Connect (2019 film)

Connect is a Scottish drama film directed by Marilyn Edmond and starring Kevin Guthrie, Siobhan Reilly and Stephen McCole. The film follows the central character of Brian, living in a small town in Scotland, he must overcome his depression and the voice that haunts him daily.

Connect
Film poster
Directed by	Marilyn Edmond
Written by	Marilyn Edmond
Produced by	Marilyn Edmond
Starring	Kevin Guthrie Siobhan Reilly Stephen McCole
Cinematography	Laura Dinnett
Edited by	Sarah Louise Bates
Music by	Benjamin McMillan
Production company	Angel Face Productions
Release date	23 February 2019 (2019-02-23)
Running time	104 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Main cast

• Kevin Guthrie as Brian
• Siobhan Reilly as Sam
• Stephen McCole as Jeff
• Sara Vickers as Debbie
• Cameron Fulton as Gavin

Release and reception

Connect is director, Marilyn Edmond's debut film. It premiered at the 2019 Glasgow Film Festival ^[1] It was also selected to play at The Orlando Film Festival, Film Focus Festival and The Sydney Indie Film Festival where it picked up several nominations (Best Film, Best Drama Film, Best Male lead & Best Female Lead) ^[2] and saw Marilyn Edmond win Best Director.

The film had a successful local cinema run throughout Scotland with screenings at the Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre, The GFT, Grosvenor Cinema, The Scotsman Picturehouse and more.

Eddie Harrison of Film Authority rated the film with 4 stars stating, “Connect is a simple and effective drama that shines a light on a subject that most films avoid or exploit; hopefully it'll gain a following by offering a fresh take on a universally mis-understood subject that needs tackled today.”^[3]

Reviews on The Guardian website were much less favourable.^[4]

The film also received positive publicity from publications eager to shine a light on the movies theme of male suicide from newspapers such as The Times.^[5]

Kevin Guthrie was interviewed specifically by The National on taking a break from Hollywood movies like Fantastic Beasts and Where To find Them to return to Scotland and film Connect^[6]

Marilyn Edmond's debut saw her catapulted onto Bafta's radar where she took part in a career Close-up Q&A Session^[7]

Awards

Year	Awards	Category	Recipient(s)	Result
2019	Sydney Indie Film Festival	Best Director	Marilyn Edmond	Won
		Best Male Lead Actor	Kevin Guthrie	Nominated
		Best Female Lead Actress	Siobhan Reilly	Nominated
		Best Film	Marilyn Edmond	Nominated
		Best Drama Film	Marilyn Edmond	Nominated