Congratulations to Paul Gray – alumni of Screen Academy Scotland’s MFA Advanced Film Practice and Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Film – who recently attended the Arizona International Film Festival where he premiered his debut feature film And Violet. Not only did he win Best Dramatic Feature but a Special Jury Award for Best Performance was awarded to actor Hana Mackenzie for her role as Violet. Hana is a graduate of Edinburgh Napier’s  BA (Hons) Acting for Stage and Screen.

And Violet also marks the debut feature film for cinematographer Alkisti Terzi who is an alumni of both Edinburgh Napier’s BA (Hons) Film and Screen Academy Scotland’s MFA Advanced Film Practice Programmes. And Violet features performances by Edinburgh Napier’s acting lecturer Ian Dunn and music lecturer Dave Hook whose music also forms part of the score. Audio technician Petros Tsaftaridis was the film’s sound designer and the film also saw around 30 Napier students gain valuable work experience opportunities.

And Violet is a coming of age drama about the interwoven and unravelling lives of teenage daughter Violet, her adoptive Mum and her birth Mum.

For more information visit www.andviolet.co.uk