Award-Winning UK Director Nancy Paton's Film "Choke" Takes Home Best Short, Best Directing and Best Cinematography At the 8th Annual #48FILM Festival Awards

LOS ANGELES, March 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-Winning screenwriter, director and producer Nancy Paton took home the top prize of Best Short, for her latest film "Choke," at the #48FILM Festival Awards which were presented at the DGA on Thursday, March 9, 2017.  In addition, "Choke" took top honors for Best Directing and Best Cinematography for the evening.  Paton co-wrote, directed and fully produced "Choke", an original film, in 48 hours. "Choke" chronicles a man with prostate cancer who finally decides to take control of his life by seeking spiritual release with the help of a dominatrix.

"I am elated that "Choke" was honored with Best Short, Best Director and Best Cinematography at the #48Film Festival, and I'm thrilled to have been awarded the directorial role on an upcoming feature film project here in Los Angeles," said Paton.  "As a filmmaker I am passionate about strong stories that entertain and educate people about new cultures, issues and faiths that they are unaccustomed to but that are a vital part of the world that we live in."

Aspiring filmmakers from all over the globe participated in the 8^th Annual #48FILM Festival. The top 16 films were screened at the DGA Theater on Thursday night. For the Best Short category, Paton's film was selected among six other highly acclaimed films from around the world.  Paton flew in to Los Angeles from Saudi Arabia to accept the award in-person at the Directors Guild of America.

ABOUT NANCY PATON:
Nancy Paton is an award-winning Australian/ Polish Director and Screenwriter residing in Saudi Arabia.

Paton is currently working on three of her own feature films, "Touched", "In Her Shoes", and "Frame", and recently completed two documentaries, "Maisy and the Making of Daisy" and "Abaya Fashion". 

Paton also recently directed, co-wrote and produced the film "Choke" which was awarded Best Short Film, Best Director and Best Cinematography at the #48Film Festival, where it received 7 nominations in total.  "Choke" chronicles a man in the last stages of prostate cancer who finally decides to take control of his life by seeking spiritual release with the help of a dominatrix.  The 7-minute short was completed in 48 hours, from start to finish, specifically to compete in the Internationally recognized and prestigious 48 hour film making challenge.

In 2016, Paton wrote, produced, directed, and starred in  "Postpartum", which was filmed in Saudi Arabia and features an entire female cast and crew.  "Postpartum" has won 3 major awards including Best Director at the Melbourne Indie Film Festival, Best Actress at the Sydney Indie Film Festival, and the Gold Remi Award at WorldFest Houston International Film Festival. 

Paton's directorial debut was on the film "Daisy", which she also wrote. "Daisy," took 6 years to direct and cast real children with the disease RDEB, a genetic condition where skin breaks at the slightest touch.  RDEB affects up to 1 in 17,000 live births and it is estimated that currently 5,000 people are living with the condition in the UK alone.   Most people born with RDEB do not live past their early teenage years. 

The film went on to win 11 awards including, Best UK Short Film at the London Independent Film Festival, Best Foreign Featurette Film at the 2016 Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema, and the Platinum Remi Award Best Family Short Film at the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival, among the others.

Nancy currently lectures about Digital Photography, Screenwriting and Storyboarding at Raffles Design Institute in Riyadh and is in post-production for her documentary Abaya Fashion, filming a documentary "Garage Sale" about Syrian Refugee Camps and is developing three feature films "In Her Shoes", "Touched "and "Frame".

Nancy's passion for film was developed and nurtured in her early years at Newtown Performing Arts High School and since graduating from the University of Sydney she has worked extensively in the film industry. Moving to New York City, studying at the Atlantic Acting School and working at Michael Mailer Films allowed her to develop as a screenwriter and film producer however her true passion has always been directing.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Rachel Falikoff: [email protected], 213-607-3592
Amy Prenner: [email protected], 310-709-1101

SOURCE Paton Productions