Stop The Boats (Short Film)

Aim

To support the premiere & 2027 festival journey of STOP THE BOATS Short FIlm, to reach wider audiences and spark meaningful conversation.

Help Take STOP THE BOATS to Film Festivals in 2027

Our target: £2,500

Grief can twist the truth. Compassion can change everything.

STOP THE BOATS is an independent short film created by filmmakers, performers and creatives from across Greater Manchester.

Overwhelmed by grief and anger, a distraught parent arrives at a mosque with a makeshift firebomb, intent on seeking revenge against those believed to be responsible. As they confront the imam, an unexpected conversation challenges everything they thought they knew.

The film explores grief, misinformation, radicalisation, prejudice and the transformative power of human connection.

Following production across Greater Manchester in summer 2026, the film is now entering the next stage of its journey.

THE NEXT CHAPTER

On Thursday 19 November 2026, STOP THE BOATS will receive a private screening at HOME Manchester, followed by a Q&A with members of the director, producer and lead cast.

After that, we want to take the film to audiences much further afield.

Our ambition is to submit STOP THE BOATS to a carefully selected programme of UK and international film festivals throughout 2027, creating opportunities for the film to be seen, discussed and used to start conversations.

As an independent production, however, getting the film made is only part of the challenge.

Festival entry fees, exhibition materials, publicity and attending festivals all carry costs.

That's where we'd love your support.

OUR £2,500 TARGET

We're raising £2,500 to support the premiere and initial festival campaign.

Your contributions will help fund:

Film festival submissions
Entry fees for selected UK and international festivals.

Professional exhibition materials
Including the DCP required for professional cinema and festival screenings.

Premiere and screening costs
Supporting our private screening at HOME Manchester.

Marketing and publicity
Posters, promotional materials, digital content and press activity.

Festival travel
Helping members of the filmmaking team attend selected festivals, screenings and networking events.

Future opportunities
Giving the film the best possible opportunity to connect with audiences, filmmakers and potential collaborators.

Every contribution, regardless of its size, helps move the film forward.

BECOME PART OF THE JOURNEY

£5 — SUPPORTER

Every journey starts somewhere.

You'll receive our thanks and become part of the community supporting STOP THE BOATS.

£10 — FILM FRIEND

You'll receive:

• Supporter acknowledgement
• Digital STOP THE BOATS artwork
• Your name on our digital supporter wall

£25 — FESTIVAL FRIEND

Help send STOP THE BOATS to a film festival.

You'll receive:

• Everything above
• Your name in our digital premiere programme
• Behind-the-scenes digital content
• Updates as the film progresses through its festival journey

£50 — FILM PATRON

Help us get the film onto the big screen.

You'll receive:

• Festival Friend rewards
• Acknowledgement in the film's "With Thanks To" credits*
• Digital behind-the-scenes photo collection
• Festival journey updates

£100 — PREMIERE PATRON

Join us to celebrate what you've helped make possible.

You'll receive:

• Two invitations to our private HOME Manchester screening*
• Acknowledgement in the premiere programme
• "With Thanks To" film credit*
• Digital behind-the-scenes collection
• Festival updates

£150 — FESTIVAL PATRON

Become one of the people helping us take the film beyond Manchester.

You'll receive:

• Two premiere invitations*
• Festival Patron acknowledgement
• Film credit*
• A signed STOP THE BOATS poster
• Behind-the-scenes collection
• Festival journey updates

£250 — PRINCIPAL PATRON

For supporters who want to make a significant contribution to the film's journey.

You'll receive:

• Two premiere invitations*
• Signed poster
• Prominent supporter acknowledgement
• Principal Patron recognition in our programme and online supporter material
• Film credit*
• Invitations to selected future Glass Eye Films events
• Festival journey updates

£500+ — PRINCIPAL FILM SUPPORTER

Become one of the major supporters behind the next stage of STOP THE BOATS.

You'll receive:

• Major supporter acknowledgement
• Two premiere invitations*
• Signed film memorabilia
• Prominent programme and online recognition
• Film credit*
• Opportunity to meet members of the filmmaking team at the premiere
• Invitations to selected future Glass Eye Films events
• Updates throughout the 2027 festival campaign

We can also discuss appropriate recognition for organisations or businesses wishing to support the film at this level.

WHY SUPPORT AN INDEPENDENT FILM?

Independent filmmaking allows stories to be told that might otherwise struggle to reach the screen.

STOP THE BOATS was created through collaboration, commitment and the generosity of people who believed that this was a story worth telling.

Now we want to give that work an audience.

Supporting the campaign isn't simply helping us pay an entry fee.

You're helping us put the film in front of audiences.

You're helping us create conversations.

You're helping independent filmmakers from Greater Manchester develop their work and build new connections.

And you're helping us demonstrate what might be possible for the next Glass Eye Films production.

HELP US REACH £2,500

If you can contribute, we'd be incredibly grateful.

If you can't donate, you can still make a difference by sharing the campaign with friends, colleagues and anyone who supports independent filmmaking.

Every donation. Every share. Every introduction.

They all help move the film forward.

STOP THE BOATS

Written & Directed by Aneel Ahmad
Produced by Danny Lomax

A Glass Eye Films production.

2026 Premiere → 2027 Festival Journey

Thank you for being part of it.

Premiere invitations are subject to venue capacity and availability. Film-credit rewards are subject to contribution being received before the final festival master/DCP and credits are locked. Contributions support the overall screening, promotion and festival campaign; examples of expenditure do not represent a direct allocation of an individual donation.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 24th November 2026 at 8:36am