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HE TOOK HIS SKIN OFF FOR ME, Ben Aston
New Shorts

NEW SHORTS: Fucked Up Love Part 2: Gentle Disasters

16:00 Sat 17 Jan 2015

Hackney Picturehouse, Screen 3

This popular selection of short films comes in two parts. Our second selection takes a darker look at love and romance, from unhealthy obsessions in GENTLY GENTLY, to a disturbing first date in STEAK KNIFE, to a cringing Tinder experience in LOVE ME TINDER. Includes a powerful performance from Noof Ousellam in WEIRD LOVE.

(104 min)

  • GENTLY GENTLY

    Amaka Ugwunkwo 15 mins (, 2014)

    In the middle of the night Anna is terrified that someone is prowling around her new house. Unlike her other friends James still believes that it’s not her imagination playing games. Fortunately for her he's in the neighbourhood.
  • GRINDER

    Giles Lovell-Wilson 11 mins (, 2014)

    Josh is handsome, talented and rich -but morally bankrupt. He's been sleeping his way around London, behind the back of his adoring girlfriend, always ensuring he steals a pepper grinder as a memento from each of his "conquests". Though his perfect life begins to unravel when on one occasion he lets this peculiar habit get the better of him.
  • HE TOOK HIS SKIN OFF FOR ME

    Ben Aston 11 mins (, 2014)

    In this twisted modern-day fairy tale, a man removes his own skin for the woman he loves, believing it’s what she wants him to do. And she does… at first. But his action soon proves to have dire consequences. Small things, things like stains. Things they can handle. But before long it becomes clear their relationship will never be the same again…
  • LOVE ME TINDER

    Sami Abusamra 11 mins (, 2014)

    An older woman and a younger man spend an awkward evening together after meeting on a dating app. A dark comedy about an encounter between two lonely strangers.
  • NATURAL DISASTER

    Joseph Wallace 5 mins (, 2014)

    Mark has just lost his job and his day is about to get a whole lot worse. A domestic tragedy exploring the surreal nature of losing someone you love.
  • SHE WOULD MOVE THE TREE RATHER MORE TO THE MIDDLE

    Anna Maguire 4 mins (, 2014)

    The people we love influence and change us. It cannot be helped, and often it is a wonderful thing taking on someone else’s mind. But it can become suffocating and stifling in equal measure. Taken from ‘To the Lighthouse’ by Virginia Woolf, the title speaks to the feeling of dilution by a lover, and the need to find a way back to yourself.
  • STEAK KNIFE

    Ben Gutteridge 15 mins (, 2014)

    A Date With The Unexpected - George’s dinner date with Julia is dominated by her peculiar, uninvited flatmate, Sara. With excruciating pressure, she controls what they eat, say, when they dance, kiss… George wants to rescue Julia, but is he the one that needs saving? Steak Knife is a darkly wicked suspense-thriller, with a twisted smile…
  • SWEET NOTHINGS

    Giles Ripley 2 mins (UK, 2014)

    Daily post-it notes from a devoted girlfriend make Keith’s mediocre life worth living. But when the love letters suddenly stop, things take a sinister turn for the worse. .
  • VALENTINE

    Kate Herron 4 mins (, 2014)

    On Valentine's day, a hopeless romantic and a cynic realise that love is right in front of them...Valentine was co-written by filmmaker Kate Herron with the comedy troupe Birthday Girls who also star. Birthday Girls are comedians Camille Ucan, Beattie Edmondson and Rose Johnson. They have collectively or individually been seen or heard on Live at The Electric (BB3), Absolutely Fabulous, Dick and Dom's Funny Business (BB2) and Sketchorama (BBC Radio 4). Their previous sketch group Lady Garden was named, 'Britain’s Funniest Women' by The Telegraph and as one of the top 5 sketch acts to see in the UK by the Independent. Valentine was shot by BIFA-winning filmmaker Rob Savage and produced by Genia Sophie Krassnig, who is collaborating with Kate on her next short, Rest Stop, which is being mentored by Sky Comedy and London Comedy Film Festival.
  • VOODOO

    Dan Guest & Mathew Kennedy 7 mins (, 2014)

    Voodoo is a dark comedy film about a long distance couple who send each other a voodoo doll in order to enjoy a magical massage. Each doll is crafted to resemble their partner, with the aim to truly connect with each other. What starts as a sensual, innocent massage, soon takes an unexpected turn as a misunderstanding leads to violent escalation...
  • WEIRD LOVE

    Greg Keith 19 mins (, 2014)

    Psychological Drama. Noof Ousellam ("Leave2Remain") is Aidan, an emotionally unstable womaniser who feels love for the first time when he meets a girl named Solo (Charley Willow). However, unable to talk or even think about his tormented past and seemingly stalked by a mysterious couple, Aidan will realise that he must learn to accept and love himself before he can love another. Also starring Luca Zizzari, Imogen Vinden-North and Asha Reid. Written and Directed by Greg Keith.