Cinderella Games

Cinderella Games is the third dance film English National Ballet has produced that is directed and choreographed by Jessica Wright and Morgann Runacre-Temple – known collectively as Jess and Morgs. The film was released online at 7pm BST on Tuesday 14 July 2020 on Facebook and YouTube.

This original dance film takes inspiration from Christopher Wheeldon’s production of Cinderella, yet imagines the fairy-tale with an alternate ending: after the ball the real Cinderella was never found, and instead a sinister game show now exists in which contestants compete for its title. Shot in the spectacular locations of the Royal Albert Hall and Kempton Steam Museum, Cinderella Games is full of intricate choreography, quirky theatrical performances and dark humour.

To bring it to life, our Engagement Department recruited 35 inter-generational participants from a range of dance backgrounds to work alongside professional performers, Chihiro Kawasaki and Matthew Hawkins, giving them the opportunity to experience life on a professional film set, and to be involved in a ground-breaking dance for the camera project.

I have loved every minute of being part of this project. I have learnt invaluable skills and formed friendships with people of all ages.

CAST MEMBER

Screenings

Cinderella Games was screened during the Autumn/Winter 2019 tour as a curtain raiser for select performances of Cinderella.

Throughout 2020, the film is being screened at film festivals worldwide, including:

• • Dance Camera West, USA : 9 Jan 2020
  • IN/MOTION Chicago’s International Dance Film Festival, USA: 22 Feb 2020
  • Frame Rush, UK: 13 Mar 2020
  • Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, Online: 6 Jul 2020
  • Oxford Film Festival, USA: 4 Jul 2020
  • Norwich Film Festival, UK: 7 Jul 2020
  • Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival, USA: 4 – 9 Aug 2020 (WINNER — BEST MUSICAL)
  • Short Waves Festival, Poland: 18 – 23 Aug 2020
  • New Renaissance Film Festival, UK: 10 – 13 Sep 2020 (HONOURABLE MENTION — ALL CATEGORIES)
  • Bucharest International Dance Film Festival, Romania: 4 Sep 2020
  • Exit 6, UK: 26 Sep 2020
  • Bolton Film Festival, UK: 29 Sep 2020
  • Fifth Wall Fest, Philippines: 7 – 11 Oct 2020
  • Tallgrass Film Festival, USA: 16 – 25 Oct 2020
  • San Francisco Dance Film Festival, USA: 18 – 25 Oct 2020
  • Newport Beach Film Festival, USA: 1 Nov 2020
  • Aesthetica Short Film Festival, UK: 3 – 8 Nov 2020
  • Kinestoscope International Screendance Film Festival, USA: 7 – 8 Nov 2020
  • HollyShorts Film Festival, USA: 9 – 15 Nov 2020
  • This Is England, France: 17 Nov 2020

  Watch Cinderella Games below.