A WOKINGHAM film director is hoping his movie will get screen time around the world after it was premiered at London’s prestigious FrightFest festival.
Stephen Graves has already received a number of enquiries from movie bosses about the 11-minute short, Dead of Winter, which he also wrote.
It tells the story of Harry, an affluent businessman who leaves a rough sleeper to die in an alley on Christmas Eve.
Stephen described the film as a “classic Christmas ghost story for modern times”.
“Dead of Winter brings the social conscience seen in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, to bear on the contemporary issues of homelessness, the wealth gap and the cost of living crisis,” he said.
“Even in beautiful Wokingham and leafy Berkshire there are people sleeping on the streets but it’s easy to overlook or ignore them.
“In the film, Harry has been on a night out with friends when he almost trips over a rough sleeper. The guy asks for help but Harry walks away, going back to his family and expensive house.
“He is then haunted by a figure that may be a vengeful spirit or perhaps his own conscience.”
The movie was shot over three days in January this year although Stephen began writing the script during lockdown.
It stars Oliver Maltman who appeared alongside Hugh Grant in Operation Fortune, as Harry, and Christina Cole from Casino Royale and the TV series, Suits, as his wife.
FrightFest is the UK’s biggest thriller, fantasy and horror film festival and Dead of Winter was one of 30 films shown at the Empire in Leicester Square which regularly hosts premieres and first runs. The event ran over the August bank holiday weekend.
“I’ve attended FrightFest many times over the years, and to screen there was a dream come true,” said Stephen.
“It was odd but thrilling to see the movie on such an enormous screen and was the perfect way to kick off our festival run. FrightFest is a great opportunity to network. The response from critics and directors of other film festivals was very encouraging and I can’t wait to take Dead of Winter on the road.”
Stephen is hoping his movie can also be screened at the Wokingham Film Society and the Reading Biscuit Factory.
