya, Greece, 2024 (UK Premiere)

Presents an urgent history of colonialism and its long-lasting effects, which have been further exasperated by climate change.

Daughters – Natalie Rae, Angela Patton – USA, 2024 (European Premiere) (People & Community)

Offers an intimate and emotional portrait of systemic racism and generational trauma experienced by fathers trapped in the American prison system.

Stone Mountain – Daniel Newell Kaufman – USA, 2024 (World Premiere) (International Competition)

Union – Brett Story, Stephen Maing – USA, 2024 (UK premiere) (Debates)

Urgently shines a light on the brutality of American capitalism.

Debates Films about the things we need to discuss. Covering a wide spectrum of issues, each of the films in this strand grapple with contemporary issues, inviting us to be part of the conversation.

Black Snow – Alina Simone – Denmark, USA, 2024 (UK premiere) (Tim Hetherington Award)

Breaking the Cycle – Aekaphong Saransate, Thanakrit Duangmaneeporn – Thailand, 2024 (European premiere) (Tim Hetherington Award)

Britain’s Forgotten Prisoners – Martin Read – UK, 2024 (World premiere)

With one public protection prisoner recently committing suicide after giving up hope of ever being released, this film is an urgent call for all imprisonment for public protection cases to be reviewed.

Of Caravan and the Dogs – Askold Kurov, Anonymous 1 – Germany, 2024 (UK premiere)

Askold Kurov´s bold and compelling documentary chronicles the erosion of press freedom in Russia in the run up to, and during, the invasion of Ukraine.

Cyborg Generation – Miguel Morillo Vega – Spain, 2024 (UK premiere)

Miguel Morillo Vega follow a young musician in his transition to acquire a new sense by illegally implanting a cybernetic organ into his own body.

Eternal You – Hans Block, Moritz Riesewieck – Germany, USA, 2024 (UK premiere)

Facing the seemingly boundless possibilities of AI, including bringing the dead back to life, this film questions the limit to what might be possible.

Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis of Microplastics Ben Addelman, Ziya Tong – Canada, 2024 (European premiere)

One woman sets out on a daunting quest to understand just how much plastic has infused our environment, our bodies and our lives.

Grassroots activism lies at the heart of this involving film, which follows a group of people fighting for better working conditions at Amazon.

First Impressions

An opportunity to advance screenings of the first episodes of major upcoming documentary series.

Cult Massacre: One Day In Jonestown – Marian Mohamed, UK, 2024 (World premiere)

A comprehensive and thoroughly researched examination of the largest mass murder-suicide in American history and a portrait of the cult whose leader precipitated it.

Four Kings -Stewart Kyasimire, Hassan Ghazi, Beya Kabelu – UK, Jamaica, Canada – 2024 (World premiere)

The golden era of British boxing in the early 1990s focused on the intense rivalry between heavyweights Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno, and middleweights Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn.

In My Own Words: Hanif Kureishi – Nigel Williams, UK, 2024 (World premiere)

With wit, intelligence and honesty, the playwright, novelist and filmmaker looks back on his work, the culture it emerged from and recent events that radically changed his life.

Journeys From venturing out the front door to exploring a new world – whether it’s physical, emotional, internal or imagined – we take a front seat on a journey of discovery.

Her Name Was Moviola – Howard Berry – UK, 2024 (World premiere)

A cinematic love letter to the Moviola film editing machine, detailing how it dominated English-language filmmaking for most of the 20th century.

Hollywoodgate- Ibrahim Nash’at – Germany, USA, 2023 (UK premiere)

A filmmaker stakes his own safety on gaining access to a US military site in Afghanistan that left billions in military hardware in the hands of the Taliban.

Journey ( Payamam ) – Chandrasekaram Visakesa – Sri Lanka, 2024 (World premiere)

The stories of five women who survived the horrors of civil war in Sri Lanka are transformed into powerful performance art in this film about justice, memories and hope.

Life is Beautiful ( Al haya helwa ) – Mohamed Jabaly – Norway, Qatar, Palestine, 2023 (UK premiere)

In this poignant portrayal of displacement, a young Palestinian filmmaker, stranded in Norway, documents his struggle for residency.

Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa – Lucy Walker – USA, 2023 (European premiere)

The first Nepali woman to successfully reach the peak of Everest leaves her life as a working single mother in America to climb the mountain once again.

My Sextortion Diary ( Diario de Mi Sextorsión ) – Patricia Franquesa – Spain, 2024 (UK premiere) (Youth Jury Award)

Nocturnes – Anirban Dutta, Anupama Srinivasan – India, USA, 2024 (UK premiere)

In the dead of night, against the enchanting forest backdrop of the Eastern Himalayas, a pair of nocturnal scientists illuminate a hidden, microscale world.

Sapir – Liran Atzmor – Israel, 2024 (International premiere)

An engrossing portrait of the world’s first professional league transgender football referee, who finds themselves at a personal and professional crossroads.

Simon and Marianne ( Simon et Marianne ) – Pier-Luc Latulippe, Martin Fournier – Canada, 2024 (World premiere)

A moving account of the last summer a couple spend together after one of them is diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Memories Exploring how the past informs the present – and the future – these films bring new light to all forms of artefacts, questioning their influence and celebrating their essence.

Atomic People – Benedict Sanderson, Megumi Inman – Japan, United Kingdom, USA, 2024 (World premiere)

An essential record, drawn of the testimonies of Hibakushas – survivors of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan – of humanity’s potential for destroy itself.

Death Without Mercy – Waad Al-Kateab – UK, 2024 (World premiere)

The director of For Sama captures the anguish of Syrian and Turkish communities as they reel from the devastation wreaked by a massive earthquake.

Don’t Forget to Remember – Ross Killeen – Ireland, 2024 (International premiere)

An artist navigates his mother’s life and memories as they are being eroded by the advance of Alzheimer’s.

The Flats – Alessandra Celesia – France, Belgium, Ireland, UK, 2024 (UK premiere)

From their central Belfast tower-block, resident Joe and his neighbours confront the lingering ghosts of the Troubles, reliving the memories that have shaped their lives.

In the Shade of the Hills ( A l’ombre des collines ) – Anne Jochum, Laëtitia Gaudin Le Puil – France, 2024 (World premiere)

An organisation founded by a survivor of the Rwandan genocide employs creativity and art to help children and vulnerable parents, and to prevent history repeating itself.

Life on the Edge – Johnny Langenheim, Sebastian Feehan – UK, 2024 (World premiere) (Youth Jury Award)

The Mother of All Lies ( Kadib Abyad ) – Asmae El Moudir – Morocco, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, 2023 (UK premiere)

A Moroccan filmmaker movingly weaves together the recent past of her family and country through an exquisite reproduction of her local neighbourhood.

Our Land, Our Freedom – Meena Nanji, Zippy Kimundu – Kenya, USA, Portugal, Germany, 2023 (UK premiere)

Wanjugu Kimathi is on a mission to find the remains of her father, Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi, and to resettle his comrades, who were displaced by colonialists.

Sugarcane – Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie – Canada, USA, Italy, 2024 (European premiere) (Roger Ross Williams Social Impact Documentaries)

A riveting chronicle of an investigation into unreported deaths at a boarding school for indigenous children in Canada that led to an inter-generational reckoning with abuse, faith and power.

Where Dragons Live ( Waar Draken Wonen ) – Suzanne Raes – Netherlands, UK, 2024 (World premiere)

Following the death of their parents, the four siblings of the Impey family must unpack their childhood fears as they prepare to sell their dragon-filled Oxfordshire home.

Witnesses. Captivity that kills ( Свідки. Полон вбиває .) – Maryna Roshchyna, Tetiana Symon – Ukraine, 2024 (International premiere)

An investigation into the explosion that killed Russian-held Ukrainian prisoners highlights the importance of recording atrocities as wars still rage and the key role played by the Ukraine War Archive.

The Accidental President – Mike Lerner, Martin Herring – UK, 2024 (UK premiere)

When Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya put her name on the ballot alongside authoritarian Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko she had no idea she would win. This is her story.

