Formby film producer showcases movie at Cannes Film Festival

May 27 2009 by Janine Yaqoob, Formby Times

A FORMBY man has returned back from the Cannes Film Festival after showcasing a short film his company produced at the prestigious French event.

Paul Anderton, of Paradise Lane, presented short film, ‘Duty Calls’, to the Festival de Cannes' Short Film Corner.

‘Duty Calls’, which was produced under Paul’s film company, Curtin Parloe Films, is about an overweight security guard who struggles with his diet. One lonely night in a dark warehouse he meets his greatest foe – a vending machine!

The film, which was co-produced by Paul and directed by Paul Blinkhorn, has been screened at Bradford International Film Festival, Mid-Ulster International Film Festival, End Of The Pier International Film Festival, and Pennine Film Festival, where it was awarded ‘Best Short’.

Paul, 36, began making short films when he was 15. He set up Curtin Parloe Films in1999, and has produced several shorts under the banner since.

The former Formby High School pupil said: “Cannes was a beautiful place. Almost everyone you talk to is a film professional. During my time there I met people from Barcelona, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, and Burnley!

“I attended the red carpet gala screening of a new British film, Fish Tank by Andrea Arnold, I bumped into the new Doctor Who Matt Smith and film director Francis Ford Coppola.