We’re thrilled to announce the winners and highly commended works from FUSE Film 2024.
Mini Film
Winner: Water Ways
A film about mental health recovery through surfing. Ashley Braunton is a 3rd generation surfer from Saunton in North Devon ranked 4th in the country for longboard. In this short documentary he talks about his struggle with mental health and how he used surfing, the community and his family as a way to get back on his feet. Also proving the close communities of England are all we need to feel at home.
Runner up: What they can’t see, is left behind.
“Every contact leaves a trace.” (E, Locard. 1920).
The work is an abstract, yet uncomplicated examination and exploration into the concept of Touch DNA which “is DNA obtained from biological material transferred from a donor to an object or a person during physical contact” (Fessa, 2019).
Short Film
Winner of short film: Emma
Ecclesiastes 3:4
A screendance of gestures and words, emotions and relationships, with the bodies of dancers bringing to life this short story.
Runner up: Pillow Talk
Jill just wants to get a good night’s sleep before a big presentation, but it’s not in the cards.
International Film
Winner of international film: Population:1
Jim is the sole inhabitant of an island off the west coast of Ireland. In this interview, he philosophises about his choice to live in such an isolated manner and ponders the mysterious hold that Acaill Bheag has on him.
Runner up for international film: Planet of Rust
Sent on a routine delivery mission to an exoplanet, cosmic courier Pon faces a perilous twist of fate when his spaceship malfunctions.
Local Film
Winner: Kitsch
The filmmaker, alongside his colleague The Camera, is determined to make this film the most artistic film this screening’s audience has ever seen.
Runner up: Happy Place: Jedda
Happy Place: Jedda is an experimental-immersive project. Jedda is an anonymous 51-year-old woman interviewee, whose story is about dealing with childhood trauma and maternal deprivation, discovering empathy as an adult and the joy and acceptance of having a daughter who is married to a woman. The film uses creative visuals to explore an imaginary world of comfort, distracting from negative experiences.