Fiercest Light built on the legacy of Fierce Light, a major national co-commission from 14-18 NOW, Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Writers’ Centre Norwich, which premiered at Norfolk & Norwich Festival in May 2016. The project united internationally reputed contemporary writers, artists and filmmakers with the legacy of World War 1 and encouraged exploration of its heritage in the 21st century.

Fiercest Light encouraged new and underrepresented voices to draw inspiration from the heritage of World War 1 and create poetry and films with their unique contemporary response. Working with both schools and community groups, the project consisted of two parts: two collaborative poetry workshops from Writers’ Centre Norwich, followed by filmmaking workshops led by BBC Voices which taught participants how to develop their own written pieces and adapt them into short films.

The films created from this project culminated on Remembrance Day, 11 November 2016, with a screening event at Cinema City, Norwich.

Bury Me Close to Home, Milly Hirst

Learning the Lessons of War, Wensum Junior School

Soldiers of the Past, Reepham High School

Kindness and War, The Missing Kind

Veteran’s Recall, Marion Road Day Centre and Martin Figura

Life Stories, Marion Road Day Centre and Open Academy

Echo, St Mary and St Peter’s Catholic Primary School

Generation to Generation, Poplars Community Primary School

Words of War, Open Academy

Fiercest Light documentary, by Becky Demmen

Words (c) Norfolk & Norwich Festival