LONDON FILM FESTIVAL SELECTION!!

This is slightly old news, but for the purpose of making this blog up to date, we're thrilled to say that Baghdad Express a short drama that Georgie produced through Tom Benski's Pulse Films (http://www.pulsefilms.co.uk/), funded by the UK Film Council New Cinema Fund through Film London, has been selected for the BFI London Film Festival 2008. Written and directed by award winning writer Nimer Rashed (http://www.nimer.co.uk/), Baghdad Express tells the story of Maya, a teenage girl working in her father's Arabic restaurant who is forced to decide which comes first - her dreams or her family. More info here: www.nimer.co.uk/baghdad. We're looking forward to the red carpet and are planning on over-dressing for the evening!

We're also holding a screening and celebration for cast, crew, family and friends at Soho House next week. Long may it continue!

Baghdad Express

• Writer/Director: Nimer Rashed
• Producer: Georgie Weedon
• Co-Producer and Casting: Rose Wicksteed
• Line Producer: Ross McKenzie

CAST

• MAYA Georgina Leonidas 
• TALAL Riz Ahmed
• NAWAF  Nayef Rashed
• INTERVIEWER  Elizabeth Garvey
• LOUISE  Erin Wilson
• MAYA'S MOTHER Alice Brickwood
• YOUNG MAYA Ingrid Biggs

For the rest of the brilliant cast and crew: (www.nimer.co.uk/Baghdad/Cast_and_Crew)

Story Studio, Playback Theatre and September filming

We've completed filming and editing of Arben and Eliza (Working Title)! Team gingerWINK consisted of Luke Rodgers, Jeton Xhulina and Georgie. We have been using playback theatre techniques to garner people's true stories to make into films. In this case Jeton brought his experience as a refugee from Kosovo to the table. We (Georgie, Luke and Jeton) worked up who the characters of Eliza and Arben were, and what they might do. The story charts their meeting and falling for each other. We wanted to make the characters as different to each other as possible. We started with the premise that Eliza was English, worked as a photographer, and was happy-go-lucky. Arben on the other hand, was a refugee from Kosovo, and although had lived here for over 10 years, lived a somewhat safe life.

Old friend, and BAFTA award winning (Best Newcomer) DOP Tom Swindell (http://www.youtube.com/tomswindell) then came up from Bristol to film. We started at 1pm and wrapped at about midnight. The first cut of the film is 13mins, but it will come down to 8mins or so. We're going to enter it for UK Film Council Completion money and then plop it into the festivals so watch this space!