Director Melvin James’s short film While The Cats Away makes debut at CannesPosted by Wilson Morales
May 17, 2013
Director Melvin James makes his debut at the 66th Annual Cannes International Film Festival with his short film, “While The Cats Away“. The film is a sexy quirky comedy about one woman’s dilemma when she gets a series of surprise visits from a few of her unexpected lovers all in one day. It will be shown at Court Metrage (Short FIlm Corner).
While the Cat’s Away follows serial adulterer Leanne for eight minutes of her life as she decides to have some fun with the caring and sensitive Tom, while her partner Fiona is out of town. Relaxing on her bed Tom promises her the world if she promises never to leave him again. It seems Leanne hasn’t been completely honest with Tom though, as a handful of eccentric uninvited ex-flames one by one let themselves into Leanne’s house causing fears that Fiona has returned from her trip early. Leanne starts hiding her lovers away as best she can, but with all the hiding places in her room taken, Fiona does turn up. Will Leanne be caught out and finally have to pay the consequences for getting up to no good while the cat’s away…?
The film was written by James Pickering and produced by Sharri Jones of Lionstale Productions and TSD Agency. Melvin James has won several film festival awards for past works. However this marks Melvin’s first film into the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, the largest film festival and film industry event in the world.
James has written, directed and produced for various networks, films, shows and companies including HBO, MTV, BET, VH1, Comedy Central, Lion’s Gate Films, Budweiser, Heinekin, Nike, CBS and Playboy. Some of his films included Honeybee and A Miami Tale.
Ever since its creation, the Festival de Cannes has remained faithful to its founding purpose: to draw attention to and raise the profile of films with the aim of contributing towards the development of cinema, boosting the film industry worldwide. This Official Selection serves to highlight the diversity of cinematic creation through its different sections, the two most important of which are the Competition and Un Certain Regard. Films that are representative of “auteur cinema with a wide audience appeal” are presented in Competition, and Un Certain Regard focuses on works that have an original aim and aesthetic.
Cannes hands filmmakers an annual tailor-made program of industry meets, workshops and conferences that deal with strategic issues. Selected filmmakers will benefit from all the advantages of being an official Festival de Cannes official accredited attendee, from being able to access the Marché du Film exhibitors or those in the Village International. Filmmakers will also be able to network first hand with all the biggest industry players: institutions, financiers and the most important international reps in the film business.
