Worse Than It Seems
Jawjaw
Beth has been hiding at home for weeks. The reason is startlingly clear: a third eye has appeared on the side of her forehead. She must keep this affliction hidden but, with the cupboards bare, Beth must finally leave the house to buy food. Covering her mutation, she ventures out, only for her condition to be revealed whilst being harassed by a man at the bus stop. Matters quickly escalate: a crowd gathers, reacting to Beth's appearance with extreme prejudice, and she is forced to flee. After further run-ins, Beth meets a stranger, the first person to treat her with kindness since she has been exposed. But is he all that he seems? Inspired by the seminal graphic novel, Black Hole, by Charles Burns, Worse Than It Seems is an unconventional and disquieting romance exploring themes of otherness, prejudice, love and acceptance.
Ian Grey
Director
Showdown X
Audience Award
Ian Roderick Gray is a multi-award winning writer and director, with a diverse body of work that includes Feature-Films, commercials, music videos, promos and shorts. He has collaborated with and directed icons such as John Lydon, Idris Elba, Nile Rodgers and Elle Macphearson.
His first feature film, The Banksy Job, a comedy-documentary hybrid called "The Banksy Job" made in association with Pulse Films and Ipso Facto films, had its world premiere at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in New York and was listed in The Hollywood Reporter's picks of best films.