Agent of Happiness – Arun Bhattarai, Dorottya Zurbó – Bhutan, Hungary, 2024 (UK premiere)

A happiness surveyor in the Kingdom of Bhutan grapples with his own contentment in this light-hearted yet fascinating probe into how happiness can be measured.

The Battle for Laikipia – Daphne Matziaraki, Peter Murimi – Kenya, Greece, USA, 2024 (UK premiere) (Roger Ross Williams, Social Impact Documentaries)

In Kenya’s Laikipia County, climate change, alongside unresolved historical injustices, escalate tensions in a long-standing dispute between the region’s Indigenous pastoralists and white ranchers.

The Contestant – Clair Titley – UIK, Japan, 2023 (UK premiere)

A fascinating record of a controversial mega-hit Japanese TV show, which saw an aspiring comedian locked in a room and living off magazine prizes.

Daughters – Natalie Rae, Angela Patton – USA, 2024 (European premiere) (Roger Ross Williams Selection)

Democracy Noir – Connie Field – Denmark, USA, Germany, Hungary, 2024 (International premiere) (Tim Hetherington Award)

Pirópolis – Nicolás Molina – Chile, 2024 (European premiere)

A company of volunteer firefighters in the Chilean port city of Valparaíso battle wildfires, and witness political and social turmoil of a more man-made kind.

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin – Benjamin Ree – Norway, 2024 (UK premiere)

The life of a young Norwegian gamer who died from a degenerative disease is vividly reimagined when his online friends make contact with his parents.

This Is Ballroom ( Salão De Baile ) – Juru, Vitã – Brazil, 2024 (UK premiere)

On the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, the city’s top ballroom houses convene in a sweaty, euphonic competition, in this electrifying portrait of contemporary queer Brazil.

Three Promises – Yousef Srouji – Palestine, USA, Lebanon, 2023 (UK premiere)

The Trouble With Mr Doodle – Jaimie D’Cruz – UK, 2024 (European premiere)

The story of Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, and how a seemingly benign activity has transformed his life, with startling results.

We Can Be Heroes – Carina Mia Wong, Alex Simmons – USA, 2024 (International premiere)

Carina Mia Wong and Alex Simmons’ life-affirming film unfolds in a live action role-playing camp that offers neurodivergent, queer and self-proclaimed ‘nerdy’ teenagers space for self-discovery.

Rebellions (supported by Bertha Foundation)

Stories of people striving for social change and fighting for what matters. From politics, gender equality and issues around identity to human rights and the climate crisis, these films highlight cinema’s role as both witness and a tool in the fight for change.

A compelling documentary that places us at the heart of the battle against a justice system which systematically fails to address rape cases in Austin, Texas.

Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story – Michael Mabbott, Lucah Rosenberg-Lee – Canada, 2024 (European premiere) (Youth Jury Award)

Bread and Roses – Sahra Mani – Afghanistan, USA, 2022 (UK premiere)

Three Afghan women express both fear and resilience as they bravely capture what life is like once again under the brutal misogyny of Taliban rule.

The Cranes Call – Laura Warner – UK, Ukraine, France, Netherlands, Germany, 2024 (European premiere)

A heart-pounding account of the relentless mission to secure accountability for the mass atrocities occurring in Ukraine.

Farming the Revolution ( Inquilab di kheti ) – Nishtha Jain, Akashdip Mukherjee – India, France, Norway, 2024 (UK premiere)

In 2020, farmers in India organised a spirited national protest against the country’s new farm laws, leading to a momentous defeat for the State.

MADANIYA ( مدنياااااو ) – Mohamed Subahi – Sudan, 2024 (World premiere) (Youth Jury Award)

No Other Land – Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal – Palestine, Norway, 2024 (UK premiere)

Charting an unlikely alliance between a Palestinian filmmaker and an Israeli journalist, this is a powerful record of life in occupied Palestine.

S/He Is Still Her/e – The Official Genesis P-Orridge Doc – David Charles Rodrigues – USA, 2024 (International premiere)

A comprehensive, enthralling and aptly provocative portrait of the singer-songwriter, musician, poet, performance artist, visual artist and occultist known as Genesis P. Orridge.

