'Father's Day' - UWE Graduate Film

Our Project:

On behalf of our production team, we are pleased to announce that we are currently in pre-production for our Level 6 UWE Filmmaking final project, Father’s Day.

Story:

Set in the early '90s, Father’s Day explores the impact of the HIV epidemic through the perspective of a relationship between father and son with the film studying themes of responsibility, separation, change and identity.

Carrying the weight of his secret HIV diagnosis, Chris takes his son Freddy on a sunrise outing to impart life lessons before leaving the family. But as Freddy innocently challenges his father’s decisions, Chris questions whether leaving his family is truly the right way to protect them.

With considered dialogue and detailed visuals, this film explores men’s relationship to language with undertones of broader societal issues, leaving enough unsaid for the audience to piece the narrative together.

The Team:

Writer and Director: Joe Stebbens

Producer: Khadija Harris-Baiden

Production Manager: Bella Dunbar

Assistant Director: Georgia Brown

Sustainability Officer and Location Manager: Millie Johnson

Directors of Photography: Lily Ainsworth and Joel Anning

Assistant Cinematographer: Teddy Gibbons

Spark: Jack Thomson

Sound Operator: Jude Drew

Sound Editor: Lucien Stephens

Composer: Olly Sprinks

Production Design: Sam Barker, Latifah Suleiman-Kerr and Jamie Edwards

Colourist: Joel Anning

Editor: Lorna Martin

Director’s Statement:

'Father’s Day embodies all the themes that resonate with me as a writer and a director. Thematically, the film offers an opportunity to delve into the guilt, shame and quiet suffering experienced by many queer men during the aftermath of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The story focuses on men’s relationship with language in an interesting context: the dynamic between father and son.

Father’s Day aligns perfectly with my visual directorial style. The narrative demands a stripped-back aesthetic which emphasises texture and fine details, creating an intimate atmosphere that amplifies the emotional weight of the story.

I feel both excited and prepared to take on this delicate narrative as writer/director.'

The Budget:

We are aiming to raise £1,200 to create our film, which will go towards actor contribution fees, production design, location costs, crew and equipment travel, food, and a donation to the Friends of the Earth Charity to offset our production’s carbon footprint.

How you can help:

We are excited to make our film, but we can’t do it without you! We would appreciate any donations - every penny helps us achieve our goal. Please don’t worry if you can’t donate - you can still do so much to help us such by sharing this project with whoever you can.

Additional Info:

Please see our demo reel here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oI4cAtkS3M&ab_channel=stebbfilm