Two documentary shorts by Lisa Smith

Lisa Smith, ACERT’s co-chair, has been busy working on these two short films which challenge stereotypes and emphasise the values of communities.

After a devastating crash, Romany racer Georgie, ‘The Angry Bird,’ questions her future in a male-dominated sport and must confront her identity to return as the only woman on track. Directed by Jack Lilleywhite and produced by Lisa Smith and Masha Thorpe.

The film was made as part of the Netflix Documentary Talent Fund – a scheme created in 2020 to break down barriers of access for emerging filmmakers. The initiative also provides filmmakers with a foundation of knowledge and hands-on training to help them succeed in their careers.

Romany

New Voices from Wales

The Romany Traveller community has often been sidelined in mainstream society. Romany women have been cast in the role of mothers without ambition or power of their own, reduced to play fortune tellers or thieves on screen – but this is not the truth.

Lisa Smith – a modern Romany woman – is a Welsh film-maker with her own production company. Straying away from a traditional lifestyle of young motherhood, Lisa is passionate about celebrating the depth, colour and beauty of Romany traditions and life through the power of film.

Following her Welsh roots back to Carmarthenshire, Lisa speaks with her family about their shared culture and upbringing, which drive her to make thoughtful films that explore Romany culture.

Roma students co-create environment exhibition

Rosemarie Cisneros co-created an exhibition called IMPORT AND EXPORT with Roma young people in Sheffield. There were secondary schools involved and is a great example of what is possible when schools support and create space for new ways of thinking about Roma pride and climate justice.

The exhibition was supported by the University of Sheffield’s Centre for Equity and Inclusion and the Romani Cultural & Arts Company as part of the GM6 Programme.

The exhibition includes a screendance work that is part of a trilogy linked to climate justice. The film is called OCEAN: Import & Export.

Rosa would be happy to speak with any schools or individuals to think about ways of reusing the work or expanding on the exhibition.

Heritage Crafts Red List Resources

Imogen Bright Moon’s presentation to the Education Network

The three new entries for GRTSB specifically are here;

Fairground Art https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/fairground-art/

Canal Art + Barge Painting https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/canal-art-and-barge-painting/

Vardo + Living Waggon Crafts https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/vardo-art-and-living-waggon-crafts/

Plus additional amendments to;

Tinsmithing https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/tinsmithing/

Horn + Antler Working https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/horn-working/

All the links are on this main page at Heritage Crafts here;

heritagecrafts.org.uk

You can get downloadable PDF of the 2023 Red List launch publication here.

* One craft that needs further research is GRTSB Floristry, which will include wooden flowers, wax flowers and paper flowers, as well as traditional wreath-making. *

Please contact me if I can be of any help, imogenbrightmoon@gmail.com

“Searching for the Travelling People” launch

Chair Rose McCarthy and a Vice-Chair Lisa Smith with Damian Le Bas and Thomas McCarthy

Our Chair Rose McCarthy and a Vice-Chair Lisa Smith attended the premiere of Searching for the Travelling people, a documentary created by The Rural Media Company the hosts of The Travellers’ Times.

TTs Editor-at-Large Damian Le Bas goes on a journey to re-visit the people and places visited by BBC documentary maker Charles Parker and folk singers Peggy Seeger and Ewan MacColl connected with more than 50 years ago to create a new ballad for the modern Traveller. Romani and Traveller people featured in the film include an ACERT Vice-Chair Lisa Smith, Richard O’Neill, Billy Welch. Samson Rattigan, Delaine Le Bas and Jess Smith.

To find out more and get your copy of the DVD visit TTs new heritage pages.