State of Silence ( Estado de Silencio ) – Santiago Maza – Mexico, 2024 (European premiere)

A gripping and sobering tale of Mexican journalists battling drug lords in a high-stakes game of truth and consequences.

Strike: An Uncivil War – Daniel Gordon – UK, 2024 (World premiere)

The Battle of Orgreave, recounted by those who lived through it, is contextualised through the history of the British mining union and a government that was hell-bent on breaking it.

Focuses on music documentaries and performances. A collection of documentaries in which movement, bodies and songs take the main stage.

blur: To the End – Toby L – UK, 2024 (World premiere)

A treasure trove of live and archive footage drives this portrait of the British band as they prepare to tour their new album.

DEVO – Chris Smith – UK, USA, 2024 (UK premiere)

Few groups embraced sci-fi, satire and surrealism with the gusto that the Dada-inspired, US new-wave, art-punk, synth-pop band DEVO did, as this energetic portrait reveals.

Eno – Gary Hustwit – UK, USA, 2024 (DocFest premiere)

There is no better subject to create a generative documentary around than musician, producer, artist, activist and all-round polymath Brian Eno.

Googoosh – Made of Fire – Niloufar Taghizadeh – Germany, 2024 (World premiere)

HAIYU – Rebel Singer Mariem Hassan and the Struggle for a Free Western Sahara – Saharawi Voice, Alex Veitch, Brahim B. Ali, Mohamedsalem Werad, Anna Klara AK Åhrén – Algeria, Sweden, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, 2024 (World premiere) (Youth Jury Award)

Hakeem – James Topley and Ivo Beckett ( DeadHorses ) – UK, 2024 (World premiere)

Troubled Eastender Hak Baker’s life takes an unexpected turn after he wins a guitar in a prison raffle.

Harder than the Rock – Mark Warmington – UK, 2024 (World premiere)

The thrilling story of The Cimarons, the first UK band to embrace the thrilling new sound coming out of Jamaica. Director Mark Warmington, Don Letts, and members of The Cimarons will introduce and discuss this joyous account, rich in archive and concert footage, of the UK’s first breakout reggae band.

Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound – Antony Crook – Scotland, 2024 (European premiere)

Showcasing the band’s expansive cinematic sound, this musical labour of love charts Mogwai’s history, from its inception in 1995 to the release of the band’s tenth album, 2021’s ‘As the Love Continues’.

Teaches of Peaches – Philipp Fussenegger, Judy Landkammer – Germany, 2024 (UK premiere)

Taking its title from her second album, Philipp Fussenegger and Judy Landkammer’s riveting portrait of Peaches celebrates the career of one of contemporary music’s iconoclasts.

Short Film Program s

This Academy Award, BAFTA and BIFA-accredited award honours the best creative approaches in documentaries under 40 minutes.

Shorts: Body as Archive:

The Backstreet – Romain Beck – UK, 2024 (World premiere)

Dancing Palestine – Lamees AlMakkawy – UK, 2024 (World premiere)

fawns of the city – Jamal Sterrett, Otis Mensah – UK, 2024 (World premiere)

A poetic-sonic expression from Sheffield-based artist Otis Mensah and performer Jamal Sterrett that explores diasporic-bonding, friendship and our many delicate states of home

Perfected Grammar – Andrea Suwito – Hungary, Portugal, Belgium, Indonesia, 2024 (World premiere)

Shorts: Building a Life

The Opposite of Dying ( 死的对头 ) – Peiyuan Zhang – China, 2024 (World premiere)

Dreaming of becoming a successful entrepreneur, a cave-dwelling hermit attempts to package his lifestyle as a unique experience to sell to tourists.

