In a week when three teenagers were convicted of murdering a homeless man in Liverpool, a short film highlighting the harsh realities of homelessness has scooped the Best Short Narrative Award at Liverpool’s premier film festival – Liverpool Lift Off.
Blind Faith, which was written and directed by Gino Evans and produced by Brickhouse Productions, follows Jed an alcoholic homeless man, who is convinced that his love for his girlfriend and his spiritual belief will somehow turn his life around.
Set in Manchester City Centre and filmed on a low budget, it mixes the gritty reality of the streets with the closeness of the homeless community. Delivering a gripping, tense and sometimes heart-warming story by delving into the world of some of society’s most vulnerable people.
Blind Faith beat over 600 entries to the prize and will now go on to be shown at Lift Off festivals in Los Angles, Las Vegas and London.
“I’m delighted with the award because it was our first screening of the film,” said Gino Evans. “We didn’t expect to win and we were just happy with the shortlist to be honest. Obviously, Liverpool Lift Off attracts some of the best talent around the world so this really is great recognition of our work.”
The film includes strong performances from lead actors Charlie Parker and Nicola Kidd as well as stand out production quality with Cinematographer Dave Ross coming in for particular praise.
The Lift Off arts festival format presents talented film makers the opportunity to showcase their work in an unbiased environment. Located in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, London and Liverpool, all Lift Off events are IMDB qualified and the standard is very high.
Coming at a time when the treatment of homeless people is in the news, Brickhouse productions believe that homelessness is an issue that always needs coverage.
“I chose the subject of homelessness because there are so many great characters and the system in place makes it difficult for them to fit in,” added Gino. “I wanted to look into the human emotions of a couple on the streets, capturing the struggles, the difficult choices and also the tender moments of their relationships. It’s a world of few options and serious consequences and I wanted the viewer to connect with that.”
