Local Student Wins Ealing Film Festival People's Choice Award
19-year-old Mia El Chaar chosen for her film 'Breach'
Mia El Chaar (right) with cast and crew on shoot of Breach
Mia El Chaar, a 19-year-old film student from Ealing, received an early Christmas Present when she won the people’s choice award at the 2021 Ealing Film Festival.
Her film titled ‘Breach’, which she wrote and directed, gained the most votes from the public and was announced as winner on Christmas Eve.
It tells the story of Sofia, a girl who dies unexpectedly and finds herself in a waiting room for the dead, speaking to the angel who is guiding her to her final destination. But it appears that the system has malfunctioned - a breach - so was it really her time to die?
Mia is studying for a BA in Practical Filmmaking at MetFilm School. She explained how she ‘wasn’t actually planning on putting it up for festivals, but there was a lot of encouragements from the crew and the cast.’
Astonishingly, this was the first film that Mia had ever made. She said, ‘I had never made a real short film before… it’s really awesome.’
Talking about her first festival experience, Mia said, ‘It was amazing, we went to the two days. We saw the screening of the film and it was super interesting to also see all the other films that were submitted. To meet other filmmakers that are as passionate as you and it’s a really welcoming environment.
Mia is already thinking about next year’s festival. She said, ‘It was honestly such a positive experience, that I would definitely go for it again’.
Ealing Film Festival (EFF) launched in 2020 and due to the pandemic it was held online. In 2021 however, the festival was held in person, in an Ealing church hall turned cinema. It attracted 269 short film entries from 35 different countries across 6 continents.
As well as accepting short films from experienced filmmakers, EFF provides Film students from across the globe, including many here in Ealing, the opportunity to hone their skills and experience Festival life first-hand.
The submission date for the 2022 Ealing Film Festival will be announced soon. It seems the quality of films is only going in one direction.
You can watch ‘Breach’ and find out more information about the film and the festival here: People's Choice Award 2021 - Ealing Film Festival.
Billy Lawrence
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January 6, 2022