On 1 December 2025, Chapter Arts Centre will host the 2025 New Shorts Showcase, an evening dedicated to spotlighting some of the most exciting emerging filmmakers in Wales. The event, presented by Chapter MovieMaker, brings together fresh work from creatives supported by the BFI Film Academy, the BFI NETWORK Wales Beacons scheme, and Welsh alumni of the BFI Future Film Festival.
With stories rooted in migration, memory, activism, and identity, this year’s lineup promises a dynamic and emotionally rich cinematic experience. The screening is free (15+, ticket link HERE), making it an unmissable event for anyone invested in Welsh filmmaking and the next wave of creative talent.
What to Expect: A Diverse Programme of New Voices
The showcase will feature work by:
Aliyah Harfoot, Declan Young, Taiye Omokore, Lauren Fry, Kieran Mavar, Megan John, Rhys Prichard, Lleucu Non, Nathan Howe, Ruby Smith-Brown among others
Across genres and styles, the lineup highlights the emotional and cultural complexity of contemporary Wales — from deeply personal narratives to explorations of community, heritage, and untold histories.
Here’s a closer look at some of the standout films audiences can look forward to:
TAIYE OMOKORE – Unsent Letter
One of the most anticipated films of the night, Unsent Letter is a poetic and intimate micro-short that captures the emotional weight carried by migrants living between two worlds.
Through the quiet ritual of a young Nigerian man writing a letter to his mother from his flat in Cardiff, the film explores the distance between Lagos and Wales — not just in geography, but in fear, silence, and survival.
Drawing on his own experience as a Nigerian migrant, Taiye Omokore reflects on the loneliness of building a life in the UK while worrying about loved ones back home, especially amid rising insecurity, bandit violence, and kidnappings in Nigeria. The film speaks to the unspoken truths many immigrants hold close: the things they cannot say, the emotions they hide to protect the people they love.
Featuring a powerful performance by Bamidele Ebor and crafted by a talented team including DOP Francesco Luca Zavaglia and Producer Anna Arrieta, Unsent Letter promises to be one of the most emotionally resonant works of the evening.
RHYS PRICHARD – Tulips
Rhys Prichard presents Tulips, a deeply reflective piece inspired by his own experience caring for his grandfather during a summer break from film school. The film follows a student filmmaker documenting her grandfather’s final day in his home before relocation due to dementia — a sensitive story rooted in Prichard’s own moral dilemma years earlier.
When Rhys first attempted to film his grandfather in 2018, he immediately realised it felt exploitative rather than honest. That moment inspired Tulips, a film that examines the ethics of storytelling, the boundaries between art and loved ones, and the emotional responsibility of those behind the camera.
Dedicated to his grandfather David, Tulips promises to be one of the night’s most personal and heartfelt works.
MEGAN JOHN – How We Live
Shot beautifully on Super 8mm, Megan John’s How We Live looks back at the 1984–85 Welsh Miners’ Strike through the life of activist Siân James, the first woman to represent Swansea East in Westminster.
The film explores the powerful mobilisation of women during the strike — the largest since the suffragettes — and reflects on their legacy of solidarity, equality, and community care. As debates around “difference” intensify in today’s political climate, How We Live asks audiences to remember the women who built bridges rather than barriers.
Supported by BFI Film Academy with National Lottery funding, the film features stunning visuals by Dylan DoFilm, an original score by Lovellious, and delicate Super 8 processing by on8mil.
A Celebration of Creative Vision in Wales
With such a multifaceted programme, the 2025 New Shorts Showcase is set to highlight the depth, diversity, and daring of Welsh filmmaking today. The event offers a rare opportunity to experience intimate, culturally rich stories while supporting the next generation of Welsh creatives.
Whether you love independent cinema, emerging talent, migrant narratives, political memory, or experimental visual storytelling, this year’s showcase promises to deliver something unforgettable.
2025 New Shorts Showcase
Chapter Arts Centre
01.12.2025 | 18:00
15+, Free (LINK HERE)
