FRAGMENTS is an inclusive new film festival created by Genesis Cinema.
FRAGMENTS Film Festival - Genesis Cinema - June 7th – 15th 2019, Genesis Cinema, 93-95 Mile End Road, London E1 4UJ
London’s award-winning independent cinema, Genesis Cinema celebrates its 20th year in 2019. Throughout the past two decades, Genesis has screened everything from epic blockbusters to small independent films – but one thing the Genesis team have remained aware of is the inherent lack of inclusivity in the industry, both onscreen and behind the camera. Which is why, in their 20th birthday year, they’ve entered the film festival fray and programmed a brand new film festival.
Running June 7th – 15th, the first edition of FRAGMENTS FESTIVAL will showcase an array of films with unique individuals and minority groups as their focus. The festival will also act as a platform for underrepresented filmmakers to exhibit their work. Whilst many film festivals predominantly show the work of cisgender heterosexual white men, in the first edition of Fragments there is no single predominance: 9 of the 19 features are directed or co-directed by women, plus there are works by disabled filmmakers, LGBTQIA+ filmmakers, and filmmakers of different ethnicities, abilities, beliefs, and cultural and religious backgrounds. This breadth of inclusivity is echoed in the three shorts programmes. The result is a celebration of the scope and possibilities of cinema – as well as a timely reminder that more needs to be done in terms of diversity and inclusion.
“Film has the power to change us,” says Tyrone Walker-Hebborn, owner of Genesis Cinema. “But we now have an opportunity to change film. So I’m thrilled to screen the first edition of Fragments Festival at Genesis Cinema.”
Fragments opens 7th June with TEEN SPIRIT...
Fragments Festival opens on the 7th June 2019, with a gala screening of TEEN SPIRIT (dir: Max Minghella, UK/USA). Touching on the issue of immigrants daring to achieve their dreams, this pop-fuelled spin on the classic Cinderella story stars Elle Fanning as a shy Polish teenager living in an English town who breaks free from her obscure existence by entering a famous singing competition.
The festival closes on Sat 15 June with the UK Premiere of SHE WHO MUST BE LOVED
The festival closes on Sat 15 June with the UK Premiere of SHE WHO MUST BE LOVED (dir: Erica Glynn, Australia), the inspiring life story of Freda Glynn, a trailblazing media figure who founded the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association and who fights tirelessly for the rights of indigenous peoples, as documented by her filmmaker daughter.
Fragments feature film programme...
A portrait of modern existence, the London Premiere of SEARCHING EVA (dir: Pia Hellenthal, Germany) follows a young woman with fragmented personalities: including drifter, poet, sex worker, recovering addict, housewife, feminist, model. Having declared privacy an outdated concept at the age of 14, her search for oneself has become a public spectacle in this internet age. A remarkable rites of passage story.
The London Premiere of ALICE T.
The London Premiere of ALICE T. (dir: Radu Muntean, France/Romania/Sweden) tackles raw topics like abortion and adoption as it tells the story of a buoyant and impertinent teenager.
The UK premiere of EDGE OF THE KNIFE...
A UK Premiere, EDGE OF THE KNIFE (dir: Gwaii Edenshaw & Helen Haig-Brown, Canada) is the first ever feature to be made entirely in the Haida language of Pacific-coast Canada. Co-directed by an indigenous woman and set in the 19th-century, it tells of a man’s spiral into insanity when he accidentally causes the death of his best friend’s son during their annual family fishing retreat.Tackling topics of belonging and identity.
RED COW portrays the sexual awakening of a 16-year-old girl in Jerusalem...
RED COW (dir: Tsivia Barkai, Israel) portrays the sexual awakening of a 16-year-old girl in Jerusalem, whose forbidden same-sex relationship must be hidden from her religious right-wing extremist father.
The UK Premiere of A DOG BARKING AT THE MOON...
The UK Premiere of A DOG BARKING AT THE MOON (dir: Lisa Zi Xiang, China/Spain) is a rich and radical directorial debut that follows a daughter visiting her broken family, where she becomes trapped between her cult brainwashed mother and her secretly homosexual father.
In CARMEN AND LOLA, a young roma woman meets an aspiring teacher and graffiti artist
In CARMEN AND LOLA (dir: Arantxa Echevarría, Spain), a young roma woman meets an aspiring teacher and graffiti artist, and suddenly sees that life has more possibilities than getting married and raising children, thus exposing the gender imbalances ingrained within the gypsy community.Featuring interviews with noted disabled academics, filmmakers and actors.
