PROJECTS
Films and projects from MAD4 Films, exploring care, identity, culture, community and lived experience.
BE-LONGING
Be-Longing is an award-winning short film following Khoji, a 9-year-old boy in foster care, as he struggles between loyalty to his birth parents and accepting the trust, kindness and security of his foster family.
The film explores trauma, identity, trust and belonging from the child’s perspective, and is regularly used in screenings, Q&As and professional learning events across the fostering and care community.
Filmed and Edited by Mike McKenzie –DrumCamFilms & MAD4 Films Ltd
More than just a film
Be-Longing continues to be used as a starting point for conversations around fostering, adoption, care experience, trauma, identity and belonging.
MAD4 Films regularly hosts online screenings followed by live Q&As, specialist guests and facilitated discussions, bringing together foster carers, care-experienced people, social workers, teachers and other professionals working with children and young people.
The film is also used within organisations as part of training, team learning and sector events, helping audiences reflect on the child’s perspective and consider how communication, collaboration and decision-making can improve outcomes for children in care.
RUSS HENDERSON:
THE PAN MAN
Russ Henderson: The Pan Man is an award-winning 22-minute documentary telling the story of Russ Henderson MBE, the Trinidad-born jazz pianist and steel pan pioneer who helped shape the early history of Notting Hill Carnival.
Recorded when Russ was 85, the film gives him the opportunity to tell his story in his own words, exploring his music, the growth of steel pan in Britain and the Caribbean cultural traditions that became part of modern British life.
The film won Best Audience Film at the Portobello Film Festival and has screened in London, Trinidad and Barbados.
SNOWBALL – A CHILDHOOD IN CARE
Snowball is an emotionally honest film based on the lived experiences of David Jackson and his childhood within the UK care system during the 1960s–80s.
The film explores abuse, neglect and institutional failure, but also survival, identity, resilience and the long-term impact of childhood experiences.
Developed in collaboration with David, whose memoir Oi You F*cker: Snowball Meets Some Very Toxic People forms the foundation of the story, Snowball brings his lived experience to screen with David as both screenwriter and lead performer.
Since its first screenings, the film has generated powerful audience responses and wider discussion around care experience, safeguarding, trauma and what happens when children’s voices go unheard.
Snowball was also shortlisted for the 2026 Portobello Film Festival and screened as part of its programme. The recognition brings David Jackson’s story of growing up in care to a wider audience and opens up conversations about resilience, safeguarding and the importance of listening to children whose experiences too often go unheard.
WHO IS REGGIE DOVER?
Documentary 16min
A short documentary by Mike McKenzie, filmed in a fly-on-the-wall style to capture the recording process and the people involved with as much authenticity as possible.
Testimonial
‘Mike spent 3 days with us in the recording studio in the making of ‘Who is Reggie Dover’ documentary, following our process ‘fly on the wall style’ and interviewing participants without us feeling watched or on show. He easily fitted into the team, making everyone relaxed with being ‘on camera’ and therefore able to capture the authenticity, which comes across in the final product, which has been beautifully edited and produced. Work of art really, we couldn’t be happier.’
Eva Brandt
Artist Manager
Filmed and Edited by Mike McKenzie –DrumCamFilms & MAD4 Films Ltd
Work With Us
We’d love to hear about your next project.
Whether you’re looking to develop a film, discuss a screening, explore a partnership or simply start a conversation, we’d be happy to hear from you.
Please use the contact form or email us directly at info@mad4films.com.
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Legals
Company number: 12938810
Registered in England & Wales.
Registered Office:
28 Martingale Grove, Arborfield Green, Reading RG2 9HD
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