The Space Between

Across animation, dance, and narrative, these works explore moving forward while carrying the past, tracing change, resilience, and balance.

THE SPACE BETWEEN

Across animation, dance, and intimate narrative, these works reflect on what it means to move forward while carrying fragments of the past. Together, they form a series of encounters with change, resilience, and the quiet search for balance in unfamiliar terrain.

Friday 8 May, Cavendish Hotel, 18:00

Shorts Synopsis

Heaven to Know You

France, UK | 2024 | 38’32” | Drama

Dir. Philip H J Gay

After a traumatic childhood at the hands

of her abusive mother and a difficult start

to adult life, Lara relocates to NYC to

start over, leaving behind a childhood of

imaginary friends but also her dreams of

song and dance.

The Donkey with a baby on her back

UK | 2024 | 12’51” | Drama

Dir. Isabella Chaves Gutierrez

Daniela, a child of divorce, helps her father

move out of her childhood home: an

alcove of memories and secrets. Meanwhile,

she observes her parents wedding

day in 1995, through the eyes of the Donkey

that carried her mother to the altar,

forging a new connection with her mother,

and finding solace in existing as proof

of a fleeting moment of love.

First Time

UK | 2025 | 9’20” | Drama

Dir. Kieran Freemantle

A young man plans to lose his virginity

with an escort so he can fulfil a milestone.

Both parties end up having a more

emotionally draining experience than expected.

Austria | 2025 | 9’28’’ | Experimental

Dir. Editta Braun

A play about showing and concealing,

moving and being moved. A ballet for

isolated limbs, a trio for dancers flowing,

floating, swimming and gliding. Carried

by Thierry Zaboitzeff’s marvellous

sounds and tones, breathtaking through

unprecedented perspectives, the piece

writes a new, purely female story of creation

out of the water.

Part of Me

Armenia, Netherlands | 2025 | 04’49” |

Experimental

Dir. Narek Gukasian

Part of Me explores the inner world of a

woman suspended between inertia and

the urge to act. Moving through symbolic

encounters with earth, air and water,

she seeks reconnection with nature and

herself. The film is a meditative journey

through solitude, transformation and the

fragile boundary between humanity and

the natural world.

IMMIGRANT رجاهم

Iran | 2025 | 1’41” | Drama, Animation

Dir. Nilram Ranjbar

A woman reflects on the love and memories

she leaves behind as she packs to

leave her country.