Private Project

City of Children

What is it like to grow up in a place that has been forgotten by everyone? This film is a portrait of the youth of an estate in the north of England. Tyler, a 16-year-old boy who has never attended school, guides us through this place where we will meet a series of diverse young characters, each making their own way in the estate. Combining poetical and observational styles, this film provides a multifaceted experience, allowing the viewer to reflect on Tyler's future and on England's past.

  • Arantxa Hernández Barthe
    Director
  • Arantxa Hernández Barthe and Megan Randle
    Producer
  • Molly Manning Walker
    Cinematographer
  • Burno Herrero
    Editor
  • Will Turner
    Composer
  • Edward Guy
    Sound Designer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 1, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    5,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - NFTS
  • Clermont Ferrand International Film Festival
    Clermont Ferrand
    France
    February 4, 2020
    Best International Student Film Award
  • Visions du Reel
    Nyon
    Switzerland
    April 8, 2019
    International Premiere
    Opening Scenes
  • DocumentaMadrid
    Madrid
    Spain
    May 11, 2019
    Spanish premiere
    Official Section - Jury award for best International Short Film and Audience award for Best Short Film
  • Poitiers Film Festival
    Poitiers
    France
    December 10, 2019
    France
    Frech Critique Award - Best Discovery
  • EnergaCamerimage
    Toruń
    Poland
    November 15, 2019
    Poland
    Official Selection - International Competition
  • GoShorts
    Nijmegen
    Netherlands
    Dutch
    Official Selection
  • Tel Aviv Film Festival
    Tel Aviv
    Israel
    November 13, 2020
    Israel
    Student Competition
  • IndieLisboa
    Lisboa
    Portugal
    April 30, 2020
    Portugal
    International Competiton
  • Grierson Awards
    London
    United Kingdom
    Nominated to Best Student Film
  • Odense Film Festival
    Odense
    Denmark
    September 3, 2020
    Official Selection - International Competiton
  • Aguilar Film Festival
    AGUILAR DE CAMPOO
    Spain
    December 17, 2019
    Best Assembly Award
  • Leeds Film Festival
    Leeds
    United Kingdom
    November 18, 2020
    UK
    Winner of Best Yorkshire Film
  • Soria International Film Festival
    Soria
    Spain
    November 20, 2020
  • Les Arcs Film Festival
    Les Arcs
    France
    December 18, 2020
  • Mieres International Film Festival
Distribution Information
  • NFTS
    Country: United Kingdom
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Arantxa Hernández Barthe

I am a Spanish documentary filmmaker, currently based in London, UK.

My debut film, City of Children, premiered at Visions du Reel in 2019, before traveling around the world and winning several awards, from festivals such as Clermont-Ferrand, Leeds Film Festival, DocumentaMadrid, and Poitiers. It was also nominated for a Grierson award.

My background is in journalism, and I began my career covering political and social issues for a national newspaper in Madrid. In 2017, I moved to the UK to study for a Masters degree in Directing Documentaries at the National Film and Television School (NFTS).

I am currently working as an AP on a series for Sky Documentaries, about an island in Thailand.

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