FESTIVAL CATALOGUE 2015
WELCOME
FESTIVAL CATALOGUE 2015 Company Director Doctor Rebekah Louisa Smith of The Film Festival Doctor is committed to discovering new, innovative talent and promoting the director’s vision via international film festivals. Her company is a consultancy & management service based in London. Rebekah & her team offer a range of services to film makers in order to help them to achieve successful international film festival exposure & theatrical distribution. These services include, among others, one to one consultations where Rebekah and her team advise the film maker how to design effective and bespoke film festival, sales, distribution and on-line marketing strategies for their film and a Film Festival Manager service where Rebekah creates and manages your films’ festival campaign on your behalf. She is delighted to present to you her 2015 catalogue. rebekah@thefilmfestivaldoctor.co.uk www.thefilmfestivaldoctor.co.uk
FEATURES
HERE LIES
Here Lies is a film about film-making and the struggles involved in the creative process: artistic, technical, financial and personal. Director Duncan Ward (Boogie Woogie) sets out to make a biopic about controversial artist Ernst Hellmann, notorious for his misogyny, his tortured female nudes, hell raising lifestyle, and mysterious demise. Meanwhile Ward is being shadowed by a couple of film students who are documenting the making of the film, and life and art begin to mirror each other in intriguing ways. There is also a young female journalist who has started asking awkward questions of the cast and crew. As the rehearsals and filming get under way, Ward becomes increasingly enmired in problems on and off set, tensions mount and the film, and his life, start to unravel. Festival screenings: ECU European Independent Film Festival 2015 (World Premiere, Winner Grand Prize, Best European Feature), World Fest Houston 2015 (International Premiere, Official Selection, Winner Best Experimental Feature Film), East End Film Festival UK 2015 (UK Premiere) For international sales & festival screenings please contact Rebekah Smith, rebekah@thefilmfestivaldoctor.co.uk
Duncan Ward UK, 2014, 104 mins Drama Starring Daniel O’Meara Maria Papas Tallulah Harlech Katy Barker Sara Anastasia
Watch the trailer youtu.be/ufZVin9ofaU
SOLITARY
When party-girl Nora is forced to move back home with her aging father, it seems life can’t get any worse. But inside her childhood home, the ghosts of her past begin to haunt her, until the secret she has buried for so long is finally revealed.
Sasha Krane UK, 2014, 90 mins Drama
Festival screenings: Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema (World Premiere) 2015, 11 nominations; Winner Best Screenplay, Best Feature Film, Best Actress (Sarina Taylor), London Independent Film Festival, 2015 European Premiere, Winner Best UK Feature Film, The British Independent Film Festival 2015, The Wales International Film Festival 2015 Nominee Best Feature Film, DetectiveFEST (Russian Premiere) 2015, World Fest Houston (Texas Premiere 2015) Official Selection, Winner Silver Award Best Independent Feature Film; Nominee Best Actress Katharine McEwan, Southend On Sea International Film Festival UK 2015, Women’s International Film & Arts Festival USA 2015.
Starring Katharine Lee McEwan Anna Skellern Michael Wildman Sarina Taylor
For international festival screenings please contact Rebekah Smith, rebekah@thefilmfestivaldoctor.co.uk
SONATA FOR CELLO
Julia is a renowned cellist devoted to her music. She has been suffering for some time from terrible widespread pains in her body when she is diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic medical disorder that has no known cause or cure. Julia tries to continue exercising the passion for her music and keep up with her bustling life filled with concerts and performances in different European cities, but she soon finds herself submerged in a personal state of hell, and her relationship with the people around her changes completely. Julia, an attractive, elegant and cultured woman, wants to enjoy life her own way, devoted in body and soul to music. A renowned cellist, an unexpected event will force Julia to rethink her life in the long term. After years of intermittent pain in different parts of her body, Julia is finally given the diagnosis: fibromyalgia. Festival screenings: World Premieres Film Festival Philippines (World Premiere) Philippines, Chichester Film Festival UK 2015 (Advance UK Preview). For international festival screenings please contact Rebekah Smith, rebekah@thefilmfestivaldoctor.co.uk
Anna M. Bofarull Spain, 2015, 107 mins Drama Starring Montse German Jan Cornet Marina Salas Juanjo Puigcorbe Watch the trailer youtu.be/mxM0xMQsynE
DOCUMENTARY
A BIRD IN A CAGE
