LOSING GRACE
The story follows the relationship between a mother and daughter forced to flee an abusive home and go on the run as they assess their options. A taut drama that goes into the impact of the trauma as each try to find their footing and explore the aftermath.
We have partnered with the charity organisation, Survivor Family Network, and 20% of our fundraising will be donated to them.
Project
LOSING GRACE
The Story
Louise seizes the opportunity to flee her domestic abusive situation, knowing full well that if she leaves without her daughter, she will lose her forever. With her husband away she convinces her daughter Grace to take a trip to a faraway island. Here she has to gain her daughter’s trust and build a fractious relationship that has suffered over the years as a result of the domestic abuse. Nothing is black and white in this tense drama.
From Short to Feature
In 2020 we crowdfunded for our short film called LOSING GRACE. The film has gone on to play at BAFTA and OSCAR qualifying festivals world-wide, winning us 12 awards to date. We are excited to be in a position to now be making this into a feature with Producer Sonia Machado-Hines from Los Angeles. A claustrophobic thriller that goes into the impact of the trauma as each character explores the aftermath.
We have partnered up with the Charity Survivor Family Network, and 20% of everything we raise on the site goes towards the brilliant work they do to help women fleeing domestic abuse.
We are targeting to shoot July 2022 . We are great believers of making things happen and making our own luck. We invite you on this journey. This will be a powerful female led production working with integrity and respect with a full commitment to green Filmmaking. We worked with green principals on the short and this is something we are very committed to.
CROWDFUNDING
We jump at this crowdfunding challenge. We love the community this creates and the platform it gives us talk about the film and the issues it deals with. For us the need to speak about safe refuge is a pressing one. Domestic abuse is a global phenomenon and circumstances make it hard for people to escape. Crowdfunding gives us autonomy. We don’t have to wait for anyone’s permission.
We have partnered with Survivor Family Network to bring awareness to the tremendous work they are doing on the ground with women forced to flee an abusive relationship. This can be a the beginning of a difficult journey, especially for families in court. Often, abusive patterns continue, usually through child arrangements. There work is essential. 20% of what we raise here will go to support Survivor Family Network.
The Team
We have gathered a powerhouse of women to support this endeavor.
Sonia Machado-Hines (Producer)
Sonia Machado-Hines is a director, producer and entertainment executive who focuses on not just her own work, but also on helping visionaries realize their own potential success. Sonia Machado-Hines was born and partially raised in Havana. Her native Cuban roots have instilled in her a high work ethic that is inspired by the love of many cultures, which enhances the quality of her work. Her production company Black ++ Productions was inspired as a result of her success with producers, writers and other Hollywood executives over the years. Sonia Machado-Hines first foray in the industry is the dramatic short "Karbouj." Shot partially in Beirut, it explores the impact of family ties (or sad lack thereof) through the simple act of cooking. Sonia started a career coaching business for Entertainment Professionals in 2004 and was promptly awarded the title of "Emerging Business of The Year" by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Sonia's concern, commitment and responsibility for inspiring others keeps her actively involved in raising the productivity standards and self-esteem of those in need by working with the non-profit programs at NYFest and LAFest founded by good friend, Dylan Leiner - Executive Vice President of Sony Pictures Classics, and Jeff Saunders in New York City.
Liz Farahadi (Producer)
As well as being a phenomenal actor she is also an incredible force behind this project. She has been one of the driving forces behind the Soho London International Film Festival and which she now directs.
Athena Mandis (Producer/Writer/Director)
Athena is an award-winning filmmaker and a Lecturer in Film Practice at QMUL, whose journey began in theatre with the David Glass Ensemble. Her work has screened at festivals world-wide. Her feature film script XENOS won best script at Cyprus IFF 2018, selected onto the Torino Film Lab 2019 and shortlisted for Sundance Screenwriters Lab 2021. Losing Grace has been screened at over 50 IFFs and has won numerous awards and is being developed into a feature for 2022. Her short, TWO SISTERS, was a finalist on last year’s The Pitch Fund competition and selected for this year’s Pitch Lab in Drama, Greece, will be shot next year in Cyprus.
Jenna Suru (Line Producer/ Executive Producer)
Jenna Suru started her career at the International Sales Team of 2 top Distributors in Paris, Gaumont and SND (M6 Group). Jenna has been working for Canneseries (Cannes Series Festival) since the kickstart of its first edition in 2018, managing the relationships with French and International Authors and Producers, and kickstarting the In Development Forum co-organized with MIP Markets in the Palais des Festivals. She is also the Director of Programming of the Paris International Film Festival.
Beatriz Delado-Mena (Cinematographer)
Bea was the DP on the short film Losing Grace. She has worked on many award-winning shorts and features as well as shooting commercials for high-end clients. Thrilled to be working with her on the feature. Her craft is sensational.
https://www.beatrizdelgadomena.com/
Every little bit helps, But £25 and above gets you a big shout out across all our social media platforms. Remember 20% of everything we raise goes back to Survivor Family network to support the brilliant work they are doing.
Your contribution will feature on IMBD
A signed poster from the principal cast and crew
Athena Mandis the writer director and producer of Losing Grace is film practice lecturer at Queen Mary University she can really help guide an passionate emerging and aspiring filmmaker. A great gift for a loved one who wants to break into the industry and is bewildered by the direction to take.
you will be one of the sole recipients of owning the original script from one of the cast or crew, with all their specialist notes
Your name will appear int he film credits
Come and have your hair and Makeup done, photos of your experience and be in the film with your own walk role part.
(subject approval)
As the film travels the globe you and a guest will be given 2 tickets to attend a screening of your choice. Travel and accommodation not included.
An opportunity to shadow one of the Heads of Department for the ultimate on set experience. Choose from
Director
Director of Photography
Art Director
We are shooting in the UK and Cyprus. State your preference. You will need to be able to pay for your own accommodation and travel to set. We will cover your food.
We have a total of 6 shadow experiences - 1 for each Hod on each of the sets. We will be contact with you to choose. First come first served.