Skillset award winner set to open at cinemas nationwide
4 August 2009
Skillset New Directors Award winner Sin Nombre is set to open nationwide on Friday next week (14 August 2009). The award, judged by jury, is selected from first and second time filmmakers for an exceptional feature.
Director Cary Joji Fukunaga picked up the accolade at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) for his stunning directorial feature debut.
Sin Nombre also took Sundance 2009 by storm by scooping the Directing award and Excellence in Cinematography. The film, which tracks the fate of three teenagers travelling through Mexico on their way to the US border, was executive produced by Gael Garcia Bernal (The Motorcycle Diaries, Amores Perros).
Sin Nombre translates as "without a name" and represents millions of anonymous immigrants across the world. It is an epic thriller with a love story twist.
Skillset's Director of Film Neil Peplow said: "Sin Nombre is a work of staggering achievement. It is a highly ambitious and accomplished film, let alone as a first feature. Cary has shown himself a future talent to reckon with."
Cary also wrote and directed the short film Victoria Para Chino which screened at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and received more than 24 international awards. He went on to take part in the Sundance Institute Directors Lab, where those taking part work with leading writers and directors to develop their original independent film projects.
Skillset funds a wide range of training programmes for directors, from new entrants to well established professionals. These include ‘Cinema Extreme', created by the UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund and Film4, and managed by The Bureau. It is the only scheme of its kind in the UK, where serious filmmakers can explore their vision in partnership with major financiers who have the potential to finance their first feature. It has catapulted many of the commissioned filmmakers to their first feature, including Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank, Red Road).
Another Skillset-supported scheme is Film London's ‘Microwave', a project run in partnership with BBC Films for ten London-based film companies to produce microbudget feature films for no more than a £100,000 cash budget. The first two completed Microwave films, Mum and Dad and Shifty, both had theatrical distribution.
For more information on all of Skillset-supported and run schemes please visit www.skillset.org/film.
Ends
Media enquiries:
Jennifer Walters
e: jenniferw@skillset.org
t: 0207 713 9812
Notes to Editors
- The Skillset New Directors Award acknowledges new interpretation and innovation. The award, judged by jury, is selected from first and second time filmmakers in the Rosebud and British Gala sections of Edinburgh International Film Festival. The award was announced on 28 June. There is a cash prize of £5000.
- 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.
- Revolver Entertainment, distributing the film, is one of the UK's leading independent film, DVD, book and music distribution companies. Forthcoming DVD releases include: Robot Chicken Star Wars 2, Big Man Japan and Encounters at the End of the World. Forthcoming theatrical titles include The Girlfriend Experience and Big River Man.