“Unfiltered and rich in raw emotion that’s emotive to witness.”

Struggling to navigate his life in East London with a stammer that can be debilitating, Kitch found fluency and freedom in his extraordinary ability to rap.

Director Timur Bekir brings us a powerful and inspiring documentary that shines the light on a misunderstood condition. Bekir takes on the subject with care and understanding, allowing the personality of Kitch to unfold naturally throughout the film. Phoenix is the perfect example of how to make a short documentary, it’s crafted to perfection and will engage with viewers of all kinds leaving them wanting more.

Kitch lets us into his life to understand the struggles he faces on a day to day basis. It’s completely unfiltered and rich in raw emotion that’s emotive to witness. What was especially interesting was his backstory which deepens the narrative and the overcoming of his condition. It will certainly make a connection with viewers and possibly encourage some to reflect on their own time in school. Music videos from Kitch are spliced within the film which is an incredible contrast to the sit down talks with him which will likely astound the viewer at the transformation.

The visuals in Phoenix are outstanding and a breath of fresh air for a short documentary. Bekir takes on both filming and editing which comes at no surprise, there is a clear direction with the look of this film which elevates the production considerably. Bekir doesn’t hold back with changing up the shots and locations, adding more layers to the film. This is a testament to the direction and planning of the film which many would play safe. The cinematic shooting style works and doesn’t look low budget, something every filmmaker should aspire to. The locations were also used to perfection, adding to the gritty and urban vibe of the film.

The score is also worth noting as it has a brooding quality which creates a sensory effect to the film, perfectly blended with the rap tracks from Kitch himself. The sound in this film was on point and deserves recognition.

In just 10 minutes, Bekir gets you to connect with Kitch and understand his story while at the same time learning more about the condition. It’s a classic underdog story which is magic to watch…

— APEX Film Awards