Edinburgh International Film Festival and Skillset announce 2009 Trailblazers
Cannes, 19 May 2009
In Cannes today the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) in association with Skillset announced the 25 Trailblazers of 2009.
These up-and-coming individuals have been selected from the EIFF programme and from the graduation shorts submitted by students of the Skillset Screen Academies.
The intention of the Trailblazers showcase is to unite the work of the Skillset Screen Academies with that of EIFF. The scheme honours their joint commitment to the generation, encouragement and promotion of new British talent; offer Skillset Screen Academy students and graduates an introduction to the UK film industry and the festival circuit; and celebrate the new names issuing forth from the film festival that first brought Samantha Morton, Daniel Craig, Emily Blunt, Andrea Arnold, Danny Boyle, David Mackenzie, Shane Meadows, Asif Kapadia, and Sam Riley to our attention.
Last year's Trailblazers included actors Thomas Turgoose in the Michael Powell Award winner SOMERS TOWN and Nichola Burley in DONKEY PUNCH, who returns to Edinburgh this year with Michael Powell Award contender KICKS; and critically acclaimed directors Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy who premiered their film HELEN at EIFF 2008.
EIFF Artistic Director Hannah McGill commented, "I'm delighted to name this list of extremely talented and original creators as this year's Trailblazers. They vary in age and background and experience levels, but they're united by the risk-taking work and their clear potential. Our feature film programme has this year offered us a very inspiring range of new UK talent; while the Skillset Screen Academies always provide a very diverse and interesting set of work and this year is no exception. Congratulations to all of them and thanks as ever to Skillset for their collaboration on this part of our programme."
The Trailblazers selected from the EIFF 2009 features programme are:
Emily Beecham | The Calling | Actor |
Leigh Campbell | Kicks | Screenwriter |
Lawrence Gough | Salvage | Director |
Kerrie Hayes | Kicks | Actor |
Stuart Hazeldine | Exam | Director/ Screenwriter |
Katie Jarvis | Fish Tank | Actor |
Gerard Johnson | Tony | Director/ Screenwriter |
Bryan Larkin | Running in Traffic | Actor/ Screenwriter |
Justin Molotnikov | Crying with Laughter | Director |
Kyle Ward | A Boy Called Dad / Salvage | Actor |
The Trailblazers selected from the Skillset Screen Academy Network are:
The National Film & Television School, A Skillset Screen & Media Academy
Ralitza Petrova | By the Grace of God | Director |
Michelle Eastwood | By the Grace of God | Producer |
Stuart Earl | By the Grace of God | Composer |
Vanessa Stockley | Emma & Ben | Director/ Cinematographer |
Mikael Svartdahl | Emma & Ben | Editor |
Skillset Screen Academy Wales
Robert Evans | Crescendo | Animator |
Michael O'Sullivan | Crescendo | Animator |
Bournemouth Skillset Screen & Media Academy
David Bell | Toy | Writer/Director/Producer/Animator |
Momodou Musa Touray | Sweet Mother | Director |
Edinburgh Skillset Screen & Media Academy
Eva Pervolovici | Down the Rabbit Hole | Director |
Shezad Afzal | Down the Rabbit Hole | Producer |
Amy Rose | Kirran and the Hatchmaker | Director |
The London Film School, A Skillset Screen Academy
Erik Bostedt | Capturing Space | Director |
Skillset Screen Academy at London College of Communication & Ealing Institute of Media
Tatiana Korol | Akbulak | Director/ Screenwriter |
Kasia Sobocinska | Akbulak | Cinematographer |
The Trailblazing shorts programme is screened on Monday 22 June at 12:00 and Tuesday 23 June at 12:00.
Neil Peplow, Director of Film, Skillset said: "Now in its third year, Trailblazers is a fantastic partnership between EIFF and Skillset creating a focal point for industry to spot emerging UK filmmaking talent. It's fantastic to see previous Trailblazers back at the Festival, building successful careers in this industry."
Notes for Editors
The Edinburgh International Film Festival 17 - 28 June 2009
Industry and Press Accreditation is now open at: http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk
The full EIFF programme is now available in print or online at: http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk
Join the e-list to receive news and info about EIFF 2009 here: www.edfilmfest.org.uk/register
To download the PDF 2009 EIFF Brochure please visit:
http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/about-the-festival
Box office is now open, tickets available either from the credit card hotline on 0131 623 8030 or online at: http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk
Images for the EIFF can be downloaded at: www.edfilmfest.org.uk/press
About the Edinburgh International Film Festival:
Since 1947, the Edinburgh International Film Festival has devoted itself to discovering and promoting the very best in international cinema - and to embracing, celebrating and debating changes and developments in the global film industry. Intimate in its scale, ambitious in its scope, and fuelled by pure passion for cinema in all its manifestations, EIFF seeks to expose the cutting edge of new film talent, in a setting steeped in history.
Notable films premiered in recent years have included: LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, SOMERS TOWN, MAN ON WIRE, WALL-E, CONTROL, THE COUNTERFEITERS, KNOCKED UP, A MIGHTY HEART, RATATOUILLE, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, LONDON TO BRIGHTON, TSOTSI, BILLY ELLIOT, AMORES PERROS, AMÉLIE and YOUNG ADAM.
The EIFF is supported by:
The UK Film Council through its Lottery supported Film Festival Fund.
The UK Film Council is the Government backed lead agency for film in the UK. They aim to make sure that the UK has a dynamic film industry fit for the digital age and to help UK audiences enjoy the best of British and world cinema.
Scottish Screen - the national development agency for the screen industries in Scotland.
EventScotland - the national events agency, working to make Scotland one of the world's leading event destinations. http://www.eventscotland.org
City of Edinburgh Council Culture & Leisure Department
Homecoming Scotland 2009 - a year-long programme of events and activity celebrating many of Scotland's great contributions to the world and providing a platform for Scotland to re-connect with the many millions of people around the globe who have Scottish ancestry or affinity with the country. http://www.homecomingscotland2009.com
Cineworld is proud to be a sponsor of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
About Skillset
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media which comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging and publishing. SSCs are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenge by sector. They are independent, UK-wide organisations, are employer-led, and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the industry.