Former student returns to university for special screening of star-studded film

A student turned award-winning director is returning to Plymouth to host a preview screening of his first major feature film.

Dom Lenoir graduated from the University of Plymouth’s MA in Contemporary Film Practice in 2009, having completed a BA (Hons) Media Arts degree the previous year. Ten years later he is back to present Winter Ridge, a dark psychological thriller filmed in North Devon, in a special screening and Q&A at the University.

The film, Dom’s first big feature-length work, has already been a hit on the festival circuit on both sides of the Atlantic, with 12 awards and counting. It is being released in the USA this month by Gravitas Ventures, along with an exclusive UK theatrical run, before the film is taken to audiences in London.

It stars Matt Hookings, who also produced Winter Ridge alongside Nancy Bressolles.

Hookings plays a detective on the hunt for a serial killer, who is targeting the elderly, and seems to be focusing on victims with degenerative diseases. His wife, meanwhile, lies in a coma following a car accident.

Winter Ridge boasts star power in the shape of co-stars Hannah Waddingham (Game of Thrones, Les Misérables), Alan Ford (Snatch, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) and Olwen Catherine Kelly. Michael Mckell (Allied, Where Hands Touch) and Ian Pirie (Les Misérables, Da Vinci’s Demons) also feature.

Dom Lenoir said:

“Since my time at university I’ve always been about making my own independent films, but this is a big career move in terms of the budget and the actors that are involved.

“It was the dramatic nature of the story and the detective genre that first attracted me to the project. The elements that deal with degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s really struck a chord with my own family’s experiences.

“I’m hoping this film will raise an interesting debate on the condition, and bring the audience to a new understanding of loneliness.

Phaedra Stancer, Programme Leader for the current BA (Hons) Media Arts course and a former lecturer of Dom’s, said: 

“Media Arts is a degree course but also a community of practice. Our graduates stay in touch and it is always a great pleasure to hear of their successes. It isn’t unusual for alumni to offer opportunities to current students and we help them out where we can too.

“We are very proud to host a preview screening of Dom’s first feature film. We are happy that he wanted to return to us to do this, it is a fantastic opportunity for current students to get tips from someone who started out on the same course they are currently studying. Dom has also volunteered some of the proceeds from the evening to set up a prize for current students.”

University staff are eligible for a discount off the full ticket price, while University of Plymouth students can get in free. The screening is on Thursday 20 September at 7pm in Jill Craigie Cinema, Roland Levinsky Building.

For more information and interviews, and to book a ticket, visit the page about the event.