Amanda Redman Says Ealing 'Perfect Place' for Film Festival
TV star was presenting an award at this year's event
And that’s a wrap! The team behind Ealing Film Festival
December 5, 2024
This year’s Ealing Film Festival culminated in a glitzy awards event at Ealing Picturehouse attended by filmmakers from across the UK.
Since it launched in 2020 the event has grown rapidly and just short of 100 films were shown during the fifth festival in venues across Ealing and Acton
The actor Amanda Redman handed out the trophy for the best narrative drama to The Sea, directed by Ian Bartholomew from Cheshire.
She told the audience: “Ealing is the perfect place for a film festival as we have the iconic movie studios, so therefore an historic relationship with film.
“The BBC long had a home here and our streets are constantly being used as locations for TV and film. Also, many people in the industry reside in Ealing.
“I was deeply impressed by the high standard of all the submissions I watched and just hope the Ealing Film Festival can keep growing.”
Amanda Redman (right) with festival MC Andrew Sumner (left)
Rupa Huq, the MP for Ealing Central & Acton, presented the award for the best film of the festival. How to Build a Life is a documentary that tells the moving story of one young man’s battle with Asperger’s Syndrome and the bullies who targeted him because of his condition.
The film was directed by his brother, Matthew Reese, from Leeds.
Rupa Huq (right) with MC Andrew Sumner
“Louis’ story is important. Not just for me, but for the countless others who have been stamped on, trodden over and cast aside for being themselves,” he says.
“In the case of Louis, his Asperger’s prevents him from pretending to be anyone else, which is what makes his story unique. Blending in has never been an option for him, and we both hope this story of his triumph in pursuit of happiness will inspire others.”
Collecting the awards for How to Build a Life
Among more than a dozen other awards handed out, Ealing resident Brian Williams picked up the Sci-Fi trophy for Botching, a futuristic film about robots.
The festival also made special awards to recognise filmmakers who have encouraged diversity and inclusion with their productions.
Sarah Leigh of Inclusivity Films said it was honoured to receive one of the awards adding, “Ealing Film Festival have recognised our work three years in a row, and we appreciate their commitment to highlighting the work of disabled talent.
“The festival shows a fantastic array of films and champion those who are underrepresented in the industry. The festival is extremely welcoming and we had a brilliant time discovering new films and networking with fellow filmmakers.”
Filmmakers at the Ealing Film Festival
The festival organisers have thanked local people for their encouragement since the event was launched during lockdown. In addition to the four local venues - Ealing Picturehouse, Ealing Project, ActOne Cinema and Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery - a number of local businesses have supported the festival.
“When we began, we did not have a single High Street cinema in Ealing,” says one of the festival directors, Annemarie Flanagan.
“So, we started the festival. We wanted to celebrate the borough’s place in the history of British cinema while at the same time encouraging a new generation of filmmakers by giving them a platform right here in Ealing. They just love the whole festival experience and the opportunity to see their films on the big screen.”
Although the festival is now over, one hundred films are available to view, free of charge, on the festival’s Vimeo channel. The online audience can then vote for the People’s Choice, the final award of the festival.
The opportunity to view this year’s films online continues until 27 December.
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