CENSURE AT CANNES 7TH ART AWARDS

CANNES 7th ART AWARDS. INTERNATIONAL AWARD BEST COMPOSER GOES TO THE BAND NOISE IN YOUR EYE FOR THE FILM CENSURE DIRECTED BY RICHARD BAZLEY.

It was with great anticipation that I hopped on a plane to go to Cannes. Although I had been in the film business for years, the bulk of it had been in animation . Many years ago however with the decline of Classical Disney style animation I had found myself drawn more and more to Live Action and Directing. It isn't that large a leap and all the skills are transferable. Many animators have crossed over including Tim Burton (Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd) Brad Bird (Mission Impossible), Rob Minkoff (The Lion King, Forbidden Kingdom) and many more. Okay so I am a dreamer but if I had never been a dreamer I would never have got to Disney in the first place!

We had already won 4 awards for CENSURE at Silk Road Film Awards Cannes (SRFA) which is a seasonal competition and the best of which would be shown at its sister yearly Film Festival Cannes 7th Art Awards. We had now been selected from the 200 winners and Censure was now part of the remaining 38 selected films. There was no guarantee we would win anything, but hey it was Cannes so well worth a trip!

As I got on the plane my mind wandered back to when I ran a germ of an idea past screenwriter Neil Bason. Neil is based in Cornwall but we had already established a rapport developing a number of projects together including one based on my Grandfather "George and the Dragon" (see "George and the Dragon - Movie article on LinkedIn) . Neil had crafted a superb and effective story. Originally it was conceived in a way that it could be shot in lockdown. However as we came out of lockdown I said to Neil we had a great film that we should make regardless.

I met up in Cannes with the Music team "Noise In Your Eye"?which is Adrian Chivers and Daniel Pennie (more info at https://www.noiseinyoureye.com/ )?Adrian is based in the same Village as myself Box, in fact the whole film was shot here within a couple mile radius. As well as some established actors, all and everyone was chipping in and helping, from the local Butcher to the Postmaster! For the film to now become such an international success was quite surprising!

The event was held at Espace Miramar on the Cannes Beach Parade and incredibly impressive building https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/60150?Even at this time of year it was incredibly warm of which I was acutely aware due to the inappropriately warm clothing I had worn but in my excuse it was cold and rainy when I left Bristol AIrport!

We were welcome by the Festival President Anara Musrepova. In fact Anara was founder of both Silk Road Film Awards and Cannes 7th Art Awards. I have to admit I am in awe of what she has done in creating these events. At the request of the Festival we had it translated and subtitled into French. It seemed to make our mainly Black and White film even cooler seeing them on the film.

The selection of films was extensive with films from far and wide including Australia, USA and Ukraine. ...and Box! I didn't prepare a speech as I didn't want to expect anything and it feels like jinxing it and having winged speeches in the past. I did have a few things in mind. As the presentations began the awards were all lined up on a table, the presenter to the right of the stage and and Interpreter to the left, the judges in between. At first there were no speeches so where I normally gather my thoughts and am prepared I just relaxed and watched the proceedings. Suddenly I got a nudge in my chest from Daniel who was sitting by me. We had got INTERNATIONAL AWARD BEST COMPOSER GOES TO THE BAND NOISE IN YOUR EYE FOR THE FILM CENSURE! Apparently I could gather the Director Richard Bazley was present! He certainly was! This was confirmed by the Interpreter and I rushed to the stage. Daniel picked up the award and we shook hands with one of the judges. As we were departing I heard something behind me. It was Adrian, he had grabbed the microphone and passed it to me. Of course it took me unawares but managed to blurt out as gracious a thank you as I could and genuinely said how special this was to us and Adrian thanked all the musicians involved.

Needless to say we were all on a high and more than ready for the magnificent Gala Dinner at Annex Beach on the front. At last I could take off my "posh shoes" and only shoes I had brought and wished I had broken in properly before I travelled to Cannes! Well fed and watered we all walked back along the front with me carrying my shoes! After several days of agony I was tempted to launch them into the sea but then had second thoughts as I needed to walk to the railway station the next day! Well we all suffer for our art!

Now for the future! We are shooting a new film short in December with pretty much the same team. Neil Bason has once again come up with a cracking story and script! Then a potential micro budget Feature to be shot in Bristol. All going well we will be doing a few more trips to Cannes!

CENSURE imdb awards list. Over 40 awards and counting.

CONGRATS TEAM CENSURE! John E Fry, Neil Bason, Connor Wulfric, Vivien Taylor, Elaine M Ellis, Adrian Chivers, Daniel Pennie,?Noise In Your Eye, Angela Hughes, Samuel Benjamin Wain, Mellissa Bear, Peyton Harvey, Caspar Hubbuck-Whitehill, Sarah Till-Vattier, Neville Farmer, Chris Cunningham, Niki Moules, Harry Chivers, Lorna Bews, Dave Hill, Naomi Fenna, Nick Mason, Darcey Stone, Tom Conti.

https://rmbazley.wixsite.com/censure