Carys Watford
(writer/director)
'You Make Me Wanna Shout' Advances to QFs in PAGE Screenwriting Awards!
July, 2020
My debut TV pilot script, YOU MAKE ME WANNA SHOUT, has progressed to the Quarter Finals in the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards in LA!
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To find out more about the competition & to see the list of Quarter Finalists, head here.
'Fly in the Ointment' Progresses to QFs in PAGE Screenwriting Awards!
July, 2019
Bowled over that my feature script, FLY IN THE OINTMENT, has progressed to the Quarter Finals in the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards in LA! From over 7,200 entries, it made the top 10% of entries.
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To find out more about the competition & to see the list of Quarter Finalists, head here.
'Space Girls' is LIVE! We Have Online Lift-Off!
July, 2019
T-minus 3, 2, 1. And we have lift-off! 'Space Girls' is now available to watch for free online with Gunpowder & Sky's mighty YouTube channel DUST. Watch below & share far & wide!
'Fly in the Ointment' wins the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition!
April, 2019
Still in a state of shock about this - but my debut feature script FLY IN THE OINTMENT has won the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Competition!
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A 10 page extract from the film (along with the two other winning scripts) will be performed at a showcase at BAFTA on Monday 15th April.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone at BAFTA and the Rocliffe Forum for this incredible opportunity.
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International Festivals with 'Space Girls'
January, 2019
What a ride the end of 2018 has been travelling with 'Space Girls' all over the US! Since winning the Grand Prize Children's Live Action Award at Rhode Island in the summer, we have screened at over 15 festivals including Sidewalk (Alabama), HollyShorts (LA), Tacoma, Bend, Washington West, Portland, Indie Memphis, Cucalorus, Nitehawk (NY) & St. Louis! I attended as many as I could & adored feeling the response from all the audiences. Looking forward to seeing what 2019 has in store...
'Space Girls' screens at BFI Southbank with UnderWire!
November, 2018
Dream come true to screen 'Space Girls' at BFI Southbank in a sold-out screening with the awesome BAFTA-recognised UNDERWIRE FILM FESTIVAL! Thank you to everyone at the festival for such a special experience & for your unyielding commitment to supporting women in film.
'Space Girls' WINS Grand Prize Children's Award at RIIFF!
August, 2018
From 6591 submissions representing 48 countries, 293 films screened in competition at the Oscar-qualifying FLICKERS' RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. We were so honoured to be one of the chosen films at RIIFF & completely blown away & overjoyed to walk away with the Grand Prize Children's Live Action Short Film Award!
LA Premiere for 'Space Girls' at Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts!
July, 2018
Elated to be able to announce that 'Space Girls' will be having its LA Premiere at the Oscar-qualifying HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL this Summer! It will screen in competition at the festival at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on Hollywood Boulevard.
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Consistently named as one of MovieMaker Magazine's 'Top 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee' it's fantastic to be heading back to the festival that screened one of my early shorts '17 Things I Love About You'. Thank you HollyShorts!
Festival Promo for Flickers' Rhode Island!
July, 2018
Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival asked all accepted filmmakers to film a short video of their cast/crew hitch-hiking to the festival from their hometown for their PSA (Public Service Announcement) Campaign. Had a lot of fun making ours with some of the cast. Thank you to Fabio Santos for filming & editing!
Honoured to be Joining BAFTA Crew!
June, 2018
Overjoyed to have been offered a place on this year's BAFTA Crew Film & TV Programme! A professional development & network programme connecting emerging talent to BAFTA-winners and nominees. Excited for the year ahead!
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More information on the scheme can be found here.
'Space Girls' Heads to Rhode Island!
May, 2018
So unbelievably honoured that 'Space Girls' has been offered early acceptance into the Oscar & BAFTA-qualifying FLICKERS' RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL! The festival runs from 7-12th August - more info coming soon.
Thank you to everyone at RIIFF & congratulations team Space Girls!
We Won 'Best Drama' & 'Audience Favourite' at Sunderland Shorts!
May, 2018
After an incredible couple of months being selected as a Semi-Finalist at Maryland Int'l Film Festival & nominations for both Best Kid Flix Short & Best Director Comedy Short at Twister Alley Film Festival (Oklahoma) - I'm so thrilled that SPACE GIRLS has won two awards at Sunderland Shorts! It was a wonderful weekend of films & a complete surprise & honour to win both 'Best Drama' & also the 'Audience Favourite' Awards. Thank you to everyone at Sunderland Shorts & congratulations to the entire cast & crew of 'Space Girls'!
