US PREMIERE AT THE PAN-AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL , LOS ANGELES FEBRUARY 2020

CARNIVAL tells the story of an absent mother returning to visit her young daughter. This is a testing time for Rochelle, she has to prove she has moved on from her wild and dangerous past in order to keep her ties to her daughter and build a future for both of them, together.

Whilst at the carnival she meets the man from her past. She cannot afford to mess up this time otherwise she will face the prospect of losing access to her daughter forever. She must decide whether she wants to be a different, responsible mother or go back to her shady past. The choice she makes will determine her child’s future. With a cast of a thousand extras, CARNIVAL unfolds in the vibrant and colourful world of the St Pauls Caribbean Carnival in Bristol.

CAST & CREW

NADIA WILLIAMS

[Rochelle]

TV includes: Broadchurch, The Sparticle Mystery, Mistresses, Extras, Losing It, Casualty. Theatre: Top Girls, I’m Not Running (National), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Tobacco Factory), Phaedra’s Love (Bristol Old Vic/Barbican), Raising Kamila, After the Accident, One more Trick (Theatre West). Photo Credit: Brandon Bishop 2018.

ED BROWNING

[Darren]

Ed is known for his role as Paul Daniel in series 1-4 Poldark. He studied Performing Arts at City of Bath College and whilst there he won a BBC New Talent competition, which led to an opportunity to play a character in an episode of Doctors. Ed was then offered the role of Curtis, in the popular Channel 4 comedy Teachers. Other credits include roles in Casualty, Green Green Grass and Honest. Ed has learnt all his skills “on the job” working with some fantastic and inspiring actors and directors.

HANIYA LAMPKIN BERRY

[Soraya]

Haniya loves acting and made her film debut aged 8 as Soraya in Carnival. She is an active member of the Theatre Studio Cheltenham where she has performed in numerous plays and was chosen to perform in a national commercial for teachers recruitment. She is the youngest of four girls and has Guyanese, Swiss and Jamaican ancestry.

DENNIS MCCALLA

[Grandad]

Dennis aka Dallas is a reggae singer and songwriter. Born in Jamaica, he was immersed with reggae, ska, and R’n’B before moving to England in 1963. Dallas’ tumultuous life, full of ups and downs, has fed into his songwriting. His recent song Jah By My Side has received lots of airplay. He has supported well-known acts like Millie Jackson and The Temptations as well as playing Glastonbury Festival. Dallas lives in Bristol, UK and as well as his music he is currently pursuing his acting career.

123 MEDIA

[Production Company]

123Media commissioned the short film Carnival to coincide with the 50^th Anniversary of the St Pauls African Caribbean Festival. 123 Media has produced award-winning broadcast and commercial content for many years. The company is also active in the publishing business. We represent many International book publishers and authors. 123 Media is committed to creating strong personal stories from original material.

STUART NAPIER

[Director/Producer]

Stuart is an award winning director and editor. His skills have been recognised internationally, gaining a BAFTA nomination and winning the prestigious Wildscreen Award for editing.As a director Stuart has won the WOE Royal Television Society award for his documentary Wacky Racers and has been nominated for the WOE RTS on another three occasions.

His earlier short film Little White Lies starring Christine Bottomley and Joe McFadden was screened at festivals around the World and was longlisted for BAFTA.

JENNY DAVIES

[Writer]

Jenny Davis is a BBC Academy Graduate 2019/20 with CDS broadcast credits on BBC medical drama ‘Doctors’.

She is the founder of Missing Pieces, a Bristol based production company devoted to bringing Black theatre to a wider audience and she is the writer of multiple short films and stage plays, including the award winning BAFTA longlisted short film ‘Little White Lies’ and the acclaimed play ‘The Front Room.’

MARI YAMAMURA

[Director of Photography]

Mari Yamamura worked as a 1st AC for over 13 years on TV dramas, features, commercials, corporate videos, documentaries and music videos before starting lighting and operating. For the last five years, she has been developing her work as a DP. She has shot a number of episodes of BBC ONE drama “Doctors” and shot her first feature “Kesulat” in 2016. In the same year, a short piece “Gwynfor” was selected for BSC New Cinematographers Night screening. She has been a BAFTA Crew member since 2013.

ABSTRACT AUDIO

[Music and Sound Design]

Led by award-winning composer Jonny Gunton, Abstract Audio is a Bristol based audio production facility that specialises in music and sound design for both commercial and editorial clients. Including BBC, Disney and MTV. Before establishing Abstract Audio, Jonny spent time as an intern for Philip Glass in his New York studio The Looking Glass and is currently working with the incredible Danish singer-songwriter Sophie Tusnelda-Page on the Drom collaboration.

FULL CAST & CREW

CREW

Director

Producer

Writer

Director of Photography

Sound Recordist

Original Music

Sound Design

Colourist

Assistant Camera

Location Assistant

Additional Photography

Carnival Poster Design

Stuart Napier

Jenny Davis

Mari Yamamura

Alex Preddy

Jonny Gunton

Abstract Audio

Daniel Beare

Sergejs Bozoks

Rianne Jones

Stuart Napier

Wayne Morrish

CAST

Rochelle

Soraya

Darren

Grandad

Nadia Williams

Haniya Lampkin Berry

Ed Browning

Dennis McCalla

MUSIC

Mama

Jah By Your Side

Peacemaker

Living In Paradise

Written and performed by Nora Dean

Written and performed by Dallas

Thanks to Bristol Film Office, Cristina Galimberti, Neil Hillier, Imogen Pollard, Emily Napier, Grace Napier, The Lansdown Pub.

The persons in this film are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons is purely unintentional. This motion picture is protected under the laws of the United Kingdom and other countries. Unauthorized duplication, distribution or exhibition may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution. Made with the support of 123 Media Ltd.

PRESS