the RESULTS!

The Glenrothes Film Festival is now over for 2010, the winners have been announced and the awards presented (by Tricia Marwick, MSP).

Our congratulations to the winners and grateful thanks to all who entered the competition, supported us or helped to organise the event in any way. The main thanks and credits are here

Here then are the winners for 2010: Click on the image to visit the film page.

Open Competition

1st – Chris Fallen – “A Cheeky 20″

 

DOP Justin Curran and Dir. Chris Fallen

 

2nd – Todd Weller – “Some Extra Help”

 

Some Extra Help - Todd Weller

 

3rd – CP Lucas Kao and Charmaine Gilbert – “A Lifetime”

 

A Lifetime - CP Lucas Kao and Charmaine Gilbert

 

Glenrothes Award

Winner – Laura Wadha – “Final Embers”

 

Laura Wadha with Rachel Donaldson and Shelby Grant

 

Audience Award

Winner – Rimbleton Primary School – “A Richt Guid Blether”

 

Mike Rose - Teacher, Rimbleton Primary School

 

Nikolaus von Uthmann: Run, Granny, Run – Disqualified

There’s always one, isn’t there?

Some Film makers are so proud of their films they will enter them for any festival or competition, whether they have any chance of qualifying or not.  Such a one is Nikolaus von Uthmann. We thought his film “Run, Granny, Run” was wonderful, but try as we might, there was no way we could accept it into the short film competition under the rules. So we had to disqualify it.

That’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy it however.  It’s a great film and we dare you not to laugh. Click the logo at the bottom of the page to go to the film’s myspace site.

We’ll also be screening it during the Festival.

Director’s biography
Nikolaus von Uthmann
Born 1973 in Hamburg, Nikolaus von Uthmann started his film career as a critic, writing for What‘s On York in England 1994. After moving back to Germany he started writing for national entertainment magazines, like Cinema and Prinz.
In 1997 he moved back to the UK to study media production at the renowned Cumbria College of Art & Design, graduating with distinction as a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in the year 2000.
During his stay in England Nikolaus von Uthmann shot his first short films, BALL TROUBLE (1999), TO DATE A PACHYDERM (also screenplay, 1999), and LET‘S STAY FRIENDS (also screenplay, 2000).
For the latter he received the prestigious Royal Television Society Award (patron: Prince Charles).
Back in Germany again, Nikolaus von Uthmann started working in commercials as assistant director, production manager, editor and director for clients like BMW, Siemens, MAN, Fujitsu, Max-Planck-Institut, etc., as well as penning concepts for adverts and social awareness films.
In his little spare time he filmed another short flm THE FLAT HUNTER (also screenplay, editor, production) in 2003, which was shown on many international festivals, winning the Platinum Award for Best Original Comedy at the WorldFest Houston 2005.
Since then Nikolaus von Uthmann has continued earning his living with shooting commercials, and has drafted up more concepts and screenplays for shorts and feature-length films. Next to his film ambitions, he‘s played plays keyboards for the rock band The Domino Poets since 2004, last year‘s finalist of the international music competition Emergenza. 2008 he also successfully directed his first music video for Jay Clifford, in collaboration with actor/director Zach Braff (GARDEN STATE).

Run Granny Run

RUN GRANNY RUN! is his 5th short feature film – his first under 5 minutes, and completely without dialogue.
Nikolaus von Uthmann is also working on his feature film debut, a rock’n’roll romance with an unusual hero: PICCOLO (see also http://www.piccolo-thefilm.com/ ).

Zawe Ashton – a Screen International Star of Tomorrow

Zawe Ashton

Despite a heavy schedule of committments, Zawe took time out to wish the festival well.

She said: “I think it’s great that you have organised a festival to encourage young directors and film makers. The future of film is in their hands and who knows in a few years I could I could be taking direction from one of you winners!
Glenrothes – have a great festival!

Love Zawe “

Zawe started acting at the age of six.Her television work includes Holby City, EastEnders, The Bill, NCS: Manhunt, Casualty and The Crust.

Her theatre credits include Rhinoceros, The Arsonists, Gone Too Far! (Royal Court), Othello (Globe Theatre), and The Cage (Nuffield Theatre Company, Southampton).

In 2009 she worked on the films Blitz and St. Trinian’s II: The Legend of Fritton’s Gold.

