South West filmmakers at the BIFAs

by SWS on 27-Oct-09 16:12

South West Films set to triumph
at BIFA Awards

Three of the films nominated for the prestigious annual British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) are made by filmmakers from the South West.

Leaving by Bristol’s Omni Productions and Christmas with Dad, directed by Bristol-based Conor McCormack, are both nominated for Best British Short, whilst the critically acclaimed Mugabe and the White African, made by Stroud-based Arturi Films, is up for Best Documentary.

The strong showing by South West filmmakers at the BIFAs bodes well for iFeatures, the new digital feature film initiative launched by South West Screen at the Colston Hall last week. Leaving’s creators, Omni Productions, were among the 150 writers, producers and directors at the launch. Rachel Drummond-Hay, the film’s producer, says:

‘To be recognised at such a high level in the British film industry is a huge achievement for the whole team who contributed to the success of Leaving. We are currently working towards the production of our first feature film and we really hope that this acknowledgement by BIFA helps us on our journey to create more drama.’

The BIFA Best British Short Film Award is open to any British short film that has won an award between October 2008 and October 2009.

Leaving has already enjoyed success at various festivals and competitions including 1st prize at TCM classic shorts competition in 2008, the Silver Dragon at Crakow Film Festival, Best Film from the South West at Encounters and the Fuji Award for Best Cinematography. Its leading actress, Kierston Wareing, was one of eight nominees for the BIFA Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Andrea Arnold’s film, Fish Tank.

Christmas with Dad is a film by Clarity Productions and is the only documentary in the short film category this year. It follows 23-year-old AJ as he and his family prepare for the festive season and the arrival of an eighth child. Since its premiere last year in Edinburgh, Christmas with Dad has received acclaim at screenings both at home and abroad and was awarded Best Short Documentary at the the 21st Galway Film Fleadh earlier this year. The film’s Director, Conor McCormack, says:

‘It was great having the opportunity to make this film. I hope that the real warmth in the family’s relationship comes across as, despite their circumstances, they are not atypical of many families all over the UK.’

Mugabe & The White African is the story of how farmer, Mike Campbell, took Mugabe to court for racism and won the case, but who suffered violence and abuse as a result of his courage.

The film has garnered rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic and may yet fly the British flag at the Oscars as it has been selected for an Oscar-qualifying screening at the International Documentary Association’s (IDA) 13th Annual Documentary Showcase in Los Angeles and New York. Closer to home, Mugabe and the White African is nominated for the Grierson award at the London Film Festival tomorrow night. The film has already won the top award at the Silver Docs  AFI/Discovery Festival in Washington DC, the Sterling World Grand Jury Prize.
 
An Education, Fish Tank, In The Loop, Moon and Nowhere Boy are the nominees for the coveted Best British Independent Film Award at the BIFAs, which were created in 1998 to promote British films and filmmaking to a wider public. Nowhere Boy, which charts the early years of John Lennon, was executive produced in Liverpool by South West Screen’s Christopher Moll, who has since returned to his Bristol roots and is currently running the iFeatures digital filmmaking initiative.

BIFA 2009 will take place at The Brewery in Central London on Sunday 6th December 2009 hosted by James Nesbitt. Daniel Day Lewis will also be at the ceremony receiving the Richard Harris award for outstanding contribution to British Film. 

For a full list of the 2009 BIFA nominations, go to http://www.bifa.org.uk/

Tagged:SWS Press Release, Chris Moll, BIFA, Leaving, Omni Productions, Arturi Films, Conor McCormack