Nightwalking

{{Only primary sources|date=January 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}} {{Use British English|date=July 2014}} {{Infobox film | name = Nightwalking | image = Nightwalking_film_Opening_titles_(2008).jpg | alt = Opening titles | caption = Opening titles | director = Daniel Cormack | producer = Daniel Cormack | writer = Ben Clover | starring = Raquel Cassidy Lloyd Woolf | music = Andy Simms | cinematography = Sam Osborne | editing = Ian Grech | studio = Actaeon Films | distributor = Network Ireland Television | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2008|02|15|X'08 International Disability Film Festival}} | runtime = 3 minutes | country = United Kingdom | language = English }} '''''Nightwalking''''' (also known as '''''Night Walking''''') is a 2008 British comedy horror short film directed by Daniel Cormack, starring Raquel Cassidy and Lloyd Woolf.<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Nightwalking |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150731785 |access-date=16 February 2026 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref>

In 2010, ''Nightwalking'' was selected for preservation by the British Film Institute's National Archive<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/836446|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023051343/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/836446|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-10-23|title=Nightwalking (2008)|publisher=BFI - Film & TV Database}}</ref> and was archived by the British Universities Film and Video Council as part of their Television and Radio Index for Learning and Teaching (TRILT).<ref name="BBFC">{{cite web|url=http://bufvc.ac.uk/tvandradio/trilt/index.php/prog/016C01DF?bcast=64347478|title=Night Walking|publisher=British Universities Film and Video Council}}</ref> In 2012, the film was acquired by the British Library's Moving Image Collection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cadensa.bl.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi/?ps=3s0G2sxBdk/WORKS-FILE/42950021/18/X499/XTITLE/Nightwalking|title=The British Library Sound & Moving Image catalogue|publisher=British Library}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/dlDisplay.do?vid=BLVU1&afterPDS=true&institution=BL&docId=BLLSA7467046|title=Nightwalking - British Library|publisher=British Library}}</ref>

==Plot==

Returning from a night out, Martha hears footsteps behind her and becomes convinced she's being followed as she walks down a dark path on her way home. She ponders various strategies such as pretending to do up her shoes in order to let her follower overtake her or simply running away, but dismisses each idea as endangering her even more. Eventually she screws up her courage to turn around and confront the man behind her, but when she does so she sees nothing except a mobile phone glowing on the ground as it calls somebody. James, her follower, has actually been going out of his way to avoid the impression he is following her or is a threat, but every time he does so it somehow backfires. He tries speeding up to overtake her, but this only makes Martha walk faster. He ponders taking a different route, but there are no turnings off the path they are walking down. Eventually he decides to make a "loud non-threatening phone call" to his mum, reasoning that: "I bet rapists never call their mums." However, as he is distracted with finding her number in his phone, he fails to notice a manhole in the ground and falls head over heels into it, his phone flying to the ground near Martha's feet.

==Cast==

* Rachel Cassidy as Martha * Lloyd Woolf as James

==Release==

''Nightwalking'' was originally released online as part of the inaugural Virgin Media Shorts Competition in 2008.<ref name="Virgin Media Shorts">{{cite web|url=http://virginmediashorts.com/film/1519727196 |title=Virgin Media Shorts - Nightwalking |publisher=Virgin Media |date=4 Nov 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081104102703/http://virginmediashorts.com/film/1519727196 |archivedate=4 November 2008 }}</ref> It quickly became the most viewed film attracting over 12,300 views<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virginmediashorts.com/film/1543551325 |title=Virgin Media Shorts - Nightwalking (Bottom of page) |publisher=Virgin Media Shorts |date=1 Sep 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901163248/http://www.virginmediashorts.com/film/1543551325 |archivedate=1 September 2008 }}</ref> and hundreds of comments.<ref name="Virgin Media Shorts" /> The judges initially shortlisted the film for the Grand Prize. However, when the film came to be classified by the British Board of Film Classification it was given a 12a certificate,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/AAV251149|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819181906/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/AAV251149/|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2012|title=Virgin Media Shorts - Nightwalking|publisher=British Board of Film Classification}}</ref> thus disqualifying it from the competition, which required that the 12 shortlisted films were certified as a PG or U.

