London-based production company thefyzz is delighted to announce that its latest film, Fused, has been awarded the top prize at the prestigious 48 Hour Film Project, being named Best Film – London 2008.
The six-minute short is a slick and engaging nugget of cinematic excellence, revolving around the humorous and unexpected events facing a group of friends at a dinner party when the power keeps cutting out.
‘Fused’ was judged Best Film by respected members of the industry including James King (BBC), Tricia Tuttle (BAFTA) and Briony Hanson (Script Factory). The film also received three more awards: Best Ensemble Cast, Best Use of Line and The Audience Award, making it the most bestowed film of the competition. Having beaten the other 30 entries in the London category, Fused will now compete against the winners of all participating 70 cities around the globe for the elite worldwide 48 Hour Film Project prize.
The 48 Hour Film Project is a wild and sleepless weekend in which teams of filmmakers have to write, shoot, edit and score a movie in just 48 hours. The competition is the oldest and largest timed film competition in the world. Since its conception in Washington DC seven years ago, over 7,000 teams have participated across 70 cities. The competition format is simple: on Friday night you get a character, a prop, a line of dialogue and a genre, all of which need to be included in your movie. 48 hours later, the movie must be complete. Then it is shown at a local theatre and judged by the general public and a round table of industry judges.
‘Fused’ features a talented cast of up and coming stars, including Iddo Goldberg, who plays the role of Ben opposite Billie Piper in ITV2’s ‘Secret Diary of a Call Girl’ and who will appear alongside Daniel Craig in Edward Zwick’s war epic ‘Defiance’ early next year. Other cast members include Ashley Madekwe (ITV2’s ‘Secret Diary of a Call Girl’, BBC’s ‘Trix and Flipside’ and ‘Cassandra’s Dream’), Ed Weeks, a well-established comedian and part of the duo Tommy and the Weeks, and Greg Finnegan, Tom Turner and Marny Godden, whose comedy act, ‘The Grandees’ had a 5 star show, ‘The Box Of Cricks’, at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
‘Fused’ is produced and directed by Wayne Marc Godfrey, former Director of Acquisitions & Development for Goldcrest Films International and the producer of this year’s indie comedy, ‘Three And Out’.
‘Fused’ was scripted by Suzanne Heathcote, whose play, ‘Plot 10’, was commissioned by Hampstead Theatre as part of the Heat & Light season in 2007. Another of her short films, ‘Covered’, was runner up for Best Newcomer at this years Rushes Soho Shorts Festival. Suzanne is currently under commission with BBC Radio 4, where her radio play ‘Taken’, will be broadcast in early 2009.
Wayne Marc Godfrey said of the experience making ‘Fused’: “Story is the star for short films, well for any length of film really, and as soon as Suzanne came up with this one we were on to a winner. It was a pleasure working with such a talented and experienced cast and crew. The team had a great weekend – I think that’s what happens when you use real wine – and we are all thrilled to have won the London heat and to now represent England against the rest of the world.”
www.thefyzz.com