THE SOCIAL MODEL shows how disabled people are portrayed in film...
THE SOCIAL MODEL (dir: 104 films collective, UK) shows how disabled people are portrayed as victims, villains or martyrs in film and TV, whilst able-bodied filmmakers and actors have exploited negative depictions of disability to win awards and gain stardom. Exploring art from the perspective of four visually impaired artists.
VISION PORTRAITS examines the worth placed on sight...
VISION PORTRAITS (dir: Rodney Evans, USA/Germany/Canada) examines the worth placed on sight in an art scene which revolves so entirely around a seeing audience.
NORMAL silently observes the seemingly unshakeable gender norms rooted in contemporary society...
A UK Premiere, NORMAL (dir: Adele Tulli, Italy) silently observes the seemingly unshakeable gender norms rooted in contemporary society, from birth to adulthood, asking why is this normal? Comprising real videos posted online by members of the LGBTQIA+ community,
OUT is an uplifting and heartbreaking look into the experiences of young queer individuals as they come out to the people who matter the most to them...
OUT (dir: Denis Parrot, France) is an uplifting and heartbreaking look into the experiences of young queer individuals as they come out to the people who matter the most to them. Exploring the debate around assisted-suicide without judgement.
TIME TO DIE sensitively handles the stories of four individuals suffering life-hindering conditions who seek to end their own lives...
TIME TO DIE (dir: Yonni Usiskin, UK) sensitively handles the stories of four individuals suffering life-hindering conditions who seek to end their own lives on their own terms. Directed by an award-winning investigative TV journalist.
NORMAL IS OVER 1.1 examines how our economic and financial system connects issues such as climate change and species extinction...
the UK Premiere of NORMAL IS OVER 1.1 (dir: Renée Scheltema, South Africa) analyzes the big picture of why we’ve imperilled our planet by examining how our economic and financial system connects issues such as climate change and species extinction.
Fragments will also preview bold new films ahead of their UK theatrical release.
Fragments will also preview bold new films ahead of their UK theatrical release. Winner of the NEXT Innovator Award at Sundance Film Festival, WE THE ANIMALS (dir: Jeremiah Zagar, USA) is a dreamlike coming-of-age drama about three brothers who grow up observing the volatile, unstable relationship between their parents, and how it shapes their development. Fascinating and enlightening.
HAIL SATAN? documents a fight for rights, equality and religious freedom by a group of “Satan worshippers”.
HAIL SATAN? (dir: Penny Lane, USA) documents a fight for rights, equality and religious freedom by a group of “Satan worshippers”.
A SEASON IN FRANCE takes a close look at the borrowed time of two African refugees...
A SEASON IN FRANCE (dir: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, France) takes a close look at the borrowed time of two African refugees fighting for a second chance in life after fleeing their war-torn country.
PERMISSION is the story the captain of a women’s futsal team who need her husbands permission to travel...
In PERMISSION (dir: Soheil Beiraghi, Iran), the captain of a women’s futsal team sees her dream come true when Iran reaches the final of the Asian Nations Cup in Malaysia – only to find she needs her husband’s permission to travel, and he forbids her.
KNIFE+HEART is the story of a gay porn producer with issues of heartbreak and self-identity...
And Vanessa Paradis stars as a gay porn producer with issues of heartbreak and self-identity in KNIFE+HEART (dir: Yann Gonzalez, France/Mexico/Switzerland). When her male stars start turning up brutally murdered, the lines between reality and erotic fantasy blur. This queer-horror-thriller features a killer soundtrack by French electro pop giants M83.
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL - Fragments Festival is not only about inclusivity on screen and behind the camera – it’s also about inclusivity in the cinema auditorium.
Fragments will welcome diverse audiences by being as accessible as possible. All films will be shown in wheelchair accessible screens, and all films supplied with subtitles will be shown in the subtitled format.
To encourage further dialogue, Q&A’s will follow many of the film screenings. The film programme will be complemented by a series of special events, activities and parties, ranging from youth events to an exhibition in the Genesis gallery of works by visually impaired artists.
JURY AWARDS Festival films will screen in competition, with awards presented to Best Feature and Best Short. And to encourage inclusivity amongst the filmmakers of tomorrow, there’s an award category for films made by under 16s, and films made on mobile phones. Details of the jury and the shortlisted films will be announced soon.
For the full line-up, dates and ticket info visit the Fragments Film Festival Website.
