# Cotton Wool

Cotton Wool is a 2017 British drama film following the story of a 7-year-old boy (Max Vento) who cares for his mother (Leanne Best) after she has survived from a stroke, with little to no help from his older sister (Katie Quinn).
The film was assisted in its research by The Stroke Association.

## Cast

* Leanne Best as Rachel
* Max Vento as Sam
* Katie Quinn as Jennifer
* Kate Rutter as Marion
* Crissy Rock as Gerry
* Gemma North as Liz
* Megan Grady as Young Jennifer
* Jason Rickets as David

## Reception

The film received a 12A by the British Board of Film Classification. The film's critical reception was mixed, 'ScreenCritix' gave the film 5 stars stating "Best is a revelation", while the Mancunion criticised its short length "suffered in the rush to squeeze an 80-minute story into 40 minutes. 'UK Film Review' stated that the film was '‘Utterly enrapturing’ and ‘Affecting and heartbreaking’." At the 2017 London Film Awards, the film was awarded the 'Special Jury Award'. The film featured on BBC News, looking into the age of the director and his career, as well as the importance of supporting child carers. The films red carpet premiere took place in Oldham, Lancashire, England.

## Production

The film was shot on both digital and 35 mm film formats, using an Arriflex 435 and Red Epic. The film was shot by BAFTA winning cinematographer Alan C. McLaughlin. The production shot for 7 days in total in Barkisland, West Yorkshire.

## Festivals Accolations

| Film Festival | Notes |
| Cleveland International Film Festival | Hot List |
| British Independent Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Global Independent Film Awards | Official Selection |
| Derby Film Festival | Official Selection |
| New York Film Awards | Official Selection |
| European Independent Film Awards | Official Selection |
| New Renaissance Film Festival (London) | Official Selection |
| Newark International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Unrestricted View Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Newcastle International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Scottish Mental Health Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Indie Shorts Mag - Short of the Year Awards | Official Selection |
| Manchester Screenplays and Shorts Film Festival | Official Selection |
| MancMade 53Two Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Out of the Can Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Southampton International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Little Wing Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Los Angeles Film Awards | Official Selection |
| Bristol Independent Film Festival | Official Selection |
| London International Motion Picture Awards (L.I.M.P.A) | Official Selection |
| Birmingham Film Festival | Official Selection |
| UK Film Review - Annual Awards | Official Selection |
| IndieFlicks International Film Festival | Official Selection |
| The Monthly Film Festival (Glasgow) | Official Selection |
| Madrid Independent Film Festival | Official Selection |
| Gold Movie Awards | Official Selection |
| London Film Awards | Official Selection |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Nominated Work | Awards | Category | Result |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | London Film Awards | Special Jury Award | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | UK Film Review - Annual Awards | Best Short Film of 2018 | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | UK Film Review - Annual Awards | Best Director | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | European Independent Film Awards | Best Drama | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | European Independent Film Awards | Best Director | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | European Independent Film Awards | Best Actress (Leanne Best) | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Madrid Independent Film Festival | Best Featurette | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Global Independent Film Awards | Best Drama | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Global Independent Film Awards | Best Featurette | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Global Independent Film Awards | Best Actor Under 18 (Max Vento) | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Global Independent Film Awards | Best Actress Under 18 (Katie Quinn) | Won |
| 2020 | Cotton Wool | Indie Shorts Mag - Short of the Year Awards | Best Short of the Year | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | Lift-Off Season Awards 2019 | Best Director | Nominated |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | IndieFlicks Short Film Festival | Director's Choice Award | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | Los Angeles Film Awards | Best Picture | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | Los Angeles Film Awards | Best Actress (Leanne Best) | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | Los Angeles Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Crissy Rock) | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | Los Angeles Film Awards | Best Young Actress (Katie Quinn) | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | Los Angeles Film Awards | Best Drama | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | Los Angeles Film Awards (Annual Ceremony) | Best of the Festival 2019 | Nominated |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | Los Angeles Film Awards (Annual Ceremony) | Best Actress of 2019 (Leanne Best) | Nominated |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | Los Angeles Film Awards (Annual Ceremony) | Best Ensemble of 2019 | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | British Independent Film Festival | Best Short Film | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | British Independent Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor (Max Vento) | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | British Independent Film Festival | Best Supporting Actress (Katie Quinn) | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | British Independent Film Festival | Best Music | Nominated |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards | Best Picture | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards | Best Young Filmmaker | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards | Best Ensemble | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards | Best Editing | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards | Best Young Actress (Katie Quinn) | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress (Crissy Rock) | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards (Annual Ceremony) | Best of the Festival 2019 | Nominated |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards (Annual Ceremony) | Best Director | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards (Annual Ceremony) | Jury President Award | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards (Annual Ceremony) | Best Narrative Feature | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards (Annual Ceremony) | Best Actress (Leanne Best) | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards (Annual Ceremony) | Best Duo (Katie Quinn & Leanne Best) | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards (Annual Ceremony) | Best Editing of 2019 | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | New York Film Awards (Annual Ceremony) | Best Ensemble of 2019 | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Birmingham Film Festival | Best Young Director | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Unrestricted View Film Festival | Best Short Film | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Unrestricted View Film Festival | Best Director (Nicholas Connor) | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Unrestricted View Film Festival | Best Screenplay (Nicholas Connor) | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Unrestricted View Film Festival | Best Actress (Leanne Best) | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Manchester Screenplays and Shorts Film Festival | Best Actress (Leanne Best) | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Manchester Lift-Off Film Festival | Special Mention | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Gold Movie Awards | Film of the Year | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Gold Movie Awards | Best Featurette – Annual Award | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Gold Movie Awards | Film of the Month | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Gold Movie Awards | Best Featurette – Monthly Award | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Southampton International Film Festival | Best British Short Film | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Southampton International Film Festival | Best Director | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Out of the Can Film Festival | Best Drama | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Out of the Can Film Festival | Best Lifestyle Project Award, Sponsored by Hellblazerbiz | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Out of the Can Film Festival | Best Supporting Actress (Crissy Rock) | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Out of the Can Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Out of the Can Film Festival | Judge's Choice Award | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | New Renaissance Film Festival | Humanity Award | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | New Renaissance Film Festival | Best Young Talent Narrative Short | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | New Renaissance Film Festival | Best Actress (Leanne Best) | Nominated |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | The Monthly Film Festival | Best Film of the Year | Nominated |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | The Monthly Film Festival | Best Short Film | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | The Monthly Film Festival | Best Director | Nominated |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | The Monthly Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Nominated |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | The Monthly Film Festival | Best Actress (Leanne Best) | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | The Monthly Film Festival | Best Editing | Nominated |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | The Monthly Film Festival | Best Cinematography | Won |
| 2019 | Cotton Wool | The Monthly Film Festival | Best Original Score | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Little Wing Film Festival | Best UK Short | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Little Wing Film Festival | Best Director | Won |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Little Wing Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Nominated |
| 2018 | Cotton Wool | Little Wing Film Festival | Best Actress (Katie Quinn) | Nominated |