UK Filmmaking Talent At Sundance Film Festival 2009

London, 14th January, 2009 - Sundance Film Festival 2009 sees UK films and talented filmmakers taking it by storm. Many of the UK filmmakers have received support from Skillset funding at some point in their careers, through funding bursaries, talent campuses as Skillset Trailblazers or through careers advice.

Skillset beneficiaries at this year's festival include:

Eva Weber (director) - 'Steel Homes'

'Steel Homes' is a short documentary selected as part of the Documentary Spotlight at Sundance 2009. 'Steel Homes' was made during 'Bridging the Gap,' a Skillset funded documentary shorts scheme at the Scottish Documentary Institute. Eva was selected by Skillset to attend the Berlinale Talent Campus 2006.
Felix Massie (writer, director and animator) - 'Keith Reynolds Can't Make it Tonight'

'Keith Reynolds Can't Make it Tonight' is an animated short film. Felix is a graduate of the International Film School Wales, one of the lead partners in the Screen Academy Wales, funded through Skillset. Felix was a Trailblazer, a joint initiative between Skillset and the Edinburgh International Film Festival promoting new talent, at EIFF 2008.

Janine Marmot, Skillset's Director of Film: "It's fantastic to see these films being selected to play at one of the most prestigious and high profile film festivals in the world. It is testament to the talent of the participants, and the high quality of their training. I'm delighted that Skillset has been able to support these talented filmmakers."

Filmmakers are attending the festival to meet people in the industry, with several looking to attract funding to help develop their short film into a feature.

Eva Weber, Director of 'Steel Homes': "I'm absolutely thrilled to be going to Sundance. I would have never thought that when I applied for the 'Bridging the Gap' scheme that I would be going to Sundance a year later with the finished film. The scheme gives you the creative freedom, but also the support and training to enable you to make the best possible film. The support from Skillset has been vital to me over the last few years; enabling me to make 'Steel Homes' and attend the Discovery Campus Masterschool where I was able to develop my first long-form documentary 'L.A. Storage'. Attending Sundance will allow me to promote my film there and to meet up with other film festival programmers and distributors."

Both the filmmakers are available for interview as they prepare for Sundance Film Festival 2009 and whilst they are at the festival.