A Bird in a Cage uncovers the story of Margaret Mackworth, also known as Lady Rhondda, a hugely influential figure from South Wales whose ground breaking work for women’s rights has largely gone unrecognised. This film looks at a life in which she headed the Newport branch of the suffragette society the WSPU, challenged the House of Lords, went to gaol for burning a postbox, became a successful business leader, founded an eminent political and literary magazine, and even survived the sinking of the Lusitania. Through a combination of interviews, archive footage and traditional cut-out animation developed through workshops at local schools, Lady Rhondda’s rich life is finally brought to light. Festival screenings: WOW Women of the World International Women’s Film Festival (World Premiere) UK 2015, Montreal International Animation Film Festival (International Premiere) Canada 2015, Ankara International Film Festival Turkey 2015 (Turkish Premiere). For international festival screenings please contact Rebekah Smith, rebekah@thefilmfestivaldoctor.co.uk
Lauren Orme UK, 2015, 19 mins Animated documentary Starring Lois Acari Lisa Jones
SHORTS
EVA’S LEGACY
When Eva decides to leave her family home to a children’s charity, a local news crew visit her to film a good news story. As the interview progresses, a dark secret from Eva’s past threatens to cast a shadow on her act of kindness. Eva’s Legacy is a character driven drama with the elements of a classic ghost story running through it. Festival screenings: London Short Film Festival (World Premiere) 2015, Snowtown Film Festival (USA Premiere) 2015 Nominee Best Short Film, Nevermore Film Festival (North Carolina Premiere) 2015 Nominee Best Short Film, World Fest Houston USA 2015, Winner Platinum Award Best Original Dramatic Short Film, Southend On Sea International Film Festival (screening as part of the Opening Night Gala) 2015, Rob Knox Film Festival UK 2015, Cabriolet International Short Film Festival (Middle East Premiere) Labanon 2015. For international festival screenings please contact Rebekah Smith, rebekah@thefilmfestivaldoctor.co.uk
Simon J. Frith UK, 2014, 10 mins Supernatural drama Starring Sue Morely Elizabeth Twells David Streams Samuel Browne Watch the trailer www.evaslegacy.com
PAINLESS
Painless tells the story of two sisters, Bets and Alex (played by Ketryn and Kim) struggling to repair their fractured relationship while plotting to kill their sick mother (played by Jessica Porter). Festival screenings: Cabriolet International Short Film Festival (World Premiere) Labanon 2015, WorldFest Houston USA 2015, Winner Gold Award Best Original Dramatic Short Film. For international festival screenings please contact Rebekah Smith, rebekah@thefilmfestivaldoctor.co.uk
Dylan Stern USA, 2015, 12 mins Thriller, Drama Starring Ketryn Porter Jessica Porter Kim Burns Watch the trailer vimeo.com/117058211
PERFECT STATE
Great Britain, a few years from now. The Government has sold out to a big corporation which now runs all public services. All State support for the poor has been stopped. Instead the Red Zone has been created. Citizens are forced to wear colour coded wristbands, and if yours turns red, you’re in trouble. If you can’t support yourself, you are the property of Vitakorp. The measure is popular with the public, at least those who can pay their way... Perfect State tells the story of Neil Hartman, a City worker who falls foul of the system. He loses everything and is forced to flee as the privatised, televised forces of justice come to take him away. Festival screenings: BFI Sci-Fi Days of Fear & Wonder 2014 (World Premiere), London Independent Film Festival 2015 (Nominee, Best UK Short), Carmarthen Bay International Film Festival 2015 (Welsh Premiere), World Fest Houston (USA Premiere 2015) Winner Jury Award Best Sci-Fi. For international festival screenings please contact Rebekah Smith, rebekah@thefilmfestivaldoctor.co.uk
Tim Mackenzie-Smith UK, 2014, 22 mins Drama, Comedy Starring Miles Jupp Holly Weston Sam Callis Ryan Philpott Ben Jones
SEA CHANGE
Carol Stewart, an English teacher at a special needs school, is in despair. She always wanted to make a difference, but who is she kidding? She hasn’t got it in her. Locked in the school at the end of her last day, an encounter with a mysterious stranger gives her the opportunity to review her life. Festival screenings: Red Carpet Film Festival 2013 (UK Premiere), British Urban Film Festival 2013, Film North 2013 (World Premiere), Cork International Film Festival 2013 (Irish Premiere), South West London International Film Festival 2013 (Winner, Jury Prize Best Short Film), Carmarthen Bay International Film Festival 2014 (Welsh Premiere), 7Islands Film Festival 2014 (Indian Premiere), A Corto di Donne Women’s International Film Festival 2014 (Italian Premiere), WorldFest Houston International Film Festival 2014 (USA Premiere; Winner, Platinum Award for Best Dramatic Original Short), Landed Film Festival 2014, The Short Film Movement +, I Will Tell International Film Festival 2014 (Nominee, Best Drama), Moviebar Film Festival 2014, Ozark Short Film Festival 2014, Westminster Free Film Festival 2014, Medway Visions Film Festival 2014, Shorts on Tap 2014 (Nominee, Best Short Film), The International Christian Film Festival 2015 (Winner, Best Actress, Jo Hartley), Shorts on Tap 2014 (Nominee, Best Short Film), The International Christian Film Festival 2015 (Winner, Best Actress, Jo Hartley). For international festival screenings please contact Rebekah Smith, rebekah@thefilmfestivaldoctor.co.uk For international film sales please contact Dawn Sharpless of Dazzle Films, dawn@dazzlefilms.co.uk
