1. Toska
Director : Jamie Smith
Website :
Screening : After Dark : Saturday, 7pm @ Worcester Arts Workshop
Synopsis:
A student commits a high school massacre
Review by Isabel Harridence
The beginning of Toska does an excellent job of creating tension and shocking the audience
from the beginning and maintaining it throughout the film. One of the biggest shocks is
gained through the identity and profession of the killer, a role that we associate with
protecting and defending us rather than attacking us. Also, a lot of suspense is created
through shots of characters’ feet as they walk, mostly the victims as in a situation like that we
rely on our peripheral vision to see danger coming and if you can only see their feet you are
unable to see any dangers approaching, which makes the ‘jumpy’ moments all the more great.
If you want a realistic, shocking thriller, then Toska is definitely for you.

2. Battle Of Green Hill
Director : Scott Fair
Website : Worcester Film Festival
Screening : Special Event : Saturday, 6pm @ The Hive
Synopsis:
The Battle Of Green Hill is a documentary marking the American Civil War, made with
careful attention detail by Scott Fair and made in Worcester, Massachusetts (USA).
We are screening this film alongside, Tony Chance’s The Escape Of King Charles II and a
World War II Re-enactment documentary as a special twinning event. These films are also
being screened by Worcester Film Festival in Massachusetts at the same time. We will then
set up a video conference where the two audiences will hold Q&As with the directors of the
films.
This event is the beginning of a new relationship between the two Worcesters and we hope to
collaborate further in the future.
Review by Isabel Harridence
As this documentary states: it is part of the “Living American History” series, the word
“living” couldn’t be more accurate. As these many enthusiastic re-enactors attempt to “bring
history back to life”, it is clear that for these people, this is a big part of their lives and they
are actually living it. The fact that many of the participants of the re-enactments are
descendants of the actual soldiers that served in the Civil War adds a unique element to their
hobby, one of immense pride and admiration. Their endeavours to create a ‘living museum’
through their Civil War re-enactment camp are shown through their highly historically
accurate costumes, entertainment forms and the way they conduct themselves, all of which
are shown and demonstrated throughout the documentary. The level of enthusiasm and sense
of community shown by the members of the re-enactment group and the fascinating yet
respectful way they are filmed and portrayed makes this documentary well worthy of a
watch.

3. In Berlin We Die Alone
Director : Brindusa Ioana Nastasa
Website : Grapefruit Productions
Screening : After Dark : Friday, 7pm @ Worcester Arts Workshop
Synopsis:
The camera follows Dragos for 24 hours in Berlin.
3,5 million live in Berlin, yet loneliness finds its way and creeps into people’s souls.
Short made in 48hrs during the British Shorts Film Workshop.
Review by Isabel Harridence
At 7mins 11seconds, this short film manages to create as much, if not more, intrigue than
most feature length films of any genre. In Berlin We Die Alone allows the viewer to be a fly
on the wall during an evening in the life of a young gay man in Germany, and director
Brindusa Ioana Nastasa does an excellent job of making the viewer feel like they are part of
the crowd in the club yet completely invisible at the same time through an unusual
cinematographic style. This creates a heightened sense of loneliness which is a prevalent
theme throughout the film, as the audience watches the protagonist’s journey through the film
begin and ultimately end alone. The shortness of the length of the shots and the lack of
dialogue for the majority of the film helps give it that edgy and intriguing quality, which,
along with Nastasa’s impressive imagery, makes In Berlin We Die Alone a must-watch.

4. End Of The Road
Director : Sam Purewal
Website : Purewal
Screening : After Dark : Saturday, 7pm @ Worcester Arts Workshop
Synopsis:
‘End Of The Road’ is a short film set in a bleak, apocalyptic near future where a virus has
spread from country to country and devastated the world, bringing mankind to the brink of
annihilation.
Against this catastrophic background, we meet Chrissy, sobbing and upset as she flees from
the mysterious Trent who is determined to catch up with her and uncover the truth about their
relationship. But Chrissy is fleeing from another, darker truth, and even as the world comes
crumbling down around them, she eventually realises that there are some truths you simply
cannot escape from but instead but must confront and face up to. ‘End Of The Road’ is a love
story set in a cold, nightmarish world and tinged with a touch of tragedy and irony.
Review by Isabel Harridence
What makes this film so effective in instilling discomfort and fear in its audience is that it
plays on a fundamental human fear: infection. Unlike most horror films in which you could
run away and escape from the monster, in End of the Road, the danger is inside you and once
it’s there it’s impossible to escape. Also, the statistics at the beginning of the film stating the
millions that died of real diseases like the Black Death and the mention of incurable diseases
reinforces the fear that no-one ever wants to be faced with. However, the enduring
relationship between characters Chrissy and Trent provides a glimmer of hope in spite of the
chaos of the epidemic. Overall, these factors make End of the Road an incredibly affecting
film and a must-watch.

