WHERE LAUGHTER LIVES

WHERE LAUGHTER LIVES

BEST DOCUMENTARY : WIGAN & LEIGH SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2026

BEST DOCUMENTARY : WIGAN & LEIGH SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2026

WHERE LAUGHTER LIVES follows Lucy, better known as Louby Lou, into the world of clowning once inhabited by her father, Arnold.

At the centre of the film is Lucy’s new clown costume, created by costume maker Alison and revealed at a gathering of family, friends and fellow performers.

But the film quickly became about more than the costume itself.

It became a story about inheritance, memory and what it means to carry something forward that brings so much joy to the world.

THE APPROACH

This film was made quickly, with just eight dates from concept to completion. Rather than treating the costume reveal as an event film, we pitched Lucy a documentary, built around her family and legacy, using Arnold, Alison and lucy’s individual perspectives to gradually reveal the emotional weight behind the day.

The aim was to keep the filmmaking warm and observational,
allowing humour and vulnerability to sit alongside one another without forcing either.

Interviews, archive, and the reveal itself were shaped into a documentary short
that could stand independently of Louby Lou’s event.

This film was made quickly, with just eight dates from concept to completion. Rather than treating the costume reveal as an event film, we pitched Lucy a documentary, built around her family and legacy, using Arnold, Alison and lucy’s individual perspectives to gradually reveal the emotional weight behind the day.

The aim was to keep the filmmaking warm and observational, allowing humour and vulnerability to sit alongside one another without forcing either.

Interviews, archive, and the reveal itself were shaped into a documentary short
that could stand independently of Louby Lou’s event.

THE RESULT

Where Laughter Lives went on to win Best Documentary at Wigan & Leigh Film Festival 2026. For us, the response to the film reinforced something central to the way we work: even a small , personal story can carry real weight when the people at its centre are given the space to tell it properly.

and here’s the review Lucy left for us (we’re really proud of it):


“I honestly can’t recommend Robyn and Jon at Eklectics highly enough.

I recently asked these amazing humans to create a documentary capturing a very special part of my clowning journey, following in the footsteps of my dad, who was a clown, and culminating in my new costume reveal party. They absolutely nailed it. The love, warmth and storytelling they brought to the film was incredible. They didn’t just document the day, they captured the heart, the memories, the laughter and the magic behind it all.

And now the magic just keeps going! Robyn and Jon have won Best Documentary for Where Laughter Lives at the Wigan & Leigh Film Festival!

I couldn’t be happier or prouder of them. They are hugely talented, genuinely lovely people
and simply the best at what they do. Thank you, Robyn and Jon, for telling our story so beautifully.”

“I honestly can’t recommend Robyn and Jon at Eklectics highly enough.

I recently asked these amazing humans to create a documentary capturing a very special part of my clowning journey, following in the footsteps of my dad, who was a clown, and culminating in my new costume reveal party. They absolutely nailed it. The love, warmth and storytelling they brought to the film was incredible. They didn’t just document the day, they captured the heart, the memories, the laughter and the magic behind it all.

And now the magic just keeps going! Robyn and Jon have won Best Documentary for Where Laughter Lives at the Wigan & Leigh Film Festival!

I couldn’t be happier or prouder of them. They are hugely talented, genuinely lovely people and simply the best at what they do. Thank you, Robyn and Jon, for telling our story so beautifully.”

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