A GLOBALLY recognised documentary film about ME produced by a University of Gloucestershire film production lecturer has been shortlisted for an Oscar nomination.

Unrest was produced by Stroud resident Lindsey Dryden, and portrays director Jennifer Brea’s personal fight to overcome her Myalgic Encephalomyelitis diagnosis.

ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, is thought to affect around 17 million people worldwide, yet remains a largely misunderstood illness.

Upon hearing the news that her film had been shortlisted, Lindsey said: “We are just beyond thrilled. It is a privilege to be in a group alongside the best documentary films of the year. But what is so special about this is that it is about visibility.

"We set out to make a film about people who were disbelieved, rarely listened to, and often made invisible.

“Unrest's inclusion in this list means that those people are being seen and heard and listened to at last, and every increase in visibility will have profound impacts on their lives. It is an honour to be part of that change.”

Unrest has already received international acclaim, after being awarded the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and receiving the Illuminate Award at the Sheffield Doc/Fest earlier on in the year.

The film was also screened earlier this month at Park campus in Cheltenham on two separate evenings.

The Academy named Unrest as one of the 15 films that have been shortlisted for the Documentary Feature Oscar, which will then be narrowed down to five nominees in the category, and announced on Tuesday, January 23.