'The Rocket Post' sweeps board at Stony Brook Film Festival

British film 'The Rocket Post' has won the Festival Grand Prize at the 2004 Stony Brook Film Festival.
The Grand Prize is awarded to the film which receives the highest marks from both the festival jury and audience.
'The Rocket Post' is based on the true story of how a remote Scottish community on the Hebridean island of Scarp became enchanted by a dashing German scientist and his plans to link them to the outside world via a rocket post service during the late 1930s. He struggles to assemble his new invention while the quirky inhabitants look on with a combination of humour, scepticism and distrust. But just when things might come together, the scientist is pressured by his fatherland to assist with its preparation for war.
'The Rocket Post' was directed by Stephen Whittaker and stars Ulrich Thomsen, Shauna MacDonald, Gary Lewis and Kevin McKidd. Stephen Whittaker, who had a long and illustrious career as a television director, died recently aged 56 and so was unable to share in the success of his life’s dream of directing a feature film.
Guy Hands, who financed the film, said: “For the team behind 'The Rocket Post', this is a huge honour. Stephen Whittaker has crafted a beautiful film that manages to be both hugely entertaining and deliver a serious message. For the film to have won the hearts and minds of both the jury and the audience at Stony Brook demonstrates what a great film Stephen created. Its success is a combination of inspired acting and direction combined with a wonderful story. The message of this film is that is that individual sacrifice provides the most enduring defence of freedom. Hopefully, this independent film will get the box office exposure it deserves.”
The Stony Brook Film Festival has become a premier event in the film calendar and celebrated its ninth year at The Staller Center for the Arts, located on the Stony Brook University campus, Long Island, New York.
(GB)