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Article in 'MovieMaker Magazine'
March, 2018
Was delighted when Washington West Film Festival asked me to write an article for MovieMaker Magazine about my experience at their festival & it has made it to print in Issue 126 - secretly love that my favourite Ethan Hawke is the cover star too!
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I had an absolutely amazing time at Washington West Film Festival last October with my short film 'Theatreland'. Read all about my experience here.
Final 15 Shortlist for Zealous 'Emerge Film Prize'!
March, 2018
Deeply honoured to have made Zealous' Final 15 Shortlist for their 'Emerge Film Prize' with my latest short film Space Girls. The Emerge Awards celebrate the diversity & merits of emerging creative talent across the UK. With judges from Channel 4, BFI & leading film festivals.
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Congratulations to all the other shortlisted filmmakers & thank you Zealous!
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Interview in 'Digital Filmmaker Magazine'
March, 2018
Had a great time being interviewed for Digital Filmmaker Magazine chatting about my latest short film, 'Space Girls', with DP Heath McWaters. Thank you to everyone at the magazine for the awesome 6-page spread in Issue 55! Read the article at www.dfmmag.com
More Festival Success with 'Space Girls'
March, 2018
Over the moon that 'Space Girls' has hit its stride on the festival circuit with lots of great acceptances from some incredible festivals! 2018 is shaping up to be a good one.
Cinequest Never Fails to Rock!
March, 2018
I never fail to have an incredible time at Cinequest Film & VR Festival, and this year was no exception! Was such an honour to screen 'Space Girls' in competition with some amazing audiences. Thanks to Chris Garcia & Bill Maxey for all your support. Hopefully I'll be back soon!
Blast off for 'Space Girls' in Mississippi at Oxford Film Festival!
February, 2018
Had an absolute blast at Oxford Film Festival in Mississippi where we premiered 'Space Girls'! Was so great to see the film on the big screen with a lovely receptive audience. Thank you to Melanie Addington & all the staff at the festival for making me feel so welcome with the world famous southern hospitality!
Great Start to the Year with 'Space Girls' in US Festivals!
January, 2018
Over the moon that 'Space Girls' will be having its World Premiere at Oxford Film Festival in Mississippi this February & will then screen in competition at the Oscar-qualifying Cinequest Film & VR Festival in March!
Head to www.oxfordfilmfest.com for tickets to Oxford Film Festival &
Head to www.cinequest.org for tickets to Cinequest Film & VR Festival
Trailer for 'Space Girls' Launches
December, 2017
You can now grab a sneak peek at 'Space Girls' in the short trailer that has launched online. And there'll be some exciting news about the film coming soon!
Thank You Underwire!
November, 2017
Wow, what a final night at Underwire Festival! Wonderful audience for 'Theatreland's screening in the Quarter Life Crisis strand & a great Awards Ceremony in a room filled with talented, amazing women. Thanks to Anna Bogutskaya (pictured with me here) & everyone at Underwire - you rock!
What a Week at Washington West!
October, 2017
Thank you to Washington West Film Festival for such an incredible week of amazing films, parties & hospitality. Was so honoured to screen 'Theatreland' twice to such receptive audiences!
'Theatreland' London Premiere at Underwire Film Festival!
September, 2017
Ecstatic to officially announce that 'Theatreland' will be having its London premiere at the BAFTA-qualifying Underwire Film Festival this November in the 'Quarter Life Crisis' strand! And as an extra cherry on the top, I've also been nominated for the Producing Award! For the full programme, tickets & more info, head to http://www.underwirefestival.com
New Artwork for 'Space Girls'!
August, 2017
Excited to share the new poster artwork for my latest short film 'Space Girls'. It's a fun adventure film about the wonders of space with a pretty cool band of girls as the protagonists!
'Theatreland' Heads to More Festivals!
August, 2017
Over the moon to find out that 'Theatreland' is making its way to more festivals in the US! 'Theatreland' is an official selection at Catalina Film Festival (27th September - 1st October 2017) & Washington West Film Festival (25th - 30th October 2017). So happy to share the film with new audiences!
Heading into Post-Production with 'SPACE GIRLS'
July, 2017
Just wrapped on my latest short film, 'Space Girls', and excited to be heading into post-production! The film centres around a sleepover with four space obsessed 9-year-old girls who embark on a secret mission in their cardboard rocket. Here's a behind-the-scenes photograph working with DoP Heath McWaters on set.
'Theatreland' Up In Lights at Arizona!
April, 2017
Love seeing 'Theatreland' up in lights adorning the marquee at Arizona International Film Festival last night where we screened in competition!