We Are Fallen Angels – Rosa Vendelboe Vestergaard – Denmark, 2024 (World premiere)

Shorts: Haunted by the Present

Angular Phoenix ( Latitude fénix ) – Welket Bungué – Portugal, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, 2024 (World premiere)

De Occulta Imagine – Stefano P. Testa – Italy, 2024 (International premiere)

Letters to Vincent ( Brieven aan Vincent ) – Hannah van Tassel – Netherlands, 2023 (International premiere)

A group of women, patients in a psychiatric hospital, send letters to one of the institution’s former residents, Vincent van Gogh.

Where Russia Ends (Там, де закінчується Росія) – Oleksiy Radynski – Ukraine, 2024 (UK premiere)

Composed entirely of archive footage rediscovered in the Kyiv Popular Science Film Studios in 2022, this film interrogates Russian imperialism and the destruction of Indigenous land.

Shorts: More Souls Than One

Blue (Bleu) – Ana Vijdea – Romania, Belgium, Portugal, Hungary, 2024 (World premiere)

Eternal Father – Ömer Sami – UK, 2023 (UK premiere)

Afraid he won’t be around to see his children grow up, Nasar decides to be cryogenically frozen, in the hope of returning in the future.

Nocturne for a Forest ( Nocturno para uma floresta ) – Catarina Vasconcelos – Portugal, 2023 (UK premiere)

In 1622, a group of monks built a fortress around a forest, closing it off to women. Yet when night reigns, the spirit world knows no walls.

Wind of Gold ( Vento Dourado ) – André Hayato Saito – Brazil, 2023 (European premiere)

Surrounded by memories and nature, a mother and daughter enjoy their last moments together, as one teeters on the brink of an unknowable eternity.

Shorts: More Than Words

Audio & the Alligator ( Audio y el Caimán ) – Andrés I. Estrada – Canada, Venezuela, 2024 (European premiere)

Audio Caña is the self-described greatest storyteller in Calabozo, Venezuela. His latest tale is about the 19ft alligator living in his pond. But could it be true?

Beyond Words – Kim Brand – Netherlands, 2024 (World premiere)

An unconventional choir attempt to communicate with those who have lost their connection to conventional language, in this beautiful and humane black-and-white study.

Habibullah – Adnan Zandi – Iran, 2023 (International premiere)

Habibullah Zandi has been singing for decades, but as a local mullah tries to silence his song, he proves that music and poetry can also be sacred.

This is Only the Beginning – Samori Tovatt – Sweden, 2024 (World premiere)

A young reclusive man moves from his small town in Sweden to Osaka, in search of a connection and an escape from the mundanity of life.

Shorts: Sculpted Lands

Dreams About Putin – Nastia Korkia, Vlad Fishez – Belgium, Portugal, Hungary, 2023 (UK premiere)

What is repressed and unspoken returns as dreams and nightmares in this cinematic essay about the shaping of the unconscious in times of war.

Exhumator – Christof Schuerpf – Switzerland, 2023 (International premiere)

Heinz’s job has taught him to befriend death – to treat the deceased like the living. Doing his work, he sees the world very differently.

Our Lady Who Burns ( Nossa Senhora Que Queima ) – Alice dos Reis – Portugal, 2024 (World premiere)

Totem ( Tòtem ) – Macià Florit – Spain, 2024 (International premiere)

A stunning tripartite portrait of the last stonecutter on the island of Menorca, a sandstone sculptor and of the scarred land they both carve.

The Trap ( Trampa ) – Ferney Iyokina Gittoma – Colombia, 2024 (World premiere)

Cinema and spirits intertwine in the Colombian Amazon. The arrival of a jaguar signals an opportunity to rebirth the legacy of an ancestor.

Shorts: Staying with the Trouble

Flowers ( Flores ) – José Cardoso – Ecuador, South Africa, 2024 (World premiere)

Goodnight, Mister Stalin – Benjamin Kodboel – UK, 2024 (European premiere)

In the Georgian town where Josef Stalin was born, two women become embroiled in an inter-generational struggle over their conflicting interpretations of a contested history.

One Night At Babes – Angelo Madsen – USA, 2024 (European premiere)

When the ageing, conservative townsfolk of Bethel, Vermont, and the young queer newcomers begin sharing the same watering hole, a delicate allegiance flourishes.

