IFFW | 2010
Riverfront Cinema, Newport
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The Official Selection
Short Films
40 Years
(Russell Appleford, 14m)
A haunting tale of loss and regret, blending live action and stunning visual effects that culminate in a dramatic finale.
Blind Eye
(Laura Degnan, 6m)
A mother is torn between being a good citizen and protecting her child leading to drastic consequences.
Siren
The Escort
(Clare Holman, 18m)
A young amateur boxer struggles to keep focus before an upcoming bout. Through a small number of flashbacks we begin to see what has led him to be so distracted.
Mozambique
(Alcides Soares, 17m)
Alcides Soares is a sixteen-year-old AIDS orphan, one of half a million living in Mozambique today.
Astronauts, Vikings
and Ghosts
On the Edge
One Dark Night
(Jonathan Moxness, 22m)
No More Milk
(Dan Heaver & Dan Saunders, 7m)
An elderly lady is hoarding milk. She makes a cup of tea for somebody who isn't there. Just another mad old bird... But this isn't madness. This is control.
Feature Films
Risen
(103m)
Director: Neil Jones
Writers: Stuart Brennan & Neil Jones
Producers: Stuart Brennan & Neil Jones
Cast: Stuart Brennan, John Noble & Erik Morales
What makes Howard's story quite remarkable is that as a young man he lost the tips of three fingers in an industrial accident of his home town of Merthyr Tydfil. The accident was so severe that he was unable to make a fist with his right hand, a devastating blow for anyone, but a blow made all the worse for one who's entire career demands the use of both hands.
The Drummond Will
(81m)
Director: Alan Butterworth
Writers: Alan Butterworth & Sam Forster
Producer: Tobias Tobbell
Cast: Mark Oosterveen, Phillip James & Jeremy Drakes
Estranged brothers Marcus and Danny find themselves on a surprisingly dangerous quest to unravel the mystery surrounding their father's very unlikely wealth.
End of the Road
(73m)
Director: Richard Nicholls
Producer: Richard Nicholls
Cast: Alexis Dubus & Sy Thomas
A documentary following two elderly athletes, Mary Stroebe, a 90-year-old triathlete, and Bill Wambach, an 83-year-old high jumper. Mary has just broken her leg while down hill skiing and Bill, who smoked for 45 years, is recovering from a heart attack. Despite doctors’ orders, both decide to train and compete in their respective events.
The Awards
Audience Awards
Best Feature
Risen (Dir. by Neil Jones)
Best Short
On The Edge
Best Documentary
Astronauts, Vikings & Ghosts
Best Actor
Stuart Brennan (Risen)
Best Actress
Grainne Joughin (Risen)
Best Cinematography
The Escort (Dir. by Graham Smith)
Best Special Effects
40 Years (Dir. by Russell Appleford)
Best Supporting Actor
Boyd Clack (Risen)
Best Supporting Actress
La Charne Jolly (The Escort)
Best Director
Neil Jones (Risen)
Welsh Dragon Award
No More Milk (Dir. by Dan Heaver
& Dan Saunders)
Best New Screenplay
Double Top (Written by Christopher Bolton)
Audience Awards Note
The Awards this year were voted on by the audience. In the event of the audience not being full to capacity for a screening the voting was weighted to represent a full screening (e.g. if the venue was half full, each vote counted for two votes). The voting was overseen by Festival Manager Jacquelin Cockerill. The Welsh Dragon Award was decided by the Festival Manager.
The decision to have audience voting was due to the lack of feature films in this years line up and narrative short films, as well as the inclusion of a film from one of the organizers of the festival in previous years. It was considered the fairest way at the time, to judge the films.
At the AGM it was decided that any future festivals screening films from any film-maker involved in the organization of the festival, either past or present, will require their own screening slot, outside of the regular festival line up AND will not be eligible for any awards.
The festival guild was set up by film-makers for film-makers, however even though the festivals have been managed independently and all awards are judged independently it makes sense for the festivals to avoid any claims of nepotism.
Audience Awards seemed like a fair way of doing things and the organizers went to great lengths to have a fair and transparent process. The evidence of the success of the award winning films this year in other festivals and at other award ceremonies, pays tribute to the accuracy of the audiences opinions, however it was a unanimous vote at the AGM (annual general meeting) to make all future films ineligible for awards from anyone involved in the organization of any of the Film Festival Guilds events.
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