Last night saw the premiere of multi award-winning new Scottish feature film Stella, which becomes available nationwide for free via STV Player today and will soon be shown at selected cinemas and events around the country.
Writer and director Jessica Fox was joined by stars of the movie including Edinburgh’s Oli Fyne (who plays Stella Deutch), Louis Hall (Will) and Fiona MacKinnon at The Dominion Cinema for the event – which also raised money for Wigtown Book Festival.
Another of the stars present was the splendid 1936 Royal Enfield motorcycle which sparks the romance between Stella and Will.
Oli Fyne (pictured left) said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to see Stella not only coming to Scottish screen but premiering in one of my favourite cinema’s in my home town. I used to come to this cinema as a child and swoon over all the talented actors projected on its screen.
“To see our film here is amazing. It’s such an honour to have been a part of this project and I’m so proud of everyone involved for all their hard work and dedication.”
Jessica (pictured right), the grandchild of holocaust survivors, created the story as a retelling of early folk versions of Cinderella in which she was a young woman forced to flee the kingdom where she lived with just a trunk.
It follows the story of a German Jewish refugee who finds herself working in a stately home belonging Lord and Lady Rig (Gary Lewis and Susan Vidler). Lord Rig is an aristocratic supporter of fascist leader Oswald Mosely (Rufus Wright).
Herself the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Jessica said: “It’s a huge breakthrough to see Stella on screen in a Scottish cinema just as it becomes available to viewers all across the UK. A premiere at The Dominion Cinema is especially fitting as the business was founded in 1937 – the year the movie is set.
“As the granddaughter of people who had to flee their homes with only what they could carry Stella is a tale that’s close to my heart. Given the number of people having to escape hatred and violence today – it’s also very much a story for now.
“Stella began as a script being written on a kitchen table Wigtown and has undergone an immense journey. It’s a dream-come-true made possible by people being incredibly generous with their help – and by STV Player for supporting new work from Scotland.
“Now we want to use the film to support other Scottish creativity by raising funds for the 25th annual Wigtown Book Festival – one of the best events of its kind anywhere.”
Fiona MacKinnon, known as the “Voice of Scotland” for her work on international promotions for VisitScotland and promoting shows like Take The High Road on STV Player, added: “This is Scottish independent film making at its best. Taking the great story that Jessica wrote and filming on location in Galloway felt very special for all of us.
“The wealth of Scottish cast and crew that came together to create this beautiful film, featured established and fresh talent, many of us with deep connections to Galloway. It’s fantastic to have STV Player make Stella available UK-wide. You’re in for a treat!”
The film was made at locations in and around Wigtown, Scotland’s National Book Town – where Jessica lives – including Galloway House and will be shown at this year’s festival (22 September to 1 October).
Richard Williams, MD of STV Player, said: “We were hugely impressed by the rich storytelling in this independent film and it’s a pleasure to bring it to a wider audience.
“STV Player is the go-to, free streaming destination for top-quality drama from around the world, and Stella is an exciting addition to the many high-profile titles in our content library. As a Scotland-based service, we’re also delighted to be giving a platform to a homegrown production like this, and helping to shine a light on promising new Scottish talent – both in front and behind the camera.”
Adrian Turpin, Artistic Director of Wigtown Book Festival, added: “In the past 25 years Wigtown has grown into a place which not only celebrates literature but is a centre of storytelling and creativity in its own right – Stella is a shining example.
“Jessica, and many others involved in the film, are active supporters of the festival, and we are grateful that they have used this premiere to support our 25th annual event.”
Stella, made by Edward Hocknell’s Fountainhall Films, won international awards at the Melech Tel-Aviv International Film Festival and the Montreal Independent Film Festival.
Stella is free on STV Player – available on all major platforms across the UK – from today.
- Pictures have been sent with this release. More are available here http://bit.ly/3DSy6ig
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About Stella
Synopsis
Stella is a feature film set in Scotland, inspired by the folktale of Cinderella, a story of a refugee. It is 1937 and Stella, a 20 year-old student at Oxford, has lost touch with her parents in Germany. She finds herself homeless and penniless but through the help of a school friend, lands a job as the German tutor at the House of Rig in South West Scotland.
The Rig Family, Stella quickly learns, supports Oswald Mosley and the fascists and she has to subvert her true identity in order to survive. At the same time, she befriends a young poet, Will, who is trespassing on the Rig’s land for the summer, living in a hut near Rig Bay.
They form an immediate, deep romance. Will is determined to marry her, but when the Rig’s host a party to celebrate Oswald Mosley’s arrival, their eldest son returns home for the occasion. Stella’s true identity is discovered and she has to choose between her old life or her new one.
The project was led by an entirely female production team and was also certified as a green production.
- Instagram: @stellathemovie
- twitter: @stellathemovie
Creatives
- Writer/Director – Jessica Fox: A writer and director based in Wigtown with credits that span award-winning film, theatre and TV. She has just wrapped her next film Bottle for a Special Occasion. She creates and stars in the YouTube series My Famous Dead Boyfriend. She is also XpoNorth’s film sector specialist. Her memoir Three Things You Need to Know About Rockets is in development with Annapurna Pictures.
- Producers: Belle Doyle, Tabitha Mudaliar.
Key cast
- Gary Lewis – Lord Rig (Billy Elliot, Gangs of New York, Falling for Figaro, Outlander)
- Susan Vidler – Lady Rig (Trainspotting, Women in White)
- Fiona MacKinnon – Mrs MacKinnon, the housekeeper
- Oli Fyne – Stella Deutch
- Louis Hall – Will
- Richard Hansell – Hugh Roberton (The Secret Garden, Shine)
- Rufus Wright – Oswald Mosley (Quantum of Solace, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Shetland, Operation Mincemeat).
Further details about the cast and creatives are available from the DropBox here or by pasting http://bit.ly/3DSy6ig into your browser.
About Jessica Fox
Writer/Director – Jessica Fox: A writer and director based in Wigtown with credits that span award-winning film, theatre and TV, including the series My Famous Dead Boyfriend and the Dresden Dolls document First Last Tour. She is XpoNorth’s Screen, Storytelling and Broadcast sector specialist and a former NASA storyteller. Her memoir Three Things You Need to Know About Rockets is in development with Endeavour Content.
About Innerwell Media
- Innerwell Media is a female-led production company, headed by Jessica Fox and Tricia Brown, based in south-west Scotland founded to create captivating, original stories that make us see the world a little differently.
- See https://innerwellmedia.com