Natalie Gavin as Andrea Dunbar in Clio Barnard's The Arbor.

by Adam Williams

Whitstable director Clio Barnard will tread the red carpet at this Sunday’s BAFTAS as she bids to scoop another award for her first feature film.

The Kent University film studies lecturer is nominated in the outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer category for The Arbor.

Released last autumn, the film has already claimed an array of awards for its portrayal of the late working class Bradford playright Andrea Dunbar and her daughter Lorraine. On Monday, it won the best screenplay award at the Evening Standard film awards and also picked up two gongs at the London Film Festival for best British newcomer and director of most original feature film.

Clio, who lives in Woodlawn Street with partner Adam Chodzko, is overwhelmed by the response.

She said: “It’s quite amazing and unexpected, it’s bizarre and it’s brilliant.

“There’s a strange contrast between the subject matter of the film and these celebratory evenings where everyone dresses up and makes speeches. But there’s a sense of ownership among the people involved in the film, who are incredibly pleased about it and that allows me to feel pleased as well.”

The film has won critical acclaim for how it was filmed and produced. Barnard visited the Buttershaw estate where Andrea Dunbar grew up and recorded audio interviews with her daughter Lorraine and other residents and neighbours. The audio was then edited and used in the film with actors mouthing the words. The cast includes Natalie Gavin as Dunbar, with Christine Bottomley and Neil Dudgeon.

The Arbor is nominated alongside Four Lions, directed by comic actor Chris Morris and artist Banksy’s first film, Exit Through The Gift Shop.