Travelling Home.
A short (5min) documentary about Joe Cannon Snr a retired farrier from the North West making his yearly journey to Appleby Horse Fair.
Living along the route that connects Yorkshire to Cumbria since 2019 I’ve been documenting the experiences of the Travelling and Gypsy communities in the North West of England, on their annual pilgrimage to Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria.
Setting off on walks meeting with different families on route to the fair on well-worn rural roads and lay-bys in bow top wagons, on horseback, or using motor vehicles. A ritual tradition that retraces the path of past generations I’ve recorded the community through the lens of family, ceremony, gentleness and tradition.
This is how I met Joe Cannon Snr out on the moors with his horses and his wagon. Growing from conversations about his heritage and personal history over the years I took portraits and 8mm vignettes of Joe’s daily life, which evolved into the short film Travelling Home.
Continuing to capture this community, travelling to a historical home, feels more important than ever to preserve. Joe’s voice embodied a deep passion for his heritage and culture. The way he has lived and continues to live, despite the changing world around him – his history, like so many others, is etched into this landscape.
Awards
The film has earned recognition at international festivals, including winner of the Sony Future Filmmakers Prize (non-fiction in Los Angeles. It has also screened at the London Film Festival, Santa Barbara, Aesthetica, and Bolton Film Festival. It was nominated for Best Northern Short at Women X Film Festival, a finalist for the people’s choice award with London Mountain Film Festival and won the Judges Award at the Osprey Short Film Awards.
Press
BBC ︎︎︎
Variety ︎︎︎
Hollywood Reporter ︎︎︎
Nowness ︎︎︎
It’s Nice That ︎︎︎
Directors Notes ︎︎︎
Doc Weekly ︎︎︎
A short (5min) documentary about Joe Cannon Snr a retired farrier from the North West making his yearly journey to Appleby Horse Fair.
Living along the route that connects Yorkshire to Cumbria since 2019 I’ve been documenting the experiences of the Travelling and Gypsy communities in the North West of England, on their annual pilgrimage to Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria.
Setting off on walks meeting with different families on route to the fair on well-worn rural roads and lay-bys in bow top wagons, on horseback, or using motor vehicles. A ritual tradition that retraces the path of past generations I’ve recorded the community through the lens of family, ceremony, gentleness and tradition.
This is how I met Joe Cannon Snr out on the moors with his horses and his wagon. Growing from conversations about his heritage and personal history over the years I took portraits and 8mm vignettes of Joe’s daily life, which evolved into the short film Travelling Home.
Continuing to capture this community, travelling to a historical home, feels more important than ever to preserve. Joe’s voice embodied a deep passion for his heritage and culture. The way he has lived and continues to live, despite the changing world around him – his history, like so many others, is etched into this landscape.
Awards
The film has earned recognition at international festivals, including winner of the Sony Future Filmmakers Prize (non-fiction in Los Angeles. It has also screened at the London Film Festival, Santa Barbara, Aesthetica, and Bolton Film Festival. It was nominated for Best Northern Short at Women X Film Festival, a finalist for the people’s choice award with London Mountain Film Festival and won the Judges Award at the Osprey Short Film Awards.
Press
BBC ︎︎︎
Variety ︎︎︎
Hollywood Reporter ︎︎︎
Nowness ︎︎︎
It’s Nice That ︎︎︎
Directors Notes ︎︎︎
Doc Weekly ︎︎︎
Travelling.
This photographic social documentary (2019-ongoing) preserves the experiences of the Traveling and Gypsy communities in the North West of Britain on their annual pilgrimage to Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria. Fairgoers traversing well-worn rural roads and lay-bys in bow top wagons, on horseback, or using motor vehicles. For the Traveller community, Appleby Horse Fair is a focal point for the trade of horses and serves as a vibrant celebration of their culture, heritage, and traditions dating back to 1685.
This photographic social documentary (2019-ongoing) preserves the experiences of the Traveling and Gypsy communities in the North West of Britain on their annual pilgrimage to Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria. Fairgoers traversing well-worn rural roads and lay-bys in bow top wagons, on horseback, or using motor vehicles. For the Traveller community, Appleby Horse Fair is a focal point for the trade of horses and serves as a vibrant celebration of their culture, heritage, and traditions dating back to 1685.
