View British short 'Essex Girls' and 3 more new shorts on Into Film+

With the new school year comes four new additions to our invaluable shorts catalogue on Into Film+. All of these films clock in at fifteen minutes or under yet maintain the rich and exciting vein of storytelling and theme that we value here at Into Film. With a new short for every age group, our subjects this time form a wide spectrum of identity and experience. A tragi-comic family holiday in the French language; a coming-of-age tale from a different British perspective; an observant animation from the perspective of an impassioned deaf child; and a story of masculinity, friendship and dance all the way from Norway.

Louis - suitable for ages 5-11

This short animation from France gives valuable insight into how a deaf child experiences the world around them and what we can do to learn from others who see things from a different perspective. With its simple approach towards language, it can also be used as a tool for learning, speaking and reading French for primary students. The plot follows Louis, who is recently ten years old. He became deaf during his early childhood, but this has not stopped him learning everything that he can - especially about his favorite animal, the snail. The reality of his world without sound catches up with him when he crosses the school gates and becomes singled out for his deafness. How will Louis overcome this problem? 

Try out Louis if you enjoyed...The Present, in which a teenage boy is gifted a puppy by his mother, but it isn't to his liking.

Été 96 (Summer 96) - suitable for ages 11-16

Gorgeously hand-drawn, this nostalgic animation explores memory and transition whilst also being an excellent way to introduce basic French to early secondary learners. Every August 15th, young Paul and his family spend part of their summer holiday having a big picnic on Callot Island. The family camcorder passes from hand to hand, capturing the good vibes and the noises of the summer whilst the sun beats down and the smell of suncream wafts through the air. However, this year, 1996, they accidentally get caught out by the rising tide and find the only route off the island blocked by the ocean. With their only option to wait until morning and tensions rising, Paul decides to go exploring and finds himself in a life changing situation. 

Try out Été 96 if you enjoyed...Thermostat 6, in which a French family sit down for dinner where teenage daughter Diane is unable to ignore a leak in the ceiling any longer.

Butterfly

This Norwegian drama is a vital insight into the ways prejudice and toxic attitudes towards masculinity can destroy friendships and how open minds can repair them. On a cold afternoon in Norway, teenager Isak finds a remote location, sets up his phone and begins to record himself dancing. This is his biggest passion in life, but he keeps it a secret from his hyper-masculine group of footballing friends, making him feel torn between two worlds. When his dance recital and a big game are scheduled for the same day, he must figure out a way to balance the two things he loves the most whilst still being true to himself. 

Try out Butterfly if you enjoyed...Intermission, in which three teenage boys hoping to catch the latest blockbuster head to the cinema, where one of them has a potentially life-changing experience.

Essex Girls - suitable for 14+

Nominated for the Best Short Film award at this years London Film Festival, this incredible short is determined to turn the stereotype of the Essex Girl on its head. Based on the director's real life experiences, Essex Girls is a funny, significant and incredibly authentic look at how self-identity plays a complex but important part of growing up Black in Britain. Life hasn't always been easy for Bisola, one of the only Black girls in her small Essex town. Although her close friends Charlie and Saffron think the world of her, they also don't seem to understand what makes her tick. Her British-Nigerian heritage often leaves her feeling othered and her dating life is non-existent. However, when a classroom discussion brings her closer to the outgoing and confident Ashlee, another Black girl at her school, Bisola's outlook on her identity begins to change. After joining Ashlee on a trip to attend a party in London, she is introduced to a whole new world of sisterhood and culture that previously seemed out of reach, leaving her with a problem how does she balance her newfound friendship and exhilarating adventure of self-discovery with the life she had become comfortable with for so many years? 

Try Essex Girls if you liked...Faces, a documentary in which four contributors recount their experiences of what it's like to be mixed-race in modern Britain.