Maisie Williams Among This Year's Shooting Stars for 2015

Maisie Williams, star of films Heatstroke, Gold, and The Falling, and TV series Game of Thrones, has been nominated for the 2015 Shooting Star Award.  European Film Promotion announced today the ten talented actors from across Europe that will be making their way to the award ceremony held at the Berlin Film Festival on 7th February.  The nominations are as follows: Joachim Fjelstrup (Denmark), Jannis Niewöhner (Germany), Emmi Parviainen (Finland), Hera Hilmar (Iceland), Moe Dunford (Ireland), Aistė Diržiūtė (Lithuania), Abbey Hoes (The Netherlands), Natalia de Molina (Spain), Sven Schelker (Switzerland) and Maisie Williams (UK).

The prestigious award is now approaching it's 18th year, and has served as a platform for it's talented, international alumni such as Daniel Craig (UK - 2000), Daniel Brühl (Germany- 2003), Elio Germano (Italy - 2008), David Dencik (Denmark - 2007), Carey Mulligan (UK - 2009) and Alicia Vikander (Sweden - 2011).

Jury member, Polish film director Malgorzata Szumowska said of the announcement, “ The Shooting Stars jury deliberated at length over what constitutes ‘star quality’ - that rare and special something that allows these actors to rise above their peers and to display not only impressive technical skill in their performances - but also something more. We pored over showreels and past performances of young actors from all over Europe and our discussions in Hamburg this month have resulted in what we think is a particularly strong year .”

Other members of the jury include:  actress Eva Röse (Maria Wern), UK film magazine editor Damon Wise (Empire magazine), Slovenian film producer Danijel Hočevar (Circles) and French casting director Nathalie Cheron (Lucy).

Carol Morley's The Falling Officially Starts Shooting

Press Release:

Independent Announces Start of Shoot for Carol Morley’s Film The Falling, 28 October 2013
THE FALLING tells the story of Lydia, the troubled girl at the centre of a mysterious fainting epidemic, who is determined to discover the cause of the malady spreading through her British all-girl school in 1969, a year when the whole world seems poised on the brink of change.

Following her films BAFTA-nominated The Alcohol Years, Edge, and the critically acclaimed Dreams of a Life, writer/ director Carol Morley presents her skewed and dreamlike coming of age story The Falling, with director of photography Agnès Godard (Sister, Beau Travail). The Falling is represented internationally by Independent Film Sales who will be introducing the project to buyers at AFM in November.

The Falling is presented by BBC Films and BFI in association with Lipsync Productions, a Cannon and Morley/ Independent production in association with Boudica Red, a Carol Morley film. The film was developed with the BFI Film Fund. Written and directed by Carol Morley, Produced by Cairo Cannon and Luc Roeg, Line Producer Donall Mccusker, Executive Producers Lizzie Francke, Christine Langan, Philip Herd, Andrew Orr, Norman Merry, Peter Hampden, Rebecca long and Ian Davies.

Intense Lydia (Maisie Williams, Game of Thrones) and beautiful, rebellious Abbie (Florence Pugh) are best friends at their all-girls school, ruled over by the enigmatic headmistress Miss Alvaro (Monica Dolan) with her deputy, the overly strict Miss Mantel (Greta Scacchi). It's 1969, and the girls, like the world around them, are in a state of change. Abbie is embracing her sexuality, even sleeping with Lydia's beatnik brother. Lydia, neglected by her agoraphobic mother Eileen (Maxine Peake), has made Abbie her emotional focus. After a shocking tragedy, Lydia, finds herself at the center of an outbreak of a mysterious fainting condition. Before long, the phenomenon spreads throughout the school community and when Lydia’s own symptoms worsen, she rallies against the school’s authorities to find and remove the underlying cause before it’s too late.

The film is set for release 2014.

Game of Throne's Maisie Williams lands 'monster' role

Production Company Movie Mogul Ltd (PANIC BUTTON), has announced today that actress Maisie Williams has signed up to play the lead role of Lorna Thompson in the sci-fi action film WE ARE MONSTERS.

Williams, who shot to fame as Ayra Stark in the HBO hit series GAME OF THRONES said today: “I am really pleased to be involved in We are Monsters and working with John and I can’t wait to bring Lorna to life'

Writer/Director John Shackleton says "Maisie brings a perfect blend of feistiness and vulnerability to this challenging role and I couldn't be more thrilled at the news of her acceptance of our offer."

Producer Gareth I. Davies added: “Maisie, a star in the making, will bring lots of vitality and excitement to the project, and her existing ‘Game of Thrones’ fan following will be delighted to see Maisie embark on her latest lead role – in what promises to be a very special film to hit our cinema screens in 2014”

Also attached to the film, which goes into pre-production later in the year, is actor Doug Jones best known in the UK for his roles in the HELLBOY films and PAN’S LABYRINTH. He plays Lorna’s nemesis, the evil Sir Daniel Southall.

The crew includes monster effects specialist Neill Gorton ( FROM HELL); Stunt Co-ordinator Andy Bennett (THE WOMAN IN BLACK) and Storyboard artist Ben Oliver (JUDGE DREDD, X-MEN).