Meet Gary J Hewitt | Filmmaker & Festival Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gary J Hewitt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gary J, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have always thought that art is a way to express ourselves and I often find myself thinking about stories and how I could get them out into the world. After studying Media. I knew Film was the path I wanted to take.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a writer & director from Glasgow, Scotland mostly working in independent shorts and features. One of my first short films ‘Mia: A Rapture 2.0 Production’ was selected for the BIAFF Film Festival and won the Diamond Award, Best Film Award & Best UK Film Award. A single filmmaker hasn’t won all 3 awards together since the ’80s. The film won 12 awards all in.

I worked together with the same team to create the short film She Of The Land which was also a huge success winning Best Actor, Best Horror, and Best film at various festivals however its festival run came to a halt due to covid

It was at this time I started working on the feature film The Defender — which is our latest project together.

After working on various short films and submitting our low-budget projects to different festivals. I didn’t think it was fair that low-budget indie films were competing for the same awards against fully funded films.

This was when I decided to create The HB Film Festival. A festival born to help and support indie filmmakers. “The mission of The HB Film Festival is to put independent cinema in the spotlight that both films and their makers deserve”

The HB Film Festival brings to Paisley, Scotland, a quality selection of both local and international shorts movies coming from all over the world and aims to become a cultural gathering for film lovers and professionals to support the creation of networks between filmmakers and the local communities and to initiate inspiring exchanges between filmmakers and professionals coming from different artistic disciplines.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favourite spots in Glasgow are:

Glasgow
The Shilling Brewing Company – was one of the first to bring the brew pub experience to the heart of Glasgow. Customers can choose from over 30 draught beers.

IMAX Theatre at Glasgow Science Centre – cinema chain showing the latest international blockbusters in 2D and 3D formats.

House for An Art Lover – Afternoon tea – Country house, arts centre and cafe, built based on unrealised designs by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Paisley

Blend Coffee Shop – diverse band of friends united in our passion for people to experience some of the best coffee and tea the world over.

The HB Film Festival – Showcasing, local and international indie films

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to give a shoutout to all the cast and crew who have been working on my Feature Film that I wrote and directed — It’s called ‘The Defender’.

During covid, I started writing the project, and once the lockdown was lifted, we began filming. The cast and crew have put their blood, sweat and tears into the project and have really put their trust in me as a director.

They are an amazingly creative bunch, and I really wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TheDefenderFilm
IMDb – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15485554/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_10

Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4799719/?ref_=tt_ov_dr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hewittgpro/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gahewitt

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HewittGPro

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHBFilmFest

Other: Festival https://www.facebook.com/TheHBFilmFest https://twitter.com/TheHBFilmFest https://www.instagram.com/thehbfilmfest/