The names of 25 up-and-coming talents in the UK film industry - including young directors, composers, screenwriters, as well as actors - were named today by the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) in Cannes.
Each of the 2009 Trailblazers was selected from the EIFF programme and from the graduation shorts submitted by students of the Skillset Screen Academies.
"Now in its third year,
Trailblazers is a fantastic partnership between EIFF and Skillset
creating a focal point for industry to spot emerging UK filmmaking
talent," said Skillset Director of Film Neil Peplow.
The Trailblazers showcase last year included actors Thomas Turgoose in the Michael Powell Award winner Somers Town and Nichola Burley in Donkey Punch (she's back in Edinburgh this year with Kicks) and directors Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy who premiered their film Helen at EIFF 2008.
EIFF Artistic Director Hannah McGill called this year's Trailblazers "extremely talented and original creators."
"They vary in age and background and experience levels, but they're united by the risk-taking work and their clear potential. Our feature film programme has this year offered us a very inspiring range of new UK talent; while the Skillset Screen Academies always provide a very diverse and interesting set of work and this year is no exception. Congratulations to all of them and thanks as ever to Skillset for their collaboration on this part of our programme."
The 25 Trailblazers
- Actor Emily Beecham (The Calling)
- Screenwriter Leigh Campbell (Kicks)
- Director Lawrence Gough (Salvage)
- Actor Kerrie Hayes (Kicks)
- Director/ Screenwriter Stuart Hazeldine (Exam)
- Actor Katie Jarvis (Fish Tank)
- Director/ Screenwriter Gerard Johnson (Tony)
- Actor/ Screenwriter Bryan Larkin (Running in Traffic)
- Director Justin Molotnikov (Crying With Laughter)
- Actor Kyle Ward (A Boy Called Day/Salvage)
The Trailblazers selected from the Skillset Screen Academy Network are:
Edinburgh Skillset Screen & Media Academy
- Director Eva Pervolovici (Down the Rabbit Hole)
- Producer Shezad Afzal (Down the Rabbit Hole)
- Director Amy Rose (Kirran and the Hatchmaker)
The National Film & Television School, A Skillset Screen & Media Academy
- Director Ralitza Petrova (By the Grace of God)
- Producer Michelle Eastwood (By the Grace of God)
- Composer Stuart Earl (By the Grace of God)
- Director/ Cinematographer Vanessa Stockley (Emma & Ben)
- Editor Mikael Svartdahl (Emma & Ben)
Skillset Screen Academy Wales
- Animator Robert Evans (Crescendo)
- Animator Michael O'Sullivan (Crescendo)
Bournemouth Skillset Screen & Media Academy
- Writer/Director/Producer/Animator David Bell (Toy)
- Director Momodou Musa Touray (Sweet Mother)
The London Film School, A Skillset Screen Academy
- Director Erik Bostedt (Capturing Space)
Skillset Screen Academy at London College of Communication & Ealing Institute of Media
- Director/ Screenwriter Tatiana Korol (Akbulak)
- Cinematographer Kasia Sobocinska (Akbulak)
The Trailblazing shorts programme is screened on Monday 22 June at 12:00 and Tuesday 23 June at 12:00.