Congratulations are in order for two Isle of Wight filmmakers who have just won an International Short Film Award with their latest work.
This is not only news because the pair, who met whilst studying documentary and sound at the National Film and Television School, live on the Isle of Wight, but also because the subject of their short film is Fawley Power Station – whose chimney once dominated the skyline across the Solent.
Chu-Li Shewring and Adam Gutch were honoured in the Sheffield Doc Fest for “the best creative approach to a documentary under 40 minutes”.
Their beautifully shot documentary, Fawley, carefully combines speech, sound and image fragments from archive and present-day footage, whilst exploring Fawley’s history and demolition through playful and profound discussion with themes of ‘power’, nature, and the environment.
The filmmakers say,
“It addresses the deep psychological and emotional role architecture plays in our surroundings and asks, ‘What is lost when a building disappears?’ Or simply, ‘Does a building have a spirit?’”
The memories of local people who worked at the Brutalist structure on the edge of the New Forest and lived in the shadow of the chimney are carefully woven into a tapestry of sound that overlays the footage. It really is quite beautiful!
A powerful poetic reflection
The jury, Zeynep Guzel, Cherish Oteka and Saskia Wilson said,
“This is a distinctive and beautifully crafted exploration of the intersection of nature, architecture and the human experience.
“Bringing together the many voices involved in the landscape – power plant workers, bird watchers, local people and the creatures inhabiting the space – the film is a powerful poetic reflection on the psychological role of our surroundings and our symbiotic relationship with nature.
“It is fantastically detailed, from observing the beauty in the Brutalist architecture to the tiny minnows swimming in the shallows, the film connects the audience with a range of universal themes such as ‘power’ structures, preserving nature and the impact we leave on our environment.”
You can watch the trailer for the film below.
The award is supported by WarnerBros OneFifty, and the International Short Film Award is Academy Award®, BAFTA and BIFA accredited.
Images: © Chu-Li Shewring and Adam Gutch
