Listening
A short film directed by Kenneth Branagh
 
Seattle International Film Festival (4th Runner-up, Best Short Film)

Dubrovnik International Film Festival

"Message to Man" International Films Festival, St. Petersburg, Russia

Atlanta Film Festival

LA Shorts Festival


Frances Barber and Paul McGann
Cracow Short Film Festival

Chichester Film Festival

Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films

Festival du Film britannique du Dinard

Rhode Island Film Festival (Best Director, Short Film)

 
Watch Listening on Youtube
Read here about the showing of Listening at the Watershed in Bristol.
Press
"This is a textbook short. The cinematography is big and beautiful, and the characters are etched with a fine visual pen to drive the story. The narrative ends with the first major conflict, but that’s OK with the short film format. If Branagh had tried to resolve this conflict, he would have diluted the story. Instead, he has a Rod Serling-worthy punch line that ends the film with a most memorable twist."
  Bruce Fessier, The Desert Sun

Kenneth Branagh Loves Freedom of Short Films, Providence Journal, 5 August 2003

Branagh Premieres Silent Film In Bristol, Bristol Evening Post, September 2003

Hello Bristol - Branagh's Listening, BBC, 18 September 2003 - * Warning: spoilers!*

  Excerpt from a Rhode Island Film Festival press release:
"We were very pleased to have on hand Stuart Bailey, the Executive Producer from Blackfriars Productions who produced Kenneth Branagh’s short film "Listening," which won First Prize for Best Director." Bailey presented Branagh’s acceptance remarks:

"I made ‘Listening’ as an experiment. I love the short film, and for me it was a marvellous way to explore a compressed narrative, where very little was said, (a real challenge for me!), and where picture, sound and silence try to work in a different relationship than in my other work. For all of us who worked on it, was a great communal and collaborative experience. It was made with love, and we offer it up to you in the same spirit.

"To all the organisers whose hard work has made it possible, to the sponsors who help enable it, and to the audience tonight and to come, who make the festival what it is. I am so sorry that I can't be with you this evening.

Thank-you once again for honouring us in this way. We truly appreciate it.
-- Ken Branagh"