JERICHO RIDGE, 87min., UK
Directed by Will Gilbey
Trapped and without backup, a small town cop fights for her life when her remote sheriff’s office is targeted by murderous attackers.

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https://www.instagram.com/jerichoridgethemovie/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I wanted to make an extremely tense, contained action film with strong, three dimensional characters. With low budget films you tend to get fairly compressed shooting schedules so I was very conscious of trying to make something where I'd get rid of unit moves and be able to focus my energies entirely on the characters, the actors playing them and the cinematography.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

I first came up with the very basic concept for Jericho Ridge in early 2017 and kept tinkering with it. I think my first draft of the script was finished at the beginning of 2018 and I was location scouting in Winnipeg in November 2019 with a plan to begin pre-production in March 2020. But then Covid appeared and the world shut down. We spent the whole of lockdown trying to work out where we could shoot and which country might open up first to filmmakers. We settled on Kosovo and began production on 28th February 2022. So five years from conception to shooting!

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Pressure cooker.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

I think with low budget films there are a million different obstacles you face and have to overcome on a daily basis to get your project over the finish line. But I reckon it was casting that took the most time to get right. It was very hard to find a lead actor to commit to the role of Tabby, especially as this was my first feature as a director and this was a low budget production.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I bloody loved it! It's an awesome feeling to watch people talk so intelligently and passionately about something you had a part in creating. Some of the comments were extremely insightful and it's great to see audience members getting the little things that you think will go over most people's heads and get missed. So huge thanks to everyone who took the time to comment!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I was a teenager when I started to get the bug. I'd be running around in the woods with fake guns, homemade fake blood and a few mates, and basically thought life doesn't get any better than this.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

It's either Goodfellas or Road House. Goodfellas because it's my favourite film of all time and I watch it several times a year. Road House because my cousin James had it on VHS when we were kids and we rewatched it endlessly. You just can't beat Patrick Swayze doing karate practise at sunset whilst slathered in baby oil.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I think any festival that champions and promotes exciting and unusual films that otherwise might get overlooked gets my vote.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Not so sure about this. You'd have to ask my producer Harvey Ascott as he was in charge of the festival applications.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Cheeseburger. Fries. Lager. A winning combo.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I wrote a script called NO GREAT BEAUTY that I was trying to get financing for before I made JERICHO RIDGE and am still actively trying to get made. And I've also just finished writing a crazy action-buddy movie set in Mexico called ONLY THE GUILTY that I'm really excited about and can't wait to get out into the world.