Marinella Setti UK, 2012, 24 mins Drama, Fantasy Starring Patrick Elue Jo Hartley Sandra Huggett Toby Jones
THE BOY WITH A CAMERA FOR A FACE
The Boy with a Camera for a Face is a satirical fairy tale about a boy born with a camera instead of a head. We follow him from his birth through to adulthood, and experience his inability to live a normal life, as every moment of his existence is transformed by the fact that he is recording it. Told through pictures, the story is accompanied by a witty verse narration read by Steven Berkoff. Magical, humorous, romantic and ultimately heartbreaking, The Boy with a Camera for a Face is an epic story told in fifteen minutes about the way we live today. Festival screenings: Razor Reel Fantastic Film Festival 2013 (World Premiere; Winner Best Short Film Melies d’Argent), St Louis International Film Festival 2013 (International Premiere; Winner, ‘Best of Fest’), London Short Film Festival 2014 (UK Premiere), Red Carpet Film Festival 2014, London Independent Film Festival 2014 (Nominee, Best Short), Artre Film Festival 2015 (Polish Premiere), Imagine Film Festival 2014 (Dutch Premiere), Film Fest Emden 2014 (German Premiere), Edinburgh Short Film Festival 2014 (Scottish Premiere), Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2014 (Japanese Premiere), Moviebar Film Festival 2014, Wiz Art International Film Festival 2014 (Nominee, Best Short Film), Film Northants 2014, The Beyond Film Festival 2014, Blissfields Film Festival 2014 (Winner, Best In Show), Westminster Free Film Festival 2014, Lund Fantastik Film Festival Swedish Premiere (Nominee, Audience Award Best Short Film), Isle of Man International Film Festival 2014 (Nominee, Best Short Film), Film Northants 2014, This is England International Film Festival 2014, Isle of Man International Film Festival 2014 (Winner, Audience Award Best Short Film), Sitges International Film Festival 2014 (Nominee, Melies D’Or Best Short Film), Ravenna Nightmare Fantastic Film Festival Italy 2014, Nominee Best International Short Film, Winner Audience Award Best Short Film Lund Fantastik Film Festival 2014, Paris International Fantastic Film Festival 2014 France, Winner Best International Short Film, Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema Winner Best Forgein Short Film, Nominee Best Short Film, Winner Audience Award, Best Short Film FanCine Malaga Fantastic Film Festival, Landshuter Kurzfilm Festival Germany 2015, y’a un os dans le potage Film Festival France 2015, Winner Audience Award Best Short Film, International Shortfilm Festival Landau La Meko 2015 Nominee Best International Short Film, New Visions International Short Film Festival Ukraine 2015, Fantaspoa - International Fantastic Film Festival of Porto Alegre Latin America 2015 Nominee Best International Short Film. For international festival screenings please contact Rebekah Smith, rebekah@thefilmfestivaldoctor.co.uk For international film sales please contact Dawn Sharpless of Dazzle Films, dawn@dazzlefilms.co.uk
Spencer Brown UK, 2013, 14 mins Fantasy, Thriller, Comedy Starring Steven Berkoff Jessica Pyatt Kirsten Hazel Smith
VIEW ON A MARRIAGE
A successful businessman leads a comfortable life with his wife of 25 years, a celebrated pianist. But listening to her give a recital, he recalls the moment when he discovered an abandoned house at the bottom of their garden. The empty house rewards him with a secret view of his house and his wife. He becomes a spectator on his own life...
Klaartje Quirijns UK/Netherlands, 2015, 21 mins Drama
For international festival screenings please contact Rebekah Smith, rebekah@thefilmfestivaldoctor.co.uk
Starring Pierre Bokma Elsie de Brauw
DR REBEKAH SMITH THE FILM FESTIVAL DOCTOR
After choosing not pursue a career in academia, Doctor Rebekah Louisa Smith began her film industry career in 2007 working as one of the producers of Wales’ national horror film festival, the Abertoir Horror Festival, which is part of the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation. It was during this time when the Film Festival Doctor was created. In addition to working for the Abertoir Horror Festival and having an academic background, she is an Associate Producer (WHEN DERIN FALLS), Exec Producer (including EL MONSTRO DEL MAR! & TIBET MEDITATION), P.A./Secretary and film Journalist (Scream magazine, buried.com, fangirltastic.com & sexgoremutants.com). Rebekah understands the processes of festival film selection from working within the film festival sector and has subsequently built an impressive directory of contacts within the areas of film festival, sales, distribution and PR.