Directors: John William Chambers and Em McCaughey United Kingdom Best Documentary Short
A Flare for Music is a peek into the life and music of Musician, Emily McCormick, based in Northern Ireland, with a primary focus upon the challenges that she faces both in her career and everyday personal life living with the criminally underrepresented condition that is endometriosis. The cause of severe debilitating chronic pain upon Emily that she experiences throughout her life on a near daily basis with consistently agonising flare ups. Despite being a disease that affects so many, as roughly over 10% (190 million) of reproductive age women and girls globally live with the affects and challenges that come with Endometriosis, nevertheless the condition remains misunderstood by many. This film explores and ruminates on Emily’s past as well as her future, as she articulates the anxieties that come with the hardships she is faced with. Emily’s experience is an unfortunately all too common one for many girls and women of all ages all over the world. Ultimately A Flare for Music is a spotlighted tale of one woman’s resilience and perseverance when faced with the trials and tribulations that come with a paralysing illness that interrupts her many personal, artistic and career aspirations as well as everyday general tasks.