Why Poverty? UK Shorts

Why Poverty? UK Shorts is an eclectic series of short documentaries taking a fresh look at poverty in the UK. The issues covered include the vicious cycle of debt and poverty; the psychological impact of living in poverty; and the power of friendship and community to help people turn their lives around.

The films are produced by Mosaic Films in partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, BBC Storyville and the global Why Poverty? project by STEPS International.

They were commissioned as the result of an open call for submissions, to find filmmakers who could produce an authentic portrayal of poverty in the UK. Around a hundred entries were submitted nationwide and were whittled down to six finalists, who then took part in a live pitch in front of a judging panel at 2010 Sheffield Doc/Fest.

Festivals:

Sheffield Doc/Fest 2011












The Car's Got To Go
Dir. Barney Snow

Brian Pearson repossesses cars for a living, but he is not your typical repo man. A film examining the cycle of debt and poverty from a different - and unexpected - angle.

Holiday of Hope
Dir. Jez Lewis

Millions of British families can never afford a holiday. We follow one such family as they leave their council estate under the Heathrow flight path for a subsidised rural break, revealing some little-recognised truths about poverty along the way.

This is Camden Calling...
Dir. Anna Edwards

Blending music with observational documentary, Camden Calling tells the story of a collective of homeless, ex-homeless and vulnerable people from across London who together form an eclectic musical group.