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Wednesday, July 02, 2008, 08:30
Here EM Media tell us exclusively about the highlights of their time in Edinburgh and how talent from the East Midlands came to dominate the festival.
Thursday 19 June began with the press and industry screenings of two EM Media co-financed films: Better Things, the debut feature from acclaimed short film director Duane Hopkins which was produced by Nottingham-based Wellington Films, and Mum & Dad, Nottingham-based Steven Sheil's intense and chilling debut feature about a murderous family living in the shadow of a major airport. These industry screenings allow journalists and those working in the film industry to see films for the first time in a private setting, enabling them to write reviews and check out potential collaborators for future projects.
Both screenings were well attended and we're pleased to report that both films were very well received. Steven Sheil, the director of Mum & Dad, as well as the film's producer Lisa Trnovski and Steven's partner Jeanie Finlay (herself a director of documentaries) attended EM Media's press 'elevenses' straight after the screenings. The event was intended to support East Midlands filmmakers in Edinburgh and raise the profile of the region as the UK's most exciting place to make and be involved with film. For filmmakers such as Steven the event also provided an opportunity to raise the profile of their individual projects, thereby helping to secure distribution and sales for their films.
At the event Steven, Lisa and Jeanie handed out a unique Mum & Dad marketing tool to the assembled journalists: blood spattered cup cakes bearing the film's logo. Not only were the cakes delicious, the novel idea also insured a healthy dose of press coverage for Steven's film, which has since received rave reviews. See the opinion of Empire magazine's Damon Wise here: http://www.empireonline.com/features/edinburgh2008/Post.asp?id=170
We also used the event as an opportunity to announce the next tranche of projects to join EM Media's growing slate. As well as development investment in the next projects from Shane Meadows (King of the Gypsies), Paddy Considine (Tyrannosaur) and Derbyshire writer Hugh Ellis (Red Sail), we also announced production investment into a film called A Boy Called Dad which will be directed by Brian Percival and will shoot in the region in the autumn, and the next project from digital studio Warp X, Bunny and the Bull, which is to be directed by Paul King (The Mighty Boosh) and will shoot on location in Nottingham throughout July and August.
Thursday evening saw the UK premiere of the EM Media co-financed and Warp X produced A Complete History of My Sexual Failures to a packed out cinema. The film is a documentary following hapless independent filmmaker Chris Waitt on his journey to discover why every girl he's been out with has dumped him. He tries to do this by tracking down each of his exes and quizzing them on camera about what was wrong with him (sometimes unsuccessfully – one ex won't allow him to show her face and insists he disguises her voice). As you can imagine, the replies are often very blunt, the emotions are very raw, and the exchanges between Waitt and his exes are at times very awkward…and absolutely hilarious. Once the film finished Waitt made his way to the front of the stage for the Q&A session, where it emerged that most of his exes were also in the audience – cue more uncomfortable exchanges and a lot of belly laughs for the rest of us!
Friday 20 June started with the press and industry screening of Kenny Glenaan's Summer, ahead of its world premiere on Sunday. EM Media co-financed the film which stars Robert Carlyle and was directed by Kenny Glenaan. Summer is very firmly rooted in Derbyshire: it was written by Hugh Ellis who is based in the county and shot on location in Bramley Vale and Bolsover in the summer of 2007. This was the first time anyone outside of the production team had seen the completed film so the air was heavy with anticipation. As soon as the film began it was clear that this journey would be an emotional one and the audience was not disappointed: the performances in the film are brilliant – with many critics citing Robert Carlyle's portrayal of the character Shaun as his best role for years – and Derbyshire looks absolutely fantastic on screen.
At 6pm a panel discussion about 'the new horror' began, chaired by the wonderfully entertaining Muriel Gray and featuring, amongst others, Nottingham-based horror director Steven Sheil and EM Media's former Executive Producer Lizzie Francke. It was a fascinating insight into where the horror genre is currently at and provided some interesting speculation about where it's likely to go next. The panel concluded that no subject could be off limits in a horror film as surely that's the whole point of the genre, but any potentially controversial topics should always be treated in a unique, witty and ultimately intelligent way to maintain the relevance of the genre and keep it fresh for modern audiences.
That evening saw the UK premiere of another EM Media-backed and Warp X produced film, Olly Blackburn's Donkey Punch. The film begins gently enough: three beautiful English girls hook up with three English guys in Mallorca and head out to sea on a millionaire's yacht; however the Mediterranean dream quickly turns into a bloody nightmare and a desperate fight for survival. It's nail-biting stuff and the audience is suitably terrified by its experience of this high-octane thriller. Once everyone has managed to calm down a bit, the film's sizable cast and crew head up on stage to answer the audience's many questions. People were keen to know how such a slick-looking film had been made on a relatively low budget and within a very tight timeframe, and Olly Blackburn was happy to answer all questions relating to what seems to have been quite an intense shoot. The film's young cast were all very excited to reveal the film to a British audience and many of their friends and family were there to celebrate the day with them.
Saturday 21 June began with a breakfast event aimed at makers of short films. EM Media hosted a table at the event, as did national and regional agencies from across the UK, where we answered questions about the best ways for short filmmakers to get their films made and then go on to exploit them in the marketplace.
Saturday was also the day on which EM Media hosted its celebration of the six EM Media co-financed films in Edinburgh's official selection. The turn out for the event was fantastic and in a strange way it really did feel like the East Midlands' filmmaking community was embarking on a takeover of the Scottish capital, or at least the Scottish capital's film festival!
