University of Nottingham: Film director hosts rare preview of feature film in Nottingham
Film fans in Nottingham are being given a rare opportunity to see a film that’s yet to be completed and speak to its Director.
‘Santi’ is short film that will be developed into a full-length feature next year. It explores themes of cultural identity, immigration and cultural integration through the story of a young Colombian man who receives a voice message from home while grappling with cultural differences at a London dinner party. The film will be screened at a free event, hosted by the University of Nottingham, on 11th October. After the showing, there’ll be an in-person opportunity for visitors to speak to Director Harry Richards and Executive Producer David Sierra Márquez.
Speaking ahead of the screening, Harry Richards said:
I’m delighted to be showing SANTI at the University of Nottingham. It’s very important for us to engage with a diverse range of students and local audiences around the country, whom we hope will connect with Santi’s story and follow our journey from short to feature film over the coming years.
Harry Richards, Film Director
He continued: “The Q&A session will be a fantastic opportunity for film fans to hear insights from our filmmaking process, and the challenges we overcame during pre-production, production and beyond. As a 40-person cast and crew of passionate young filmmakers — mostly recent graduates and students — it makes natural sense for Team Santi to now return to universities to share our experience.”
Santi is the only film of its kind to channel the direct voices of Colombian immigrants living in the UK. It aims to expand the on-screen presence of Latin Americans in the UK and 7.5 percent of its initial budget was donated to Latin Elephant, a UK charity that promotes the inclusion of migrant and ethnic groups in urban regeneration.
The short film was the fastest ever to be funded on the crowdfunding platform Greenlit, and it has already received international attention, having been shortlisted from over one thousand entries for screening at the BFI Future Film Festival in February this year.
Dr Eduardo Guevara, Assistant Professor of Modern Languages, has organised the screening:
“As promoters of the study of modern foreign languages and cultures, we are delighted to host this event. The film will offer an insight into the idiosyncrasies of Latin America, its cultural identity and social values. The interview with Harry Richards afterwards will provide, we hope, an inspiration for any aspiring filmmakers or students who travel abroad as part of their degree programme.
Dr Eduardo Guevara, Assistant Professor of Modern Languages
The screening will take place in the University’s Keighton Auditorium on Tuesday 11th October at 6:30pm.