New online film competition announces jury members

An Acton based producer and director has been named as one of the judges in the newly launched Ealing Film Festival.

Nick Jones, who has lived in W3 for twenty five years is part of the team behind the new Acton Arts Centre and, along with Amanda Mason has run the Acton Film Club for the last 10 years.

He said, ''I'm delighted to be part of the jury judging the films in the Ealing festival."

He will be responsible for watching a number of selected short films in a specific genre category and deciding the winner.


TV and media producer, Nick Jones

He'll be joining other confirmed judges including award winning documentary filmmaker Jezza Neumann, whose latest film '"American Nightmare, Trump's Breadline Kids" has just been aired on
C4.

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Jezza Neumann                              Coky Giedroyc

''How To Build a Girl" Director, Coky Giedroyc, Sky film critic Mark Eccleston and Content Producer, Michelle Brooks are all part of the Judging team too.

The Ealing Film Festival (EFF) has been set up by a group of Ealing residents, this year primarily an online competition. The aim is to provide an outlet for new and up-and-coming filmmakers from the borough, throughout London, the UK and globally; a positive focus for artists and creatives in this very difficult year in which music, theatre and cinema have all been dealt a massive body blow.

One of the EFF Organisers, Alan Granley, who also runs Ealing's Classic Cinema Club, says: ''The Ealing Film Festival came about because of a love of film, of cinema and the people that make it. We felt it was a need in Ealing with our long history of filmmaking with Ealing Studios in the heart of the borough and shining a spotlight on emerging filmmakers during this time of pandemic. To be honest it feels like such a natural fit. Ealing Film Festival! We are online this year and plan to make the transition to live screenings as soon as is possible. We love Ealing and hope this adds to the vibrancy and creativity of our home.''

EFF was able to proceed after they won a small community start-up grant from social consultancy We Coproduce.

Giving her support to the Film Festival, Ealing Central and Acton MP, Rupa Huq has offered to host the award winners at her workplace. She spoke of the significance of Ealing in the history of the film industry and said '' We're lucky to have such a brilliant film heritage here.. but let's not just look back...there will be a number of exciting things to come out of this Festival including a screening at the House of Commons where the lucky winners films will be shown."

It's also hoped that screenings of the winning films will be held once the cinema opens in the Acton Arts Centre.

Steve Pound, veteran Parliamentarian and the MP for Ealing North for 22 years welcomed the Festival in his own inimitable style saying:''Some people talk of Hollywood, others talk about Bollywood but the real celluloid capital is Ealing. This is the home of cinema, but we don't just have a glorious past here in Ealing, we have a wonderful future, and that future is EFF - the Ealing Film Festival. Join us Online, soon join us in the real world, but above all join us, here in the film capital of the civilised world... Ealing!''

James Murray MP, who took the Ealing North Labour seat after Mr Pound stood down in 2019, has also given the thumbs up and encouraged everyone to support. He said 2020 has been really hard for so many people and this festival was something he was more than happy to promote.

Due to the current climate this first Film Festival will be managed online with further information to be found on the website and entries through the recognised Film Freeway portal.

There are a number of genre categories for Short film submissions (15 minutes or less) as well as additional points of entry for students, smartphone films and a special ''Homegrown'' section - for Ealing residents or for any that feature Ealing in the film. Early bird fee discounts are currently available. Entries are already coming in from Europe and as far afield as Thailand and the USA. 

EFF organisers are seeking local support in this inaugural year, and pleased to announce a number of companies have offered to help. Developers St George will provide the overall winner's cash prize - and the winner will also be awarded with a weekend stay in Ealing courtesy of new Ealing town centre hotel chain Hampton-By Hilton

A2 Dominion, Ealing Distillery producers of Ealing Gin and Pitshanger Estate Agents John Martin Estates are also sponsors.

Any other businesses that can help are being urged to contact info@ealingfilmfestival.com

The deadline for film entries is 2 December with winners to be announced at the end of December.

November 5th 2020