Representing the region was Shane Meadows, who arrived immediately following his triumphant 'In Conversation With' event during which he spoke candidly about his life and filmmaking to a packed out audience. Shane was accompanied by star of his latest film Somers Town (and central actor in his seminal This Is England), Thomas Turgoose. Somers Town received its UK premiere a day earlier on Friday to a rapturous response from audiences, critics and industry alike, proving again what a unique talent Meadows is and what a fantastic ambassador for the East Midlands he continues to be.
Back to the event: as well as Shane Meadows and Thomas Turgoose we welcomed Mum & Dad director Steven Sheil along with his film's cast and crew; Wellington Films, the Nottingham-based producers of Better Things, were accompanied to the event by director Duane Hopkins and fellow producer Samm Haillay; director of Donkey Punch Olly Blackburn, came along with his film's cast and crew; director Chris Waitt was accompanied by girlfriend Alex (and fortunately, unlike at Friday's premiere of his film A Complete History of My Sexual Failures, this time there are no exes around!); and finally Crack Willow producer Jane Hooks came along ahead of that film's world premiere later that evening.
As well as a good show from the region's talent we also welcomed a number of figures from the film industry and trade press. Everyone was really excited about the unprecedented presence of East Midlands' talent at this year's festival, and seeing all these talented regional filmmakers in one space really brought home what a massive achievement it is for everybody involved.
At 10pm that evening the world premiere of Crack Willow took place. Crack Willow is an affectionate portrait of one man's struggle with death and loneliness; his journey is an exploration of emotions captured through the use of vivid, powerful and imaginative imagery. The premiere was incredibly popular having sold out at least a week beforehand, and the audience's response to the film was enthusiastic. During the Q&A director Martin Radich was incredibly generous in acknowledging the support he'd received from everyone involved in the film and expressed his thanks that a project so firmly rooted in the leftfield had been supported from the outset.
Midnight saw the world premiere of Steven Sheil's horror Mum & Dad to an excited crowd, who seemed both amused and horrified by what they saw, which no doubt was Steven's intention. The film closed to more enthusiastic applause and Steven continued to field questions from dozens of people in the foyer of the cinema long after the screening.
Sunday 22 June saw us involved in a panel event exploring what's next for Warp X, the pioneering digital film studio based in Sheffield, Nottingham and London. Warp X, in Edinburgh to celebrate the UK premieres of its first two films A Complete History of My Sexual Failures and Donkey Punch, wants to build on Warp Films' reputation for combining creative originality with commercial success, and make high value movies that can reach cinema audiences across the world and revitalise the low-budget sector of the British film industry. EM Media invested £750,000 of ERDF into the digital studio Warp X, enabling it to produce a slate of features. The studio's other key financial backers are Film4, the UK Film Council, Screen Yorkshire and Optimum Releasing who will distribute the films theatrically and on DVD in the UK.
The event went well and interest in the studio is at an all time high as its first two films go on UK theatrical release. With another four films to follow, the profile of Warp X looks set to soar still higher in the coming months.
Sunday also saw the UK premiere of Duane Hopkins' Better Things, which had its world premiere during May's Cannes Film Festival. Director Hopkins presents a painterly view of existence against a rarely seen rural backdrop in Better Things, and the film explores separate generations' approaches to life, love, loss and intoxication. Hannah McGill, artistic director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, describes Better Things as “the most eagerly-awaited British debut of the year” and there was a palpable buzz as Hopkins' unveiled his feature debut to the crowded cinema. The audience was clearly affected by the moving film and Hopkins answered many questions once the curtain closed.
On Sunday evening the world premiere of Kenny Glenaan's Summer took place, before which EM Media hosted a reception for the film along with co-investors the UK Film Council and Scottish Screen. The reception gave the film's cast and crew - many of whom have travelled to Edinburgh especially for this special day - their first chance to see each other since the shoot in Derbyshire a year ago, and there were plenty of emotional greetings as people arrived.
We had to field calls all day from people desperate to get tickets for the premiere, which sold out weeks ago - a Scottish director and one of Scotland's most successful actors guaranteed that this would be a popular choice in the festival line up. The ticket shortage seemed to add to the very real sense of excitement felt by all before the screening. Summer has a very Derbyshire feel – the county's lush landscapes and unique accents are represented well – but it was a massive hit with the Scottish audience, who couldn't wait to ask the cast and crew questions at the end of the film.
And on Monday morning, on our last day at the festival, EM Media was involved in a panel event called 'Meet the Funders', which gave producers the opportunity to find out more about production finance available from the UK's national and regional screen agencies. Again the event was well attended with lots of intelligent questions from producers at every stage of their careers.
It's been a fantastic year for the region's film industry and Edinburgh has been the icing on the cake. The profile of the East Midlands has been raised and the region's filmmakers have achieved so much throughout the festival. We want to thank them all for their support and congratulate their immense talent and achievements. Here's to next year!
NEWS JUST IN…
Last night we were delighted to learn that Shane Meadows' film Somers Town has scooped Edinburgh's top prize, the Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature. This is fantastic news and further cements the East Midlands' reputation as the home of the UK's cutting edge film talent – congratulations Shane!
We were also thrilled to find out that Robert Carlyle has been awarded the Award for Best Performance in a British Feature Film for his performance as Shaun in Summer. Again this is fantastic news and we extend our congratulations to Robert!
Find out more about Edinburgh International Film Festival via its website: http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk
Find out more about EM Media via its website: http://www.em-media.org.uk/pages/home
A Complete History of My Sexual Failures will be in cinemas from Friday 27th June.
Official website: http://www.completehistorymovie.co.uk
Donkey Punch can be seen in cinemas from Friday 18th July.
Official website: http://www.donkeypunchmovie.co.uk
Release dates for Summer, Somers Town, Better Things, Mum & Dad and Crack Willow are to be confirmed but will be towards the end of the year.
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