A Scottish Cinderella wins big at international film festivals.

A NEW Scottish feature film set in Dumfries and Galloway has won awards at the Melech Tel-Aviv International Film Festival and Montreal Independent Film Festival. Stella, inspired by Cinderella, premiered at the Israeli film festival this month, where it won an international Best Drama award, then on Tuesday Director Jessica Fox won Best First time filmmaker at Montreal Independent Film Festival. Set in 1937 and filmed at Galloway House, the film highlights a lesser known and dark moment in Scottish history – when Dumfries and Galloway became one of the main centres of support for Mosley and his British Union of Fascists. Writer and director Jessica Fox, who lives in Wigtown and is the granddaughter of holocaust survivors, said: “To have been named Best Drama at the international film festival where Stella had its world premiere was beyond our wildest dreams. "We're so to win the Best First Time Filmmaker award at the fall 2022 Montreal Independent Film Festival. It's a special city and special festival, a real champion of independent filmmakers. We hope to have the honour of having our Canadian premiere there and showcasing the talent and beauty of Dumfries and Galloway in Canada." [caption id="attachment_45707" align="aligncenter" width="510"]

AWARD WINNING . . . Writer-Director Jessica Fox[/caption] Stella is also a celebration of the artistic talent of south west Scotland today, as many of the team including the writer/director, producers, musicians, cinematographer, costume designer and cast members are based in the region. Including actor Gary Lewis, who lives in Dumfries and Galloway and whose credits include playing Colum MacKenzie in Outlander, said: “It was a joy to be a part of this film – the story is great, the location is stunning and everything else, from the camera work to the music, was excellent." [caption id="attachment_45709" align="aligncenter" width="680"]

Actors . . . Gary Lewis and Susan Vidler as Lord and Lady Rig[/caption] The film was also shot on location at Galloway House – with other scenes being filmed in Wigtown. Jessica Fox, added: “Dumfries and Galloway is home to a huge amount of movie talent – from performers to producers, designers, cinematographers and many more. It also offers some absolutely amazing locations. “One of our aims with Stella was to provide a showcase for all this, and hopefully attract other filmmakers to take advantage of all we have to offer.”