5. Pastiche
Director : Louis Chan
Website : LinkedIn
Screening : After Dark : Saturday, 7pm @ Worcester Arts Workshop
Synopsis:
Set in North West London, we follow the story of a well educated and bilingual young man
and aspiring boxer with a penchant for dropping off into drug induced fantasy as he watches
some of his favourite films. One day he receives a call from a local drug kingpin and has the
chance to live out his dreams of being like the characters in the film’s he aspires to.
The young man unwittingly possesses avenues into elite social circles that the criminals are
looking to exploit. X (anonymous hero) is a social chameleon with the ability to fit in with
several groups due to his private school education and the rough area he grew up in —
ultimately leaving him questioning where he belongs.
Review by Isabel Harridence
For those who don’t know, the definition of pastiche is “a piece of art, music, literature, etc.
which intentionally copies the style of someone else’s work or is intentionally in various
styles”, which is an apt description not only of this film in general, with its many references
to other films, but of its nameless protagonist, referred to as ‘X’ in the credits. Many films
deal with themes of youths living in rough areas, or people from privileged backgrounds and
their experiences with rough areas, but very few films combine these themes so effectively as
Pastiche with its protagonist coming from a private school, speaking two languages and
having friends in the rough area he lives in, X is clearly “in various styles” as the definition
of pastiche describes. As a result, viewers are able to relate to at least one aspect of X’s life in
Pastiche, and are able to glimpse into the other worlds and lifestyles in the film that they
aren’t familiar with. Overall, the overwhelming creativity of Pastiche makes it more than
worthy of a watch.

6. REFUGIO 115
Director : Ivan Villamel
Website : Refugio 115
Screening : After Dark : Friday, 7pm @ Worcester Arts Workshop
Synopsis:
March 18, 1938, the population of Barcelona is devastated by the continued indiscriminate
bombing of Italian aviation. Jordi and Aina are a young couple in love who has not lost faith
in salvation and freedom, and safeguard one of the many bomb refuges throughout the city of
Barcelona.
Something unknown is hidden in the darkness of the refuge, hidden and waiting to take one
by one people are hidden from external danger. Aina and Jordi try to find a loophole for all
those people, before the outputs are closed.
Review by Isabel Harridence
Despite being a short film, Refugio 115 not only succeeds but exceeds in creating
considerable tension and fear in its audience. As main characters Jordi and Aina are holed up
in a bomb refuge with a dark, unknown force steadily targeting them and their friends, all our
collective subconscious fears come into play; claustrophobia, fear of the dark and fear of the
unknown. Despite the language barrier, Refugio 115 is guaranteed to draw you in… and make
you want to sleep with your light on!

7. Buck
Director : Richard Davis
Screening : After Dark : Saturday, 7pm @ Worcester Arts Workshop
Synopsis:
We should never let our past dictate our future. A man trapped in a cycle of destruction,
struggles to remember why it all came to this.
Review by Isabel Harridence
From the significance behind the telephone ringing to the protagonist himself, this film gives
very little away. Part of the success of the film lies in its vast amounts of intrigue created by
the mysterious phone calls Buck receives the seemingly reverse chronology of the events in
the film and the animal counterparts of the characters. The latter helps create both striking
and shocking images in the form of the murder victims, something fairly unique in my
experience of horror and thriller films. As one of the most interesting and unique short films I
have seen, it is definitely worth watching.

8. Vodka & Chips
Director : Lex Dovak
Screening : Sunday, 4pm @ The Hive
Synopsis:
“Out of a Russian frying pan into an English fire!”
Vodka and Chips – a Birmingham feature film in all its glory.
The story begins with Kitty, a lonely, eccentric, widow who lives alone and is being troubled
by nightly, ghostly apparitions, resulting in her having a short stay in Psychiatric Unit,
Meanwhile in Russia, two Mafia gangsters double cross Gregor, their boss, forcing them to
escape from Russia and the gang’s retribution.
One of the gangsters, Vladimir arrives in England, where he discovers he too has been double
crossed by his partner and finds himself almost destitute on the streets of Birmingham.
This brings Vladimir into contact with Kitty, when she is persuaded by her niece Penny to
take in a lodger for companionship.
All goes well for a short time and Vladimir settles in as one of the family, bonding closely
with Penny.
In Russia an incensed Gregor discovers from Katerina, Vladimir’s ex-girlfriend, of
Vladimir’s whereabouts and sets about seeking retribution. He sends two of his inept
gangsters to England to retrieve his money.
From this point the flavour of the film changes and the fun really begins, particularly when
Vladimir discloses his true identity and why … ‘The Russians have landed!’
Bravely Kitty convinces Vladimir that she and her motley crew of loyal friends will stand by
him and save the day.
Has the Mafia finally met its match? … (Ha, ha, Nasdorovia!)
Review by Isabel Harridence
Based on the film’s title one might assume this film is simply paying homage to the main
features of a night out in Worcester, but what Vodka and Chips actually delivers is a unique
perspective on differing cultures, mainly British and Russian (vodka and chips, geddit?). The
relationships formed by characters Kitty, Vladimir, Penny, Bob, Shahid Yogi Ji and Gregor
in locations as local and familiar as Birmingham city centre, Barnt Green and Alvechurch,
and as distant as Russia, provide unique views on culture, stereotypes and loyalty. Despite the
clear political themes of the film, which some might assume would make the film boring or
difficult to understand, there is lots of humour, both light-hearted and dark, especially in the
character of Kitty. All of these factors contribute to Vodka and Chips’ unique style and is
definitely one to watch.