'Boifriend' selected for Cinemart 2023

Bombito producer Reece Cargan will be heading to Cinemart in January 2023, with writer director Jack Goessens to present feature project Boifriend.

Boifriend

When a fresh-faced lesbian starts to explore dating and the LGBT community, it quickly becomes clear the story doesn't end once you come out. Plagued by disturbing visions of Dysphoria and Euphoria, she starts to question her identity and place in the community once again.

The Team

Writer Director: Jack Goessens Producer: Reece Cargan of Bombito Productions

Jack and Reece worked together as director and producer on short film Everyman (2021) commissioned through the Scottish Documentary Institute’s Bridging the Gap programme. It recently won an RTS award for best short form.

It won Best Short Film at SQIFF and Euregion film festivals, as well as being shortlisted for a Grierson Award and screening at multiple BAFTA and Oscar qualifying festivals worldwide.

Their second short collaboration 'Who I Am Now', was funded by Creative Scotland & LEAP sports. The script was written by Michael Lee Richardson and starred Adam Kashmiry and Talisa Garcia. This film premiered at Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2022.

The Project

Boifriend is at first draft script stage and has been developed with the assistance of Screen Scotland and BFI NETWORK with its delivery partner Short Circuit via their first features scheme.

Jack has received additional support from Cinesud through their Career Lab and from winning the Royal Film Pitch with this project.​

Jack Goessens on Boifriend:

Boifriend is a character-driven, coming of age story exploring the feelings of gender dysphoria and euphoria. Tegan is disconnected from their body and consequently themself and desperately wants to feel a connection with somebody.

It’s a story about the fluidity of gender and sexuality. Although in the logline I have described a lesbian, by the end of the story the main character will realise that this label does not fit and they identify as transmasculine.

This story is not about gender transitioning, but the (potential) lead up to it. The process of working out what your gender identity is. It’s about what it means to be male or female in this world. It’s about body image, sexuality and identity; and about learning to love who you really are.

Cinemart

Cinemart is a co production market and the competitive industry platform which runs in parallel with the 52nd edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR).

20 titles have been selected for Cinemart 2023 with only 2 from the UK. Presentations to international sales agents, programmers and buyers will take place on February 1st 2023.

Goals at Cinemart

Ideally we would like to find a European co-production partner, international sales agent and distributor interest.

Chat about the project

If you would like to chat about the project or want to come onboard - drop a line to Reece Cargan - reece@bombito.co.uk

'Just Jackie' commissioned by Short Circuit & BFI NETWORK

Thrilled to announce that short film 'Just Jackie' has been commissioned and will be heading into production.

Short Circuit announced today that 'Just Jackie' is one of the seven films that will be produced through the BFI NETWORK backed short film scheme Sharp Shorts.

The film

Just Jackie is about plus-sized 9 year old Jackie, who loves dressing up in his mum’s clothes, seeks sweeties (and approval) from the girl-next-door.

Just Jackie is an uplifting bubblegum pop tale of friendship, acceptance and belonging.

The team

Writer: Ali Taylor

Ali was on the inaugural BBC Writersroom Scottish TV Drama Room and has been a finalist twice for the BBC Writer's Prize for Drama. Her pilot 'The Hotel at the End of the World' was shortlisted to the last 21 of the C21 International Drama Competition.

“I’ve wanted to tell a story about a young queer character that’s joyous and celebratory for some time.

Thanks to Sharp Shorts’ support, I’m delighted and excited to be going into production with ‘Just Jackie’.

Michael was the first person I told the idea to and, from the outset, I had my heart set on them directing, so I’m thrilled to be working with them as well as our wonderful producers, James and Reece.”

Director: Michael Lee Richardson

Michael Lee Richardson is a writer and youth worker based in Glasgow.

Michael’s short film, My Loneliness is Killing Me – directed by Tim Courtney – won a BAFTA

Scotland Award in 2018. It has been shown on BBC Scotland, and at film festivals around the

world.

"I was so, so excited when Ali sent me this script. I love the warmth of her writing and the compassion she has for her characters - and I was over the moon when she asked me to direct it!"

Michael currently has film and television projects in development with Kindle Entertainment, Balloon, Projector Pictures, Tigerlily and feature project A Good Spell with Bombito.

Producer: James Heath

James Heath is a BAFTA nominated producer of feature film The Fitzroy (SXSW award winning), written and directed by Andrew Harmer ‘The Fitzroy’.

James joined MTP as an Exec in 2019, with a focus on developing a slate of original projects and international co-production.

"Delighted and excited to have the support from Short Circuit to bring Ali’s bold and uplifting script to life.

Michael is the most exciting director imaginable to get the opportunity to bring this script to the screen and its thrill to be partnering with an experienced and skilled producer as Reece – I can’t wait to get started!"

Producer: Reece Cargan

Reece is a producer and founder of Bombito Productions.

"I'm really happy to begin working with Ali and her amazing script and continue my working relationship with both James and Michael.

Extra delighted that, I'm able to produce Michael's first narrative short as director - while Michael and I continue to progress our feature project: 'A Good Spell' together".

Reece was recently selected by Screen International as a Rising Star Scotland.

The scheme

In April 2022, Short Circuit invited filmmaking teams to submit a one-page outline of their film idea. After a rigorous selection process, 12 ideas were selected to take part in further development.

The twelve teams then pitched their project to a panel that was formed by Short Circuit Talent Executives; Claudia Yusef, Head of Development at BBC Film; and Brian Coffey, Producer at The Highland Midgie for the chance to receive production funding to make their film.

Next steps

We are excited to work with experienced casting agent Anna Dawson to find our perfect Jackie and start pre production in earnest with a view to shoot late 2022 or early 2023.

GHOUL FRIENDS heads to Warsaw

Exciting news on our Young Adult TV series Ghoul Friends by writer Catherine Wignall. We are heading to Warsaw in September to pitch the project at Kids Kino Industry.

Writer Catherine and Producer Reece Cargan will head to Poland to pitch to commissioners and industry insiders.

Ghoul Friends

Teen influencer Mia puts her heart and soul on the line to save her ex-girlfriend from an angry ghost.

Background

The project was initially developed on the FLEX programme with Screen Yorkshire and further developed following the programme.

The project is being supported with development funding from the BFI Young Audience Content Fund. We are running a writers room at the end of August 2022 to further hone the series and then head to Poland to pitch.

Kids Kino

View the information page on the Kids Kino Industry website.

Get the pitch deck

For information on the project or to view the pitch deck please email reece@bombito.co.uk