CINDERELLA GAMES
Cinderella Games was commissioned by English National Ballet in association with the Royal Albert Hall. This original dance film takes inspiration from Christopher Wheeldon’s production of Cinderella, yet imagines the fairy-tale with an alternate ending: after the ball the real Cinderella was never found, and instead a sinister game show now exists in which contestants compete for its title.
Shot on location amidst the breathtaking Victorian architecture of the Kempton Steam Rooms and the Royal Albert Hall and set to Prokoviev's magical, eerie and atmospheric 'Cinderella' score, the film features an intergenerational cast of 30 non-professional dancers (aged 18 - 79), with professional dancers Chihiro Kawasaki and Matthew Hawkins in the lead roles.
The film was played as a curtain raiser at venues including the Palace Theatre, Manchester and Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, as part of English National Ballet's national tour.
Cinderella Games was named winner of the Best Musical category at the Oscar-qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival 2020.
Direction, Concept and Choreography Jessica Wright and Morgann Runacre-Temple
Director of Photography Matthias Pilz
Music Sergei Prokofiev
Editor Livia Serpa
Costumes Susan Kulkarni
Production Design Bobbie Cousins
Produced by Bluebird Productions and English National Ballet
'a cross between Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times and Fritz Lang’s Metropolis with colour saturation by Hollywood Technicolor.'
British theatre guide
'I loved this film. Watched it twice. Original, imaginative, a real joy to see something so different.'
Arlene Phillips
WINNER of BEST MUSICAL Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival | Short ShortsFilm Festival Asia | Oxford Film Festival | Norwich Film Festival | Short Waves Festival | Bucharest International Dance Film Festival | WINNER of BEST DANCE FILM New Renaissance Film Festival | Bolton International Film Festival | Exit 6 | UK - China Online Culture Festival British Council | Fifth Wall Festival Philippines | San Francisco Dance Film Festival | Tallgrass Film Festival | Newport Beach Film Festival | Aesthetica Short Film Festival | Kinestescope International Screendance Film Festival | This is England | Hollyshorts Film Festival | HONOURABLE MENTION Deep Focus Film Festival | In Motion Festival Chicago