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Latest News from SWSSC
SHORT FILM MADE IN DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
NOMINATED FOR BAFTA AWARD (press release 19/02/05)
Can’t Stop Breathing, a short film made entirely on
location in Dumfries & Galloway in September 2004, has
been nominated for a UK BAFTA award for ‘Best Short
Film', a great accomplishment for local film-maker Amy Neil
from New Galloway.
The short film, supported by Scottish Screen and the South
West Scotland Screen Commission, now awaits the BAFTA awards
ceremony to be held on 12 February at the Odeon, Leicester
Square, in central London. The event will be attended by
a host of other well-known celebrities and actors such as
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
Can’t Stop Breathing is
a moving and sensitive film that explores the potentially
explosive relationship between
a woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and her
daughter, who is her primary carer. The film also featured
Jane Lapotaire, one of the country’s most distinguished
actresses. This was Amy’s first attempt at directing
and writing her own script.
Mandy Goldie, Locations Assistant
for South West Scotland Screen Commission said:
"It’s
wonderful news for Amy: she has really worked hard in her
career to date. Her
talent is attracting attention and she’s now starting
to reap rewards for all her efforts. Amy also chose to
return to Galloway to shoot this film and so it’s
also excellent promotion for the region. Dumfries & Galloway
is gaining a great reputation as a place to make short
films.”
Celia Stevenson, Head of Corporate Communications
at Scottish Screen, said today:
“We are delighted
that this new young talent has been deservedly recognised
by the BAFTA
audiences, and we wish Amy Neil every success. I am
sure she is someone that we are going to be hearing a lot
more
about in the future.”
The South West Scotland Screen
Commission is funded by Dumfries & Galloway
Council and the European Regional Development Fund, and
seeks not only to encourage filming in the region but also
helps
local talent with training, funding and in-kind support.
Amy Neil is a past graduate of a screenwriting course organised
by the South West Scotland Screen Commission and taught
by local screenwriter Cally Phillips.
The Screen Commission has also supported eight other short
film projects since 1999, four of which have won awards.
If Can’t Stop Breathing is successful at the event
in February this would be another UK BAFTA coup for the
region: in 2000, another first-time film-maker from Wigtown,
won a UK BAFTA for his short film,
Who’s My Favourite Girl?, which then went
on to win more awards at film festivals around the world.
It
is planned to screen Can’t Stop Breathing at
the Robert Burns Centre
Film Theatre in the near future. ENDS
For further information contact:
Mark Geddes,
Screen Commissioner
Telephone: 01387 263666 - Fax: 01387 263666
Email: markg@dumgal.gov.uk
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