Made in Sussex: The Forest in Me

Part of Made in Sussex Film Festival

Certification: Depot recommends: 12

'The Forest in Me' reflects on love and human connection through three interwoven stories: Agafya Lykova, an 80-year-old Siberian hermit; a Mars simulation crew in Hawaii; and the filmmaker's child exploring the world.

Drawing on over 25 years of personal footage, it becomes a “letter to the future” from a mother to her son.

The film contrasts cinematic landscapes with everyday life, connecting people across time and space. Music by Xylouris White, Guy Picciotto, and Apollonia Xylouris adds an immersive layer.

This film includes a screening of the short film Travels at Home, directed by Dave Ewan Thomas
Runtime: 20 minutes
Certification: Depot recommends: 12

When lockdown halted his international photography work, Roff Smith turned to the landscapes near his Hastings home. This gentle short follows his rediscovery of beauty in the everyday, capturing painterly images on two wheels and reshaping his creative journey.