Join Ames Pennington for a screening of their independent debut feature TOPS, followed by a workshop and Q&A
Ames Pennington (they/he) is a director, writer and artist they are also a northerner — they think it’s important you know that. They make films, performances and collaborative projects about class, sexuality and gender.
Their independent debut feature, TOPS, is a genre-busting documentary inspired by chaotic 90s British TV. At BFI FLARE Festival 2024 it was named in both Evening Standard and AnOther Mag’s Top 10 picks of the festival, winning the Audience Award at Bradford Queer Film Festival and long listed for a BIFA Maverick Award 2024. With huge success in the UK festival circuit TOPS also went on to screen internationally: including GAZE International LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, Dublin; Kashish Pride Film Festival, Mumbai; NEWFEST LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, New York; and Crossings, Norway. In 2023, their short film Where’s Danny? won the Iris Prize’s Community Award in 2023, the same year they were a finalist at Screenshot - a comedy writing and performing competition hosted by SISTER and South of the River Pictures. Ames is currently in early development of their first narrative feature a comedy-heist with a trans art-school twist. They have just received Doc Society funding for their short film How Does It Feel?, a personal project featuring their family. The film explores their Mum's adoption and subsequent reconnection with her family, framed around a family quiz show shooting begins in March 2026.
Join Ames for a screening of TOPS, an opportunity to imagine you're very own documentary plus a Q&A.
Following the film-making workshop, join us for a short films screening with Barking Community Cinema.
Queer Film-making Workshop: 2-4pm (book tickets below)
Short film Screening: 5pm (click here to book)
If you attend both events, food will be provided between 4-5pm.
Tickets are priced at Pay What You Can, starting at £3 (which includes the booking fee) for each session.
For those in need of them, we do have some free tickets available. No questions asked - please message us by clicking the Contact Organiser link on this page or by emailing hello@galleonartscentre.org to secure one.