More "Theatreland" Festival Success!
March, 2017
So happy that 'Theatreland' will be screening at more festivals following its success at Cinequest Film & VR Festival this month. Oscar-qualifying Athens Int. Film + Video Festival (Ohio), Arizona International Film Festival, & Sunderland Shorts, here we come!
At Cinequest with 'Theatreland'!
March, 2017
I had the most incredible time with 'Theatreland' at Cinequest Film Festival (genuinely can't recommend this festival highly enough)! I met some amazing filmmakers & watched some truly wonderful films - and I'll never forget meeting the mighty Jane Lynch!
"Theatreland" World Premieres at Cinequest!
January, 2017
So honoured, happy and excited that 'Theatreland' (a film I wrote, produced & directed) will have its World Premiere this February at the Oscar-qualifying Cinequest Film Festival in California! The festival runs from 28 February til the 12 March and all info and the full lineup can be found on their website: www.cinequest.org.
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Massive congratulations to the cast & crew who all worked so hard to make 'Theatreland' what it is - can't wait to share it with an audience!
"Don't Be Like Dick" World Values Day Film
September, 2016
I was recently commissioned to direct and produce a light-hearted short film for the first global World Values Day - and the film launches today (click on the image to watch)! Richard Lord is a 'man of values' who doesn't walk his talk. Don't be like Dick! #WorldValuesDay
My Interview with Digital FilmMaker Magazine
June, 2016
I'm very flattered that the wonderful team at Digital FilmMaker Magazine have featured 'Theatreland' in a six page spread this month! Along with my interview, the article includes lots of behind-the-scenes photographs from the set featuring many of the cast and crew.
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We're in Issue 36 which can be bought at most magazine-loving newsagents, WH Smiths, airports and supermarkets - or available digitally online at www.dfmmag.com
Storyboard Fun
March, 2016
I love comparing the finished film still with my original hand-drawn storyboards (all painstakingly sketched by myself)! Here's a selection of images from my latest film 'Theatreland' for you all to compare...
The Poster for 'Theatreland
February, 2016
The 'Theatreland' poster has landed! I'm so excited to share the poster I designed from some of my favourite images from the film.
'17 Things I Love About You' is heading to Hollywood!
July, 2015
So stoked that '17 Things I Love About You' has been officially selected for the 11th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival in LA. A massive congratulations to everyone involved in the film. LA here we come!
Ballet & Fashion at the Old Royal Naval College
July, 2015
I was lucky enough to direct my latest fashion film for 'Rosey Posey Creations' on the grounds of the stunning Old Royal Naval College on the banks of the River Thames on the hottest day of 2015. Here's one of my favourite shots from the day...
Fashion Film for the brand 'Rosey Posey Creations'
May, 2015
Started the edit today on my first fashion film set in an idyllic English wood. We managed to capture some really beautiful images, methinks! Here's a little sneak peek...
Red Carpet at BAFTA for Reed Short Film Awards
April, 2015
A massive thank you to everyone at Reed Film for such a wonderful evening at BAFTA in celebration of the Reed Short Film Awards! Although we didn’t walk away with an award, we were so honoured to have been nominated as a Finalist – and all the winners were so deserving. Just wanted to share this lovely picture of my amazing team on the red carpet...
'Time Out Film' Tweet
April, 2015
Cheers to Time Out Film for giving myself and my film '17 Things I Love About You' a special mention in their tweet about the upcoming Reed Short Film Awards.
'17 Things I Love About You' Shortlisted for Reed
March, 2015
’17 Things I Love About You’ has made the Shortlist for the Reed Short Film Competition! So honoured to be selected for such an incredible competition and so happy for everyone involved to be getting some recognition!
'Brace Yourself' screens in competition at St. Louis
November, 2014
What an incredible time at St. Louis International Film Festival. Met some lovely and inspiring filmmakers and watched lots of wonderful films. Thank you to everyone involved for making my first North American festival so special!
Meet Me in St. Louis!
November, 2014
If anyone happens to be in St. Louis, MO on Sunday 23rd November…then pop on down to the Tivoli Theatre where Brace Yourself will be showing as part of the Oscar-qualifying 2014 St. Louis International Film Festival!
First Official Selection at a Major Festival
January, 2014
Delighted to say that 'Brace Yourself' is part of the official selection for the BAFTA-affiliated 11th London Short Film Festival - my first major film festival! Pop on down to Hackney Picturehouse on Sunday 19th January to see ‘Brace Yourself’ screen in competition.
