A Kidderminster film director is over the moon after receiving an honour from the creator of hit TV show Peaky Blinders.
Steven Knight, the creator of the BBC drama, named the winner for an award in his name as Fernando Antonio Maffei, who has been recognised for his TV script The Britalians.
The story is based on his Italian grandfather’s experience relocating after World War II in the West Midlands.
Mr Maffei, along with his friend and business partner Lawrence Donello, attended the first Birmingham Film Market last week, which gave talents the rare chance to meet top-level industry bosses on a one to one basis to outline their ideas for films and TV series.
Fernando and Lawrence pitched their idea for the show to film companies such as Curzon and Sony, which the director described as an “eye-opening experience.”
Mr Maffei will now receive a mentoring session from Steven Knight and went to the Birmingham Film Festival Awards Ceremony, held at the Grand Hotel on Saturday (November 27), where he was presented with his trophy.
Mr Maffei said: “To have a mentoring session with the creator of peaky blinders is one of my dreams. I’ve always had this ambition to meet with Steven Knight, he’s been an inspiration for some of my own work.
“Films like Eastern Promises and Locke have inspired me in many ways.
“My business partner and good friend Lawrence Donello worked with me to shape the story that we wanted to tell.
“As we both have British Italian roots we feel we want to put our stamp on this an share this wonderful story with the world.
“Lawrence an I were both really impressed with the reception the BFM had on its first year, I personally would love to see this growth follow suit throughout, with the high end professionalism and a step up for Birmingham Film overall.”
Source: www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk
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