Bays will take on the role for an initial three-year period from October.
Mia Bays has been described as a “force of nature” who “really fights for what she believes in” by those with whom she has worked closely. Bays was revealed yesterday as the new director of the BFI FIlm Fund, one of the most influential positions in the UK film industry,
Alison Thompson, co-founder at UK production, finance and sales firm Cornerstone Films, is on the board of female-focused film charity Birds’ Eye View, where Bays is presently director-at-large. “Mia has a fairly unique skillset, having worked as...
Mia Bays has been described as a “force of nature” who “really fights for what she believes in” by those with whom she has worked closely. Bays was revealed yesterday as the new director of the BFI FIlm Fund, one of the most influential positions in the UK film industry,
Alison Thompson, co-founder at UK production, finance and sales firm Cornerstone Films, is on the board of female-focused film charity Birds’ Eye View, where Bays is presently director-at-large. “Mia has a fairly unique skillset, having worked as...
- 4/23/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The BFI has appointed Mia Bays as the new director of its Film Fund.
Joining for an initial three-year term, Bays will lead the strategic and cultural direction of the BFI’s investment of National Lottery funds into supporting U.K. feature film production. At approximately £30 million a year, it is the largest public fund in the UK for film and filmmakers, as well as new and emerging talent through BFI Network.
Bays is currently director-at-large for Birds’ Eye View, a U.K. charity that centres the female perspective in film and campaigns for gender equality in the industry. She will remain in a consultancy role with Birds’ Eye View and intends to return there at the end of her three-year contract with the BFI Film Fund.
Bays will take up her new role in October, based between London and Nottingham.
“I mark 30 years in film this year. What a...
Joining for an initial three-year term, Bays will lead the strategic and cultural direction of the BFI’s investment of National Lottery funds into supporting U.K. feature film production. At approximately £30 million a year, it is the largest public fund in the UK for film and filmmakers, as well as new and emerging talent through BFI Network.
Bays is currently director-at-large for Birds’ Eye View, a U.K. charity that centres the female perspective in film and campaigns for gender equality in the industry. She will remain in a consultancy role with Birds’ Eye View and intends to return there at the end of her three-year contract with the BFI Film Fund.
Bays will take up her new role in October, based between London and Nottingham.
“I mark 30 years in film this year. What a...
- 4/21/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
“Sound of Metal” star Riz Ahmed has jumped in our Oscar predictions for Best Actor in recent weeks. Based on the combined predictions of Gold Derby users on December 1, he ranked seventh with 25/1 odds. But then the film began streaming on Amazon Prime Video on December 4, which vaulted him into our top five. As of this writing on December 18, he’s in fifth place with 17/2 odds. Can he continue to rise?
Ahmed stars in the film as Ruben, a heavy-metal drummer who finds himself at a personal and career crossroads when he suddenly loses his hearing. It would be the first Oscar nomination for Ahmed, but not his first awards recognition. He’s a seven-time British Independent Film Award nominee for films including “Shifty” (2008) “Four Lions” (2010) and another 2020 film, “Mogul Mowgli.” He also earned an Independent Spirit nom for his supporting role in “Nightcrawler” (2014).
SEEPaul Raci (‘Sound of Metal’) is...
Ahmed stars in the film as Ruben, a heavy-metal drummer who finds himself at a personal and career crossroads when he suddenly loses his hearing. It would be the first Oscar nomination for Ahmed, but not his first awards recognition. He’s a seven-time British Independent Film Award nominee for films including “Shifty” (2008) “Four Lions” (2010) and another 2020 film, “Mogul Mowgli.” He also earned an Independent Spirit nom for his supporting role in “Nightcrawler” (2014).
SEEPaul Raci (‘Sound of Metal’) is...
- 12/19/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Bobbi Jene Smith is excellent as a dancer attempting to reconcile motherhood, performance and family in this promising indie film
The latest triumph from Film London’s Microwave scheme – the BFI and BBC Films programme that has produced such worthwhile investments as Hong Khaou’s Lilting and Eran Creevy’s Shifty – is an engrossing close study of a thirtysomething woman caught between two worlds, and two states of being.
American choreographer Bobbi Jene Smith plays Charlotte, a principal in a contemporary dance troupe whose preparations for a major show are dealt two blows in quick succession. First comes a positive pregnancy test, and the realisation the body with which she so forcefully expresses herself will undergo radical change. Second, there’s a call from her family, gathering round the hospital bed of her dying grandmother. A rehearsal-room prologue has already established Charlotte’s remarkable physical flexibility; what follows is a...
