Clean Break's Online Film Festival 2024 — Clean Break

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clean break film festival artwork. three stills of Clean Break Members with a blue filter on a yellow background, with illustrated film cells around them

Clean Break's Online Film Festival 2024

Films from Clean Break and beyond, hosted on our Knowledge Hub

Explore Clean Break’s first online film festival, celebrating the intersection of film and theatre.

The festival runs from 23 September to 6 October, hosted on our Knowledge Hub, which has been developed with the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies Digital Accelerator Programme.

Clean Break is excited to showcase short films which raise difficult questions, inspire debate, and help to effect profound and positive change in the lives of people who are criminalised, or who are at risk.

Discover a diverse and gripping programme, from a talented selection of filmmakers. We are proud to showcase authentic stories of struggle, survival and healing from a range of unique perspectives.

Watch short films that navigate stories of...

  • Criminalisation and the criminal justice system
  • Healing through art and creativity
  • Racial and social justice  
  • Feminism, gender and women’s rights
  • Homelessness and housing
  • Addiction and recovery

Why Film?

Moving image has always played a crucial part in Clean Break’s artistic practice. From Killers in 1984, to more recently Sweatbox and Hope, film compliments our on-stage work and allows us to share stories of women and the criminal justice system to audiences beyond the theatre walls.

Theatre and film have a rich shared history, having influenced each other since the birth of film in the late 19th century with the early silent films of the Lumière brothers.

In the 20th century, the rise of stage-to-screen adaptations influenced cinema’s three-act narrative structure and dramatic character arcs, as well as the stagecraft elements such as set design and lighting.

Today, we see cinema’s influence in theatre, with the use of digital projection and sound design being commonplace in on-stage productions.

We are excited to continue this legacy by putting film in the spotlight on Clean Break’s Knowledge Hub this autumn.

How do I watch?

Unlock Clean Break’s full programme of films by purchasing a Festival Pass. You will then be able to watch all films by logging into your Knowledge Hub account.

We also have a range of films which are available to watch for free by creating a free Knowledge Hub account.

Films will be available to watch on our Knowledge Hub from 23 September until the end of 6 October 2024.

Image credit: Eloise Dorr 
Trailer: Tea Films

Purchasing a Film Festival Pass gives you access to all films in our programme during the festival. Films will be available to watch on our Knowledge Hub from 23 September, and will expire after 6 October.

We've set a number of different price options for our Festival Pass, so you can chose an option which best suits you:

£30 Solidarity Pass + Tote Bag! - We'll send you a limited edition Clean Break Film Festival tote bag after the festival ends!

£25 Solidarity Pass - If you have the means to purchase a Solidarity Pass, your generous support will be gratefully received.

£15 Standard Festival Pass - This is the standard price for our Festival Pass.

£5 Low or no income Pass - If you are unwaged or are on a low income, you might like to chose this option.

£1 Lived Experience Pass - This option is for people with lived experience of the criminal justice system.

Purchasing a Festival Pass supports Clean Break's life changing work with women with experience of the criminal justice system, or who are at risk of entering it. We greatly appreciate your support!

Download the Film Festival Programme Guide

Download the Film Festival Self-Care Guide

Festival Pass Films

a mother and daughter walk along the beach together

Adra Ni Y Môr (Our Home The Sea)

A beautiful and heart wrenching story of the impact of the Welsh second homes crisis on a mother and her daughter.
still from Buddleia

Buddleia: the Unchained Story

The tale of Brenda, also known as Lady Unchained, a poet, performer, broadcaster and advocate for life after prison.
two young women lying on the grass laughing

Home

How does it feel to be free? Best friends Kay and Jenna are reuniting after being separated by prison. But reigniting what they had before isn’t straightforward.
a still from hope

Hope

A film from Clean Break
a woman sitting on a bench outside

No Comprendo

A short-authored documentary about language and communication in the criminal justice system.
a black and white photo of a young woman's face, torn in half to reveal the other half of a woman's face, older and in colour

Violet Gave Willingly

An unflinchingly intimate mother-daughter conversation.
a young boy looks down at an injured crow on the floor

Wings

A love letter from the late Sonya Hale, written as a signal of hope to her son after she’s gone.

Free Films

A still from after time

After Time

Three men share the damaging effects that criminalisation has had on their lives, and how they have found ways to move forward.
A still from Dues. A young girl looks in the mirror with a man behind her, she has a slight look of fright on her face.

Dues

Fifteen-year-old Tia has to be strong for her mum who's experiencing abuse, but she’s vulnerable to exploitation from criminal networks unless she can find a way out, fast.
a still from Sandwiches. A woman sits on the ground on a street, she appears to be homeless

More Than One Story

Short films from Cardboard Citizens, starring Clean Break Member artists
an illustration of a woman with two childen

Smart Justice Animated Series

Three animated short films commissioned by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Sweatbox

Chloë Moss’s Clean Break play is transformed into an electric adaptation for the screen.
a photo of a prison gate leading to a green space

Without Walls

Five Clean Break Members share their experiences of HMP Holloway

Member Film Reviews

Still from Violet Gave Willingly

Violet Gave Willingly: Clean Break Member Review

Member artist Kim Theresa (KT) Marsh shares her interpretation of the film Violet Gave Willingly
still from Home

Home: Clean Break Member Review

Member Claire shares her review of the film Home
still from Hope

Hope: Clean Break Member Review

Member Susannah shares her interpretation of our film Hope
a still from Adra Ni Y Mor

Adra Ni Y Môr: Clean Break Member Review

Member Sofi M shares her interpretation of the film Adra Ni Y Môr
Still from Buddleia: The Unchained Story

Buddleia: Clean Break Member Review

Member Pepe shares her interpretation of the film Buddleia: The Unchained Story
a still from Sandwiches. A woman sits on the ground on a street, she appears to be homeless

Sandwiches: Clean Break Member Review

Member Su shares her thoughts on the film Sandwiches
Natasha Jean Sparkes in Boiling Frogs

Boiling Frogs: Clean Break Member Review

Member Claire shares her interpretation of the film Boiling Frogs

Watch the Trailer

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