SOUTHERN EXPOSURE AWARDS ANNOUNCED / JOIN LONDON’S BIGGEST ANNUAL BOOK CLUB
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE AWARDS ANNOUNCED
Successful applicants of this year’s Southern Exposure Film Fund (SEFF) have been announced.
Three aspiring producers, directors and screenwriters from Southwark and Lambeth will now receive training and support to make their films, including covering script development, directors’ vision and physical production.
The successful entrants are:
Victoria Mapplebeck – writer/director/producer, with her animated documentary short “160 Characters”
Anwar Boulifa – writer/director of his coming of age drama “Transgression”
Chris Pencakowski – producer of music comedy drama “I Used to be Famous”
Southwark’s cabinet member for adult care, arts and culture Cllr Dora Dixon-Fyle said: “It’s fantastic that local filmmakers have this unique opportunity to bring their very own stories to life through this year’s Southern Exposure Film Fund.
“Having met with lots of aspiring film producers and previous winners at the SEFF launch event last year October, their talents are truly inspiring.
“It’s great that they can use this programme to help make their mark on the industry. I wish them all the very best in their filmmaking over the next few months.”
All filmmakers are offered tailor-made support in the key areas of development, production, post production, marketing and distribution. Shortlisted applicants are taken on a ten-week master class course of filmmaking, learning about areas such as story editing, casting and marketing. Previous films have gone on to screen at internationally recognised film festivals such as Cannes, Edinburgh, Rhode Island, London, SXSW, and Palm Springs Film Festivals.
Victoria Mapplebeck said: “I was delighted to be selected for a SEFF award. This award will help me to collaborate with other talented editors and animators in making my film a reality. This process benefited all the projects involved in the scheme
“‘160 Characters is a 10’ animated short film which will bring to life three years of text messages buried in a vintage Nokia. Just a handful of films have succeed in creatively capturing the look and feel of our digital archives, the texts and emails that permeate every aspect of our lives. I’m excited about developing techniques that capture the grammar of these digital dialogues.”
Anwar Boulifa said: “I’m over the moon with being selected especially as all the projects this year were of such a high standard. The development process with SEFF has enabled me to hone my story and focus on its strengths. This was an invaluable experience, as it’s so important to receive peer feedback and advice from industry professionals.
“‘Transgression’ is story about a mother and son relationship and what goes unsaid. It’s an unsettling drama and study on repressed emotions. I want make a film on the disconnection we face in modern life. With the help of Film London and the SEFF I plan to distribute the film to short film festivals both home an abroad.”
SEFF, now in its eighth year, is funded by Southwark Council and Lambeth Council and match funded by Creative Skillset, BFI NET.WORK and Film London.
For more information, please visit southernexposure.southwark.gov.uk
(Source: Southwark council press release)
JOIN LONDON’S BIGGEST ANNUAL BOOK CLUB
Throughout April, people all over the capital are being encouraged to read, share and discuss Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London as part of Cityread London 2015.
All of Lewisham’s libraries will stock multiple copies of the book and will be hosting discussions in their reading groups.
The author, Ben Aaronovitch, will appear at a special evening event on Monday 27 April at Manor House Library. Other events, including discussions around river conservation will take place at libraries across the borough.
The book tells the tale of Peter Grant, a probationer in the Metropolitan Police whose attention is brought to Inspector Nightingale – the last wizard in England.
Peter becomes the first trainee wizard in 50 years, working to find nests of vampires in Purley, negotiating a truce between the warring god and goddess of the Thames and digging up graves in Covent Garden.
The spirit of riot and rebellion has awakened in the city, and it falls on Peter to bring order out of chaos – or die trying. (Source: Lewisham council press release.)
