Creditors (2015 film)

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Creditors

| image = Creditors_Film_Poster.png

| caption =

| director = Ben Cura

| screenplay = Ben Cura

| based_on = {{based on|Creditors|August Strindberg}}

| producer = Ben Cura
Andrea Deck

| starring = Christian McKay
Andrea Deck
Ben Cura
Tom Bateman
Simon Callow

| cinematography = Ben Hecking

| editing = Teresa Font

| music = Nina Aranda

| studio = Tough Dance
Cuibar Productions

| distributor =

| released = {{Film date|2015|10|31|NIFF|df=y}}

| runtime = 81 minutes

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Creditors is a British{{cite web|url=http://film.britishcouncil.org/creditors|title=British Council Film: Creditors|author=|website=Britishcouncil.org}}{{cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-we-are-uk-film-uk-films-for-sale-cannes-2015-05-13.pdf|title=UK Films For Sale : Cannes 2015|website=Bfi.org.uk|access-date=30 June 2022}} drama film written and directed by Ben Cura, based on the play of the same title by August Strindberg and starring Christian McKay, Andrea Deck, Ben Cura, Tom Bateman and Simon Callow.{{Cite web|url=https://filmcourage.com/2015/10/19/writerdirector-ben-cura’s-uk-love-triangle-feature-film-creditors-world-premiering-at-nyc’s-niff2015-october-31st-at-645-pm/|title=Writer/Director Ben Cura's UK Love-Triangle Feature Film "CREDITORS" World Premiering at NYC's NIFF2015, October 31st at 6:45 pm|website=Filmcourage.com|date=19 October 2015|access-date=30 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/10702122.Your_chance_to_star_in_film_alongside_Simon_Callow_on_Osea_Island/|title=Your chance to star in film alongside Simon Callow on Osea Island|website=Gazette-news.co.uk|date=27 September 2013 }} Set in present-day England and Spain in this adaptation, it had its world premiere at the 2015 Nordic International Film Festival in New York City as part of the festival's Official Selection, where it was nominated for and was awarded the Honorable Mention for Best Nordic Narrative Feature.{{cite web|url=http://www.nordicfilmfest.org/officialselection/|title=Official Selection 2015|work=Nordic International Film Festival}} The film was a United Kingdom production by London-based company Tough Dance, founded by Ben Cura and Andrea Deck.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/company/co0438065/?ref_=fn_al_co_1|title=Tough Dance [gb]|website=IMDb.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.toughdance.com/contact|title=About & Contact|work=Tough Dance|access-date=3 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117014937/http://www.toughdance.com/contact|archive-date=17 November 2015|url-status=dead}} Spanish company Cuibar Productions financed the film.{{cite web|url=http://cuibar.com/productions|title=→Productions|work=Cuibar|access-date=3 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117014921/http://cuibar.com/productions|archive-date=17 November 2015|url-status=dead}} Paris-based sales agents New Morning Films took on world sales of the film in early 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.cineuropa.org/nw.aspx?t=newsdetail&l=en&did=290960|title=French sales agents looking to catch the best wave|author=Fabien Lemercier|website=Cineuropa.org|date=13 May 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.newmorningfilms.com|title=Home|website=Newmorningfilms.com|access-date=30 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823190417/http://www.newmorningfilms.com/|archive-date=23 August 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://toughdance.com/creditors|title=Creditors|work=Tough Dance|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117024911/http://www.toughdance.com/creditors|archive-date=17 November 2015|df=dmy-all}} The film is actor Ben Cura's debut as a director, screenwriter, and producer.{{cite web|url=http://www.latinospost.com/articles/28225/20130924/exclusive-interview-ben-cura-talks-directorial-debut-creditors-artistic-development.htm|title=Exclusive Interview: Ben Cura Talks Directorial Debut 'Creditors,' Artistic Development, Inspirations [Video]|website=Latinospost.com|date=24 September 2013}}

Summary

A love triangle is unraveled when a young painter is approached by an admirer who eases him into making sense of his relationship with his wife.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/project-of-the-day-creditors|title=Project of the Day: 'Creditors'|date=20 March 2014|website=Indiewire.com}}

Cast

  • Christian McKay as Grant Pierce{{cite web|url=http://www.thebeardedtrio.com/2013/10/quick-fire-questions-this-week.html|title=Quick Fire Questions: This Week Christian McKay - The Bearded Trio|website=Thebeardedtrio.com|date=20 October 2013 }}
  • Andrea Deck as Chloe Fleury{{cite web|url=http://www.thebeardedtrio.com/2013/10/quick-fire-questions-this-week-andrea.html|title=Quick Fire Questions: This Week Andrea Deck - The Bearded Trio|website=Thebeardedtrio.com|date=27 October 2013 }}
  • Ben Cura as Freddie Lynch{{cite web|url=http://www.latinpost.com/articles/10997/20140423/exclusive-q-a-with-creditors-director-ben-cura-on-status-of-production-film-stars-director-simon-callow-christian-mckay-andrea-deck.htm|title=EXCLUSIVE: Q & A With 'Creditors' Director Ben Cura on Status of Production; Film Stars Director, Simon Callow, Christian McKay, Andrea Deck|website=Latinpost.com|date=23 April 2014}}
  • Tom Bateman as Michael Redmane
  • Simon Callow as John Allen

Production

Ben Cura and Andrea Deck of London-based Tough Dance produced the film.

