Kingston's own Sundance Entrant

Second-year Graphic design student, Eden West, 19, is developing a Drama/Coming-of-age film that will be independently released and entered into Sundance Film Festival.

The film intends to show societal issues currently affecting the youth by ensuring that people of all ages and class groups are able to empathise with the characters to a relative degree.

West said in an interview on Monday: “The protagonist of the film will be a male older teen, who’s experiences over the course of a couple of days ultimately trigger mental, physical, and physiological deterioration, which by the end of the film story comes to an inconceivable end for all involved.”

West is currently casting for the feature film with students at Knights Park, Drama students and anyone with acting experience available to apply for a role.

As a filmmaker, West has said that he has drawn inspiration from everyday situations in an attempt to make sure that the film maintains an intimate feel to give the viewers the opportunity to build connections with the characters.

Films such as Precious and Maria Full of Grace are previous examples of independent Sundance Film Festival winners and West intends to follow in those footsteps by entering his own feature film.

When asked about inspirations West said on Monday: “It has to be La Haine for its raw, brutalist feel and how the film explores so deeply the pains of young life, but how thorough the noise comes through friendships and experiences.”

Questions have been raised over whether Knights Park will feature as a location in the film however, approval from Mandy Ure, Dean of the Kingston School of Art will be required.

“I am pretty excited to see how this film plays out, especially because Eden is a student at our campus,” said 3rd year, social work student, Katie Ross.