Three UK Filmmakers Announced as Finalists For Filmmaker Bursary Award

The first finalist Nicole, started her career as a television screenwriter. She wrote the drama series,’Three Girls’ for BBC1, which won five BAFTAs. Prior to that, she wrote ‘The C Word’, starring Sheridan Smith for BBC1, which was BAFTA-nominated and she also contributed episodes for BBC series ‘Ashes to Ashes’ and ‘The Hour’.

Moving into film, ‘Wild Rose’ which will have its European premiere at the Festival Gala on Monday 15th October is focused around a young woman from Glasgow who wants to escape her hometown and make it to Nashville as a country singer.

Nicole says she held a candle for the film for 8 years and describes her passion for country music as the ‘love of her life’.

Putting this passion into practice, Nicole was also able to co-write the soundtrack with Jessie Buckley, who plays Rose-Lynn. Speaking about the experience, Nicole said, ‘It was heaven on Earth. We were on the guitars for 6 months, which wasn’t required, but we just loved it. The songs were so good!’

The second finalist is Harry. Harry’s first short film ‘Nits’ was BAFTA-nominated and premiered in Official Selection at Director’s Fortnight in Cannes. Her subsequent short film ‘Trip’ premiered in Official Selection at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Her debut feature film ‘Only You’, a refreshingly honest romantic drama has been shortlisted for the IWC Schaffhausen Filmmaker Bursary Award. The movie, tells the story of a couple whose passionate love affair comes under pressure when life doesn’t go to plan.

Harry wanted to write an uplifting love story, but also needed it to feel real; she wants people to leave the cinema feeling that even if their lives aren’t perfect, they’re still good enough.

Speaking about the movie, Harry said, “It’s hard to be in a relationship, everything is tough.” She continued to explain, “You should leave feeling like love isn’t easy to appreciate even when you already have it.”

In 1997 Richard, the third finalist was the first recipient of the Deutsche Borse Photography Prize and the following year BBC2 broadcast his film ‘Fishtank’, produced by Artangel and filmmaker Adam Curtis. He exhibited at the Venice Biennale 2001 and was nominated for the Turner Prize the same year. His work is held in many collections including San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum, New York, as well as both the V&A and Tate Galleries, London.

‘Ray & Liz’, his debut feature film, is based on Richard’s memories of his parents Ray and Liz, their troubled family life and the impact on Richard and his younger brother Jason.

After working on this project for 6 years Richard is ready to showcase his childhood in inner city Birmingham during the Thatcher years to a wider audience.

Taking any excuse to go back home, believing that where you’re born is important, even if it's just a drive through stop, Richard hopes that ‘Ray & Liz’ will raise questions about everyday life and that it will make viewers reflect and feel emotionally moved..

The three finalists were selected by acclaimed directors, Paul Greengrass (‘Bourne’, ‘United 93’, ‘Captain Phillips’) and Edgar Wright (‘Shaun of the Dead’, ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’, ‘Baby Driver’) Amanda Nevill, CEO of the BFI and Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen. The winner, which will be announced at The IWC Gala Dinner in honour of the BFI, on Tuesday 9th October – the eve of the BFI London Film Festival’s Opening Night.

In its third year, the Bursary is presented in recognition of outstanding British talent at the beginning of their careers and is designed to support a writer and/or director by
Providing them with the financial stability and time needed to develop their creativity. The Bursary affords them the freedom to focus on future projects without the pressure of deadlines or the distraction of taking paid work – a precious and extremely rare opportunity for a filmmaker.
Previous recipients include writer/directors, Hope Dickson Leach (‘The Levelling’) and Daniel Kokotajlo (‘Apostasy’).

BFI London Film Festival is Britain’s leading film event and one of the world’s best film festivals. It introduces the finest new British and international films to an expanding London and UK-wide audience and attracts significant international film industry participation. LFF is a compelling combination of diverse films, red carpet glamour, friendly audiences and vibrant exchange. LFF provides an essential profiling opportunity for films seeking global success; promotes the careers of British and international filmmakers through its industry and awards programmes and positions London as the world’s leading creative city.