Writing

She began entering poetry slams at the age of seventeen, and won the London Poetry Slam Championship in 2000.In 2006 she was Young Writer in Residence at the Contact Theatre in Manchester. Her first play, Harm’s Way, was shortlisted for the Verity Bargate Award in 2007, and premiered at The Lowry in 2008 as part of National Youth Theatre’s new writing season. She is currently under commission to the Bush Theatre and the Clean Break theatre company.

Zawe was named as one of Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow 2009

Stuart McCowan

STUART MCCOWAN, SUPERVISING SOUND EDITOR, SKYWALKER SOUND

You may not recognize his name, but you’ll certainly have heard his work! Stuart McCowan is yet another Fife export to Hollywood. Born in the East Neuk, he now lives in California where he works for Skywalker Sound making sure that what you hear is just as impressive as what you see in the Cinema.

When McCowan heard that Glenrothes was to have its first ever Film Festival he said: “Cannes, Sundance and now Glenrothes! It’s a fantastic occasion that Fife gets to have its own film festival and it makes it even more special to me that it’s in the town where I went to college. I strongly believe that film is an art form and to celebrate its magical quality on a local scale really brings home how personal, touching and moving a film can be.”

On hearing that the Glenrothes Cinema was being re-opened after a 12 year closure McCowan added: “Hooray! When multi-plexes started closing the small film houses down it was a sad day for film. Yes you could go see the big blockbusters and sit in stadium seating with your oversized bucket of popcorn, but where’s the love? The re-opening of the cinema in Glenrothes will hopefully encourage other cities to do the same. Bring back the magic of seeing a movie on the big screen.”

After graduating from Waid Academy High School in Anstruther, Stuart studied Radio Broadcasting at Glenrothes College and graduated with a Higher National Certificate.

Soon after graduating, McCowan was hired by Central FM in Stirling where he became the station’s Commercial Producer and presenter of the daily mid-morning show.

He then spent 3 years with the BBC before moving to California where he worked for 3 years in local radio at 95.9 The Bridge (KHBG). In 1999, he joined Skywalker Sound as an apprentice sound editor.

Over the past ten years, he has worked in various sound department capacities, often as ADR Editor*, on films such as THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON and INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL.

Earlier this year his team received an Oscar nomination for their work on Director James Cameron’s 3D blockbuster AVATAR, the highest grossing film ever. McCowan is currently working on TRON: LEGACY.

* – Automated dialogue replacement (ADR) is the process of re-recording the original dialogue after filming for the purpose of obtaining a cleaner, more intelligible dialogue track

Keith Partridge – Adventure Cameraman

Keith Partridge - Adventure Cameraman

‘Edge Of The Seat Stuff’ ‘

Hugely Entertaining’

‘In your face adventure ’ ‘

‘Sweaty palmed, jaw-dropped, totally absorbed attention’

Hall B 2:30-4:30 Keith Partridge – Adventure Camera

“Keith Partridge’s ‘office’ is as unusual as his commute.

As one of the country’s most experienced adventure cameramen his journey to work may well kick-off with a heart-stopping abseil through vertical jungle, a helicopter winch-line onto an icy mile-high mountain face or a close encounter with some of the world’s most iconic wildlife. With camera in hand he has made the most challenging, spectacular and remote places on the planet his ‘office’ during his freelance career working for the major broadcasting companies including the BBC, Discovery and Channel 4.

This sideways look at the ‘extreme’ will take us on a journey through a variety of projects and extraordinary locations with stories from behind the scenes. In this ‘how did they do that’ presentation we’ll examine just what it takes to capture the essence of adventure from some of the most outrageous situations and camera positions imaginable. This presentation carries a health warning to all those of nervous disposition and sufferers of vertigo….

Biography

Capturing the essence of adventure in over 60 extreme films has taken cameraman and film-maker Keith Partridge to some of the worlds most hostile and spectacular environments.

From the Eiger’s North Face, the Arctic and Alaska to the white-water caves of Papua New Guinea Keith has been pushing the limits of extreme filming for television and cinema. Productions have notched up over twenty international film awards and two British Academy awards. In 2004 Keith was presented with the International Explorers Festival ‘Camera Extreme’ Award for his work on series’ such as the multi award winning ‘Wild Climbs’ for the BBC and on the documentary feature film of Joe Simpson’s ‘Touching the Void’.

