A short film shot at a café in St Anne's in Bristol and starring EastEnders legend Larry Lamb has been named the best worldwide film by the judges at a prestigious festival that is a qualifier for the Oscars.
Old Windows, which features Larry Lamb as a mysterious visitor to a café run by Laura Bayston, has been named the 'Best Fiction Film' at the Oscar qualifying 39th Tehran International Short Film Festival.
The accolade is huge as the festival received more than 5,000 films from 131 countries, and was one of just 64 to be chosen to be screened at the event - and was then named as the winner of those 64.
Read more: How a Coronation Street legend and local kids brought movie magic to South Bristol
The movie is set in the 1990s and tells the story of a struggling café owner, played by Laura Bayston, whose mundane life is upended when a mysterious gentleman - played by Larry Lamb - comes in for tea and cake.
The short film - it comes in at around 18 minutes long - is the latest short film directed by Paul Holbrook to scoop awards and recognition around the world. It's the second time Old Windows, which was filmed last year at Mary's Café near Netham Lock, has picked up international accolades - back in July it was one of just a handful from all over the world to be screened at the Los Angeles Shorts International Film Festival - which is also a qualifier for the Oscars.
Back then, director Paul Holbrook, from Hartcliffe, said while the screening doesn’t mean he’s flying over to Hollywood, it is great to know big audiences would be seeing the film.
“It’s really validating to see the film gain traction at such a prestigious festival, and to know big audiences are going to see it,” he said. “The film was made for very little money, but with lots of love. Larry and Laura’s performances have been really engaging audiences everywhere it has screened and it’s hugely satisfying to be part of something that seems to talk to people on such an emotional level,” he added.
Last year, his short film Shiney - in which he cast two unknown children in the lead roles of a story about two kids trying to buy their first packet of cigarettes on a South Bristol estate - saw major national film festival awards for the young stars Katie Francis and Caleb Stevens.
And his horror drama Hungry Joe, which featured the harrowing story of a mum struggling to cope with a boy with a never-ending appetite, won awards at film festivals around the world.
Back in Britain, Old Windows is also causing a stir. The film, has been named as a finalist in seven different categories, including for director Paul Holbrook, Larry Lamb and Laura Bayston at December's British Short Film Awards.
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