Isleworth man's anti bullying film up for award

A SHORT inspirational film in which a victim of bullying uses swimming to triumph over his problems has been nominated for awards at an independent film festival.

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Alix Culbertson

15:36, 3 MAY 2013
Updated16:09, 26 SEP 2013

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A SHORT inspirational film in which a victim of bullying uses swimming to triumph over his problems has been nominated for awards at an independent film festival.

James Webber, of Oak Lane, Isleworth, is the writer and director of 11 minute film, Driftwood, which has been nominated for Best Film and Best Cinematography at The British Independent Film Festival.

The 32-year-old was due to find out today (Friday) at The Empire in Leicester Square if he has won the two categories with his London based film about a boy with an abusive father who is also targeted by a gang but overcomes his struggles by training hard to become a champion swimmer.

This is not the first award Driftwood has been nominated for - it has been in the official selections at festivals all over the world, from Newport Beach Film Festival and Bootleg All-Stars New York to several others in the UK and one of the most prestigious, Cannes Film Festival.

At the recent Sunset Film Festival in Los Angeles, it also won Best Foreign Film.

James, who is the co-founder of Fingercuff Productions with fellow filmmaker Jamie Hooper, said: " As a writer and director, stories of adversity have always fascinated me. How people from difficult backgrounds, with limited means, strive to achieve their dreams. It is the passion behind these stories, the struggles and the unspoken difficulties which ordinary people overcome that inspired me to make Driftwood.

"I just wanted to make a really good film that people will enjoy. Having Driftwood being chosen for the short film corner at Cannes was a life long dream.

"I'm really excited about being nominated at The British Independent Film Festival and finding out the film had won Best Foreign Film at Sunset Film Festival in LA was of course great news, the whole team behind Driftwood are thrilled!"

An exclusive screening of Driftwood will be held tonight (Friday) at 8pm at The Empire in Leicester Square to kick off The British Independent Film Festival, followed by a question and answer session with James and the other film's directors. For tickets visit www.empirecinemas.co.uk

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