AS IF I AM NOT THERE IFTA LONDON SCREENING

PLUS Q&A WITH WRITER/DIRECTOR JUANITA WILSON

The Irish Film & Television Academy hosted an exclusive IFTA London screening of the IFTA award winning feature As If I Am Not There. The event took place in the Princess Anne Theatre at BAFTA HQ in London with the support of Octagon Films, The Irish Post and The Irish Embassy.

Visit IFTA's photo gallery to see all of the photos from this event.

ABOUT THE FILM

As If I Am Not There is the award winning feature debut directed and scripted by Juanita Wilson (Oscar® nominated for her debut short film The Door) and produced by James Flynn from Octagon Films (Ondine, Inside I Am Dancing). The film won for Best Film, Script and Director in at the 8th Annual Irish Film and Television Awards 2011 and is Ireland's official submission in the Foreign Language Film category for the 84th Annual Academy Awards. The film has also been submitted for the Film Not In the English Language category for BAFTA's Film Awards for 2012.

SYNOPSIS

Samira, a young teacher from Sarajevo assigned to a Bosnian village school in the early '90s, finds her life turned on its head the day a young soldier walks uninvited into her kitchen and tells her to pack a bag.

As the sky turns black with smoke from the burning village behind her, Samira enters a new world, where peace is a fairytale and there are no homes, only camps - transit camp, reception camp, labour camp and death camp. Samira's journey through the tragedy, nightmare and depravity of the Balkan conflict will lead her eventually back to the light, to freedom in Sweden, and with a totally unanticipated reason to hope again.

PRAISE FOR AS IF I AM NOT THERE

"Juanita Wilson's cinematic smarts ensure the film speaks forcefully and intelligently about the plight of a woman caught up in a conflict much larger than herself." "Based on the book by Croatian scribe Slavenka Drakulic, and impressively lensed in gorgeous widescreen, this is a bona fide arthouse title that should turn Wilson into a name to watch. "
Variety

"Few films this year - if not this decade - will challenge you like As If I Am Not There, the debut film from Juanita Wilson." "Natasha Petrovic bravely plays the difficult lead role of Samira"
Toronto Film Scene

"The script is provocative, vicious and unendingly beautiful." "As If I Am Not There is a rousing chant/battle cry that will send you roaring across the plains. It's one of the best films of the year."
Exclaim

As If I Am Not There is directed and scripted by Irish director Juanita Wilson who was Oscar® nominated for her debut short film The Door. The film was developed and produced by Irish producers James Flynn from Octagon Films and Nathalie Lichtenthaeler from Wide Eye Films. Octagon Films, based at Ardmore Studios in Ireland, optioned the book of the same name on which the film is based in the early 2000s and Juanita Wilson adapted the book for the screen. The primary financier was the Irish Film Board.

FESTIVALS
Official Selection – Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2011
Official Selection – Haifa International Film Festival, 2010
Official Selection – Toronto International Film Festival, 2010
Katrin Cartlidge Screening - Sarajevo Film Festival, 2010
Best Feature Film, Long Island International Film Expo, 2011.
Film Council of Europe Award, Istanbul International Film Festival, 2011.
Platinum Remi Award, World Festival, Houston, Texas 2011.
World Cinema Best Picture, Phoenix International Film Festival, 2011.
Best Film, Irish Film and Television Academy Awards, 2011.
Best Director, Irish Film and Television Academy Awards, 2011.
Best Script, Irish Film and Television Academy Awards, 2011.
Variety Director to Watch Award, 2011, Juanita Wilson, Director.
Silver Pyramid, Cairo International Film Festival, 2010.