''The Groundsman'' is a 2013 short film produced by the
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (), formerly the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama () is a conservatoire of dance, drama, music, production, and film in Glasgow, Scotland. It is a member of the Federation of Drama Schools.
Founde ...
. Written & Directed by
Jonny Blair, Starring
David O'Hara
David Patrick O'Hara (born 9 July 1965) is a Scottish stage and character actor. A graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, he is best known to audiences for his numerous supporting roles in high-profile films, includ ...
. The film depicts a lonely football groundsman named Keith (O'Hara) who finds out his club has gone out of business, but instead of moving on with his life and acknowledging his past affairs, he tries his utmost to keep the club running.
The film screened for the first time at
Cineworld
Regal Cineworld Group (trading as Cineworld) is a British cinema operator headquartered in London, England. It is the world's second-largest cinema chain (after AMC Theatres), with 9,139 screens across 747 sites in 10 countries: Bulgaria, Czec ...
in Glasgow on 20 June 2013 with the four other graduation films.
In 2014, the film was nominated for 3 Bafta Scotland New Talent awards for Best Editing, Best Fiction and Best Writing. It went on to win Best Fiction and Best Editing.
Cast
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David O'Hara
David Patrick O'Hara (born 9 July 1965) is a Scottish stage and character actor. A graduate of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, he is best known to audiences for his numerous supporting roles in high-profile films, includ ...
as Keith
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Brian McCardie
Brian McCardie (22 January 1965 – 28 April 2024) was a Scottish actor and writer, known for his role as John Thomas "Tommy" Hunter in the BBC police procedural series ''Line of Duty''.
Personal life
Brian McCardie was born on 22 January 196 ...
as Steve
Production
Filming started on Sunday 5 May for a half day until Friday 10 May 2013. Also was a half day in April where a football match was shot. David O'Hara was cast as Keith, whom Jonny Blair knew personally, with Brian McCardie, Jim Sweeney, Darran Lightbody and Frank Lovering (Benburb manager) rounding out the cast. Locations were a house in King's Park, Tinto Park in Govan, home of
Benburb FC which the film was built around, Bell's Bar on Govan Road and a country road near Bishopton.
Accolades
*Flutlicht Fussball Film Festival Official Selection 2016
*2ANNAS Riga International Film Festival Official Selection 2015
*Williamsburg Independent Film Festival Official Selection 2014
*Aguilar de Campoo Short Film Festival 2014 / ''In Competition''
*Inverness Film Festival Official Selection 2014
*CineFringe Film Festival Official Selection 2014
*Southside Film Festival Official Selection 2014
*11mm Fussballfilmfestival Official Selection 2014
*Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival Official Selection 2014 / In competition for ''Best Student Short''
*Glasgow Short Film Festival Official Selection 2014 / In competition for ''Scottish Competition''
*London Short Film Festival Official Selection 2014
*Royal Television Society Scotland 2014, Nomination for ''Best Student Fiction''
*BAFTA Scotland New Talent Awards 2014, Won ''Best Fiction'' and ''Best Editing''
Daily Record Newspaper Article on Conor Meechan Win
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External links
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Groundsman, The
2013 films
2010s English-language films