Justin Molotnikov

2009 SCOTTISH BAFTA WINNER FOR BEST FEATURE FILM “CRYING WITH LAUGHTER”

Justin is an award-winning filmmaker based in Scotland. He started out making shorts 11 years ago, all of which premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival. Since then he and his work have collected an array of awards and nominations – BAFTA, Scottish BAFTA, RTS, Celtic Film and TV Festival, Directors Guild of Great Britain, FUJI Film Award, Belfort Film Festival, Banff International TV Festival  - and not least our own Kingussie Food on Film Festival (Best Scottish Short Film 2008)

His work in TV ranges from children’s favourite (My Parents are Aliens – director) to prime time drama (Taggart – director). From offbeat comedy drama (High Times – director) to international family co-productions (Shoebox Zoo – Co-creator and Series Director)

Crying With Laughter is his debut feature film as a writer and director starring Stephen McCole and Malcolm Shields. It premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival in June 2009 to great acclaim. Justin is a director of his own company, Synchronicity Films.  www.synchronicityfilms.co.uk

Rosie Ellison

Rosie Ellison is with Edinburgh Film Focus, the film office for Edinburgh, the Lothians and Scottish Borders, encouraging and supporting filmmaking in south east Scotland. She recently helped productions including Crying with Laughter, Solomon Kane, Rebus, 39 Steps and The Wicker Tree find locations, crew and services in the area. She also coordinates training, industry events and trade delegations for film/documentary producers. Previously Rosie was a docs development producer and has collaborated on short docs for fun. www.edinfilm.com

Paul Taylor

Paul Taylor, Eden Court’s Film Programmer and Director of the Inverness Film Festival, was brought up in Tain, Easter Ross. Paul studied Media Studies at Inverness College before working backstage in the theatre and becoming a projectionist. It was late night screenings of foreign films on Channel 4 that first got him hooked on cinema. Being behind the projector but also choosing the product on screen is no doubt challenging, and especially satisfying for someone so obviously engaged with cinema. He cites films “driven by character or story” as those which he enjoys most, a trait not found as often in the Hollywood blockbuster as in foreign or independent films.

“If you asked me at college what my dream job would be, this would be it” he said when asked about his consuming interest in film. www.eden-court.co.uk