The Guide Awards Best Film winner is a real Delicacy

A grisly little story about a date which ends up with more on the menu than the male had bargained for won the Best Film trophy.
By Chris Broom
Published 1st Feb 2019, 15:58 BST
Updated 7th Feb 2019, 22:04 BST
A still from Delicacy, which won The Guide Award for Best Film 2018. Directed by Michael Middleton-DownerA still from Delicacy, which won The Guide Award for Best Film 2018. Directed by Michael Middleton-Downer
A still from Delicacy, which won The Guide Award for Best Film 2018. Directed by Michael Middleton-Downer

Director Michael Middleton-Downer was unable to collect the prize for Delicacy himself as he is currently working in Manchester. It was picked up by fellow film-maker Riyadh Haque.

Michael says of the story: ‘Feminist films is a hot topic at the moment, and I had this idea, but I also worried if I was being a bit of a bloke about it. But it felt honest to me – even if it’s not an “honest” story. It didn’t feel contrived, so I went for it. I was between other jobs, so I thought let’s go for it.

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‘Alice Bird, the female lead, was free and she was someone I had wanted to work with for ages. And Gavin Fowler, the male lead, is an old school friend of mine from Horndean Technology College, now he’s a legit actor – he’s at the RSC in Stratford at the moment.

The film was shot on location in Portsmouth and London and edited here.

‘It’s nice to be recognised for your work. Long-listed is good, shortlisted even better, but I’m thrilled to win. Our industry can be quite lonely sometimes, so it’s nice to get some positive feedback.’

Love in First Sight, directed by Billy Stevenson.

Best Film is presented in association with Portsmouth Film Society.

Related topics:ManchesterLondon