Screentest

On Friday 29th February, the opening night of the festival, we were honoured to once again premiere a number of short films nominated at the BAFTA Awards, including speaker Luis Cook’s award winning short animation ‘The Pearce Sisters’. The films nominated for the awards this year were:

Short Film Award Nominees:

Dog Altogether (16 MINS)
Producer: Diarmid Scrimshaw
Director/Writer: Paddy Considine

Dog Altogether, directed by acclaimed actor Paddy Considine (The Bourne Ultimatum; My Summer of Love), is the story of Joseph, a man who is plagued by a violence and rage that is driving him to self destruction. As he falls further into turmoil, Joseph scours the landscape in search of a single grain of redemption that might restore hope to his fractured life.

Hesitation (16 MINS)
Producers: Julien Berlan & Michelle Eastwood
Director/Writer: Virginia Gilbert

Everything is in place: a resort drenched in sunshine, lazing holiday-makers and a middle-aged married couple, Paul (Gerard McSorley) and Rebecca (Suzanne Burden), reading by the poolside. When a spirited French boy tears his way through the picture-perfect scene, happily oblivious to the noise and disruption his childish antics cause, he becomes the all-encompassing focus of Paul’s irritation, which becomes an irrational hatred.

Soft (14 MINS)
Producer: Jane Hooks
Director/Writer: Simon Ellis

When a father and son are independently terrorised by the same gang of youths, Dad is forced to deal with fears that he hasn’t had to face since leaving school. It’s a disturbing story of teenage violence, intimidation and the morality of revenge. Having written and directed many short films and music videos, writer- director Simon Ellis is currently in post-production on his first feature film.

The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island (25 MINS)
Producer: Charlie Henderson
Director: James Griffiths
Writers: Tim Key & Tom Basden

When jaded ‘nice guy of folk’ Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) agrees to play a one-off gig for half a million pounds in cash, he takes a trip by boat to the remote Wallis Island to meet Charles Heath (Tim Key). Isolated, with only Charles for company, Herb is taken on a journey that ultimately reignites his passion for music.

The Stronger (10 MINS)
Producer: Dan McCulloch
Director: Lia Williams
Writer: Frank McGuinness

The wife of a theatre director chances upon his mistress in a theatre bar on Christmas Eve. Who is the stronger? Frank McGuinness’s version of August Strindberg’s short play is a stinging tale about the power of silence, directed by Lia Williams. Feathers, Lia’s first short film, was based on a Raymond Carver short story.

Short Animation Award

Nominees:

The Crumblegiant (5 MINS)
Producer: Pearse Moore
Director/Writer: John McCloskey

An old woman remembers a childhood episode and the past becomes mingled with the present. Bernard Hill (Lord of the Rings ,Titanic) narrates a story in which demons are recalled and banished in an elegantly-animated world of imagination and memories. Writer/director John McCloskey is currently developing a number of feature films and drama serials for BBC Drama.

Head Over Heels (8 MINS)
Producer: Osbert Parker/Fiona Pitkin
Director: Osbert Parker
Writer: Osbert Parker/Ian Gouldstone

The conflicting story of Charlie and Frank is told as a gripping romance via Osbert Parker’s signature animation style. Live action and cut-out animation collide as the plot unexpectedly twists and turns, and the protagonists end up sacrificing more than what they bargained for. Co-writer Ian Gouldstone won a BAFTA for his short animation ‘Guy 101′ in 2007.

The Pearce Sisters (9 MINS)
Producer: Jo Allen
Director/Writer: Luis Cook

An amusingly bleak tale of two weather-lashed old spinsters, who live on a remote and austere strip of coast. Taking shelter in a beaten driftwood shack, they scrape out a miserable existence from the sea. When it offers up a handsome but half-drowned man, they do their best to resuscitate him. When he fails to show the proper gratitude, things start to go awry.

Luis Cook Speech

After the showing of his award-winning animation, Luis Cook of Aardman Animation will be speaking to the attendees of Screentest about his work and the industry.

Brief biography
Following a degree in Graphic design, Luis has worked as an Art Teacher, Photographer, Art Director and Illustrator.

In 1992 he returned to study an MA in Animation at the Royal College of Art.

After a stint at the BBC, he joined Aardman Animations in 1994. Since then, Luis has directed many commercials, promos and idents. His creative work has been awarded D&AD, British Animation Awards, Royal Television Awards and a BAFTA.

The Pearce Sisters is his first non-commercial film for Aardman.