with recognition in the names of
all awards
Best Student Film | Feel The Reel International Film Festival
Audience Award | Feel The Reel International Film Festival
Best Actress (Georgie McGuigan) | Feel The Reel International Film Festival
Best Editing | Feel The Reel International Film Festival
Best Short Film | Purgatory Film Festival
Best Cinematography | Purgatory Film Festival
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Raindance Award for Best Short Film | Harvey Albury & Erin Sian Thomas
Philip Barantini Award for Best Directing in a Short Film | Harvey Albury
Sennheiser Award for Best Sound in a Short Film | Callum Hehir
Matthew Lewis Award for Best Camerawork in a Short Film | Maddie Bye
about the film
Matrescence is a short drama created by final-year BA Film Production students at the University of Portsmouth.
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Set in the early 2000s, the film follows Heather, a first-time mother struggling to navigate the overwhelming reality of postnatal depression. With her newborn son crying endlessly and a home visit from a health visitor fast approaching, Heather is pushed to breaking point — until, for the first time, she admits the truth: she needs help.
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The film was inspired by real-life experiences, including those of the core crew’s own mothers. Built from research, lived stories, and emotional honesty, Matrescence is a quiet but powerful exploration of motherhood, mental health, and the importance of reaching out.
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From initial concept to final cut, this has been a deeply personal and collaborative journey — one that aims to shed light on an often-silent subject through compassion, care, and storytelling.
