We are pleased to reveal that 2 films produced by Bombito Productions will receive their world premieres at Edinburgh International Film Festival 2022. Live action and animated film 'Who I am Now' from director Jack Goessens and Miranda Stern's personal documentary 'Clean'.
Who I Am Now
Two trans refugees share their stories in this short film about family - the families we are born into, and the families we make out of our friends.
With Tariq’s older brother arriving from Egypt - the first time he’s seen him since he came to the UK - he’s forced to confront his complicated feelings about family. Denise, his friend and teammate, shares her own story.
The story's setting and main conversation takes place between Tariq and Denise as they get ready to play a game of football for LGBT football team 'Spectrum FC'. They share stories from their past and bond even further as friends and part of each other's chosen family.
Who I Am Now is a short film about queerness and family - the families we’re born into, and the families we make out of our friends.
Written by Michael Lee Richardson, based on a story by Adam Kashmiry and Zan Scott.
Screening date and competition
The film is in competition for the McLaren award for Best Short Film.
Who I am Now will premiere on 13 August at 15:30 in Filmhouse 1. As part of the New Shorts: Scotland's Voices strand.
The trailer
Get tickets
You can buy tickets, directly from Edinburgh International Film Festivals website.
The background
Funded by Creative Scotland via the Create: Inclusion fund and LEAP sports.
The film uses flashback, dream and memory to tell a complex story, and comment and critique the way that queer people are asked to perform their trauma and recount negative experiences in order to be understood by mainstream audiences.
Animation
Animator Holly Summerson helped shape each flashback scene as a bespoke animation designed specifically for the film in collaboration with director Jack Goessens
The team
Starring accomplished actors Adam Kashmiry as Tariq & Talisa Garcia as Denise.
Adam Kashmiry who also developed this story, starred in the BAFTA winning National theatre of Scotland film 'Adam', Inspired by his life.
Talisa Garcia was recently announced as the first trans actress to be cast by Disney in a Lucasfilm production - 'Willow'.
Crew
Writer: Michael Lee Richardson - based on a story by Zan Scott & Adam Kashmiry
Producer: Reece Cargan
Director: Jack Goessens
DOP: David Lee
1st AD: Juan Melendez Herrera
Production Designer: Cara Roxburgh
Animator: Holly Summerson
1st AC: Sefa Ucbas
Grip: Gordon Eddie
2nd AC: Connor Wilson
Editor: Jack Goessens
Sound Recordist: Seamus Stewart-Skinner
Sound: Sean McGee
Makeup Artist: Francesca Hynd
Make up Assistant: Niamh Carden
Costume Assistant: Oksana Makowska
Production Assistant: Hannah McKelvie-Whyte
Runner: Sarah Manson
Catering: Clementine Catering
Insurance: WK Film Insurance
Dumbarton F.C: Antonia Love & Jacqui Sibbald
Spectrum FC: Michael Lee Richardson, Pip Wright, Rebecca White, Kol Mulligan & Callum Denovellis
Plus a cameo from some of the Saltire Thistle team - Scotland's inclusive football team.
Further collaborations
As a team, Reece, Jack and Adam also worked on Jack Goessens' short documentary Everyman - commissioned by Scottish Documentary Institute. Everyman is a personal story about transitioning, exploring how the world is different living as a female to being perceived as male. It was nominated for a Grierson award and won best film at SQIFF and Euregion film festivals.
Writer Michael and producer Reece have an LGBT feature film 'A Good Spell' in funded development which is set in 70s Glasgow.
Director Jack and Reece also have a feature film in development – Jack’s first feature ‘Boifriend’.
Reece and animator Holly Summerson have a funded short 2D animation Living With It - currently in production.
Director Jack Goessens
As a trans person who is an immigrant in the UK, I was interested in exploring the intersectionality of identity on screen in ‘Who I Am Now’. This story shows the complexity of being both trans and a refugee. It highlights another barrier that has to be crossed to be able to be yourself and be so safely.
Producer Reece Cargan
I’m thankful to both Creative Scotland and LEAP sports for allowing us to be able to create this short via funding from the inclusion fund. This funding was vital in allowing me to work with queer collaborators and expand my slate as an LGBTQI+ filmmaker – yet much more importantly, the film will hopefully give insight to audiences on the extra barriers trans people face when seeking asylum in the UK.
Screening of Bombito produced project 'Clean'
Director Miranda Stern's documentary will also be screening at its World Premiere at Edinburgh on 16th August. More details are available on the film and screening.