Leeds Screendance Competition

Hailing from where cinematography and choreography meet, this compelling collection of international dance films navigates the myriad ways the moving body can propel a story. From the grimy dance floor of a club the day after the night before, to the not-so-subtle touch of strangers on a bus, we survey the landscape of this burgeoning form. Whether explicitly narrative or more abstract in approach these innovative shorts all share a specific engagement with choreography, offering a fascinating take on this experimental film genre.

**Parallax Point **| James Weisz | United Kingdom | 2022 | 3mins

NO DRINKS ON THE DANCE FLOOR | Laura Weston | United Kingdom | 2023 | 5mins

In a working-class town in England where nightclubs are facing extinction, we follow a young girl on a pilgrimage through city streets to a place that is free. No Drinks on the Dance Floor is a love letter to the nightclub dance floor.

Life left behind | Valia Phyllis Zwart | Norway | 2022 | 6mins

Whilst driving, a woman attempts to reconcile with her past and the scars it left. Using music and naturalistic movement Life Left Behind probes the selective memories of the protagonist and her journey to an acceptance of a bygone life.

YOU ARE ENOUGH | Lisa Magnan | France | 2022 | 9mins

The ceaseless pressure of perfection and the perception of not being good enough can be overwhelming. You Are Enough is an ode to self-acceptance; a love-shoot to us as we really are, doing what we really want.

Is there balm in Gilead? | Luca Tuffarelli, Justine Doswell | Ireland | 2022 | 6mins

This quirky short reflects on the paradoxical nature of life and our longing for redemption. Is There Balm in Gilead? is a dance film set in the west of Ireland inspired by ethno-cultural myths and writings centred on the raven.

Space End | Wilder Yari | United States | 2022 | 6mins

Space End is an experimental short that explores the relationship between a man struggling with dementia and his adult child. The film mimics his mental state as a repeating sequence of motel rooms, looping and changing, each scene disrupted by flashes of memories.

Bull Rider | Alexia Oldini, Steven Gray | United States | 2023 | 2mins

This experimental docu-short overlays meditations on dance from choreographer Martha Graham with music by composer Philip Glass and video featuring professional bull rider and dancer Ouncie Mitchell. By juxtaposing different creative and athletic mediums Bull Rider hopes we learn more about each

The Noise My Leaves Make | Tia-Monique Uzor | United Kingdom | 2022 | 6mins

The Noise My Leaves Make follows three Black women as they utilise their Africanist and contemporary dance vocabulary to engage with a space typically denied to them. The three women claim the countryside as their own, finding connection, belonging and joy.

Retrieval Loop | Thomas Ellis | United Kingdom | 2023 | 2mins

Two male characters perform a dance of rejection, wooing, lust and tenderness, whilst pushing the boundaries of gravity itself. Through unexpected movement, Retrieval Loop dissects feelings of anger, separation, and reunification, a retrieval courtship in suspended animation.

**Unboxing **| Danila Bim, Jimmy Slonina | United States | 2023 | 5mins

A woman finds herself on a surreal journey of self-discovery. Suspended by her hair, she exerts acrobatic manoeuvres to separate herself from her thoughts. Unboxing explores the inner walls of her mind and whether she has the strength to break free from her limitations.

Dear Passengers | Madli Lääne | Estonia | 2022 | 11mins

Dear Passengers has us follow a lonely traveller as she embarks on a journey to find relief for a buried yearning. Her restless longing is infectious, compelling her fellow passengers to participate and face their own desires and disappointments.

**Pop **| Jay Amin | United Kingdom | 2022 | 6mins

In Pop, a teenage hawker is shadowing his daily grind when he spies a pink balloon floating across the dusty streets of Accra. Confused yet inspired by what he stumbles upon, he is emboldened to break the confines of his mundane routine.

This shorts programme is screening in venues during LIFF 2023. To see a full listing of our film programme please visit our What’s On Page.