'SICK' WINS GOLD AT WORLDFEST

Epsom, Surrey, UK - April 29th, 2008 - The uncompromising new short film ‘SICK’ (a debut drama from writer/director Mike Rymer) took home the Gold Award this month at Houston International Film Festival (WorldFest) which ran from April 11th - 20th. The film was selected from 1400 entries to receive its US premiere at the event which, after 41 years, is one of North America's longest running festivals.

The award was announced by the jury at a closing ceremony on Saturday April 19th and came just 3 weeks after the film's international launch at France's 24th European Film Festival of Lille. In the same week as its success in Houston, the film also premiered to Italian audiences with nominations for Best International Short at Rome Independent Film Festival and Shadowline Salerno Film Festival. Competition screenings are now planned for Greece, Macedonia and Florida in the coming months.

Note to Editors:
'SICK' is a 15 minute independent drama and a co-production by EgoProject Films and Patchwork Productions. It was produced by Christine Hartland and directed by Mike Rymer from a script that he developed while at the Skillset Screen Academy Wales. The film explores issues of mental health, namely anxiety and depression, is endorsed by Samaritans and was largely funded by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds. It was financially assisted by Film London and The London Borough of Wandsworth, and enabled by Screen South and the RIFE lottery funding programme. More information on the website. EPK available on request.