Bognor film festival chooses heart charity

The festival, which is now in its fifth year, takes place in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, between April 25 and May 3.

It is fast becoming recognised as a first-class international film market, attracting visitors from around the globe, and striving to gain recognition for new, low-budget and independent film-makers.

At this year's EOTP Red Carpet Awards Ceremony to be held at The Regis Centre on Saturday May 3, Wessex Heartbeat's Chief Executive Officer, D'Arcy Myers has been invited to present the prestigious Director's Award.

It's an engagement he's more than happy to fulfil as his grandfather was George More O'Ferrall, a pioneer who produced and directed a series of British television first during the medium's formative years.

During a distinguished career he was also a prolific and influential film director, and the recipient of the Royal Television Society's Baird Medal "for his outstanding contribution to television."

"On behalf of Wessex Heartbeat I would like to thank the EOTP International Film Festival for their generous support, and for the backing in recognising us as a prominent cardiac charity for the South of England.

"Coming from a film family it is lovely to be associated with the promotion of new and young talent within the film industry," said D'Arcy.

Wessex Heartbeat was established in 1992 to enable the Wessex Cardiac Centre at Southampton General Hospital to become and remain one of the UK's leading centres of excellence for cardiac care.

The Centre treats more than 20,000 people a year, including 1000 babies and children.

EOTP International Film Festival Director, Bryan Gartside, said that the event had a firm commitment not just to culture and education, but also to social and economic development.

"Social development takes into consideration the health and overall wellbeing of the community where the festival is based, the South East of England.

"Therefore we are only too pleased to be associated with a charity that works to improve health care within that community," he said.