===Festivals=== {| class="wikitable" width="100%" border="1" ! width=4% | Edition ! width=20% | Festival ! width=17% | Programme Title ! width=30% | Venue ! width=11% | Date ! width= 2% | Time ! width=4% | Country ! width=12% | Première Status |- | 8th | X'08 International Disability Film Festival || Director's Showcase: Daniel Cormack || BFI Southbank, Studio || {{Start date|df=yes|2008|02|15|}} || 15:50 || UK || World<ref>{{cite web|url=http://filmlondon.org.uk/news/2008/february/directors_showcase_daniel_cormack|title=Director's Showcase: Daniel Cormack|publisher=Film London|access-date=9 May 2011|archive-date=17 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217161800/http://filmlondon.org.uk/news/2008/february/directors_showcase_daniel_cormack|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/event_view.php?uid=20782|title=Director's Showcase: Daniel Cormack|publisher=Remote Goat|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311154011/http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/event_view.php?uid=20782|archivedate=11 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/feb/09/theguide.reviews4|title=Film Preview|work=The Guardian | location=London|date=9 February 2008}}</ref> |- | 2nd | Shooting People Split Focus at the BFI || Split Focus: Daniel Cormack / Kara Miller || BFI Southbank, Studio || {{Start date|df=yes|2008|03|10|}} || 18:00 || UK || <ref>{{cite web|url=http://shootingpeople.org/bensblog/2008/03/split-focus-2/|title=Split Focus #2|publisher=Shooting People|access-date=9 May 2011|archive-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604155831/http://shootingpeople.org/bensblog/2008/03/split-focus-2/|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | 1st | Wimbledon Shorts Film Festival || Wimbledon Shorts Film Competition || Polka Theatre, Main Theatre || {{Start date|df=yes|2008|06|07|}} || 18:30 || UK || <ref name="Wimbledon Shorts">{{cite web|url=http://www.wimbledonshorts.com/winners.html|title=Wimbledon Shorts 2008 - Winners|publisher=Wimbledon Film Club}}</ref> |- | 7th | Shot by the Sea: Hastings Film Festival || Festival Launch Prior to ''Persepolis'' Prior to ''Persepolis'' || Electric Palace Cinema || {{Start date|df=yes|2008|08|25|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|08|28|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|08|29|}} || 20:00 20:00 20:00 || UK || <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electricpalacecinema.com/f_listings.html|title=Electric Palace: Shot by the Sea: Hastings Film Festival 2008|publisher=Electric Palace Cinema}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electricpalacecinema.com/docs/SBTS%2008%20Brochure.pdf|title=SBTS 08 Brochure|publisher=Electric Palace Cinema}}</ref> |- | 2nd | Canary Wharf Film Festival || Short Film UK || Museum in Docklands East Wintergarden, Canary Wharf Cineworld West India Quay, Screen 7 Cineworld West India Quay, Screen 7 || {{Start date|df=yes|2008|08|28|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|08|29|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|08|30|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|08|31|}} || 14:45 20:15 14:40 18:25 || UK || <ref name="Canary Wharf Film Festival">{{cite web|url=http://www.cwff.org.uk/08/short_film_uk.php|title=Short Film UK|publisher=Canary Wharf Film Festival}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wharf.co.uk/2008/09/canary-wharf-film-festival-rev-3.html|title=Canary Wharf Film Festival review: Short Film UK|publisher=The Wharf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cwff.org.uk/09/wp-content/themes/cwff/downloads/CWFF08%20Festival%20Guide.pdf|title=CWFF08 Festival Guide|publisher=Canary Wharf Film Festival}}</ref> |- | 7th | Cornwall Film Festival || Another Country International Short Film Award || Dewhelens Festival, Looe Lewannick Village Hall Wesleyan Chapel St Mary's Isles of Scilly The Aggie Film Club Wooda Farm, Carckington Haven Downderry Film Kitchen Tate St Ives Bude Castle Princess Pavilion, Theatre, Falmouth || {{Start date|df=yes|2008|09|02|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|09|05|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|09|07|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|09|23|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|09|25|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|09|26|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|09|26|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|10|14|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|11|08|}} || 19:00 19:30 14:00 19:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 19:30 13:00 || UK || <ref name="Cornwall Film Festival">{{cite web|url=http://cornwall.bside.com/2008/films/anothercountryinternationalshortfilmaward_cornwall2008;jsessionid=6C4BE87AD6D531C8E22BCD978F03CEFD|title=Cornwall Film Festival 2008: Another