=Filming=

Filming began in September 2013. In a change of setting from the original Sweden of the play, the film was shot in Osea Island, Essex, England,[http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/trip-tiny-island-time-forgot/story-19914054-detail/story.html] {{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/10702122.print/|title=Your chance to star in film alongside Simon Callow on Osea Island|website=Gazette-news.co.uk|date=27 September 2013 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.oseaisland.co.uk/music-film|title=Music & Film|website=Oseaisland.co.uk|access-date=3 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227173252/http://oseaisland.co.uk/music-film|archive-date=27 December 2015|url-status=dead}} and consequently, Madrid, Spain.{{Cite web|url=https://filmcourage.com/2015/11/29/i-think-an-actor-director-writer-or-anyone-creative’s-most-important-attribute-is-gut-instinct-by-creditors-movie-ben-cura/|title=I Think An Actor, Director, Writer or Anyone Creative's Most Important Attribute is Gut Instinct by CREDITORS Movie Ben Cura|website=Filmcourage.com|date=29 November 2015|access-date=30 June 2022}}

Reception

Creditors world-premiered at the Nordic International Film Festival in New York City on 31 October 2015.{{cite web|url=http://fineartmagazineblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/attention-film-buffs-first-nordic.html|title=Fine Art Magazine Blog|author=Jamie Ellin Forbes|website=Fineartmagazineblog.blogspot.co.uk|date=22 October 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://usa.um.dk/en/about-us/calendar/eventdisplaypage/?eventid=%7B958dfca5-d276-42a5-aecb-ff954989cc2b%7D |title=Nordic International Film Festival 2015 |website=Um.dk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045109/http://usa.um.dk/en/about-us/calendar/eventdisplaypage/?eventid=%7B958dfca5-d276-42a5-aecb-ff954989cc2b%7D |archive-date=4 March 2016 |df=dmy }} Latin Post film critic David Salazar called the film "A triumphant debut"{{Cite web|url=http://www.latinpost.com/articles/92820/20151106/creditors-movie-review-ben-curas-creates-a-visually-stimulating-adaptation-of-strindbergs-great-play.htm|title='Creditors' Movie Review: Ben Cura Creates a Visually Stimulating Adaptation of Strindberg's Great Play|date=6 November 2015}} noting of the three lead actors that "the trio delivers masterful performances", calling the flashback sequences "what a Terrence Malick film would look like in black and white", and that the film "has shown that Cura has a tremendous future as a visual storyteller, his ability to deliver a strong performance coupled with a compelling film based on the work of a famed writer a truly remarkable feat".

Blazing Minds film critic Susanne Hodder said of the actors that "all give compelling performances, bringing their characters to life and giving them depth" and concluded her review saying that "Creditors is an intelligent thought-provoking film which questions gender roles, female sexuality and male anxieties, making for an enjoyable and compelling watch."{{Cite web|url=https://blazingminds.co.uk/creditors-movie-review/|title=Creditors Movie Review – Intelligent Thought-Provoking|first=Susanne|last=Hodder|website=Blazingminds.co.uk|date=8 November 2015|access-date=30 June 2022}}

Screen Relish film critic Stuie Greenfield highlighted the script structure and striking visuals by saying that "Elongated scenes provide beautiful imagery and vignettes of the Spanish landscape that are interspersed with a clever and well-developed script. These long, meaningful scenes bring with them an almost arthouse styling that adds to the charisma and allure of Cura's magnetic film." He concluded that "Creditors is a beautiful, sometimes angry and surprising film that brings with it strong performances from the entire cast as well as an unexpected yet welcome twist. Cura has produced, written and directed a piece of film that he should be very proud of, and one that demonstrates an incredible aptitude for intense, thought-provoking cinema. He is one to watch out for, as is Creditors."{{Cite web |url=http://www.screenrelish.com/2015/11/10/creditors-review/ |title=CREDITORS Review | ScreenRelish |access-date=10 November 2015 |archive-date=21 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221015623/http://www.screenrelish.com/2015/11/10/creditors-review/ |url-status=usurped }}

Movie Marker film critic Darryl Griffiths said of the film "The initial intended seclusion and comfort of its setting is impeccably skewered and realised by director/star Cura, gradually feeding into the sinister, slow-burner tone along with the immersive, minimalist score. From the exquisitely steady aerial shots to the jarring fast-motion captures of Madrid, to the beautifully observed silence that fills the revealing flashbacks, the film's conversion to screen thrillingly avoids the stilted, laboured approach that so often befalls such works." He added of Andrea Deck, Ben Cura and Christian McKay "Reveling in the femme fatale tendencies of her character as she embraces the classic film noir archetype, Andrea Deck's Chloe exudes an explosive elegance whom thrives on independence and attention. Ultimately adding a compelling dimension to the powerful prose that leaves the mouths of Cura and McKay respectively. Whilst both provide distinct full-bodied performances individually, together they are terrific in conveying the theatrics of its source." Griffiths concluded his review saying that "The heightened melodrama of its brilliantly staged finale may be of acquired taste. Yet for a directorial debut, Creditors is an incisive and accomplished piece of filmmaking that defies such a tag, possessing a rich, powerful psychology that instills an unnerving modern-day relevance to age-old material."{{Cite web|url=http://moviemarker.co.uk/mm-supports-creditors-ben-cura/|title = MM Supports – Creditors (Ben Cura)|website=Moviemarker.co.uk|date = 16 November 2015}}

Creditors screened in competition at the 2015 Anchorage International Film Festival in Alaska to further press, media, and festival audiences.{{cite web|url=http://www.vimooz.com/2015/10/18/2015-anchorage-international-film-festival-lineup-eadweard/|title=2015 Anchorage International Film Festival Lineup; Opens with "Eadweard" - VIMOOZ|website=Vimooz.com|date=18 October 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://anchoragefilmfestival.org/|title=Home | Anchorage International Film Festival|website=Anchoragefilmfestival.org|access-date=30 June 2022}} It was followed by screenings at the Borrego Springs Film Festival, the Berlin Independent Film Festival, the Big Muddy Film Festival, and the Queens World Film Festival.

The film also screened at the Borrego Springs Film Festival, the Berlin Independent Film Festival, the Big Muddy Film Festival, the Phoenix Film Festival, the Queens World Film Festival, the Palm Beach International Film Festival, the Houston WorldFest, the Madrid International Film Festival and the Cebu International Film Festival, winning many awards and accolades along the way.{{Cite web|url=https://wipmedia.co.uk/creditors|title=Creditors|website=Wipmedia.co.uk|access-date=30 June 2022}}

As of 29 October 2016, the film has been made available to watch on exclusive on demand platform Flix Premiere in the US, and will be made available in other territories in the months following its USA release.{{Cite web|url=http://creditorsfilm.com/watch-now|title = Creditors|website=Creditorsfilm.com}}

Awards

class="wikitable"
Year{{Cite web|url=http://creditorsfilm.com/awards-press/|title = Creditors|website=Creditorsfilm.com}}

! Festival/Publication

! Award

! Notes

rowspan="1"| 2015Nordic International Film FestivalBest Nordic Narrative Feature (Honorable Mention)Winner
rowspan="1"| 2015indieFEST Film AwardsAward of Excellence Feature FilmWinner
rowspan="1"| 2015indieFEST Film AwardsAward of Excellence Leading Actor (Christian McKay)Winner
rowspan="1"| 2015indieFEST Film AwardsAward of Excellence Leading Actor (Ben Cura)Winner
rowspan="1"| 2015indieFEST Film AwardsAward of Excellence Leading Actress (Andrea Deck)Winner
rowspan="1"| 2015NYC Indie Film AwardsDiamond Award Best Feature FilmWinner
rowspan="1"| 2015NYC Indie Film AwardsDiamond Award Cinematography (Ben Hecking)Winner
rowspan="1"| 2015NYC Indie Film AwardsGold Award Editing (Teresa Font)Winner
rowspan="1"| 2016Accolade Global Film CompetitionAward of Excellence Cinematography (Ben Hecking)Winner
rowspan="1"| 2016Accolade Global Film CompetitionAward of Merit Special Mention Editing (Teresa Font)Winner
rowspan="1"| 2016Accolade Global Film CompetitionAward of Merit Special Mention Original Score (Nina Aranda)Winner
rowspan="1"| 2016Accolade Global Film CompetitionAward of Merit Special Mention Script / Writer (Ben Cura)Winner
rowspan="1"| 2016Accolade Global Film CompetitionAward of Merit Special Mention Feature FilmWinner
rowspan="1"| 2016Los Angeles Film Review Independent AwardsGold Award Feature FilmWinner
rowspan="1"| 2016Worldfest Houston Film FestivalSilver Remi Experimental Dogma FeatureWinner
rowspan="1"| 2016Mexico International Film FestivalSilver Award Best Feature FilmWinner
rowspan="1"| 2016Mexico International Film FestivalSilver Award First Time Filmmaker (Ben Cura)Winner
rowspan="1"| 2016Madrid International Film FestivalBest Editing in a Feature Film (Teresa Font)Winner
rowspan="1"| 2015Anchorage International Film FestivalBest Feature Film (In Competition)Nominated
rowspan="1"| 2016Borrego Springs Film FestivalBest Feature Film (In Competition)Nominated
rowspan="1"| 2016Berlin Independent Film FestivalBest Feature Film (In Competition)Nominated
rowspan="1"| 2016Queens World Film FestivalBest Cinematography (Ben Hecking)Nominated
rowspan="1"| 2016Madrid International Film FestivalBest Leading Actress (Andrea Deck)Nominated
rowspan="1"| 2016Madrid International Film FestivalTalented New Director (Ben Cura)Nominated
rowspan="1"| 2016Madrid International Film FestivalBest Cinematography (Ben Hecking)Nominated

References

{{reflist|30em}}