Robin Whitehead and Graham Pountney's documentary Eyecatcher featuring Ernest the cat, has made it to the final of the Isle of Wight Short Film Festival.
VIDEO
A FILM making duo with strong Island connections hopes their latest offering about a 15-year-old cat, inspired by a County Press report, will earn them a top award at this year’s Isle of Wight Short Film Festival.
Island film-maker Robin Whitehead and actor-turned-film director Graham Pountney, who is no stranger to making independent films on the Island, have made it through to the finals of the competition following a successful screening of their latest work, a documentary, at Newport’s Quay Arts on June 18.
The ten-minute film, entitled Eyecatcher, features Ernest the cat, the longest-living resident of the Island’s RSPCA centre in Godshill.
It was one of ten films, a mixture of dramas and documentaries ranging from a minute to 20 minutes’ long, to be screened and has been shortlisted for the final’s documentary section at the same venue on Saturday, July 18.
Inspired by a report in the County Press in December last year, in which Ernest was given human contact lenses to save his ailing sight, Robin and Graham went to visit the cat and, fascinated by him, made the film.
"We wanted to investigate on camera how and why he became famous. The syndicated news item resulted in approximately 90,000 internet hits and thought it too good a story to miss telling, visually," said Surrey-based Graham, who directed the film.
"This film displays the centre’s successful caring and I am very pleased with the result."
Since making the film, the centre at Bohemia Corner has had Ernest’s lenses sponsored by Specsavers.
The finals will include short films Ventnor Skate Park Rebuild, The Souvenir Hunters of Bowcombe Down and Julia Margaret Cameron.
Reporter: jonm@iwcpmail.co.uk
• Watch an edited five-minute version of Eyecatcher below.
A full version of Eyecatcher can be seen at www.screentestpartners.co.uk
Eyecatcher.
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