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Film premiere for Middlesbrough digital scheme

A new North East film is set to premiere in Saltburn next month. Dear Mam, a film by former DigitalCity fellow Ronak Singh, stars Middlesbrough-born Bill Fellows, known for his roles in The Bill, A Touch of Frost and Casualty. Bill will star alongside Jessica Johnson, who appeared in School for Seduction, and a group of East Cleveland youngsters.

Singh, who runs Concept Pictures in Middlesbrough, completed a DigitalCity fellowship at the Institute of Digital Innovation (IDI) in 2006 and now holds workshops and mentoring sessions for other aspiring filmmakers.

Dear Mam, his third film, focuses on the life of a 13-year-old who moves in with her estranged father following the death of her mother. The film examines the relationships between parents and step-siblings.

Singh said: “For this project I have been fortunate to work with some great talent - the kids from East Cleveland were brilliant to work with - and to clinch both Bill Fellows and Jessica Johnson was a real coup for me. My fellowship with DigitalCity really helped me to get into the competitive world of filmmaking and provided me with a range of great contacts and experience which has got me to where I am today.”

The IDI offers three types of fellowships - Junior, Innovation and Creative. Each fellowship includes a grant of between £500 and £4000 and specialist industry mentoring to the fellow - or team of fellows - who works on a self-instigated project of up to six months.

Dear Mam, which is funded by the Redcar and Cleveland Council, will receive its premier at Saltburn Community Theatre on Tuesday 1 July at 6.30 pm.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .