Palka Takes Edinburgh Film Accolade

The winner of the Skillset New Directors Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) 2008 has been revealed.
Sir Sean Connery said that Marianna Palka took the accolade for her directorial feature debut, Good Dick.
The Skillset New Directors Award acknowledges new interpretation and innovation in filmmaking and marks the hottest new talent to be discovered at this year's EIFF.
The award winner is selected from first and second time filmmakers in the Rosebud and British Gala sections of the EIFF programme.
Past winners of the award include: Alejandro González Iñárritu for Amores Perros (2000), Morgan Spurlock for Super Size Me (2004), Paul Andrew Williams for London to Brighton (2006) and last year’s Lucia Puenzo for XXY (2007).
Good Dick is Marianna Palka's first feature film in which she writes, directs and stars alongside her real-life partner Jason Ritter.
It is an unusual fairy tale about a troubled, solitary young woman and a persistent video clerk who draws her out of her claustrophobic world.
As a non-traditional romantic comedy the lead couple translates into one of the most unique on-screen movie couples of the moment.
Good Dick was also recognised and screened in one of 16 competition slots at this year's Sundance Film Festival 2008.
Originally born in Glasgow and moved to New York at the age of 17 to study at David Mamet and William H. Macy's Atlantic Theatre Company, Marianna said: "I'm extremely honoured to have won this award. I'm very impressed by the quality of the films here at the festival this year. I'm truly grateful for EIFF and Skillset for having recognised Good Dick in this way. The whole experience of being here at EIFF has been deeply inspiring."
(BMcC)