Join Refractive for a screening of award winning feature film, The Defender by Gary Hewitt (Director and Screenwriter), at Erskine Arts. The film screening will take place on Thursday 14th December 2023 at 6.30pm. Book a ticket for only £5 (see link below)!

The evening will include a screening of a short film animation ‘Gloaming – The Vegan Leather’ by Bovine, alongside the screening of The Defender and a 10 minute Q&A with The Defender director, Gary Hewitt.

Book tickets through the venue, Erskine Arts, here: https://bookwhen.com/erskinearts#focus=ev-sk2p-20231214183000 

[Please note, Refractive have classified this film as a 15. As such, it is advised that people under 15 should not book a ticket to see this film.]

For more film information and to watch the trailer for The Defender, please see below.

2023, Scotland,  Drama, 1hr41min, Language: English, Refractive Classification: 15

Dir: Gary Hewitt, DOP: Steve Johnson

SYNOPSIS A child trafficking ring kidnaps a young boy named George. This traumatic event encourages an alcoholic, PTSD-suffering vigilante called Sara to team up with a local social worker to track down the same criminals who have ties to her past. Sara must face her fears and learn to put her trust in people if she has any hope of finding the boy. Featuring Sasha MacPherson (Mortem) and Parmy Singh (River City).

A Note from Gary Hewitt:

‘The Defender’ started when I lost my mother at the early stages of the covid pandemic. I remembered her last words to me were “Be kind… Help others” This is the underlying message in the story, but it also questions how far do you take that? This script was developed with the belief that something so personal to me is a clear universal message. While this film is dark with crime and abuse, it’s about new beginnings, change, and how a family is more than blood. The Defender follows Sara Summers’ story, whose aim to help others, takes her down a dark path that makes Sara face her own haunted past. I wanted to examine how we deal with loss and abandonment. What will human beings do to relieve themselves of hurt? How will they find the power to break free of their own darkness and start again?

THE DEFENDER was selected for: 

the EDINBURGH INTERNATION FILM FESTIVAL as part of CELTIC MEDIA SHOWCASE

It was one of 6 semi-finalists at this year’s FILM MARKET HUB 

It scored 7.5/10 on SCREENCRAFT and was a quarter finalist

THE DEFENDER has ranked in the TOP 30% of all 51,735 projects on COVERFLY 

It scored 8/10 on FILM MARKET HUB REVIEW

Awards:

Best Indie Film, Best Actress, Best Cinematography: Milan Independent Awards

Best Feature, Best Producer & Best Cinematography: 8 & HalFilm Awards

Best Feature Film & Best Actress: Sweden Film Awards

Best Thriller: Robinson Film Awards (August 2023)

Best Producer, Best Director, Best Feature: White Rose Film Fest