Isaac Atkin-Mayne’s debut short, ‘Rick on the Roof’, about a man who protested eviction by camping on his roof, is now available on Short of the Week

By Natalia Albin Legorreta

In 2006, after being served an eviction notice, Rick Canty climbed onto his roof in Barry, Wales and stayed there for years as a form of protest. Nearly twenty years later, filmmaker Isaac Atkin-Mayne has directed a short documentary about Rick through candid interviews and archival footage, tracing both Rick’s story and how his community rallied around him. 

Rick on the Roof has now been selected by Short of the Week and is available to watch on their platform. 

“I grew up with Rick as a local legend in my hometown, Barry. Turning his story into a short documentary with his loved ones has been an honour,” writes Atkin-Mayne. “Barry, like much of the UK, is facing a stark rising cost of living that’s quietly affecting people in many different ways. Our goal in remembering Rick’s story is to renew a sense of togetherness through hardship and remind ourselves that we’re never alone.”

Behind the Scenes image from Rick on the Roof

The film, produced by Nan Davies of One Wave Films, was selected for Folkestone Doc Fest and Norwich Film Festival, making it a BAFTA/BAFTA Cymru qualifying documentary. 

Watch it on Short of the Week below: