Young film-makers receive a red carpet festival reception

A team of award-winning movie-makers have seen their latest feature named one of the ‘Best of the Fest’ at the world’s oldest film festival.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Jul 2014, 12:59 BST
Paddy O'Brien, Steven Donnelly and Graham Hughes at A Practical Guide To A Spectacular Suicide in the Filmhouse, Edinburgh 24 June 2014. Photograph: Shona Wass © EIFF, Edinburgh International Film FestivalPaddy O'Brien, Steven Donnelly and Graham Hughes at A Practical Guide To A Spectacular Suicide in the Filmhouse, Edinburgh 24 June 2014. Photograph: Shona Wass © EIFF, Edinburgh International Film Festival
Paddy O'Brien, Steven Donnelly and Graham Hughes at A Practical Guide To A Spectacular Suicide in the Filmhouse, Edinburgh 24 June 2014. Photograph: Shona Wass © EIFF, Edinburgh International Film Festival

Director Graham Hughes writer Keith Grantham and writer/actor Graeme McGeagh - who met while at school in Kirkintilloch - were invited to screen their film ‘A Practical Guide to a Spectacular Suicide’ at the recent Edinburgh Film Festival.

The trio had already been nominated for two Scottish BAFTAs for their “feel-good film about killing yourself”.

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And festival chiefs also put the black comedy on the shortlist for the Michael Powell Award for best British film, which previously has been won by such luminaries as Derek Jarman, Anton Corbijn and Duncan Jones.

While they failed to take home that title, the three friends’ film was picked for the ‘Best of the Fest’ selection.

It saw the film screened again on the final Sunday of the festival, along with all the other most popular tickets of the previous 10 days.

The achievement was all the more remarkable due to the fact that the movie was made for just £3,000 raised by ‘crowdfunding’ cash from family and friends.

Now Graham is hoping to progress his career after further enhancing his impressive CV, saying: “Hopefully now somebody will actually give us some money to make a movie!”