21 Miles is an unsettling and accomplished installation by Chris Dundon-Smith. The work presents viewers with a single projected photograph, and over four hundred audio recordings which piece together a migrant channel crossing. The recordings were gathered by him personally at sea and on the beaches of the south Kent coast. Dundon-Smith deals with an extremely urgent and emotive issue with great restraint, refusing to photographically sensationalise the situation, or picture the individual migrants whose journey he bears witness to. As one sits in the projection space, on a sparse bench, not dissimilar to a boat bench, the voices, movements and fears of those making the treacherous journey are brought before us with visceral clarity.’
*****
Karen McQuaid, Senior Curator, The Photographers Gallery London.
Bro is a beautifully crafted and well made film. The performances are accurate, delicately nuanced and touchingly profound’. MIKE LEIGH (Vera Drake, Another Year).
Bro is an incredible dramatic film. Stellar performances and beautifully designed shots help highlight this already endearing story about a young man who was born into a tough familial position'. AINT IT COOL NEWS.
Film, TV and Online Broadcast Credits
BBC THREE, BBC America, BBC iPlayer, RTE
Festival Screenings
Seattle International Film Festival, Singapore International Film Festival, Beverly Hills Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival, London Short Film Festival, International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, Encounters Short Film Festival, Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival, Cinemagic Film Festival, Cambridge Film Festival, Exground Filmfest, Istanbul International Short Film Festival, International Film Festival Winterhur, St. Louis International Film Festival, Branchage Film Festival, Kuki International Short Film Festival for Children and Youth, Tallgrass Film Festival, British Shorts Berlin, Foyle Film Festival, Go Short Film Festival, Heart of Gold Film Festival, Holyshorts Film Festival, International Film Festival of Larissa, Taos Shortz Film Festival, Festival Du FIlm Court De Villeurbanne, Filmon International Film Festival, Belgium Batroun Mediterranean Film Festival, Lebanon FicBueu Film Festival, FicBueu, Spain Lucas Film Festival, Germany Pacific Meridian Film Festival, Russian Federation Manlleu Film Festival, Spain Palic Film Festival, Serbia/Montenegro Omaha Film Festival, U S A Ördögkatlan Film Festival, Hungary Minimalen Film Festival, U S A Ale Kino, International Young Film Festival.
Film Awards
Special Jury Mention, International Short Film Festival Oberhausen
Critic Award, Best Live Action, Short Film Fantaspoa
Best Sound Design, Short Film Festival in Drama
Special Jury Mention, Signes de Nuit
Vimeo, Staff Pick
Photography Exhibitions
Ambika P3, London
Photography Awards
Commended, Photofusion