7 November 2011
Screening at Freezone Human Rights Festival in Belgrade. Most of our Kitchen Sink Collective films are being shown there.
5 November 2011
World Premier at DokumentArt in Poland (Szechin) and Germany (Neubrandenburg). It is part of the International Competition. Another screening on 9 November.
10 MAY 2011
ONE WORLD MEDIA AWARD CEREMONY - What a day
{The One World Media Awards recognizing excellence in media coverage of the developing world.]
I was very nervous and thought that I should better prepare the speech, still believing that we wouldn't win as they probably would've called a day before, I thought. I wrote my meaningful speech on the paper next to me which happened to be the 'Jobseeker's Allowance' leaflet.
I was wise enough to not bring it with me and tried to memorise it.
At Kings Cross Station I met some of the crew Adam Thomas (editor), Lennert Busch(composer) and Jay Price (sound designer). Adam was super relaxed, Lennert couldn't stop joking and Jay
just recovered from alcohol poisoning. Best conditions to keep me distracted.
We went to the bar, leisurely drinking a coke and a 18.55 off we went to the One World Media Award Ceremony!It took place in Kings Place, a building modern and friendly looking with the canal at the back, so Lennert and me instantly thought of Amsterdam.
Jay, Lennert, Adam and Ling before the Awards ceremony,
making most of every single fish on stick. Throughout the evening we made sure that the Kitchen Sink Collective finds out via Twitter what is happening.
After a short introduction by the guest speaker Alan Duncan MP, Minister of State, the very great Jon Snow from Channel 4 News came onto the stage to present the whole ceremony.
Student Award was the second category. When they showed the clips I thought that ours looked so boring as they had chosen an important but very quiet bit.
I was very flattered by what the Jury said: 'Miles Apart is made with maturity and confidence and stood out above the other entries because it feels
like a film, rather than a documentary. The lack of commentary and style of shooting permits us to peer into the family life of three generations affected by the difficulties of rural migration.'
Paul Roseby, director of The National Youth Theatre came onto the stage to open the envelope. And the winner is: 'Miles Apart'.
'Oh my god. That's us!' I stood up, quickly looked back and realised that my team comfortably decided to stay seated and to support me from there.
I was so surprised, happy and scared. I had to control my breathing with every sentence. I am very nervous in front of a group of people and cameras so I tried not to think but focussed on saying calmly my lines. I managed to add some words about why I was making the film and was still making sense. I am glad.
It was amazing to see the big smiley faces of the team when I went back to the seats.
It is a real honour to see that the Jury had such a deep understanding of what we were trying to achieve.
Generally I thought that this event had a good variation of categories: radio shows, new media, drama, documentary, journalists.... all people that have telling crucial stories around the world for so many years.
My extra bonus to the award was to meet Jon Snow. I read his biography so I couldn't resist to have it signed. A very great man.
I had drinks and a nice chat with a few major journalists and commissioning editors. It is always hard as first time filmmaker to get into that circle so it was nice to be able to poke my nose in. Lindsey Hilsum is one of the journalist who makes that evening very memorable for me. She won an award for the Journalist of the Year, a very inspiring woman.
Jay Price, Lennert Busch, Ling Lee and Adam Thomas (behind the iPhone)
Thousand thanks, congratulation and hugs to the Zhu Family in China, the wonderful crew, tutors, mentors, nfts, my family and Kitchen Sink. DOWNLOADS and LINKS
• press release pdf
• Student Jury citation pdf
• One World Media Student Award Winner
• realscreen article
• National Film and Television School article
13 March 2011
SCREENING IN BEIJING - less than a year after shooting!
I went to China for two weeks to shoot a taster tape for a new film and Vicky Mohieddeen was so amazing to organise a little premiere screening of Miles Apart and a showcase of my work at her weekly event ELECTRIC SHADOWS.
It was such a beautiful screening, especially because Laomao and Meizi from the film were there. The children chosed to stay at home unfortunately. Everyone was so moved and interested in the story. My fear was that Chinese would find this story rather common but it was rather the opposite. The Q&A turned into a lively discussion, also including Laomao and Meizi.
