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Berlin success for North East writer/director

A major international prize has been awarded to a North East writer/director at the 59th Berlinale Film Festival.

Dan Elliott, from Newcastle upon Tyne, won the Silver Bear for his short film ‘Jade’ at an event in Berlin on Tuesday night. The award follows success for Dan at 2006’s Venice Film festival where he won the award for Best Short Film in Europe for his production ‘The Making of Parts’.

Dan said: “I’m very pleased that Jade was recognised amongst such a strong selection of films.”

‘Jade’ was produced by Newcastle-based Third Films’ Samm Haillay and Duane Hopkins, and was shot on location in and around Blyth in the summer of 2008.

Samm Haillay said: “For Dan and his work to be recognised in this way at a festival as prestigious and important as Berlin is hugely exciting. We at Third were extremely confident in Dan’s vision, and in our and the cast and crew’s ability to help him realise that vision; our confidence has been justified.

“We now look forward to building on this success with Dan as we continue to collaborate with him on short and feature projects.”

‘Jade’ was financed through the UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund and by Northern Film & Media, the Regional Screen Agency for the North East of England.

Tom Harvey, chief executive of Northern Film & Media, said: “The success of ‘Jade’ is wonderful news for North East based production Company Third Films who have established a great reputation for producing work of the very highest standard. My congratulations go to Dan, Samm and Duane and all of the North East crew that worked on Jade.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .