Just a couple of weeks after the selection and win for Snapshot at The Wigan & Leigh Film Festival in September, comes the notification of making the Official Selection for The North East International Film Festival in Newcastle.
Euphoric, I tried to keep myself busy as opposed to sitting and stewing whilst counting down the days until the subsequent screening and Awards Gala Ceremony.
Snapshot screened as part of a series of short films entitled “One In A Million” at The Star & Shadow Cinema in Newcastle, as well as The Showcase Cinema in Teesside. It was also due to screen at Gala Durham, but was cancelled due to technical difficulties.
I myself was ready to attend the Star and Shadow screening at 4pm, then make my way over to the Awards Gala Ceremony after.
Unfortunately, and typically, in the week’s run-up before I was due to set off on the Sunday, I’d been struck down with a rotten cough and cold for the week that I tried to stave off for as long as possible, then lost sleep the night before over a migraine painkillers wouldn’t touch.
Though testing negative for COVID, I was just too unwell to travel, begrudgingly succumbing, feeling gutted that I was unable to make it.
Unsure of Snapshot's reception, the whole weekend looked incredible with an amazing looking line-up of films and some well-deserved wins from some short films I recognise that screened at Wigan. With unfortunately no wins this time, I'm always over the moon at the fact this short is reaching wider audiences, and having that greater exposure of its message, showcasing each creative person involved. The gratitude has been beyond words at the very notion of a successful selection at a film festival due to the steep competition, hence my shock at the previous selection and win.
Though out of competition, Snapshot has also screened at The Bolton Film Festival as part of Film Hub North’s Showcase, and was also selected to screen at Sheffield’s Showroom, where funnily enough, is where the story of Snapshot began.
Back in 2018, a BFI Talent Executive found my short documentary “Asperger’s: And What Of It?” that I had posted on the BFI Post Room on a whim, following a recommendation on a post I saw on Twitter. The short, was then programmed into the following month’s Sheffield’s Showroom Shorts Showcase, receiving a great reception.
From there, this is where I was introduced to who later became my Producer of Snapshot. Multiple tea and coffee sessions workshopping ideas, before the development ball started rolling, and Snapshot is where it is today.
Though also unable to attend Bolton or Sheffield due to personal commitments, I was informed of a great reception from both of the audiences there, with the short’s first review, thanks to a friend of the lead actor of Snapshot Josh Ward.
As said, Snapshot is a very personal story, which is why I currently have a lot of emotional investment behind it’s Film Festival journey and seem to be overly joyous at each positive step the film takes.
Where it ends up next, who knows? Part and parcel of such a journey is its’ rollercoaster elements. Every rejection there’s the low, then every selection and win there’s the high(s).
In between, I’ve been applying for various applications and other competitions, for which I should hopefully hear back outcomes and results from very soon, with the edit for Small Changes coming along nicely.
For now, let Snapshot continue its film festival journey, hoping to spread its messages of acceptance and hope further afield.