Country International Short Film Award|publisher=Cornwall Film Festival}}</ref> |- | 13th | Portobello Film Festival || London Filmmakers Convention - Day 2 || Paradise Bar, Private Dining Room || {{Start date|df=yes|2008|09|03|}} || 18:00 || UK ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.portobellofilmfestival.com/2008/09-03_paradise.html|title=Portobello Film Festival London Filmmakers Convention|publisher=Portobello Film Festival}}</ref> |- | 3rd | Compass of Mystery Festival || Five Minutes of Mystery || Mivart Street Studios Studio 1 || {{Start date|df=yes|2008|10|04|}} || 16:00 || UK ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shortfilmcentral.com/event/1338/1/|title=Compass of Desire Festival|publisher=Short Film Central}}</ref> |- | 1st | Hello Digital Film Festival || Prior to the feature presentation of ''28 Days Later'' || Electric Cinema, Birmingham || {{Start date|df=yes|2008|09|28|}} || 17:00 || UK ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://2008.hellodigital.net/participants/daniel-cormack/|title=Hello Digital - Daniel Cormack|publisher=Hello Digital}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://catherinebray.wordpress.com/2008/10/20/how-to-programme-a-film-festival-update-three/|title=How to programme a film festival: update three|publisher=Catherine Bray|access-date=9 May 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20081025090056/http://catherinebray.wordpress.com/2008/10/20/how-to-programme-a-film-festival-update-three/|archive-date=25 October 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | 9th | Filmstock International Film Festival || Short Film Weekend 02 || The Hat Factory, Screen One The Hat Factory, Basement || {{Start date|df=yes|2008|11|07|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2008|11|08|}} || 21:00 10:10 || UK || <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shortfilmcentral.com/event/425/2/|title=Filmstock International Film Festival|publisher=Short Film Central}}</ref> |- | 12th | CAN Leicester Film Festival || Day 2 || Phoenix Arts Centre Cinema || {{Start date|df=yes|2009|11|08|}} || 19:00 || UK || <ref name="Leicester Film Festival">{{cite web|url=http://www.lineout.org/ |title=LINE OUT - Movie Making in the East Midlands |publisher=Line Out - Leicester Independent Producers' Association |date=19 Dec 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219154239/http://www.lineout.org/ |archivedate=19 December 2008 }}</ref> |- | 6th | The End of the Pier International Film Festival || Comedy Drama Shorts || Regis Centre, Alexandra Theatre || {{Start date|df=yes|2009|05|01|}} || 18:00 || UK ||<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eotpfilmfestival.co.uk/?q=node/35|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323170922/http://www.eotpfilmfestival.co.uk/?q=node/35|url-status=usurped|archive-date=23 March 2012|title=Friday 1st May|publisher=End of the Pier International Film Festival}}</ref> |- | 9th | Nickel Independent Film Festival || Shorts || Memorial University of Newfoundland, INCO Innovation Centre || {{Start date|df=yes|2009|06|26|}} || 19:30 || Canada || Canadian<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cna.nl.ca/news/default.asp?MessageID=600|title=2010 Nickel Film Festival Roadshow|publisher=College of the North Atlantic}}</ref> |- | 3rd | Limelight Film & Arts Awards || Best Comedy category || Troxy, Main Auditorium || {{Start date|df=yes|2010|07|08|}} || 18:30 || UK || <ref name="Limelight">{{cite web|url=http://limelightonline.org/index-3.limelight2010.html|title=Limelight Film & Arts Awards|publisher=Spotlight UK|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820022929/http://limelightonline.org/index-3.limelight2010.html|archivedate=20 August 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> |- | 4th | Rob Knox Film Festival || Festival || New Generation Church Erith Rowing Club Cineworld Bexleyheath || {{Start date|df=yes|2011|05|31|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2011|06|05|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2011|06|08|}} || 19:00 10:00 18:00 || UK || <ref>{{cite web|url=http://democracy.bexley.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=26398&T=10|title=Licensing Sub-Committee Agenda|publisher=Bexley Council}}</ref> |- | 2nd | Twickenham Alive Film Festival || Festival || Live Room, Twickenham Stadium Edmund Kean Theatre, Richmond Upon Thames College || {{Start date|df=yes|2013|04|26|}} {{Start date|df=yes|2013|05|01|}} || 19:00 16:00 || UK || <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twickenhamfilmfestival.com/films.html|title=Twickenham Alive Film Festival|publisher=Twickenham Alive}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twickenhamfilmfestival.com/PDF/RuTC%20Poster%201st%20May.pdf|title=Twickenham Alive Film Festival|publisher=Twickenham Alive}}</ref> |}

