Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded researcher Clio Barnard, from the University of Kent, has won two top awards at this month’s BFI London Film Festival for her first feature film, The Arbor.
Clio’s film The Arbor, which she both wrote and directed, won the Sutherland Award for ‘most original and imaginative first feature screening at the festival’ and Clio herself won the Best British Newcomer award.
The Arbor, which has just gone on general release in UK cinemas and was described recently by the Guardian as ‘a superb new film by British artist Clio Barnard’, tells the story of playwright Andrea Dunbar, who died in 1990 at the age of 29, and her daughter Lorraine, who was ten years old at the time. The AHRC research funding afforded Clio the time to record audio interviews with Lorraine and neighbours from the Bradford estate where Andrea was brought up, which were then edited to form the audio screenplay to which actors lip-synch in the film. The footage is also intercut with extracts from Andrea’s first play.
Honouring new and emerging British film talent and recognising the achievements of a new writer, producer, director, actor or actress, the award for Best British Newcomer was presented to Clio by Andy Serkis. Jury member Tony Grisoni commented: "This film, which touched all of us, both challenges conventional filmmaking and at the same time engages with real lives. A stunning debut."
The longstanding Sutherland Award is presented to the director of the most original and imaginative feature debut in the Festival. Clio Barnard took the award for The Arbor, which was presented by jurors Michael Winterbottom and Olivia Williams. Festival artistic director and chair of the jury Sandra Hebron said: "The Arbor is a brave and highly original debut with many levels of experimentation on show. Clio Barnard's film tells a fascinating story with sophistication and haunting emotional impact."
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Notes to Editors
Media Contact: Jake Gilmore, AHRC Communications Manager; T: 0797 099 4586,
E: j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk
The Arbor is presented by Artangel and UK Film Council in association with Jerwood Charitable Foundation, Arts Council England and More4. An Artangel Production. Producer Tracy O'Riordan. Directed by Clio Barnard
You can learn more about the film at:
http://www.artangel.org.uk//projects/2010/the_arbor/about_the_project/the_arbor
Reviews and articles have included:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/oct/21/the-arbor-film-review
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/oct/17/the-arbor-review
http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?FID=136978
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11581747
Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC): Each year the AHRC provides approximately £112 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,350 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.