The latest triumph from Film London’s Microwave scheme – the BFI and BBC Films programme that has produced such worthwhile investments as Hong Khaou’s Lilting and Eran Creevy’s Shifty – is an engrossing close study of a thirtysomething woman caught between two worlds, and two states of being.
American choreographer Bobbi Jene Smith plays Charlotte, a principal in a contemporary dance troupe whose preparations for a major show are dealt two blows in quick succession. First comes a positive pregnancy test, and the realisation the body with which she so forcefully expresses herself will undergo radical change. Second, there’s a call from her family, gathering round the hospital bed of her dying grandmother. A rehearsal-room prologue has already established Charlotte’s remarkable physical flexibility; what follows is a...
- 6/20/2019
- by Mike McCahill
- The Guardian - Film News
Exclusive: Paul Ashton to lead film department at UK creative industries outfit.
Creative England has appointed Paul Ashton to the role of head of film.
Ashton, who has recently served as acting head of film following the departure of Brek Taylor in January, becomes the outfit’s third head of film in the last 12 months.
Ashton’s executive producer credits at Creative England include Rachel Tunnard’s Bifa-winning feature debut Adult Life Skills, Justin Edgar’s upcoming feature The Marker and upcoming Jack Lowden-Martin McCann thriller Calibre.
Since joining the agency in 2013, he has also worked on a host of successful shorts such as Emotional Fusebox, Real Gods Require Blood and Ernestine And Kit.
Prior to joining Creative England, he was a development producer at the BBC where he worked on Riz Ahmed drama Shifty and shorts including Wish 143 and Turning.
Ashton told Screen: “I’ve been working for nearly four years as part...
Creative England has appointed Paul Ashton to the role of head of film.
Ashton, who has recently served as acting head of film following the departure of Brek Taylor in January, becomes the outfit’s third head of film in the last 12 months.
Ashton’s executive producer credits at Creative England include Rachel Tunnard’s Bifa-winning feature debut Adult Life Skills, Justin Edgar’s upcoming feature The Marker and upcoming Jack Lowden-Martin McCann thriller Calibre.
Since joining the agency in 2013, he has also worked on a host of successful shorts such as Emotional Fusebox, Real Gods Require Blood and Ernestine And Kit.
Prior to joining Creative England, he was a development producer at the BBC where he worked on Riz Ahmed drama Shifty and shorts including Wish 143 and Turning.
Ashton told Screen: “I’ve been working for nearly four years as part...
- 5/31/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Simon Brew Apr 9, 2017
Director Pete Travis chats to us about City Of Tiny Lights, television, politics and Dred..
City Of Tiny Lights, starring Riz Ahmed and Billie Piper, is the latest film from director Pete Travis, known particularly in this parish for helming Dredd. We met up with him in London to chat about the movie, about politics, and about Dredd…
I read an interview for City Of Tiny Lights where you were quoted as saying you wouldn’t make the film unless Riz Ahmed did it, and that he was the first choice for the lead role of Tommy. I can’t tell you the number of people I interview who say something like that and…
… mostly they’re lying when they say that!
Well, quite possibly!
There’s a rule about casting I learned a long time ago. The right person for the role is the person who...
Director Pete Travis chats to us about City Of Tiny Lights, television, politics and Dred..
City Of Tiny Lights, starring Riz Ahmed and Billie Piper, is the latest film from director Pete Travis, known particularly in this parish for helming Dredd. We met up with him in London to chat about the movie, about politics, and about Dredd…
I read an interview for City Of Tiny Lights where you were quoted as saying you wouldn’t make the film unless Riz Ahmed did it, and that he was the first choice for the lead role of Tommy. I can’t tell you the number of people I interview who say something like that and…
… mostly they’re lying when they say that!
Well, quite possibly!
There’s a rule about casting I learned a long time ago. The right person for the role is the person who...
- 4/9/2017
- Den of Geek
Author: Matt Rodgers
Show almost anyone a picture of Riz Ahmed and they’ll be able to place him in something. It could be from Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker’s 2008 Big Brother zombie invasion satire, Dead Set. It might be as Aaron Kalloor, the Mark Zuckerberg techno genius who occupied one of the more interesting threads from Jason Bourne. More realistically, it’ll be from last year’s billion dollar Star Wars blockbuster, Rogue One, in which he played conflicted pilot Bodhi Rook. The point is, you can’t pigeon hole the guy.
Take this week’s City of Tiny Lights, in which Ahmed plays a London private eye investigating the case of a missing sex worker. The film might drown in its own dimly lit gloom, but the fact you stick with it is down to another chameleonic performance from the young Brit. You can read our review here.
