Bristol Film Festival: In Conversation with Director Rebecca Manley
This year's Bristol Independent Film Festival has unveiled an anthology of modern, cinematic treasures exploring complex narratives and tumultuous relationships, with the nominees and award winners including some great new faces to dramatic film. Several of the shortlisted winners for 2020 have also featured the work of some fantastic female directors, producers and actors. One such person is Rebecca Manley, a BAFTA long-listed Writer and Director, whose short film creation Of Thread and Almonds has received the BIFF Award for Best Drama. The film itself is set in 90’s London, and unearths a tale of unforeseen love between Sullivan, a talented Seamster working in a museum's cloakroom, and PhD scholar Mandel. The film was produced by Sonya Sier (Fresh Light Films) and features powerful lead performances from Miles Yekinni (Stay Woke, Play the Game) and Sophie Harkness (Cursed, The Fall).
I got in touch with Rebecca to speak with her on Of Thread and Almonds being selected for Best Drama, her creative process as a Director and Writer, and the importance of highlighting support for female and non-binary creatives in film. She's also offered us an exclusive glimpse into her secret inspirations behind the origins of the film.
Rebecca: I have always been interested in exploring love and interpersonal relationships in my narratives but from unusual or unexpected angles. Of Thread and Almonds deals with the themes of love and human connection in a surprising way.
As a Director & Writer, Rebecca has said she finds scribbling down thoughts in a notebook is the easiest way to catch all the ‘fly away’ creative ideas and not stifle anything before a story has had a chance to develop. Thinking wistfully back to the beginnings of the film's first steps into creation she goes on to share: (Spoiler Alert)
Rebecca: I have a pair of dungarees that were my mum’s when she studied at Central St. Martins in the ‘60s. When I wear them, I feel a sense of strength and support as if her love and experience is somehow imbued in the fabric itself. If I ever lost them I would be devastated. This made me think about identity and more specifically our relationship with, and the significance of, our clothes. A powerful connection is formed with a piece of clothing that has seen the wearer through seminal experiences in life. In all cultures clothing and stitching, holds a certain mysticism and importance in terms of identity and a sense of self. Everyone has an old band T-Shirt in a drawer somewhere which brings poignant memories and feelings to the surface. To me this very strong personal connection seemed the perfect starting point for a story.
Rebecca's main background in film-making lies in animation, and she has designed and art directed much of her own work. She explained that the paintings of Edward Hopper and Tom Ford’s debut feature A Single Man were both key inspirations visually for the film, as well as 90s TV show My So Called Life. Diversity was also of primary importance to the film's production in front of and behind the scenes, and led to many of the choices the team made for the film.
Rebecca: I was extremely lucky to work with such a talented and enthusiastic team and I was excited to be selected for the Bristol Independent Film Festival, as I love the city and it is the home of Aardman Animations, the production company that represents me as a Director. I was absolutely over the moon to win the award for ‘Best Drama’, an extra special one as it is the film’s first. I also think it is extremely important to highlight support for female and non-binary creatives in film because at the moment our voices are not being heard nearly enough. If you only support one type of film maker, you are only going to see a very narrow spectrum of stories. People need stories. I think that is something that has become very clear during these dark and challenging times. We are drawn to them for comfort and in order to make sense of the world around us. There are such a vast and beautiful array of voices and narratives in this world that I believe it is imperative, and our duty as filmmakers, from commissioners, to financiers, producers and directors, to represent them properly.
For more details and information of the film Of Thread and Almonds you can visit their website.
