Stephen Fry sends message of support to film festival

Sir Stephen Fry has sent a message of support to a festival celebrating up-and-coming film-makers.

Fakenham Film Festival will bring together short productions from local independent makers and feature films with a Norfolk connection, at the event which runs from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October.

Among the line-up is Fry's 2003 film Bright Young Things, which he directed and scripted as an adaptation of Vile Bodies written by Evelyn Waugh.

In his message he said: "I really am delighted this is taking place. It is very good for Fakenham and very good for Norfolk."

This year's festival, organised by Active Fakenham, is said to have attracted about 30 independent film submissions made by young people across a variety of genres.

In his message on the festival website, Fry apologised for not being able to make the event as he is filming in Madrid, Spain.

He said: "I am so thrilled there is a Fakenham Film Festival and more thrilled than you can imagine that you are choosing to play amongst other things my film, Bright Young Things. I do hope you all enjoy it, I had an amazing time making it."

Bright Young Things is set in 1920s London and features Emily Mortimer, Stephen Campbell Moore, James McAvoy and Michael Sheen with Fry making a cameo appearance.

Richard Crook, chairman of Active Fakenham, said the message meant a great deal to the "small, volunteer-run community organisation".

He said: "Having Stephen's support helps us shine a much brighter spotlight on those film-makers and on Fakenham's independent cinema.

"Fakenham may be a relatively small town, but we want to demonstrate that you don't have to travel to a major city to discover exciting new film-making."

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