Congratulations to multiple award winning filmmaker Dr. Mikey Murray, lecturer in Film Production and Screenwriting at LSFM, for his latest short Natalie (2017) to be screened at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) 2017. He posted on social media that he was “absolutely thrilled to announce that Natalie will have its world premiere in competition at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on June 24th.” Writer and Director Mikey is pictured on-location with actress Kate Dickie (aka Lysa Arryn in Game of Thrones, 2011-14) who played the lead role. She has been involved with the story for many years and Mikey’s idea was a 2015 Kick- starter project. Kate said: “I was drawn to the script of Natalie because I love Mikey’s writing – it’s really honest, raw and truthful. I loved the story and subject matter of the film.” 

The Scottish film – about ‘a transexual who travels home to her father’s funeral in order to gain closure with her prejudiced family’ –  is in the EIFF Best Short Film category.  Mikey, founder of Indie-Lincs international film festival, has been selected to take part in the EIFF Talent Lab development sessions to support aspiring film- makers. Mikey said: Of course, I’d like to dream that I have some brilliant individual talent as a screenwriter and filmmaker, but the truth is that I have only ever made successful work through meeting and working with hugely talented collaborators. I was able to cast Game of Thrones actor, Kate Dickie in my short film recently because my high school friend (who I still work with) was able to put my screenplay in her hands.

Natalie included post-production collaborations with LSFM staff, Chris Hainstock, David McSherry and Jon Holmes in sound design, music composition and grading respectively. I’ve also been able to work with talented graduates from the school and was delighted to have LSFM graduate Tara Clements on my 4 day film shoot in Scotland. Being able to work with highly motivated students and staff is the wonderful thing about being a part of this creative hub of people at LSFM. Additionally, I am now working with a co-screenwriter Jimmy Osborne and I also met him at the University of Lincoln.

You can read Mikey’s story, where his love of film has taken him from London to LA, in a previous post with advice for those looking for a career in film and/or television here.