Hastings and Rother District Councils and White Ribbon UK recently teamed up to tackle the reality of domestic violence, particularly violence against women and girls, from a new angle. They tasked writer and director, Paul Saunders and his team at Prometheus Film Productions, with running a crash course in film and performance for local young people aged 11-15. Their focus and theme would be: “positive relationships”.

On 8 December Hastings luminaries and the children’s families gathered at Sussex Coast College to consider the results: a series of short films and plays. The show began with a small selection of performances exploring how violence doesn’t only have to involve physical contact.

One memorable short featured a young daughter just back home from school being immediately shouted into paralysis by her dad (or other male carer). The sound of a heartbeat overrode the details of what he might be saying, and as he finally ended his tirade and left, she put her headphones on, triggering a perfect sound transition that took us away from – or maybe into – the intensity of what had just happened.

This initial section was the only one that explored the subject of domestic violence in a more direct way, which is perhaps reassuring: it suggests that these young people have had relatively little contact with violence in their lives, and shows that they can still usefully consider it from a safe distance.

The rest of the presentation focussed more on expressions of positive relationships as a celebration of how best to treat each other, though some shorts still comically or imaginatively engaged with the darker aspects of their theme.

Almost in the style of a silent film, a man is sitting on Rock-A-Nore beach, contemplating the scene, accompanied by music; then a woman walks up to him, music rising, rants and raves at him to an operatic background, and then storms off. Man sits on his rock.

Another short simply films the progress of the waves on the beach, but to the sound of an excellent track composed by the student.

A number of documentary-style or educational films by an enthusiastic duo playfully but soulfully examined healthy friendships in the schoolyard, and the ways that young people now listen to each other and bear in mind each other’s anxieties.

Towards the end of the presentation we saw The Reunion, a wonderfully nostalgic piece in which memories of two best friends skating as children is set alongside the now: an older man at Warrior Square station, waiting anxiously for someone to arrive – his childhood friend. In a short space it beautifully encapsulates a knowledge of how good friendships can last, or perhaps be reignited across great lapses in time.

The group also developed a social media campaign Speak Out Hastings and Rother, which allowed them to practise video and photo work in the digital world, while building a much bigger audience for their message. Find them on Instagram @speakouthastingsandrother.

The project was an unusual move for the council groups involved, an experimental new approach, but one that everyone seemed more than satisfied with. Paul went on the explain what next steps the students can access in their film practice, in particular a young film mentoring programme run by the BFI.

On the 15th and 16th August, we saw the first South Coast Film Festival take place in Hastings Old Town. It’s an independent celebration and examination that will run annually – this year it was at the brilliant Electric Palace, socially-distanced and Covid-safe, despite the necessary seating restrictions that requires.

The Festival organisers Paul Saunders and David Wurawa say: “Our mission is to help create a platform for our filmmakers to be seen, but more importantly, get them the industry exposure to help sustain their craft for many years to come. The SCFF is extremely excited to present its showcase, and hopes to become one of the most important Independent film festivals in the UK. The SCFF Awards will provide space for independent film-makers to create and display their stories without commercial pressure, in order to discover and celebrate extraordinary films and develop independent film-making.”

Many of the weekend’s films were stand-out amazing, particularly the contenders for the International Film award, including two dramatic shorts from Iran. Each was expertly crafted from beginning to end, and could have been expanded to feature length (though still functioned perfectly as shorts). Another especially memorable entry was the documentary, Age is a Bingo Number, which followed a bingo-centred social club in Newcastle, and the many touching nuances of its largely Italian-British membership.

Other films shone out because of their ingenuity. Best Newcomer, Silhouette was filmed entirely on a Huawei smartphone by the director and sole actor, Ben Dillaway, yet still showed remarkable cinematography and a now very familiar sense of isolation. The protagonist sits in his car, in the quiet dark, arguing with his own conscience, or self, dressed like James Bond in the back seat. The only other person involved in the production was Ben’s mum, who filmed a small section at his direction. Evidently social distancing doesn’t have to mean the end of film. 

Paul Saunders seems to be the ideal organiser for this kind of festival. A film-maker himself, he showed an energy, optimism and understanding that was instantly endearing and inspiring. Anyone could easily approach him to discuss the world of independent film and how best to navigate through it – definitely the right man to be guiding a festival that wants to support and showcase upcoming makers. 

• Check the website: www.southcoastfilmfestival.com