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The Pitch/Scot Openshaw
UK News

Young filmmaker scoops budget prize for Elisha movie

Harry Lighton received the figure, which will go towards production support and advice from industry professionals, after he won The Pitch film competition.

The 24 year old told Premier: "I wanted to do something with a modern relevance and anti-social behaviour towards minorities, towards outsides is something which is very current at the moment, so I considered ways I could bring that currency to the Biblical story."

"I've just finished my first draft of the script ...about a week ago and so I'm waiting to have a meeting with the producers. I know that the next six months is going to be a lot of work but it's a brilliant thing, I think."

Harry's film idea, Leash, is based on the true story told in the book of Kings of Elisha arriving in Bethel before being taunted by a group of youths.

Featuring the story of a Polish teenager and her single mother who suffer xenophobic abuse, Leash makes reference to a spate of hate crimes against Poles in the wake of the EU referendum in June 2016.

Elisha inspires the character of Alicja and Bethel is replaced with an English seaside location, while the insult of "go up, you baldhead" against Elisha is replaced by "go home".

Nev Pierce, editor of Empire magazine and one of the competition judges at The Pitch - which champions Bible-based movie ideas - said: "Harry is fantastically confident and wasn't thrown by any of the questioning in the boardroom.

"He was very clear in his delivery, articulate and engaging and has made a very smart take on the biblical text. He is a talent!"

Harry will also go to Hollywood in Calfornia and meet a number of industry professionals who will give their feedback on his completed film.

He added: "I've never been to America. I've never left Europe, so it's a sort of dream come true to be able to fly over there with a film which I've made. I can't wait.

Click here to listen to Harry Lighton speaking with Premier's Alex Williams:

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