Under This Sky
A Story About Cancer, Trauma, Healing and Hope
Two years have gone by since ABIGAIL was diagnosed with Stage Three Colorectal Bowel cancer. Whilst earlier video diaries look at her cancer treatment, "Under This Sky", expands ABIGAIL’S story by using the camera and recorder as her “eyes” and “ears” to document her personal cancer survivorship, her creative and healing process and the world around her.
Using eclectic filmmaking styles, "Under This Sky" explores our relationship with ourselves, each other and our world.
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Abigail HopkinsDirector
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Abigail HopkinsWriter
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Abigail HopkinsProducer
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Kate MaravanContributors
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David SulkinContributors
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Sarah RussellContributors
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Project Type:Documentary, Experimental, Short
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Genres:Documentary, Experimental
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Runtime:14 minutes 34 seconds
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Completion Date:September 5, 2023
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Production Budget:1,000 GBP
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Country of Origin:United Kingdom
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Country of Filming:United Kingdom
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital 4K
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Aspect Ratio:16.9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Digital Cinema Package:Unavailable
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London Indie Film Festival (2025)London
United Kingdom
Winner Best Documentary 13th Edition -
Liberty Films Festival (2025)Athens
Greece
Winner Best Documentary Short -
Toronto Film and Script Awards (2024)Toronto
Canada
Best Short Documentary 23rd Edition -
UK Film Awards International (2024)London
United Kingdom
Finalist for Best Short Documentary -
London Women Film Festival (2025)London
United Kingdom
Semi-Finalist -
Amsterdam Movie Fest (2024)Amsterdam
Netherlands
Official Selection -
Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival (2025)Athens
Greece
Honourable Mention -
Berlin Women's Cinema Festival (2024)Berlin
Germany
Nominee -
Cambridge Short Film Festival (2025)Cambridge
United Kingdom
Nominee -
Cannes Art Festival (2024)Cannes
France
Nominee -
Cannes Independent Shorts (2024)Cannes
France
Official Selection -
Cine Paris Film Festival (2025)Paris
France
Official Selection -
Cinematography and Film Awards (2024)London
United Kingdom
Official Selection -
Doc Lens Festival (2026)London
United Kingdom
Official Selection -
Hastings Rocks International Film Festival (2025)Hastings
United Kingdom
Official Selection -
LA Film and Documentary Awards (2024)Los Angeles
United States
Official Selection -
Los Angeles Short Film Award (2026)Los Angeles
United States -
Milan Indie Film Festival (2026)Milan
Italy -
New York Film and Cinematography Awards (2024)New York
United States
Official Selection -
New York Shorts Awards (2024)New York
United States
Official Selection -
Pageant Film Festival (2026)Gangtok, Sikkim
India
Finalist -
Tiete International Film Awards (2025)Sao Paulo
Brazil -
Toronto Lift-Off Film Festival (2025)Toronto
Canada
Official Selection -
UK Seasonal Short Film Festival (2025)London
United Kingdom
Special Mention
Abigail Hopkins was born in 1968 and hails from a family of actors, writers and comedians. She has worked extensively as an actress, acting coach and singer- songwriter. She has released four albums and an EP, and toured the USA, performing at SXSW and venues in Los Angeles as well as on numerous BBC stations across the UK. Abigail has been invited as a special guest on Woman’s Hour for BBC Radio 4 twice. She has played featured roles in theatre, TV and film. Her film acting credits include the Bollywood hit, "Romeo Vs Juliet", "Shadowlands", "A Few Selected Exits" for BBC Wales as well as docudramas including "Elizabeth", and "Bloody Tales of Europe" presented by Suzannah Lipscombe for National Geographic. Abigail was recently awarded a Distinction for her MA in Filmmaking by The University of East London. Her film "Delirium" was screened at the Nunnery Gallery in East London. Abigail has written a memoir about her personal journey with cancer and recorded the charity album, "Stardust" which is now released on all major digital platforms. The CD was released on 6th June 2025.
Selected Filmography (as director and composer): Under This Sky (2025); Storm - Music Video (2025); Delirium (2022) - Nunnery Gallery Screening; Homogeminus (2010) - Composed film score.
"Under This Sky" was made initially as my MA Dissertation film and has since been re-edited to contain additional footage. I wanted to tell my personal story about cancer survivorship, to help others going through the same experience and as part of my own therapeutic process. It is my heartfelt wish that my story reaches many audiences to provide comfort and hope and to raise awareness about colon cancer, as early detection can save lives.