Screen South Announces Dazzling Success of Regional Filmmakers
Screen South, the regional screen agency for the South East of England, announced today that a host of filmmakers from the region enjoyed tremendous success at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
From Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, to Kent and East Sussex, filmmakers who made the annual pilgrimage to the world's most glamourous film festival clinched key deals, secured finance and found themselves feted as some of Britain's - and Europe's - best new talent.
From Kent, Ramsgate based director Jan Dunn, and Producer Elaine Wickham, of Medb Films, met with outstanding success for their film, Gypo . Jan's feature debut, it is the first dogme-style film to be made in the UK and follows the realism expounded by such directors as Lars Von Trier. Starring Pauline McLynn, Paul McGann and Rula Lenska and described as "a stunning British debut" by the Sunday Express, market hot property Gypo secured sales agent Swipe Films and confirmed Redbus as their UK distributor. It also secured a US distributor in Kathy Wolfe .
Also from Kent, Tunbridge producer Charlotte Wontner of Hopscotch Films secured major finance for The Sickhouse through international partnership. This edgy horror is now set to shoot this September.
 Richard Raymond, whose production company Richard Raymond Films is based at Shepperton Studios in Bucks, held one of the largest launch parties at a villa in Cannes, attended by such stars at Benicio Del Torro and James Bond contender, Clive Owen. The event marked the launch of Richard's film The Bridge, starring Andrea Corr of the pop band, The Corrs, and who has previously appeared in Evita and The Commitments. Richard raised the finance for his film by hosting spectacular parties over a two year period, sponsored by Nissan. Whilst in Cannes, Richard also secured Los Angeles based management and agent representation interest for both this and his next project. Also from Buckinghamshire, from Chalfont, director Jacqueline Wright, found her mini-short Stiffy being one of just six films selected from over two hundred entrants to the Kodak Straight 8 Competition. Scripted by Alice Lowe, the film was a popular choice with it's strong narrative quoted as being the secret of its success. While in Cannes, Jacqueline was approached by high profile talent spotting agents with a view to future representation.
Oxfordshire-based writer/director, Alex Finbow, of One World Films, made a triumphant return to Cannes having sold his film 24 Hours in London in previous years. Alex signed with an agent, Sara Putt, whilst in Cannes and was in talks with a number of high profile producers, including Pippa Cross. "All these things happen in Cannes " he says . "People you should really meet in England but never do - everybody is there. It's an amazing experience."
Brighton in East Sussex saw a host of its filmmakers enjoying success at Cannes . Director Thomas Clay and producer Joseph Lang, of Pull Back Camera Ltd, saw their film The Great Ecstasy of Robert Carmichael officially selected for International Critics Week at Cannes. Their controversial first feature created a storm in both Cannes and the UK. The talented filmmakers have dealt with a complex subject in a thoughtful yet sometimes violent manner and succeeded in acquiring international sales agent Wild Bunch. The film has so far sold to 14 territories worldwide. Another resident of the coastal town, producer Alex O'Neal of Mascot Pictures, found his writer/director, Amit Gupta, and leading actor, Dominic Cooper, gracing the front cover of Screen International as 'stars of tomorrow'. Their film, Love in Little India, is a buddy movie come fantastical love story set in Leicester and Mumbai, and also stars Parminder Nagra ( Bend it Like Beckham, ER ) with Director of Photography Brian Tufano (Trainspotting, East is East, Billy Elliot). Alex is currently closing financing.
Other Brighton success stories included Producer Miranda Robinson who is discussing offers with a major partner to finance Irvin Welsh's feature adaptation Filth . Matthew Thompson, Brighton based new talent, is set to direct, while writer Trevor de Silva of Haywards Heath, also East Sussex, enjoyed an excellent reception for English Patience which was selected for competition in the Cannes Short Film Corner. This generated considerable interest in his directorial potential.
Gina Fegan, Chief Executive of Screen South, joined the filmmakers in Cannes, and supported them by ensuring that their filmmaking talent reached the widest audience and helped introduce them to key people. She says: "filmmakers from the South East definitely made their presence felt at Cannes and were very well received by both industry professionals and audiences. Screen South is delighted to support their work and to see their tremendous talent being recognised on an international platform. We are very excited to see what happens for them over the coming months."
For more information about Screen South and filmmaking in the South East region, go to www.screensouth.org |
