Award-winning filmmakers prove they have star quality
A GROUP of West Lothian filmmakers have clinched a top prize at the world's biggest arts festival after audiences gave it the thumbs-up.
Writer and director Chris Dunne, 35, and his ZMO production company have been awarded the Cinefringe Film Festival award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for their seventh film, Can't See Me.
The six-minute film was shown five times in August, along with other short films, and Can't See Me received the highest number of audience votes of 156 to receive the top prize.
It is based on ideas from the Sixties "situationism" movement and is an abstract piece of work, much like those produced by acclaimed director David Lynch.
The avant garde drama stars Laura Stephen, 22, from Bathgate, and Martin Henderson, 30, from Armadale, in an experimental look at what controls us and the choices we make or think we make in life.
Father-of-two Chris, from Bathgate, said: "We were absolutely delighted just to have the film shown at the world's biggest and arguably best arts festival, so to win is just incredible.
"We were up against some impressive works, and the top three included a 20-minute high-budget film that we think featured Shaun of the Dead actor Simon Pegg.
"It's especially great as the award went on audience votes, which meant people genuinely liked the film and voted it their favourite.
"The film is our most challenging piece of work to date, both for us to make and for audiences to watch, and it's great to see it receive this kind of recognition."
ZMO's next production, Junkyard Angel, is starting this month and should be ready for audiences by the new year.
The award is the latest in a string of accolades for ZMO Productions, which includes being named a finalist in Kevin Spacey's Triggerstreet Online Film Festival and winning the Palme-Dewar 2009 short film competition.
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Tuesday 07 February 2012
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