Private Project

Fool's Gold - a Dolaucothi Love Story

Thought to have been lost, this forgotten treasure from the golden age of Welsh silent cinema was recently discovered, in a box of broken mine lamps, by Dolaucothi Gold Mines’ archivist and occasional tour guide ‘Seismic Sam’.

Made in 1927 and inspired by real events, as well as an outrageous moustache, Fool’s Gold tells the timeless tale of boy meets girl in a dimly lit mine passage amidst the backdrop of a bitter struggle for the control of the Dolaucothi Gold Mines and the keys to the Johnes' family fortune.

  • Simon Howlett
    Director
  • Simon Howlett
    Writer
  • Karla J. Smith
    Writer
  • Simon Howlett
    Producer
  • Drew Moxham
    Key Cast
    "Hapless Hero"
  • Alison Pearson
    Key Cast
    "Helpless Heroine"
  • Emyr Thomas
    Key Cast
    "Evil Mine Manager"
  • Karla J. Smith
    Key Cast
    "Mad 'Ma' Thomas"
  • Sandra Parry
    Key Cast
    "Lord Johnes"
  • Lorraine Baldwin
    Key Cast
    "Lady Johnes"
  • The Keystone Tour Guides
    Key Cast
    "Themselves"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 35 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 22, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    35 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    iPhone 6
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Wales International Film Festival
    Swansea, Wales
    United Kingdom
    September 8, 2017
    Winner of Best Short Comedy
  • Carmarthen Bay Film Festival
    Llanelli, CARMARTHENSHIRE
    United Kingdom
    May 9, 2017
    Best Short Film Made in Wales Finalist
  • Calcutta International Cult Film Festival
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    November 11, 2017
    Winner of Mobile Film Outstanding Achievement Award & Best Silent Movie Finalist
  • Mediterranean Film Festival
    Siracusa
    Italy
    January 2, 2018
    Best Mobile Film Award
  • Red Corner Festival
    New York
    United States
    January 4, 2018
    Best Mobile Film Award
  • Virgin Spring Cinefest
    Kolkata
    India
    February 22, 2018
    Best Silent Film Award
  • Independent Shorts Awards
    Hollywood, Los Angeles
    United States
    April 2, 2018
    Best Mobile Short
  • Sicily International Film Festival
    Siracusa, Sicily
    Italy
    May 11, 2018
    Best Mobile Film
  • Cult Critic Movie Awards
    Kolkata, West Bengal
    India
    March 16, 2018
    Best Mobile Film
Distribution Information
  • SmileToBeFree Digital
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Simon Howlett

After brief media career as a film student, a runner at a Soho post-production house and a camera assistant, I have spent the intervening 25 years helping others realise their creative visions, goals and dreams.

It is great to once again be dipping my toes back into the Sea of Cinematic Creativity and the dream goes on.

Fool's Gold - a Dolaucothi Love Story has been a Finalist at 13 Festivals worldwide including Best Short Film Made in Wales at the Carmarthen Bay Film Festival 2017, received 8 awards including Best Short Comedy at the Wales International Film Festival 2017, the Mobile Film Outstanding Achievement Award at the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival 2017; and on top of this it has qualified for the 2018 BAFTAs & the IMDb listings....Amazing!

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

25 years ago I studied film making at the Surrey Institute of Art & Design and spent some time working in London's Soho; but then things happen, life changes and the years pass by.

Then while working as a tour guide at the National Trust’s Dolaucothi Gold Mines, an outrageous moustache, a joke, a photo and suddenly the creative juices are flowing again. After that as they say....the rest is history.

Fool's Gold was shot entirely on an iPhone 6 and this incredible innovation has allowed the making of a movie that I could never have dreamed of making all those years ago in such a straight forward and simple way.

With the support of a great cast and crew doubling as work colleagues, the making of 'Fool's Gold - a Dolaucothi Love Story' has been a great pleasure and great fun and we hope that you enjoy it too.