Prosopagnosia: For Your Consideration at the 95th Academy Awards

Steven Fraser's short documentary Prosopagnosia is currently qualified for the 95th Academy Awards and the voting has begun! The film has been submitted by distribution partner The New York Times in the Best Documentary Short category.

We are very excited to qualify and our keeping everything crossed that this Scottish, Stop Motion Animation and deeply personal account of Prosopagnosia can make it to the Academy Award shortlist and maybe bring a gold trophy home to Glasgow in March 2023.

The film

Steven's film uses expressive animation to investigate intimacy, communication and memory.

Prosopagnosia

Prosopagnosia means face-blindness and to understand this neurodiverse behaviour, the contents of a memory box are intricately explored.

Steven uses his sketchbooks, photographs and diaries to tell a unique, engaging and personal story.

In partnership with the New York Times - you can watch the film via their Op Docs site.

If you are a voting Academy member in documentary - please watch the film and of course - vote for it if you like it.

The film had its International Premiere at the world renowned IDFA Documentary festival in Amsterdam. Steven returned to screen the film again and take part in multiple Q&A sessions as part of the IDFA School Programme Screenings.

Other screenings

Since the premiere, the film has appeared at over 40 International festivals and had many more screenings. It was Grierson nominated and has won multiple awards for best film, experimental awards and a variety of grand jury prizes.

The Sebastopol Documentary Festival was our first Academy Award qualifying festival where the film won the Jury Award.

Sebastopol Jury Note:

“Beautifully shot, edited, and produced.

A warm, uplifting story about resilience and creativity. “A personal, vulnerable, and vibrant exploration of a fascinating yet little known topic – face blindness.

The jury was impressed by the visually rich design and stop motion animation, poignant narration, and profound questions raised.”

North American screenings and successes

The film continued stateside success and won an inaugural Marvels of Media award sponsored by AMC networks. Following this Steven attended the event to pick up his prize and artefacts from the film are now hosted in the Museum of the Moving image (MOMI).

The film is continuing to show across venues in North America across 2022 and 2023 thanks to Reel Abilities.

Watch the trailer

Watch the film online via the New York Times

We were thrilled when we gained support from the New York Times and if you have a subscription - Prosopagnosia is now featured to view on their Op Docs site.

Further information

• Developed and supported by the Scottish Documentary Institute's highly acclaimed Bridging the Gap programme and Screen Scotland.

• Written, animated and edited by Steven Fraser

• Produced by Reece Cargan

• Composed, sound designed and mixed by Tom Drew

• Colourist: Jack Lang at MTP

Ghoul Friends wins best pitch in Poland

Bombito's Young Adult TV series in development 'Ghoul Friends' won best pitch at Kids Kino Industry Forum in Warsaw. The project was presented by Bombito producer Reece Cargan who also accepted the award.

Reece Cargan pitching at Kids Kino

Kids Kino

The forum is Poland's first international event for films and TV series aimed at a young audience and is part of the Kids Kino International Film Festival.

The award

Ghoul Friends won the m:brane Exchange Award for the Best Pitch at Kids Kino Industry.

"m:brane selected Ghoul Friends because it’s a challenging and inspiring story, told in an exciting context. We’re really looking forward to seeing this TV series".

The award was given by Lennart Ström, Managing Director at m:brane. The award is an invitation to pitch at the m:brane forum in Malmo in March 2023.

The series

Ghoul Friends is Young Adult TV series of 10 x 30 minutes. It is an LGBTQIA+ Paranormal thriller - with a healthy dose of comedy.

Synopsis

"Sent from LA to spend the summer in rural Yorkshire, American teen Mia discovers there’s more to England than she thought when she starts to fall for a girl haunted by a vengeful ghost".

Background

We received funding from Screen Yorkshire's FLEX Development Lab and from the British Film Institute’s Young Audience Content Fund to run a writers’ room. During the room we worked with a group of amazing writers to discuss, dissect and construct our first season. Following this we collated our pitch deck, show bible and detailed episode outlines. ​​ Please get in touch to view our materials.

'Just Jackie' commissioned by Short Circuit & BFI NETWORK

Thrilled to announce that short film 'Just Jackie' has been commissioned and will be heading into production.

Short Circuit announced today that 'Just Jackie' is one of the seven films that will be produced through the BFI NETWORK backed short film scheme Sharp Shorts.

The film

Just Jackie is about plus-sized 9 year old Jackie, who loves dressing up in his mum’s clothes, seeks sweeties (and approval) from the girl-next-door.

Just Jackie is an uplifting bubblegum pop tale of friendship, acceptance and belonging.

The team

Writer: Ali Taylor

Ali was on the inaugural BBC Writersroom Scottish TV Drama Room and has been a finalist twice for the BBC Writer's Prize for Drama. Her pilot 'The Hotel at the End of the World' was shortlisted to the last 21 of the C21 International Drama Competition.

“I’ve wanted to tell a story about a young queer character that’s joyous and celebratory for some time.

Thanks to Sharp Shorts’ support, I’m delighted and excited to be going into production with ‘Just Jackie’.

Michael was the first person I told the idea to and, from the outset, I had my heart set on them directing, so I’m thrilled to be working with them as well as our wonderful producers, James and Reece.”

Director: Michael Lee Richardson

Michael Lee Richardson is a writer and youth worker based in Glasgow.

Michael’s short film, My Loneliness is Killing Me – directed by Tim Courtney – won a BAFTA

Scotland Award in 2018. It has been shown on BBC Scotland, and at film festivals around the

world.

"I was so, so excited when Ali sent me this script. I love the warmth of her writing and the compassion she has for her characters - and I was over the moon when she asked me to direct it!"

Michael currently has film and television projects in development with Kindle Entertainment, Balloon, Projector Pictures, Tigerlily and feature project A Good Spell with Bombito.

Producer: James Heath

James Heath is a BAFTA nominated producer of feature film The Fitzroy (SXSW award winning), written and directed by Andrew Harmer ‘The Fitzroy’.

James joined MTP as an Exec in 2019, with a focus on developing a slate of original projects and international co-production.

"Delighted and excited to have the support from Short Circuit to bring Ali’s bold and uplifting script to life.

Michael is the most exciting director imaginable to get the opportunity to bring this script to the screen and its thrill to be partnering with an experienced and skilled producer as Reece – I can’t wait to get started!"

Producer: Reece Cargan

Reece is a producer and founder of Bombito Productions.

"I'm really happy to begin working with Ali and her amazing script and continue my working relationship with both James and Michael.

Extra delighted that, I'm able to produce Michael's first narrative short as director - while Michael and I continue to progress our feature project: 'A Good Spell' together".

Reece was recently selected by Screen International as a Rising Star Scotland.

The scheme

In April 2022, Short Circuit invited filmmaking teams to submit a one-page outline of their film idea. After a rigorous selection process, 12 ideas were selected to take part in further development.

The twelve teams then pitched their project to a panel that was formed by Short Circuit Talent Executives; Claudia Yusef, Head of Development at BBC Film; and Brian Coffey, Producer at The Highland Midgie for the chance to receive production funding to make their film.

Next steps

We are excited to work with experienced casting agent Anna Dawson to find our perfect Jackie and start pre production in earnest with a view to shoot late 2022 or early 2023.