His personal journey has been a committed one. Winter 1990 saw Keith Partridge leave his job as a cameraman and sound-recordist with the BBC after six years of service. Three weeks later, with climbing suspended in a torrent of spindrift, he was holed up in a snow-cave contemplating his future. His strategy had been a high risk one, involving the sale of everything he owned, everything that is except his climbing kit. As another bitter storm swept across Iceland’s Vatnajokull icecap, fuelling his passion for wild places, the marriage of adventure and film-making was an obvious course. His background has enabled him to develop shooting techniques that have catapulted the viewer to the steepest of rock faces, the most challenging of ice and the remotest of locations where strong team work, extreme levels of motivation and dynamic leadership are vital for success.

At the forefront of extreme film-making, his work has been shown on the BBC, Discovery, Channel 4, ITV, National Geographic, Pathe Films and 20th Century Fox. His written articles have appeared in many of the UK’s climbing and outdoor magazines. Born in the prairie-like East of England he is now based in Scotland where he lives with his wife Andrea and children Jamie and Erin. Having spent over twenty years climbing, trekking, biking and shooting film all over the world he still finds it strange just where a lad born in the flattest part of the UK can find himself hanging out – camera in hand of course.”

Find out More: Adventure Camera

Exclusive Dougray Scott Interview

AN EXCLUSIVE interview with film star, Dougray Scott, is set to be shown at Glenrothes Film Festival.

The actor returned to his home town for a family visit recently and took time out to show his support for the festival – the first ever – by recording an interview to be shown to audiences at Rothes Halls at the October 9 festival.

The screening of Dougray’s interview looks set to be one fo the highlights of the one day event.

The interview was conducted by Peter Marshall, a member of the British Federation of Film Societies, which is closely involved with organising the festival.

During the interview Dougray, whose real name is Stephen, revealed his thoughts on the town where he grew up hosting its own film festival, as well as discussing some of his previous works.

The former Auchmuty High School pupil first rose to fame with his appearances in television shows like ‘Soldier, Soldier’ and films such as ‘Twin Town’.

His numerous television credits also include American hit series ‘Desperate Housewives’ and the recent ‘Father and Son’ and he has also completed work on the latest revival of ‘The Saint’ in which he takes the lead role.

Dougray, who is now based in Hollywood, has also featured in big box office films including ‘Mission Impossible II’ and ‘Enigma’ amongst many others.

He regularly returns to Glenrothes to visit mother Elma and other members of the family.

- Fiona Purnell, Glenrothes Gazette

Dougray Scott on the “Fifer” relationship with Richard Jobson on “New Town Killers”

See the full interview at the Festival on October 9th.

Support from the BBC!

More backing for town’s film festival

A Top BBC Radio Scotland presenter is the latest person to back the Glenrothes Film Festival, reports KEVIN QUINN.

Janice Forsyth has three shows on BBC Radio Scotland, including film programme, ‘the movie cafe’.
The journalist joins a list of film personalities who have backed the festival, including Dougray Scott, Ken Loach and Robert Harrison.

The presenter believes events like the Glenrothes Film Festival encourage more people to go to the cinema.
She said: “There would be no film industry if there was no audience. Initiatives such as the Glenrothes Film Festival are absolutely vital because they work at a grassroots level.
“They encourage film fans and folk who’d maybe think twice about swapping the sofa for the cinema to come together and have a great time seeing films on their doorstep.
“The fact that this event is so family-friendly is absolutely ace!”

Ms Forsyth thinks that such initiatives are important for the future of film.
She said: “So many children are now glued to small screens, that it’s vital to encourage them to experience the magic of cinema.
“And the way that this festival makes the link between watching films and making them should encourage more young people to take advantage of new technology to get out and make their own movies.”

Ms Forsyth also believes that such festivals help during the current economic downturn.

She said: “There is so much film-making talent in Scotland, and the current economic climate means it’s tougher than ever to get films made, or have them screened.
“A festival like this gives a boost to those film-makers by providing them with the opportunity to have their work shown on the big screen.
“And the good news is that more festivals are springing up all over the country.”

Ms Forsyth added her support to the Gazette’s short film competition, which has now closed.

She said: “It’s absolutely vital that this kind of platform is offered to local film-makers.
“It’s never been more important that there are other outlets for emerging talent to be showcased.
“Most great film directors start by making shorts, and this competition is particularly inspiring because it’s open to anyone living in Scotland, regardless of age or experience.
“Having their films shown on the big screen in front of an audience will be an experience the competitors will never forget.”

Kevin Quinn – Glenrothes Gazette