Write a short summary of what happens in the film

Wedding Speech, is above all a film celebrating our human relationships. It tells the story of the months leading up to a wedding. An already emotional time, complicated by the sudden hospitalisation of the bride’s father. As it unfolds, the film looks at the powerful connection between a father and daughter, their shared optimism, and a wedding gift made possible by everyday technology.

Cultural/Context information for the jury

Wedding Speech juxtaposes the audio from the wedding day celebration against pictures showing the often difficult journey to get there. The technique plays with the conflicting emotions that are a staple of every close relationship, mixing happy and sad together to create something textured and real.

Provide the full film script in English.

The Wedding Speech This film shows the months leading up to a wedding. A time which includes the sudden hospitalisation of the bride’s father. As we see this visual story unfold, the soundtrack we hear is of the father delivering her wedding speech and the ambient sounds of a reception full of friends and family. We open on a hospital corridor. We see a young woman breaking down. She is being consoled by her fiance. BRIDE: Thank you all for joining us to celebrate this wonderful day. As you all know, this has been a very hard year for our family. So, I’d like to take a moment to introduce a very special guest: my Dad. [APPLAUSE] We see mum, dad, the daughter and her fiance tasting cakes in the hospital room. Dad is putting on a brave face, but it’s clear he’s unwell. DAD: Welcome to the wedding of my beautiful daughter Sammie and her okay partner, John. John, you did well. [LAUGHTER] We see mum, the daughter, and her fiance, talking to a wedding planner. The daughter is despondent. DAD: As many of you know, I suffered from an affliction. One that, until recently, had no classification: FOMO. [LAUGHTER] We see the young couple arguing about calling off the wedding at the hospital. Mum hugs them both. It’ll be OK. DAD: It’s no laughing matter. Since I was a young man, nothing could keep me from a decent party. JAMES: OR THE CHANCE TO SPEAK! DAD: I’m guessing my brother James has already hit the bar. [LAUGHTER] We see mum caring for dad in the hospital. She looks exhausted. He looks unwell. DAD: First, a toast to the gorgeous mother of the bride, and my wonderful wife. Phoebes, you of all people know how much I hate soppy stuff...but, given the occasion, I’ll make an exception...You are the love of my life, Mrs. Phoebe Jenkins. Thank you for marrying me. [AWWW!] We see the daughter in her car at night. She’s crying. We see time marching on. DAD: Alright, alright. Wedding arrangements continue. We see mum, daughter and the fiance looking at locations, visiting the florist, trying on dresses. DAD: To my daughter and beautiful bride, Sammy. The day you were born I made you a promise. I told you I’d always be there. No matter what. In hindsight, you were too young to remember the conversation, so I needn’t have kept it. [LAUGHTER] DAD: But I did. And, despite the odds, here I am. [CHEERS] Finally, the big day arrives. The chapel is packed with family and friends. We see the groom waiting nervously. DAD: The day I married your mum, some idiot told me that life was made of good and bad days. It’s not true. They’re all good days. The doors open, revealing the beautiful bride. She is standing alone. She spots her husband-to-be. They smile. Everything is going to be OK. After a moment, her mum enters frame and walks her down the aisle. DAD: If you look really closely, you find that hidden inside every bad day, no matter how difficult, is something worthy of laughter. We cut to the wedding reception now. We move across the captivated tables and reveal the speaker. It’s Dad. He’s presenting his speech posthumously on a big screen. He is in his hospital bed. Over his hospital robe he’s wearing a little bow tie. In one hand he’s toasting a cup of juice, the other is recording the message on his phone. DAD: And, for that reason, today is a very, very good day. To the most beautiful bride to walk the earth and her wonderful husband John. May all your days be good days. The wedding guests all get to their feet, cheering and applauding. CARD: Never regret the things you didn’t say. CARD: SPARK. LITTLE CAN BE HUGE.  CARD: SPARK. LITTLE CAN BE HUGE.