===Broadcast===

In 2010, ''Nightwalking'' was broadcast on Channel 4 as part of "a series of short original films produced by a variety of talented writers and directors";<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvpixie.com/tv-listings/16-sep-2010-0405/channel-4-(hd)/night-walking|title=Night Walking Channel 4 (HD)|publisher=TV Pixie}}</ref> the first time in over 8 years that Channel 4 had acquired and broadcast independent short films.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&aid=73&rid=4282894&tpl=archnews&only=1|title=Channel 4 Orders Network Ireland Television Shorts |publisher=Irish Film & Television Network}}</ref>

==Reception==

===Accolades===

{| class="sortable wikitable" width="100%" ! width=12% | Rank ! width=29% | Award ! width=28% | Awarding Body ! width=24% | Nominee ! width=7% | Year |- | '''Winner''' |'''Best Merton Filmmaker Award''' || '''Wimbledon Shorts Film Competition''' || '''Daniel Cormack''' || '''2008'''<ref name="Wimbledon Shorts" /> |- | Nominated | Short Film UK Award || Canary Wharf Film Festival || Daniel Cormack || 2008<ref name="Canary Wharf Film Festival" /> |- | Nominated | Another Country International Short Film Award || Cornwall Film Festival || Daniel Cormack || 2008<ref name="Cornwall Film Festival" /> |- | Nominated | Five Minutes of Mystery - Best Film Award || Compass of Mystery Film Festival || Daniel Cormack || 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.festivalfocus.org/film_view.php?uid=3548|title=Nightwalking|publisher=Festival Focus}}</ref> |- | Nominated | Golden Monkey Award || CAN Leicester Film Festival || Daniel Cormack || 2008<ref name="Leicester Film Festival" /> |- | Nominated | Best Comedy Award || Limelight Film & Arts Awards || Daniel Cormack || 2010<ref name="Limelight" /> |- | Special Mention | National Drama Award || Twickenham Alive Film Festival || Daniel Cormack || 2013 |- | Shortlisted (Disqualified) | Virgin Media Shorts Award || Virgin Media || Daniel Cormack || 2008<ref name="BBFC" /> |}

== References == {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links == * [http://www.actaeonfilms.com/filmsn.html Actaeon Films] Official Production Company website * [http://www.network-irl-tv.com/156.html Network Ireland Television] Official Distributor website * [https://archive.today/20130419172531/http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/films/p00mr8n9 ''Nightwalking''] at the BBC Film Network * [http://film.britishcouncil.org/nightwalking ''Nightwalking''] at the British Council British Films Directory * [https://web.archive.org/web/20181120194200/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8c85ab3a ''Nightwalking''] at the British Film Institute{{better source needed|reason=Help request: a live link can be searched for at https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/search/expert - if available, replace the archive URL with the live link. Or if none found, remove this 'better source needed' template. | date=October 2023}} * [http://www.citwf.com/film470914.htm ''Nightwalking''] at the Complete Index to World Film * {{IMDb title|1164621|Nightwalking}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nightwalking}} Category:2008 films Category:2008 short films Category:British independent films Category:British comedy-drama short films Category:2008 English-language films Category:2008 British films Category:English-language short films