Margate Artist's Animated Film on Addiction Wins Top Award at Chester Festival
An animated short film titled "Small Hours," which delves into the harrowing world of alcohol addiction, has made a powerful debut at the Chester Animation Festival, securing the prestigious Audience Award for Best Animated Short Film. The film is the creation of Margate-based artist Oscar Wyndham Lewis, who both wrote and directed this deeply personal project.
Star-Studded Cast and Global Festival Run
The film features notable voice talent, with Robert Bathurst, renowned for his roles in "Downton Abbey" and "Cold Feet," starring alongside Edward Franklin from "The Sandman" and "Vikings: Valhalla." Bathurst lends his voice to Jackson, a painter whose life has been devastated by addiction, while Franklin voices Francis, Jackson's long-lost childhood friend whom he reaches out to in a desperate bid for help.
Following its successful premiere, "Small Hours" is now set to embark on an extensive global festival tour, bringing its poignant message to audiences worldwide.
Festival Debut and Acclaim
The film had its first public screening on March 14 at Storyhouse in Chester, England, as part of the 12th annual Chester Animation Festival. This 11-minute masterpiece went on to win the festival's top accolade, the Audience Award for Best Animated Short Film.
Wyndham Lewis expressed his elation, stating, "I am absolutely thrilled that Small Hours has won this award. It's always hard when your work is first put out into the world, especially when it's a film that's so personal. So to get an award at the very first festival it's screened at is an incredible result. I'm enormously grateful to Chester Animation Festival."
Eight-Year Production Journey
The creation of "Small Hours" was a labor of love that spanned eight years, with production delays occurring as Wyndham Lewis himself battled alcoholism. The film is a hand-painted animated short, with each frame consisting of an individual oil painting on glass. Over 5,000 images were meticulously produced to complete the film.
Andrew Gregory, health editor of The Guardian, is producing the film through his production banner Brungerley, adding further credibility to this impactful project.
Critical Praise and Artistic Vision
Robert Bathurst praised the film, describing it as "both deeply moving and very touching." He elaborated, "This film is a window into the world which Oscar has created, reflecting a state of mind which many people could recognize. I admire Oscar as an animation artist. He has a painterly quality which creates his own reality and dreamlike urgency. The swirling style lends itself beautifully to the subject matter."
Personal Inspiration and Hopeful Message
Wyndham Lewis first drafted "Small Hours" in 2017, but the project was shelved due to his own struggles with addiction. He shared, "For about a decade, my life was stunted by alcohol. When I started work on the film, I was in the depths of addiction and that got in the way. But I finished it as someone who is three years in recovery."
His recent experience of helping someone close to him with substance use issues also influenced the film's direction. Wyndham Lewis hopes the film will resonate with those affected by addiction, offering a message of hope. He emphasized, "Though the film has dark themes, it carries a hopeful message. That message is simple: if someone in your life is suffering with addiction, the best support you can offer is just to show up. There's no need for grand gestures or profound words - simply being there can make all the difference. Addiction is often faced alone, and no one can get better by themselves."
Upcoming Screenings and Local Roots
"Small Hours" will next be screened at the Kent on Film Festival on Saturday, March 21 in Ashford. This event celebrates films made in or about Kent and is presented by Screen South and Screen Ashford. The film was written and directed in Margate, where Wyndham Lewis lives and works, highlighting the local artistic talent contributing to important social conversations.
