Glasgow filmmaker Andrew Hunt scoops award for short movie

Nov 5 2009 By Tristan Stewart-Robertson

A GLASGOW-BASED filmmaker has won a top American prize for his short film about a young couple who flirt over a board game.

Andrew Hunt's The Love Game took the prize in New York after being shown across the US in a chain of department stores.

Bloomingdale's Bflix short film competition worked with production company Young Indies to seek out the most talented up-and-coming young filmmakers before selecting five finalists.

The final five, who included Robert Redford's daughter Amy, were then given free reign to create short films covering a variety of themes, which were exclusively premiered at Bloomingdale's flagship store in New York on September 10.

All five films were then shown throughout all their stores nationwide and online, with audiences invited to vote for their favourite entry.

Andrew, who is originally from New Zealand of Scottish parentage, came to Bloomingdale's attention via a short film that he made in Glasgow starring actress Jane McCarry called The Accidental Activist.

The romcom, based on the Make Poverty History march, went on to win a series of awards internationally and was picked up for distribution by Palm Pictures and broadcast in 42 states in the US. Now The Love Game has also proved to be a huge hit with its skillful blend of live action and animation and took the prize, which is to be formally presented later this year.

Andrew will also be invited to take his place on the red carpet at the Spirit awards in Los Angeles celebrating indie film.

He said: "This has been an amazing experience and I'm delighted to have won. I keep pinching myself.

"It's been a long and somewhat arduous journey and I'm thankful to Young Indies for selecting me and for Bloomingdale's for giving me this experience of having my films shown across America and to a global audience online.

"To have won on top of it all is almost too much to believe. Perhaps I'll pinch again!" The film tells the story of two 20-something Manhattanites engrossed in a board game about dating.

While they use the game to flirt with each other, the game pieces themselves come to life and have their own journey in parallel that challenges the rules of the game.

Andrew also has plans for his first feature-length film, which will be a romantic comedy.

The Love Game can be viewed at www.bloomingdales.com/bflix