A prestigious film festival is set to premiere the first feature from a film-maker from Conwy.
Writer/Director Lowri Roberts, from Dolwyd, Colwyn Bay, graduate film called GIRL has been selected to screen at the London Short Film Festival tonight.
Her film was also selected to be shown at the BFI London Film Festival last October, which was seen as huge accolade for a graduate film.
The 22-year-old former Ysgol Eirias head girl who is based in Bristol and North Wales, specialises in directing, producing and editing.
Lowri developed the film across her final year at University of the West of England after seeing the poster “You’ve lost your home. You’ve lost your family. Now, you’ve got your period,” in a female public toilet.
Lowri said: "I just couldn’t stop thinking about it. How on earth would I cope in that situation?
"What would I do? So that’s why I had to make this film. I had to make people realise that this is a problem."
Lowri is no stranger to film festivals after her co-collaborator Callum Burgess film Chick Flick for Channel 4 was screened at Sheffield Documentary Festival this Summer. Staying in Bristol as a freelancer, she has been snapped up by several production companies to work on a range of projects whilst also developing her own new work.
"At Ysgol Eirias I got into drama and I used to watch films with my dad at home, I remember being obsessed with the Harry Potter films", said Lowri.
"I also used to make films and would edit them together. At first I thought I wanted to be an actor, but as time went on I realised I was more interested in being behind the camera."
She continued: "When I went for an interview to get into the film-making course at UWE in Bristol, I showed them a scrapbook of all my film ideas which helped me get on the course."
Lowri graduated with a first class honours in her degree.
"I'm very proud that my five minute film was shown at the BFI London Film Festival, I've been told it's unusual for a graduate film to be shown in front of what will be a prestigious audience," she said.
"Hopefully it means it will be easier to get funding for my next project."
She continued: "My leading lady in my film is a 13-year-old from Bristol who plays a Syrian refugee.
"I self-funded the film, it cost around £500 to make. My dream is to eventually direct feature films, and am already writing my next project.
"It has a strong female voice, as I think there needs to be more out there."
She added: "A director I admire greatly is Andrea Arnold who made Fish Tank and Red Road, and I was very chuffed when someone told me 'Girl' is very 'Andrea Arnold'."
