The production team behind an upcoming gay Christmas film set in 1990s Cumbria is celebrating after achieving its initial crowdfunding target of £3,500 in just four days.
The success, supported by a Kickstarter campaign, complements the £20,000 already secured in public funding, allowing the film - called Meat Raffle - to begin production in February 2025 as planned.
Carlisle-based writer and director Stuart Armstrong was among the first to express his gratitude for those who donated: “It’s been amazing to see how much love there is for this story."
The film’s Kickstarter campaign, however, is far from over.
With the campaign open until December 21, the team hopes to raise more money to enhance the production.
Reaching £4,500 would enable the construction of a custom pub cubicle set for improved filming conditions, while a £6,000 target would allow the licensing of a popular Christmas song to bolster the film's festive tone, a spokesperson for the production team said.
Additional funds will go towards extras, festival submissions, and overall production quality.
Mr Armstrong describes Meat Raffle as a comedy-drama exploring father-son relationships, repressed sexuality, and toxic masculinity.
The plot follows a closeted father who schemes to rig his local pub’s turkey draw in an attempt to impress his teenage son.
Inspired by his own upbringing and northern comedies like The Full Monty, the short film aims to blend humour with heartfelt storytelling, Mr Armstrong said.
The film will be shot over three days in Carlisle, using local talent and settings to 'capture an authentic Christmas in a Cumbrian pub', with plans to premiere in late 2025.
It will follow his recently-released short film Lay-by, a similarly quirky queer story about a hook-up in the Lake District gone wrong.
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Mr Armstrong, an award-winning filmmaker with BAFTA Connect recognition, has received nominations for previous projects at festivals such as Bradford Queer Film Festival.
Producers Harry Shaw and Samantha Locock bring additional expertise to the project, having worked extensively on BFI-funded films and LGBTQ+ stories.
“Our goal is to make this as authentic as possible, with local accents, unique settings, and a genuine Northern sense of humour,” Mr Armstrong said.
The team envisions Meat Raffle as a festival-ready film that will resonate with audiences globally and pave the way for future feature-length projects.
To support Meat Raffle and contribute to its stretch goals, visit meatraffle.uk.
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