Fire Ants
'Fire Ants' was created during the first lockdown of 2020 by just one family. It was a project to try and combat all those emotions that many kept inside, and safely involve as many young people as we could to tell a story that was inspired by the real events but pushed a little far - in a dystopian near future (2023) where Covid mutation has resulted in Martial Law and segregation by genetic immunity, forcing families apart. The film centres on the fragile relationship between a mother and her son - who looks after her while being part of an online network of young Fire Ants.
Our team involved individuals with visible and invisible disabilities and a plethora of youngsters from six continents who were asked to visit their lockdown cities and perform their roles. Fire Ants had its world premiere at the Rhode Island International Film Festival in August 2021.
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Katerina Philippou-CurtisDirectorThe Boys, Marriage, One Track Mind
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Katerina Philippou-CurtisWriterThe Boys, Marriage, One Track Mind, The Libertines
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Paul CurtisProducerMarriage, One Track Mind, The Libertines
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Hugh QuarshieKey Cast"Home Secretary"Star Wars, Highlander, Holby City
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Victoria EmslieKey Cast"Lara"Downton Abbey
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Jane AsherKey Cast"Alison "Alfie, Burn Burn Burn
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Rafael AlecKey Cast"Rafi"Marriage, One Track Mind
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:29 minutes 59 seconds
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Completion Date:July 7, 2021
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Country of Origin:United Kingdom
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Country of Filming:United Kingdom
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:RED 8K
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Aspect Ratio:2:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Rhode Island International Film festivalProvidence, Rhode Island
United States
August 14, 2021
World
Kat's first feature The Boys as a writer/director premiered at Thessaloniki International Film Festival and her second, 'Marriage' has gathered multiple awards. Her playfilm, Cockroach Waltz' was shown at Greenwich Playhouse. The Libertines, a stage/screen/ VFX immersive play was co-produced by and performed at The Marlowe Theatre. Kat's studies and her nomadic background (originally from Greece) have helped shape her stories which are usually about uncompromising but charismatic outsiders exploring identity through all the layers and intricacies of modern society.
Fire Ants started filming exactly a month into lockdown - April 2020. (Its working title was What Matters, and the press articles are under that name.) We wanted to document the world we were living with a little short. The short organically grew to include more people than I've ever hoped for. I got emails from parents saying how involving their children in the film was a huge help to them at the time. I have no words to express my gratitude to everyone who took part and especially to the home team, who for 16 months treaded carefully between insanity and creativity.