Show almost anyone a picture of Riz Ahmed and they’ll be able to place him in something. It could be from Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker’s 2008 Big Brother zombie invasion satire, Dead Set. It might be as Aaron Kalloor, the Mark Zuckerberg techno genius who occupied one of the more interesting threads from Jason Bourne. More realistically, it’ll be from last year’s billion dollar Star Wars blockbuster, Rogue One, in which he played conflicted pilot Bodhi Rook. The point is, you can’t pigeon hole the guy.
Take this week’s City of Tiny Lights, in which Ahmed plays a London private eye investigating the case of a missing sex worker. The film might drown in its own dimly lit gloom, but the fact you stick with it is down to another chameleonic performance from the young Brit. You can read our review here.
- 4/6/2017
- by Matt Rodgers
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Welcome back to the Weekend Warrior, your weekly look at the new movies hitting theaters this weekend, as well as other cool events and things to check out.
This Past Weekend:
Presidents' Day weekend was an interesting one at the box office, and as with most holiday weekends, it was particularly difficult to figure out how things might fare, other than The Lego Batman Movie, which remained at #1 with almost $45 million over the four-day weekend. Fifty Shades Darker followed with $21.3 million, about a 50% drop. Last week, I thought that the Ice Cub comedy Fist Fight would beat The Great Wall, although it seemed like it could be a close race. Nope. Matt Damon’s action epic came in third place with $21.6 million, which is a couple million more than my original prediction, but The Fist Fight fell short of my prediction by almost $10 million, grossing $14.5 million in its first four days.
This Past Weekend:
Presidents' Day weekend was an interesting one at the box office, and as with most holiday weekends, it was particularly difficult to figure out how things might fare, other than The Lego Batman Movie, which remained at #1 with almost $45 million over the four-day weekend. Fifty Shades Darker followed with $21.3 million, about a 50% drop. Last week, I thought that the Ice Cub comedy Fist Fight would beat The Great Wall, although it seemed like it could be a close race. Nope. Matt Damon’s action epic came in third place with $21.6 million, which is a couple million more than my original prediction, but The Fist Fight fell short of my prediction by almost $10 million, grossing $14.5 million in its first four days.
- 2/22/2017
- by Edward Douglas
- LRMonline.com
Riz Ahmed’s role in Nightcrawler was a breakthrough for the talented actor, who had, up until then, proved himself mostly at home in the UK, with the likes of Four Lions, Shifty and The Road to Guantanamo. With Hollywood unable to deny Ahmed's versatility and fastidiousness, 2016 has been a banner year. Kicking off with Jason Bourne in the summer, Ahmed set the small screen alight in the brilliant HBO series The Night Of (for which he was recently Golden Globe and SAG…...
- 12/15/2016
- Deadline
From a British Pakistani background, when Riz Ahmed first burst onto the scene in 2006, he was typecast and consigned to roles as Muslims, Arabs and Middle Easterners (“The Road To Guantanamo” was one of his first roles). But things quickly changed for the actor after he earned a nomination for Best Actor at the 2008 British Independent Film Awards for the film “Shifty,” and got recognition across the pond for his turn in the satirical “Four Lions.”
Continually showing he can break out of any preconceived box, the actor has made the most of opportunities that have become eclectic.
Continue reading Riz Ahmed Talks Sci-Fi Reflecting The World Around Us, Diversity On Screen & ‘Rogue One’ at The Playlist.
Continually showing he can break out of any preconceived box, the actor has made the most of opportunities that have become eclectic.
Continue reading Riz Ahmed Talks Sci-Fi Reflecting The World Around Us, Diversity On Screen & ‘Rogue One’ at The Playlist.
- 12/13/2016
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
Exclusive: 12 projects selected for the Film London scheme, which in the past has produced films starring Riz Ahmed (pictured) and Ben Drew.
Film London has announced the 12 entries shortlisted for Microwave - the scheme to help emerging filmmakers from the capital with their first projects.
This year’s shortlisted films and crews are:
Beneath the Mind, Ella Bennett (director), Kieran Bourne (writer), Oliver Nlemadim (producer), Hannah Bailey (producer).Bird of Truth, Oninye Egenti (writer-director), Linda Biney (producer).Borderline, Alice Seabright (director), Miles Mantle (writer), Merlin Merton (producer).Divided, Rayna Campbell (writer-director), Sue Caro (producer), Audrey Davenport (producer).Down From London, Douglas Ray (writer-director), Louise Palmqvist (producer)Hackney Marsh, Ryan Vernava (writer-director), Joe Copplestone (writer), Matt Hopper (producer).Mari, Georgia Parris (writer-director), Emma Duffy (producer)Miss Universe, 2016 Screen Star of Tomorrow Kate Herron (writer-director), Briony Redman (writer), Dougie Cox (producer). Outgrown, Jay Choi (director), Clare Sumi (writer), Kyle Blanshard (producer)Smalltown Boy, Alex Winckler (writer-director...
