A 12-year-old filmmaker from Basildon has been overwhelmed by the support she has received for her award-winning short film, Lady Oriole, following the release of her film last week.
Kinara Dyer-Tuitt, a young screenwriter, filmmaker and performer at The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA) in Wickford, won a young screenwriter award for the film, which was directed by PQA alumni, Eden Quine-Taylor, who is currently studying filmmaking at University.
Lady Oriole is a touching story blending folklore and coming of age revelation. The central character, Mercy, discovers her late grandmother’s journal reveals more than she could ever have imagined about her legacy, and uses its contents to find the strength to help her father cope with their loss.
Kinara wanted to dedicate the film to her late grandmother by incorporating her culture and heritage, and stories about the Caribbean island, Montserrat. The title of the film is named after the Montserrat national bird, the Oriole.
“The finished product is so beautiful and very emotional. I am still amazed that a little idea my mum and I tossed around at our dining table has now gotten wings to fly. It is so amazing, and I love the feedback we have received from everyone who has seen it, and I hope it continues to touch a lot of people all around the world” says Kinara.
Kinara’s mother, Katheleen Dyer-Tuitt says, “Seeing the finished film Lady Oriole has been so emotional, I cried because it has been such an emotional journey, from start to now. We hope the movie is an inspiration to everyone who takes the time to watch it. My family and I are so grateful to everyone who believed in this project and lovingly brought it to life, and we hope it inspires everyone on a global level.”
Film director Eden Quine-Taylor, said, “It was a real full circle moment for me. I am so fortunate to have been presented with the opportunity to direct Lady Oriole and to work with those who showed me the ropes, alongside being able to inspire and ignite the filmmaking spark in other young people.
“As soon as I heard about the story Kinara was creating, I knew I had to be involved immediately. It is a really impressive concept and I found myself drawn to the magical realism Kinara created.”
Lady Oriole is now officially available to view on PQATV.com and PQATV YouTube.
The film will also be shown at the annual PQA North and South regional film festivals later this year, with the London showing happening at the BFI on Sunday 2nd November and Sheffield’s Cineworld on 16th November.
PQA Wickford is dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive space for young people to discover themselves whilst learning the latest techniques in performing arts, including a diverse range of classes in film and TV, comedy and drama, and musical theatre.
“We are so proud of Kinara and what she has accomplished with this award-winning short film. Having been a young performer with us for the past two years, it was clear early on that we had a passionate and creative filmmaker amongst us. We can’t wait to see what Kinara does next,” says Teri Levett, Principal of PQA Wickford.
