08 June 2023

BTO partner Paul Motion attended the world premiere of the movie “Stella” at the Dominion Cinema, Edinburgh on 6 June. BTO had provided legal advice on some of the main contracts relating to the production of the film, which was produced by Fountainhall Films, InnerwellMedia and SW Media Factory; written and directed by Jessica Fox.

“Stella” has already won top awards at the Toronto Film Festival and the Melech Tel-Aviv International Film Festival. 

The film is the imagined story of a German Jewish woman in pre-war UK whose family are on the run in Nazi Germany.  As a result, she runs out of money and cannot complete her music studies at Oxford.  Instead, she has to find work and travels to Scotland to a stately home in Dumfries & Galloway.  The job she applied for has already been taken but she is persuaded to stay as a German tutor for the family of the formidable Earl of Rig.

Set in 1937, the film deals with Rig’s avid support for the fascist leader, Oswald Moseley, and the tension this causes Stella due to her family background and persecution of German Jews in the mid-1930s.  Stella becomes romantically involved with a young poet and the film neatly intertwines political tensions with slightly complex family connections and unexpected friendships which unfold. 

The screening was a great success enjoyed by well over 150 invited guests who enjoyed the sumptuous comfort of the Dominion, well known in Edinburgh for its leather double sofas which replace the usual cinema seats.  Photographs were taken before the event featuring one of the main props from the film, a beautiful 1930s Royal Enfield motorcycle.  STV have just acquired the streaming rights to “Stella” which is available on STV Player.

The specialist BTObecreative Team is very pleased to have been associated with this high quality production and it was great to see our firm’s name appearing in the rolling credits at the end.  The screening also raised funds for the popular Wigtown Book Festival.  A follow-up film is now in contemplation.  BTO will look forward to continuing its association with Jessica!

Watch on STVplayer: https://player.stv.tv/summary/stella-films

Instagram trailer: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtME3ahoYTQ/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Twitter trailer: https://twitter.com/WeAreSTV/status/1666415211702636544?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet