A nature reserve on the English Channel is a place of wonder and solace, shaped and haunted by violence. Headland is a moving tale of life on a pebble beach reclaimed from the ocean, where the age-old tradition of sea rescues intersects with recent migrant crossings, as told by the last of the Dungeness fishermen.
Director: Mariana Duarte
Producer: Alice Rowsome
DoP: Monika Davies
Additional Camera: Mariana Duarte & Juulia Kala
Editing: Mariana Duarte & Eilidh Munro
Sound Designer & Composer: Jamie Perera
Online Editor & Colourist: Florian Viale
Developed, supported, and executive produced by the Scottish Documentary Institute, Bridging the Gap programme and Screen Scotland.
FESTIVALS:
Edinburgh International Film Festival 2024 - WORLD PREMIERE
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival 2025 (Best Mini-Doc Winner) - INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
2025 Vera Film Festival
2025 Aspen Shortsfest
2024 Inverness Film Festival
"HEADLAND weaves a contemplative and visually striking meditation on migration, belonging, and the legacy of the land. Through its lush, haunting cinematography and understated yet powerful storytelling, the film captures the ever-present movement of people and place, reminding us that migration is not just a contemporary issue but a fundamental part of nature and humanity" — Jury statement, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, USA, 2025