Film London has announced the 12 entries shortlisted for Microwave - the scheme to help emerging filmmakers from the capital with their first projects.
This year’s shortlisted films and crews are:
Beneath the Mind, Ella Bennett (director), Kieran Bourne (writer), Oliver Nlemadim (producer), Hannah Bailey (producer).Bird of Truth, Oninye Egenti (writer-director), Linda Biney (producer).Borderline, Alice Seabright (director), Miles Mantle (writer), Merlin Merton (producer).Divided, Rayna Campbell (writer-director), Sue Caro (producer), Audrey Davenport (producer).Down From London, Douglas Ray (writer-director), Louise Palmqvist (producer)Hackney Marsh, Ryan Vernava (writer-director), Joe Copplestone (writer), Matt Hopper (producer).Mari, Georgia Parris (writer-director), Emma Duffy (producer)Miss Universe, 2016 Screen Star of Tomorrow Kate Herron (writer-director), Briony Redman (writer), Dougie Cox (producer). Outgrown, Jay Choi (director), Clare Sumi (writer), Kyle Blanshard (producer)Smalltown Boy, Alex Winckler (writer-director...
- 11/28/2016
- ScreenDaily
The low-budget production scheme has selected 12 projects and exceeded diversity target.
Film London Microwave has announced the shortlist of the 12 projects selected for its annual production and training scheme.
According to Film London, this year’s applications exceeded its diversity target of 50%. Over half of the teams who applied have a writer, director or producer from a black, Asian or minority ethnic (Bame) background.
The shortlisted projects and teams are:
Amsterdam, Lisa Jacobs (writer), Tara Fitzgerald (director), Georgina French (producer) Barefaced, David Cornwall (writer), Chester Yang (director), Adebayo Awolaja (producer)
Brutal, Ed Aldridge (writer), Scott Rawsthorne (director), Jon Shaikh (director), Amyra Bunyard (producer)
Looted, Rene Pannevis (writer-director), Jennifer Ericsson (producer), Jessie Mangum (co-producer)
Nocturnal, Olivia Waring (writer), Shan Ng (director), Robert Williams (producer), Colin Day (producer)
Real Boy, Liam Creighton (writer-director), Danny de Warren (producer)
Running Out of Grime, Dwayne Gumbs (writer/director), Iain Simpson (director), Benedict Turnbull (producer), Alex Williams (producer), Harri Kamalanathan (producer)
Samurai Sword, Lab Ky Mo...
Film London Microwave has announced the shortlist of the 12 projects selected for its annual production and training scheme.
According to Film London, this year’s applications exceeded its diversity target of 50%. Over half of the teams who applied have a writer, director or producer from a black, Asian or minority ethnic (Bame) background.
The shortlisted projects and teams are:
Amsterdam, Lisa Jacobs (writer), Tara Fitzgerald (director), Georgina French (producer) Barefaced, David Cornwall (writer), Chester Yang (director), Adebayo Awolaja (producer)
Brutal, Ed Aldridge (writer), Scott Rawsthorne (director), Jon Shaikh (director), Amyra Bunyard (producer)
Looted, Rene Pannevis (writer-director), Jennifer Ericsson (producer), Jessie Mangum (co-producer)
Nocturnal, Olivia Waring (writer), Shan Ng (director), Robert Williams (producer), Colin Day (producer)
Real Boy, Liam Creighton (writer-director), Danny de Warren (producer)
Running Out of Grime, Dwayne Gumbs (writer/director), Iain Simpson (director), Benedict Turnbull (producer), Alex Williams (producer), Harri Kamalanathan (producer)
Samurai Sword, Lab Ky Mo...
- 11/30/2015
- ScreenDaily
The Bureau producer/founder to discuss 45 Years and more.
Bertrand Faivre, producer and founder of The Bureau and Le Bureau, is to deliver this year’s keynote address at the Film London Production Finance Market (Pfm) on Oct 13.
Opening the ninth Pfm, Faivre will offer more than 200 delegates and industry guests an insight into working as a producer and heading up a London-Paris production company, which has also diversified into international sales.
Faivre will discuss highlights from a career which has involved discovering emerging talent, producing acclaimed auteur films and building cross-territory financing as well as library assets.
