A group of local filmmakers gathered at an award-winning cinema located in south-east London to showcase their latest creations during a short film showcase highlighting the capital’s independent cinema scene.

The event took place at the Peckhamplex as part of the Peckham and Nunhead Free Film Festival (PNFF), a traveling series of screenings organized by volunteers in some of the best small venues in the area.

Celebrating its 16th anniversary this year, the festival is part of a wider network of film festivals throughout London, with additional events scheduled for Raynes Park and Streatham this autumn.

On Wednesday night, a full house experienced the screening of 12 short films, exploring topics ranging from life in the Borneo jungles to one woman’s journey through domestic abuse.

“The atmosphere in the room reinforced our conviction in the desire for independent films that address the physical, social, and emotional realities of our communities,” noted PNFF.

BBC London interviewed several filmmakers to delve deeper into their projects.

Sebastian Piette Pereira’s film, How My Dad’s Worst Enemy Became His Best Friend, was the evening’s shortest presentation yet delivered a compelling emotional impact.

This film features an interview with Seb and his father, sharing memories of growing up in Sao Paulo and the evolution of a feud into a cherished friendship with another local boy, Zé Carlos.

Using vibrant colors and glimpses of a chessboard, the film illustrates how the game became a means for the two to resolve their conflicts and bond.

Seb remarked that his father is “an exceptional storyteller” and has shared the film with all his Brazilian friends back home.

Sheffield-based filmmaker Sakhile Shann’s film, Deposition, shines a light on controlling and coercive relationships.

The narrative follows a woman who retreats to her bathroom, highlighting the subtle yet pervasive signs of emotional manipulation and domestic violence.

“I noticed a recurring theme in many people’s stories: the bathroom served as a safe haven where they could lock themselves away for a little peace,” she explained.

Her film also supports the Anah Project, a refuge and support system for women, with an upcoming screening at the Avalon Cafe in Bermondsey aimed at raising funds for the charity.

In his documentary, A Portrait of My Grandmother, Jarvis Laurence offers viewers a glimpse into Bario, a small village in the jungles of Borneo, where he interviews his grandmother, who lives in a cozy settlement surrounded by lush rainforest.

“My bond with my grandmother has always felt somewhat constant… This was the first time I truly got to know her,” said Jarvis.

The film provides a breathtaking insight into a different lifestyle characterized by a deep connection to “spirituality,” as Jarvis explores the significance of religion within the community.

Georgia Zeta Gkoka, or Zeta, encountered the subject of her film, You Can Call Me Lou, the retired dancer Louise Krammer, while working in Brixton, where a friendship sparked the project.

Zeta shared, “When I first met her, I found so much beauty in her.”

The documentary chronicles Louise, or Lou, from her harsh rejection by her parents upon coming out as transgender to embracing her newfound freedom in 1980s London, dancing in renowned LGBTQ+ clubs like Heaven.

“The essence of the film conveys how dance serves as a powerful medium for expression and how community can assist individuals in discovering their own identities,” Zeta stated.

You Can Call Me Lou is also set to be featured in the BFI’s London Film Festival.

Iso Attrill’s film Paradise stood out from the others shown that evening.

The audience is introduced to its central character and Iso’s friend, Mol Benge, a non-binary trans artist who uses their garden to navigate life.

Iso beautifully describes the film as Mol’s “reflections on creativity, queerness, and ecology.”

It includes serene visuals of Mol planting seeds alongside their own stop-motion animation that illustrates the life cycle of food, symbolizing existence and its impermanence.

The festival wraps up this weekend, concluding with a screening of Nosferatu at Nunhead Cemetery.