The Carer will have its World Premiere Screening at The Palm Springs International Short Film Festival! The Carer is in Official Competition at this Oscar Qualifying festival and film market, which runs from 21st to 12th June.

Christine Parker will be attending the fest, one of the oldest and largest of its kind with over 300 films screening.

“I am really delighted to be at Palm Springs and really looking forward to seeing the film with a public audience!”

Christine

The Carer has won five prestigious Awards of Excellence, from the US based The Best Shorts Film Competition. The awards were given for Christine Parker’s short drama, The Carer (2016), which was commissioned by Derby Quad for its Shine a Light series of short films.

The Carer features exceptional performances from BAFTA nominated actor Peter Eyre and newcomer Barney Glover and was honored for its script, directing and audience impact.

Writer Director Christine Parker said that she was thrilled by the nods and particularly pleased for ‘Seen Ya Rights’, the real life campaigners for dignity in elderly-care who inspired her story. “The Carer is about what happens when an elderly Gay man feels pressured to return to the closet in his dying days. It’s a story for everyone, about finding away to retain your identity and dignity at a time of crisis.

Lead actor Peter Eyre added: I was working in New York in the theatre when Christine sent me the script of The Carer. I was very struck first of all by the originality of the theme. There are not many films made about elderly people, and certainly very few films, or none about elderly homosexual men. What I really loved about the script was the delicacy of the story telling, and a kind of poetic element which made it subtle and touching, not preachy or journalistic.

‘We are very proud and very happy’ said Executive Producer Anna Seifert-Speck, ‘It’s a great start to its festival run.’

The Best Shorts Competition recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Entries are

judged by highly qualified professionals in the film and television industry. Information about Best Shorts and a list of recent winners can be found at www.BestShorts.net.

In winning a Best Shorts Award, The Carer joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award including The Weinstein Company for Market Hours, Disney Interactive for Vinlymation: A Love Story and Oscar winning production Mr. Hublot from Laurent Witz from Luxembourg. Rick Prickett, who chairs The Best Shorts Competition, had this to say about the latest winners, “Best Shorts is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world from powerhouse companies to remarkable new talent. The Best Shorts Competition helps set the standard for craft and creativity. The judges were pleased with the exceptional high quality of entries. The goal of Best Shorts is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve.”