Acclaimed Edinburgh-based filmmaker Laura Carriera made her mark at the London Film Festival by going home with one of the biggest prizes available for the release of her debut feature ‘On Falling’.
Carreira’s story of a young Portugese immigrant struggling to make ends meet following a brand new start in Edinburgh was a smashing hit at the festival, winning the Sutherland Award for best first feature.
The film is expected to released in theaters sometime in early 2025 and was partly inspired by Carreira’s own experiences after she moved from Portugal to Edinburgh to study film when she was 18 years old.
‘On Falling’ is the first British film to win the awards since Clio Barnard’s The Arbor in 2010 with The Sutherland Award saying its “a powerful, mesmerising and bold first feature”, according to The Scotsman.
“On Falling is a richly-layered portrait of a world governed by corporate profit motive, as seen through the story of an immigrant woman whose alienation we feel deeply, told with masterful cinematic precision and understated, lived in performances.” the jury said.
“A powerful, mesmerising and bold first feature. Congratulations to Laura Carreira. We look forward to seeing where her cinematic journey goes next.”
Carreira, 30, celebrated her milestone achievement by stating: “I’m so honoured to receive the Sutherland Award for On Falling and for our film to join the long list of winners, which includes some of my favourite films and most important cinema reference points.
“This award is shared with our incredible cast and crew who brought this film to life. We hope it speaks to the relentless and dehumanising growth of neoliberalism while reminding us that human nature will keep resisting. We offer our film in solidarity.”
