Norwich director Carolyn Goodyear wins at Pitch awards

Carolyn Goodyear has been entering the competition for 10 years and has reached the final five times.

But this year she bagged the top prize in the comedy category for her film Till Death Do Us Part. 

The Pitch Film Fund 2023 Awards was open to all short films in two categories, drama and comedy, and previous winners have gone on to be longlisted for the Oscars and scoop awards at the Pan African Film Festival and Rhode Island Film Festival.

Ms Goodyear's film is described as a comedy featuring "death by chocolate cake with a twist".

She said: "This is the icing on the cake – a sweet ending to an incredibly supportive pitching process.

"It’s good just to be shortlisted.

"You never know how it’s going to turn out when you enter, I’ve learned not to get too excited.

"The competition has involved a lot, it’s becoming more challenging and competitive, it offers more opportunities.

"The last time I reached the finals was four or five years ago.

"The last one I did, I had a budget of £5,000.

"Normally, it’s whatever I have in my overdraft. I have got to that stage where I have called in so many favours."

The jury was particularly impressed with the original nature of Ms Goodyear's film.

Judge and former finalist, Gbemisola Ikulemo, said: ‘With Carolyn, it was really exciting to see her interpretation of a not so readily explored story and for me personally, how she has grown as a creative over the years."

Pre-production of the winning shorts will begin next month, with principal photography starting in June 2023.

Films are shot by the summer with an aim to have them finished in time to showcase at the 2024 Pitch finals, ahead of Global Festival submissions.

Ms Goodyear's pitch can be viewed on the awards' website here.