Best Friends
A group of women compete to be the better friend.
Crew & Cast
Director: Craig Talbot
Writer: Megan Smith
Producer: Lily Howkins & Megan Smith
DOP: Will Austin
Boom Operator: Declan Sammon
Runner: Scott Brenman
Jenny: Kirsty Langley
Sarah: Lily Howkins
Sasha: Anna Brook-Mitchell
Claire: Megan Smith
Hanah: Ella Ainsworth
Director's Statement
Craig Talbot
It was a real pleasure to direct this film, which was written by my good friend Megan Smith. When I read the script, I instantly recognised the female competitiveness and knew this was a universal theme that all audiences would be able to connect to in their everyday lives.
I wanted to take the viewer slowly through the stages of the competition and for them to feel the awkwardness of the situation building, but also laugh at the ridiculousness of how the characters are responding to each other.
One of the difficulties of making this film was trying to shoot the five women and constantly changing the angels without disorientating the audience, but my editor and DP Will Austin was really great at resolving these issues for me. So filming on the day was very smooth and we finished ahead of schedule!
Working with these actors was a wonderful experience. I wanted to challenge them to keep thinking throughout the scene and play the different beats clearly, and they all embraced my directing approach and exceeded my expectations; Adding their own personal funny touches to the scene.
Working with the crew was similar. They embraced the framework of what I wanted to capture, whilst adding their own genius creative touches.
The experience working on this film has given me a real confidence to continue working on more diverse subject matters and trust that with a great cast and Crew I will be able to get the audience to connect to the film as well as I do.
AWARDS
WINNER
Lit Laugh International Film Festival 2020
(Best Micro Short Comedy)
Houston Comedy Film Festival 2020
(Best Micro Comedy)
Atlanta Female Comedy Film Festival 2021
(Best International Comedy)
London Indie Short Film Festival 2021 (Best Narrative UK Film)
Jane Austen International Film Festival 2021 (Best Editing)
Venice Shorts Film Festival 2021 (Best Micro Comedy)
UK Monthly Film Festival 2022
Dallas Independent Film Festival 2022
OFFICIALLY SELECTED
Austin Film Festival 2020
Portland Film Festival 2020
New York City Comedy Short Film Festival 2020
Paris Short Film Festival 2020
Dublin International Short Film and Music Festival 2020
Georgia Shorts Film Festival 2020
Los Angeles Comedy Film Festival 2020
Women's Comedy Film Festival Chicago 2021
Summer in the South International Film Festival 2021
Romford Film Festival 2022
St Albans Film Festival 2022
SHORT-LISTED
Funny Women Award 2020
SPECIAL-MENTION
London-Worldwide Comedy Short Film-Festival