London Animation Director Wins Short Award
The Battle Of Cable Street Will Relive 70 Years On
A film director and animator from London has won the top prize in this year's UK Jewish Film Festival's Short Film Fund Competition. Yoav Segal won a £15,000 grant which he will used to produce his ten-minute film The Battle Of Cable Street.
The film, which will blend live action with animation, focuses on the historic action which was taken by residents of London's East End in the 1930s to stop Oswald Moseley and his British Union of Fascists from marching through the area. Segal's main inspiration comes from his grandfather Ubby Cowan, and the film is based mainly on his memories of the battle, which took place 70 years ago.
"This is an amazing opportunity which I am very grateful to the UKJFF for awarding me, " said Segal. "This year is the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street and the film will spread the message of the event. I am proud of my grandfather and all the other demonstrators and want their strength and courage to be presented to a whole new generation. This film is very personal to my family and me and having the chance to amaze and delight others with the story is wonderful."
"The quality of submissions this year was outstanding," said Judy Ironside, director of the UK Jewish Film Festival. "It was an incredibly hard choice to make, but Yoav's stylish, original and heartfelt presentation stood out from the strongest range of entries thus far. The fact that 2006 marks the 70 th Anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street gives the project even greater pertinence and we look forward to a premiere screening of the finished film at the UK Jewish Film Festival later this year."
The award comes just a few months before the UK Jewish Film Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary. This year's festival is set to be bigger and better than ever, kicking off in early November with a special West End gala followed by a week's worth of films at the Screen On The Hill in London's Belsize Park from November 4-9. Other screenings will take place across the capital until 16 th November, while selected films will be shown across the UK from January -April 2007. The full programme will be announced in the autumn.
Full Report Published in Something Jewish