Latest UK Film Council production awards
For information: latest funding awarded to productions by the UK Film Council
For information, 19 April 2010
Before the UK Film Council's new Film Fund opened for business on 1 April, several awards were made in the development and production of new film projects, outlined below:
Wuthering Heights
Oscar® and BAFTA-winning director Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank, Red Road, Wasp) is directing a feature adaptation for Ecosse Films of the classic Emily Bronte novel Wuthering Heights from a screenplay by acclaimed British writer Olivia Hetreed (The Girl with a Pearl Earring). The casting process is underway. Wuthering Heights tells the story of the intense, elemental passion between Catherine Earnshaw and her foster brother Heathcliff, in the wild and rugged setting of the Yorkshire moors. Producers are Robert Bernstein and Douglas Rae for Ecosse Films and Kevin Loader. The UK Film Council is pleased to continue to support Andrea's inspirational career as one of Britain's most exciting female directors, after backing her previous award-winning films Wasp, Red Road and Fish Tank. Wuthering Heights has received £300,000 Lottery funding from the UK Film Council, and is co-financed by Film4, Goldcrest and Screen Yorkshire. Artificial Eye acquired UK rights from HanWay Films who are responsible for worldwide sales.
Funding awarded: £300,000 (production)
We Need to Talk About Kevin
Written and directed by BAFTA award-winning British director Lynne Ramsay (Ratcatcher, Morvern Callar), We Need To Talk About Kevin is adapted from Lionel Shriver's powerful novel which won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2005. Produced by Jennifer Fox, Independent's Luc Roeg (Mr Nice) and Bob Salerno (A Single Man), the project has been developed by BBC Films. We Need To Talk About Kevin has been developed by the BBC and is supported by the UK Film Council.
Funding awarded: £700,000 (production)
Chalet Girl
Chalet Girl is a comedy directed by Phil Traill from an original screenplay by Tom Williams and produced by Pippa Cross and Harriet Rees. Kim is a feisty London teenager hired to work as a chalet girl who quickly finds herself out of her depth both on the slopes and in love. Propelled into a world of wealth she is a constant source of amusement to her employers and exasperation to her workmate Georgie. And as if that isn't enough, she falls for her boss's handsome son Jonny. With few friends to turn to she takes to the slopes where she discovers the thrills of snow-boarding and a natural talent. With her confidence growing every day she is encouraged to enter the local Pro boarding contest. It seems her luck is changing, but there's still stiff competition to beat, including Jonny's ice-princess girlfriend Chloe. The international cast is led by Felicity Jones (Cemetery Junction) and Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl, Son of Rambow) and stars Bill Nighy (Love Actually), Brooke Shields (Blue Lagoon), Bill Bailey (Black Books) Tamsin Egerton (St Trinians), Sophia Bush (One Tree Hill), Nicholas Braun (Ten Things I Hate About You), with a cameo from snowboarder legend Tara Dakides.
Chalet Girl is a UK Film Council presentation in association with Aegis Film Fund, Prescience and Metropolis and in association with FilmFernsehFonds Bayern / Deutscher Filmförderfonds / BKM / Austrian Filminstitute / Cine Tirol and Vienna Film Fund. It is a CrossDay / Kaleidoscope / Neue Bioskop Film production in association with Novotny and Novotny. It was developed with support from Screen South. Momentum will handle UK distribution, and Metropolis International Sales will be handling worldwide sales.
Funding awarded: £800,000 (production)
Tyrannosaur
Renowned actor Paddy Considine (Dog Altogether) makes his feature writer/director debut with Tyrannosaur, an exploration of how love and friendship can be found even in the darkest of places. Tyrannosaur is the story of Joseph (Peter Mullan), a man who is plagued by violence and a rage that is driving him to self-destruction. As Joseph's life spirals further into turmoil a chance of redemption appears in the form of Hannah (Olivia Colman), a Christian charity shop worker. Their relationship develops to reveal Hannah is hiding a secret of her own that has devastating results on both of their lives. Produced by Diarmid Scrimshaw, Tyrannosaur is a Warp X and Inflammable Films presentation, backed by the UK Film Council, Film4, Screen Yorkshire, Optimum Releasing, EM Media, Madman and Nonstop. International sales are being handled by Protagonist Pictures. Principal photography commences on 12 April on location in Leeds for four weeks.
Funding awarded: £206,540 (production)
Laid Off
Writer/director Zam Salim makes his feature film debut with deadpan comedy Laid Off. Recently deceased Martin (1971-2007) struggles to get his head around the frustrations of the afterlife. Forced to work with annoying livewire Rash, he embarks on a mission to find an errant lost soul, and in the process slowly faces up to the realities of his (non) existence. 'If you thought life was bollocks, get a load of death.' Produced by Annalise Davis for Wilder Films, Laid Off has received development and production funding from the UK Film Council, Scottish Screen and Eyeline Entertainment, and TV rights have been acquired by the BBC.
Funding awarded: £310,000 (production), £25,000 (development)
