Sunday 15 March 2009

Claire wins Best Director at BAFTA Scotland

Last night we were in Glasgow for the BAFTA Scotland new talent awards ceremony. Claire was nominated a few weeks ago for Best Director with Echo Wall. Claire was chuffed to bits to get the nomination and both of us were really happy to see a film from the small world of climbing making it into the glam limelight of the mainstream film and television industry.

But we both convinced ourselves totally that this would be as far as it went, and that the other three nominees for Best Director, with an obviously closer involvement in the film industry would have a better chance. 

I sat with Claire while she was briefed along with the other nominees (including the likes of Limmy) about which red carpet to walk down if their name was called out to come and receive an award. I thought it was nice to be invited to spend an evening in such company and see one of these ceremonies ‘in the flesh’. Loud music was played, presenters cracked jokes and announced winners. There was punching the air, shaky hands and tears from winners, and whoops and rapturous applause from a packed grand hall.

Claire’s Echo Wall was up against the directors of the thriller The Dead Outside, urban drama Running in Traffic and the documentary Ballads of the Book featuring contributions from Ian Rankin. We watched the nominees clips play including Echo Wall and then the presenter opened an envelope and announced the winner was Claire MacLeod. 

Claire’s face was indeed a picture. 

Neither of us can still believe that Claire won this award. The feedback we had from BAFTA’s jurors was that apart from the practical challenge of shooting a film like this single handedly and the seriousness of what Claire filmed (her other half risking neck), they liked the personal nature of the film and the appreciation shown of the beauty of the Lochaber in the shooting.

The impact of it in the ‘outside world’ of film was summed up by one of the other nominees. He asked Claire about the clip that played from Echo Wall of me saying:

“If I make a mistake on the climb, the consequences could not be higher for me, or for Claire.”

He asked if I was meaning we’d have to re-shoot the whole climb if I failed.

Claire explained, “No, he was meaning he would hit the ground and die with his wife filming if he made a mistake.”

This week, Echo Wall also won the Best Scottish Film award at the Fort William Mountain Festival, and Best Film at Glasgow Mountain Film Festival.

27 comments:

  1. Congratulations! A thoroughly deserved award for an awesome film.

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  2. Congratulations to Claire and you Dave - that's excellent news and very well deserved!


    Fraser

    PS what was the other nominee's reaction when Claire explained the statement???

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  3. Fantastic news (been looking for it all weekend), so congrats to both director and star! :-)

    Hard to believe anyone watching the film (or even just that part of it?) couldn't grasp the consequences of a slip, but there you are...

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  4. Congrats Claire. Well deserved!

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  5. Fantastic! Nice one Claire. Diff

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  6. Congratulations!! An amazing film. Angela

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  7. Great news Echo wall is fantastic you both can be very proud of your work. Well done claire!!!!
    Mark

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  8. Many congratulations!

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  9. Well Done to you Claire. A well deserved Award and again another great result for 'Team MacLeod'.

    Your talent seems to be endless!!!

    Regards

    Bidean

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  10. Congratulations Claire!

    Hugely enjoyed the film and the award is well deserved.

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  11. Wow, massive congratulations!

    Fair play to the BAFTA people for considering a climbing film seriously, too.

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  12. Congrats !!

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  13. Well Done to you Claire. Well deserved - when's theo scar? Mick

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  14. Congratulations to both! Can't wait to see it - tomorrow at the festival! :)

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  15. Great job and Congratulations to both Claire and you Dave!!!

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  16. Well done Claire! A deserved result for you, Dave and climbing films.
    Thanks.
    Mark.

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  17. Seeing the film was such a positive and motivating experience. it got me thinking a lot about the relationship between two people - in my eyes your dedication, Claire, to support and be there to such an extend for these risky situations and yet not being able to do anything if something turns the wrong way, is somehow more overwhelming than everything else. So nice to have met you both.

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  18. Well done Claire! A well earnt piece of recognition from the outside world for both of you. Al

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  19. Well done Claire! A well earnt piece of recognition from the outside world for both of you. Al

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  20. Well done to Claire! I've still not seen the film yet, it's payday next week so I'll be remedying that!

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  21. Go Claire! Congrats to both of you! Definitely the best climbing film of the year.

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  22. Just read about Claire's success. Is there no end to the talent of this team? Well done!

    Des

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  23. Absolutely well deserved, amazing movie! Bravi!

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  24. Absolutely fan-bloody-tastic! Well done you guys - Dumby Dave and Bafta Babe. I'm just so pleased for you after all your hard work and the sacrifices you've made. Brriwyant!

    Gaz

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