Senior lecturer’s film bags four awards at Venice Film Festival
A Manchester Met senior filmmaking lecturer and producer has taken home four prestigious prizes from the Venice International Film Festival for her feature Hoard.
Produced by Dunn and premiered at the glittering festival, the provocative production won Audience Award, Most Innovative Film, Premio Autrici under 40 Award for Best Direction and Screenplay, and Special Mention for its lead actress, at the 38th Venice Critics Week.
A film about childhood trauma and the way it can manifest itself in adulthood, Hoard follows the life of Maria across two decades, starting in 1984 when she is aged seven and living with her mother.
They create their own world, enveloped in love and collected shiny rubbish given new and special meaning – until one night, when everything falls apart. Hoard revisits Maria a decade later when a stranger calls (played by Stranger Things actor Joseph Quinn), bringing shared trauma with him.
Dunn, Senior Lecturer at the University’s School of Digital Arts (SODA) said: “Winning these awards has been incredible, and I’m absolutely delighted. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege working with writer Luna Carmoon and being supported by the leadership team at SODA, who have been an amazing champion for me and my practice.
“For me, Hoard has a very special and powerful energy, and is deeply affecting. We’ve been completely blown away by the response to it, and received an extending standing ovation, which was humbling! Winning these awards and being recognised for the film’s emotional truth and daring creative expression is everything we could have hoped for.”
Manchester Met’s SODA co-hosted the film’s post-premiere event alongside the British Council, with Head of SODA, Jill Griffiths and Interim Deputy Head of SODA Professor Kirsty Fairclough in attendance.
Griffiths said: “We are absolutely delighted for Loran on her much-deserved success and prestigious recognition. It’s been a huge privilege to be able to support Hoard, an astonishing, visceral and unique film with fierce and unique storytelling.
“At SODA, every voice is valued and telling stories is our mission. Loran’s work as both film producer and senior lecturer embodies our approach within the School, connecting industry and art, practice and research, and teaching and learning, and shows how powerful this can be.”
