Screen South Supported Talent Win At London Independent Film Festival

Screen South, the regional development agency of the UK Film Council for film in the South East of England, has announced that it is "thrilled" with the success of regional filmmakers it supported at the recent London Independent Film Festival.
Filmmakers from the South East region won four of the top prizes at the festival, which took place between April 14-19, including Jury Prize for Best Short, Best No Budget Feature, Best International Feature and Best Feature.
The top prize for Best UK Feature was awarded to Jan Dunn and Elaine Wickham for their second feature, 'Ruby Blue'. Starring Bob Hoskins and French leading lady Josiane Balasko in her first English speaking role, 'Ruby Blue' tells the story of Jack, a retired widower consumed with sadness and humiliation, until events force him to confront his prejudices, face his fears and challenge those around him.
The film was shot entirely in Kent and is currently showing at cinemas around the country.
The award comes with a £50,000 prize, which for the Ramsgate-based filmmakers represents a timely investment towards the post production of their recently shot third feature 'The Calling', starring Brenda Blethyn, Susannah York and Rita Tushingham.
Screen South said that it was also a wonderful night for the dynamic duo behind Medb Films, with Elaine Wickham also taking home the Jury Prize for Best Short for her directorial debut 'My Mother', produced by Jan Dunn as part of the Screen South and the UK Film Council's Digital Shorts scheme.
Meanwhile, Margate-based writer/director Simon Wellsford was awarded the Best No Budget Feature for his remarkable debut 'Jetsam'. Earlier in the year, the Screen South supported filmmaker saw his film selected for the Slamdance Festival in Utah, USA.
Finally, Screen South reported that Buckinghamshire-based director Gareth Roberts won the Best International Feature with his thriller 'Kill Kill Faster Faster'. Gareth is a graduate of the Screen South Good Foundations Programme and the film was awarded financial support from Screen South in its early development stages in 2004.
Further information about the films is available at: www.rubybluethefilm.com, www.jetsamthemovie.com, www.killkillfasterfaster.com.
Further information about Screen South is available at: www.screensouth.org.
(KMcA/JM)