BLACK CHURCH BAY is a mystery-thriller, about a teacher whose world unravels after an intimate encounter with a younger man, exploring the lengths someone will go to in order to hide their true self/
Rhys Jones is a writer and director who was raised in Yorkshire by his Irish and Welsh parents. His interest in film was sparked at an early age when they would record late night movies and withhold them as behavioural incentive. He dropped out of a maths degree at UCL to study cinematography and stop-motion animation at Northern Film School before receiving an MFA in writing/ directing at NYU Tisch School of the Arts as a three-time BAFTA scholarship recipient. His short films Burn Bridge and Boundaries have played festivals including BFI Flare, Leeds, Hamptons, LA, Palm Springs, Toronto InsideOut and his latest short Pale Saint, which is in postproduction, will be premiering at Galway Film Fleadh. He is interested in making intimate character studies that tackle the struggles of identity, awareness and acceptance.
Alex Polunin (Producer)
Alex Polunin is a BAFTA Newcomer and one of last year’s iFeatures producers and BFI London Film Festival talent lab participants with a background working across development and production with the BBC, ITV Studios, Film4, Working Title Films, Heyday Films, NBCUniversal, All3Media and Lionsgate in both the UK and the US. After producing the Locarno Pardi di Domani nominee and BFI Pick of the Month, British by the Grace of God, which was recently acquired by the BBC, Alex has been developing his first feature film with BBC Films and the BFI whilst shadowing and being mentored by producer David Heyman’s company.
Alex produced Rhys’ last short film, Pale Saint, as well as their most recent collaboration, Father of the Bride for the BBC, and is proud to be supporting Rhys on these next exciting steps towards making his first feature film.