Saturday, December 9th, 2017
The Norwich Film Festival showcased 70 Officially Selected Short Films during its Festival in November 2017 and we are now delighted to announce the winning films of 2017!
Best Short Film: Edith (Directed by Christian Cooke)
Edith explores how we move on from bereavements. How we make peace with our past and find something worth living for. This film features stand out performances from Peter Mullen (War Horse, Tyrannosaur), Michelle Fairley (Games of Thrones, Harry Potter, Suits) and supporting roles from Elliot Tittensor (Shameless) and Sia Bennett (Mr Selfridge).
“Subtle and surprising performances (I particularly like Michelle Fairley’s role), and a careful balance (both in terms of shot choice, editing and look) between memory and present day; subtle touches to express both grief and moving on; strong visual use of the landscape and motifs; good story telling” Amanda Posey (Producer Brooklyn, An Education).
Best Student Film: Sweet Maddie Stone (Directed by Brady Hood) Award Sponsored by Arnolds Keys
15-year-old Maddie Stone rules her school yard under the protection of her family name. But after discovering her notorious father has been arrested, she has to make his bail money or lose the yard. The more Maddie fights, the more her world spirals out of control–and the closer she gets to becoming the man she’s trying to save.
“Excellent, beautifully shot and edited with an outstanding performance by the lead actress. The story telling of Sweet Maddie Stone was so energetic. It cleverly and brilliantly used the language of cinema to pull you into this character and her challenges” Joan Sobel (Editor Nocturnal Animals, A Single Man).
“I loved it! It was very well and artistically made and felt very professional. I loved the script – it was great writing. The acting was also brilliant. It was an all around great and original story. Ferne Pearlstein (Director/Cinematographer The Last Laugh).
“A brilliant vignette of school/delinquent life beautifully realised – Rushmore meets Grange Hill by way of Tarantino” William Osborne (Screenwriter Twins, The Scorpion King).
Best Short Animation: To Build a Fire (Directed by Fx Goby)
To Build a Fire is an animated short film in 4K Cinemascope that tells the tragic tale of a man and his dog trying to survive in the overwhelmingly freezing and hostile nature of the Yukon Territory.
“A brilliant adaption of its source, boiling the Jack London short story down to its key elements and very powerfully and simply told. There was a sharp dynamic as we moved between the wide shots, the isolation of the snowy expanse and the small dark figures of a man and dog, and the intense close-ups of the tiniest of moments. The Visual choice of monochrome broken by spots of colour in the fire helped convey cold, along with the way breath and iced up beard were realised in the animation. Sound fx and music also helped create a compelling atmosphere” Amanda Posey (Producer Brooklyn, An Education).
Best East Anglian Short: The Knackerman (Directed by Tom Shrapnel)
A contemporary Western set in the heart of rural East Anglia, The Knackerman tells the story of Ron – an aging Knacker who is responsible the disposal of ill horses. When his own horse falls ill, Ron must decide it’s fate and in doing so, face his own mortality. Starring Donald Sumpter (Game Of Thrones, Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) and Adam Long (Happy Valley).
“Stunning and emotionally moving with beautiful black and white photography and lovely performances. Gorgeous, poetic and sensitive” Joan Sobel (Editor Nocturnal Animals, A Single Man).
Best Short Documentary: Flight (Directed by Laura Wadha) Award Sponsored by Wex Photo Video
Two young sisters are forced to grow up quickly when their family flee the war in Syria and make the dangerous journey to Sweden. As they begin to settle they are faced with new difficulties – they are becoming teenagers in a new world and long for the Syria that once was. They try to hold on to memories of their once beautiful home while struggling to deal with the repercussions of growing up surrounded by conflict.
“A moving topic told in an innovative way. Very, very emotional, and very clever use of visual media to convey the resilience of these amazing little girls.” Joan Sobel (Editor Nocturnal Animals, A Single Man).
“I loved it. It was a very original way of telling a very important and relevant story. It was definitely one of my favourite films”. Ferne Pearlstein (Director The Last Laugh).
“An important and sensitively shot story of the human side to the conflict in Syria” William Osborne (Screenwriter Twins, The Scorpion King).
Posted in: Reviews