Video

About this submission

I choose to tell the story for two reasons. First of all, I wanted to create a film where the audience and all of the characters except the lead know about the tragedy occurring in the film. I thought this would be interesting for a short film because an active viewer would feel like a participant in the film's narrative rather than just an observer. Secondly, I thought Bonfire Night is such a uniquely British celebration that I haven't seen shown in many films before, and I believe would create an interesting and melancholic backdrop to the film.

Jacob Mark

Creator

Jake Mark is an award-winning filmmaker based in North West England. In 2024, his short film Under The Surface had its world premiere at the Bolton International Film Festival before screening at numerous other festivals and independent cinemas across Northern England as part of Film Hub North’s Northern Exposure touring program. In the same year, he directed a spiritual sequel to Under The Surface, titled Bonfire, which was jointly financed by Film Hub North, Home Manchester, and the Showroom Cinema Sheffield. Bonfire has won awards at the Lytham International Film Festival and the BIFA Qualifying Wigan & Leigh Film Festival. As well as screening at the BIFA Qualifying Spirit of Independence and Cardiff Mini Film Festivals. He crafts subtle, realistic narratives with immersive audio and visuals that heighten emotion and provoke thought, leaving characters’ lives feeling continuous beyond the screen while exploring universal themes with empathy. more...