Shorts: Truth to Power

Bad Hostage – Mimi Wilcox – USA, 2024 (World premiere)

Stories of kidnappings and bank heists intersect with the director’s own thrilling family tale, as this electrifying film reveals the true origins of Stockholm Syndrome.

Inside, The Valley Sings – Nathan Fagan, @Custom – Ireland, 2024 (World premiere)

Trapped in the never-ending horror of prolonged solitary confinement, three prisoners seek comfort and escape in the boundless vistas of their own imaginations.

A Move ( خونه ) – Elahe Esmaili – UK, Iran, 2024 (UK premiere)

Filmmaker Elahe Esmaili returns to her hometown in Iran. Inspired by the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, she starts her own revolution at home.

Alternate Realities Exhibition

This programme combines advances in technology with creativity and imagination to find new ways of exploring non-fiction. The Alternate Realities Award honours the best innovative non-fiction work.

The Finger Rub Rug – Netherlands, 2020 (UK premiere)

If the body is an immersive medium then the skin is one of its most powerful tools and the practice of touch is a mode of immersive engagement.

Nocturnal Fugue – USA, 2024 (UK premiere)

This multi-sensorial installation emulates the communicative complexity of bats. Morph into a bat and echolocate through space or sit and feel the vibrations of bat vocalisation.

Remember This Place: 31°20’46’’N 34°46’46’’E – Qatar, Palestine, Spain, 2023 (No premiere)

Stories hold dreams and they also hold memories. Remembering can be an act of rebellion and resistance to forces of erasure. A moving collection of stories from Bedouin women remembering the homes they have been forcibly removed from and the culture they are fighting to preserve.

Shadowtime – Sister Sylvester, Deniz Tortum – Netherlands, Turkey, 2023 (UK premiere)

Encased in a specially-built camera obscura, this piece questions our very desire to escape into virtual, enclosed worlds that only seem divorced from our physical, ecological one.

Virtual Reality International Competition

LETU: Frankie’s Story – Tanzania, 2023 (World premiere) (International Alternate Realities Competition)

Murmuration – Canada, 2023 (World premiere) (International Alternate Realities Competition)

Dive into Kanope’s magical realist ocean journey, blending hope with survival in a tale of migration that honours those seeking a better future.

Perinatal Dreaming. Understanding Country – Australia, 2023 (International premiere) (International Alternate Realities Competition)

A meditative and thought provoking work that depicts early life in the womb and entry into the world, whilst exploring the impact of perinatal trauma.

Queer Utopia: Act I Cruising – Brazil, Portugal, 2023 (UK premiere) (International Alternate Realities Competition)

A deeply personal and moving portrayal of a retired playwright’s life experiences, reconstructed through abstract memories that comment on the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.

Draw For Change: We Exist, We Resist (Draw For Change: Existimos, Resistimos) – Belgium, 2023 (UK premiere) (International Alternate Realities Competition)

Explore Maremoto’s world, where her art empowers women and confronts femicide. Experience her creative process, witness a protest, and navigate the challenges of sexual harassment in Mexico.

Emperor (Empereur) – France, 2023 (No premiere) (International Alternate Realities Competition)

An interactive experience that offers a moving portrayal of a daughter’s attempts to understand and connect with her father, as he suffers from aphasia.

Alternate Realities Special Screenings

Traces of Responsibility – Anja Reiss, Jann Anderegg – Switzerland, Germany, Rwanda, 2024 (UK premiere)

An interactive audience experience set in Rwanda that traces a convicted war criminal with ties to Switzerland.

Distant Feeler – Juan David González Monroy, Anja Dornieden – Germany, 2020 (UK premiere)

How far beyond the screen can cinematic projection travel? Is telepathic cinema possible?

Channel 4 Interview: Anna Hall

Chris van Tulleken in Conversation

Defiance: Fighting the Battle for British History

Nat Geo Spotlight: Idris Elba & the Creative Team in Conversation on New Series “Erased”

BBC Interview: Simon Reeve in Conversation

Roger Ross Williams in Conversation

Roger Ross Williams on Social Impact Documentaries