09/12/2009

Bruce Webb’s comedy The Be All and End All [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] has won Best First Film at the Monte Carlo Comedy Film Festival.

The jury cited teen actors Josh Bolt (Nowhere Boy [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) and Eugene Byrne, who made their debuts in the film, for a Special Mention.

The film had its European premiere at the Rome International Film Festival in October, where new Italian distributor Diva s.r.l snapped it up following interest from several distributors at the festival. Diva has scheduled the film for a Spring 2010 theatrical release. International sales are being handled by London-based High Point Films.

Director Bruce Webb made the transition from producing films (Copying Beethoven, Death at a Funeral [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) to directing this film, his first feature, which took four years to complete.

High Point’s managing director Carey Fitzgerald said, “Bruce Webb has directed a British film which is one of those real gems that appears seemingly from out of nowhere from time to time. High Point is very pleased to be working with Diva on the Italian release. They saw it in Rome with a paying audience who, on the surface you would expect not to be able to pick up all the nuances of our humour, but not only did they appreciate it but they laughed and cried in all the right places. Josh Bolt and Eugene Byrne have also done a fantastic job charming the audiences at the festivals.”

Spanish film Pagafantas [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Borja Cobeaga
film profile], directed by Borja Cobeaga, picked up the Best Film award and Special Jury Prize for actor Gorka Otxoa. Another Spanish film Gordos [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Daniel Sánchez Arévalo
Interview with Daniel Sánchez-Arévalo,…
film profile] won Best Screenplay for writer/director Daniel Sánchez Arévalo, Best Actor (Antonio De La Torre) and Best Actress (Leticia Herrero).