Catriona Gallagher

Chewing gum and teddy bears collide in a kaleidoscopic and disturbing schoolyard drama of a young girl trying to fit in. This surreal and at times uncomfortable exploration is a physical shock to the system, as it delves into a dream-like exploration of youth, peer pressure and survival, transporting the viewer back to a time we may have wilfully repressed.

Daphne was a torso ending in leaves is a playful and witty ode to a star of classical mythology: Daphne. Here, the beautiful nymph, who was metamorphosed into a tree to escape a stalking God, is celebrated as a heroine and master of her destiny. But this cinematic gem, shot on 16mm is above all a rich filmic experience, in which images and sound are meticulously intertwined to immerse the spectator in a universe of myth and legend.