Award winning North East filmmaker joins Tees Valley International Film Festival

County Durham's award-winning filmmaker Dean Midas has teamed up with the Tees Valley International Film Festival (TVIFF) to inspire up-and-coming filmmakers in the area.

Midas, from Willington, was crowned North East Film Director of the Year by Darkus Magazine in 2020, and his short horror movie, The Devils Stone, has racked up more than 25,000 views on YouTube. Moreover, it clinched the Audience Choice award at the esteemed Pinewood Studios.

Interestingly, all of Dean's impressive cinematic feats are achieved via mobile phone filmmaking, catching the eye of Michael Luke, director of TVIFF.

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Michael said: "One of the key aims of TVIFF is to create a new generation of filmmakers within the Tees Valley. One of the things we do to encourage this is our Smart Phone Film Category, in which people can submit a film they've made on their phone, a selection of which will be screened over the course of the festival, with the winner being announced by our celebrity guests at the Closing Ceremony"

"Having seen Dean's approach to the filmmaking process and the great success he is enjoying, we thought there no better person to come to the Smart Phone film screenings to take part in a live interview and audience Q&A. The story of his journey will no doubt inspire many more to create their own work, which TVIFF can hopefully go on to showcase and reward".

Dean expressed his excitement about having one of his films showcased at the four-day festival, saying: "I am so honoured to be a part of this amazing North East festival. When I started my mobile film-making, stuff like this was the thing of dreams. I can't thank TVIFF enough".

Dean is currently working on a new film titled Eve Valentine, with some scenes shot at the Manor House Hotel in West Auckland. The Tees Valley International Film Festival will be held at ARC in Stockton from November 6 to 9. More information can be found at www.tviff.co.uk.

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