'Wasp' Flies High for Oscar Success
Dartford-born filmmaker Andrea Arnold, a member of the Close-Up Film Advisory Panel, has won the Academy Award in the Best Short Film, Live Action category.
Dartford born Andrea was one of only two British Oscar winners at this year's awards. Of her award she said: "This is truly overwhelming"
Starring Nathalie Press ( My Summer of Love) WASP tells the story of a single mother of four who, when an old boyfriend (Danny Dyer, Football Factory ) reappears, takes a few risks to enjoy a couple drinks down the pub and almost ends up paying a high price.
"It's a long way from Dartford!" said Andrea upon receiving her Oscar in Los Angeles . " This is truly overwhelming. I'm not really used to this kind of thing. I'd like to thank everyone who worked on the film. Everyone worked extremely hard. They know who they are. The beers are on me when we get home. In English, I'd say that this is the dog's bollocks. Thank you very much. "
Andrea adds her Oscar to the 30 awards she has previously collected for WASP, including The Sundance Short Film Prize, the Time Out Critics Prize and Best Live Action Film at the Worldwide International Short Film Festival, Toronto . The film was initially commissioned by the UK Film Council and Channel 4 for Cinema Extreme scheme with support from Screen South, the Regional Film Development Agency for the UK Film Council.
Screen South, the Regional Film Development Agency for the UK Film Council, has supported Andrea's path to Oscar glory all along the way. They provided financial assistance for film prints and marketing, music clearance, and supported Andrea with training at the great PAL lab in Kent . She also joined Screen South on their Trade Mission to Los Angeles in November 2004.
Says Andrea: " Screen South have been fantastic, they have always believed in me . In practical terms, they've made a huge difference and I am very grateful."
Gina Fegan, Chief Executive of Screen South, says: "We are absolutely delighted and are jumping up and down with excitement. We are proud to have been in a position to support such a talented filmmaker from the region. Andrea and her stories come from Kent and are about Kent . Hers is a unique voice that has come from the community and it is important that her work be seen and be recognised in the international arena. We wish her all the very best."
WASP is Andrea's third short film, and is currently working with one of her own personal heroes, Lars Von Trier. Advance Party is a project that involves three filmmakers writing a film using the same nine characters, and is being produced by Zentropa/Sigma Films.
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