London Film School student Christopher Manning's short film JAMIE has been accepted into TWIST: Seattle Queer Film Festival, making this the film's third festival acceptance. TWIST started out as the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival in October 1996, and has grown into the largest event of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, gaining industry and audience recognition for showcasing the latest and greatest in queer film, from major motion picture premieres to emerging talent. An important venue in the Seattle film scene—and the social event of the season—the festival provides unique opportunities for visiting and local filmmakers to engage and entertain over 10,000 attendees.
JAIME tells the story of Jamie, a quiet loner in his early twenties, who is clumsily looking for his first relationship. Shy and lacking self-confidence, his past experiences with men have yielded disappointing results. One Sunday, he meets Ben. As they spend the afternoon together, Jamie begins to wonder if he has finally met his match.
Christopher Manning earned a BA from Columbia University in New York, where he studied History and Film before working as a Script Reader, Production Coordinator and Assistant Director on various fiction and documentary films as well as for television. He is an Alumnus of the Telluride Film Festival's Student Symposium Program and is currently enrolled on the MA Filmmaking course at the London Film School. His short JAMIE recently won the Alternative Spirit Award at Flicker's RIFF (2016 edition). He has several fiction projects in development.
You can read interviews with Christopher about his short, and the award here:
Interview published during RIFF.
Interview published after the film's premiere at Sicilia Queer Film Festival in June.