Hey, it’s Mikael here.

Guess what?

Last night was the Screening and Awards Night for the Poetry in Film Festival. It was a great event and it was absolutely exhilarating to see our film up there on the big screen. To have shared the night with our crew and our actors and their mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters, even grandparents made the whole experience feel wonderfully complete and special. This was a team effort through and through and we all deserved to be there.

As we rocked up to the cinema and took our seats – I wouldn’t admit it to anybody but my heart was racing. I was incredibly nervous. As I was watching those first few films, which were relatively dark and melancholy, or at the very least aimed at an older demographic, I thought “Oh no… how is my little primary school love story going to fit in with these films? I’m crazy, I’m an idiot!” Ohhhh, that was fun. The nerves only increased when the words “Love Is A Many Childish Thing” appeared on the screen. But everything changed as soon as I heard that first sound of laughter break out across the room. The audience’s reactions throughout the film made it very obvious that people were connecting, and I think that’s a credit to the entire cast – particularly of course, the ever-adorable Isabella and the note-swallowing hero, Per.

George Iskander, the splendid man who played the part of the teacher told us that as he mingled with everybody in the foyer, he chatted with an actor from one of the other films. The actor told George: “I actually voted for yours.” For me, that story just made the night that little bit more touching, and in the end we took out the major award for “Audience Choice.”

My mind went totally blank as I went up to accept the award and make a speech. I wish I could have said a thousand things; above all that I honestly feel very honoured and blessed to have met and worked with all of you.

Thank you for making this happen.