He will also discuss how The Bureau empowers the creative talent of its producers, as successfully demonstrated by Tristan Goligher’s latest production, 45 Years, directed by Andrew Haigh.
Taking place over two days (oct 13-14) in association with the 59th BFI London Film Festival, this year’s Pfm will see 58 producers and 58 financiers from 25 different countries conduct more than...
Bertrand Faivre, producer and founder of The Bureau and Le Bureau, is to deliver this year’s keynote address at the Film London Production Finance Market (Pfm) on Oct 13.
Opening the ninth Pfm, Faivre will offer more than 200 delegates and industry guests an insight into working as a producer and heading up a London-Paris production company, which has also diversified into international sales.
Faivre will discuss highlights from a career which has involved discovering emerging talent, producing acclaimed auteur films and building cross-territory financing as well as library assets.
He will also discuss how The Bureau empowers the creative talent of its producers, as successfully demonstrated by Tristan Goligher’s latest production, 45 Years, directed by Andrew Haigh.
Taking place over two days (oct 13-14) in association with the 59th BFI London Film Festival, this year’s Pfm will see 58 producers and 58 financiers from 25 different countries conduct more than...
- 10/8/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Financiers include Universal, Hanway, 42 M&P, Metrodome, The Works and Wild Bunch
Some 23 filmmaking teams are set to connect with investors at this year’s Film London Micro Market.
Micro Market is for feature projects budgeted at under €1m ($1.1) and is supported by Creative Skillset, complementing the Film London Production Finance Market at the BFI London Film Festival.
A total of 17 UK projects will be joined by six international projects from Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Israel, Italy and Indonesia - the last being a project which has come out of Microschool International, the training bootcamp Film London held earlier this year.
Previous features to secure finance and partnerships following Micro Market include Await Further Instructions, Moon Dog, Departure, Dartmoor Killing and Notes on Blindness.
The 23 financiers hoping to pick up features from breakthrough talent include Universal, HanWay, 42, Metrodome and The Works, with international delegates from Wild Bunch, Back Up, Le Bureau and Cocinelle.
This year the...
Some 23 filmmaking teams are set to connect with investors at this year’s Film London Micro Market.
Micro Market is for feature projects budgeted at under €1m ($1.1) and is supported by Creative Skillset, complementing the Film London Production Finance Market at the BFI London Film Festival.
A total of 17 UK projects will be joined by six international projects from Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Israel, Italy and Indonesia - the last being a project which has come out of Microschool International, the training bootcamp Film London held earlier this year.
Previous features to secure finance and partnerships following Micro Market include Await Further Instructions, Moon Dog, Departure, Dartmoor Killing and Notes on Blindness.
The 23 financiers hoping to pick up features from breakthrough talent include Universal, HanWay, 42, Metrodome and The Works, with international delegates from Wild Bunch, Back Up, Le Bureau and Cocinelle.
This year the...
- 10/1/2015
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Low budget production scheme selects 12 projects; hits diversity target.
Film London Microwave has announced a shortlist of 12 projects for the development stage of its next edition.
The shortlisted projects and teams are:
• The Blue House, Patrick Dickinson (writer and director), Sophie Venner (producer)
• Butterfly Kisses, Greer Ellison (writer), Rafal Kapelinski (director), Merlin Merton and David Braithwaite (producers)
• Daphne’s Inferno, Nico Mensinga (writer) Peter Mackie Burns (director) Valentina Brazzini and Tristan Goligher (producers)
• Engaged, James Condon (writer) Adam Randall (director) Bennett McGhee and Matt Wilkinson (producers)
• Kill Her Witch, Faye Gilbert (writer and director), Yaw Basoah (producer)
• The New Thirty, Wendy Okoi-Obuli (writer), Remi Vaughan-Richards (director), Yvonne Isimeme Ibazebo (producer)
• Night Dances, Johnny Kenton (writer and director), Jo Allan (producer)
• The Opposite of Everything, Ruth Pickett (writer), Nour Wazzi ( director), Stephen Smith (producer)
• Punch, Ruth Ivo (writer and director), Rachel Wardlow (producer)
• Unsung, Ayndrilla Singharay (writer), Liam Creighton (director) Fiona Black (producer)
• The Visitor, Sebastian Godwin (writer...
Film London Microwave has announced a shortlist of 12 projects for the development stage of its next edition.
The shortlisted projects and teams are:
• The Blue House, Patrick Dickinson (writer and director), Sophie Venner (producer)
• Butterfly Kisses, Greer Ellison (writer), Rafal Kapelinski (director), Merlin Merton and David Braithwaite (producers)
• Daphne’s Inferno, Nico Mensinga (writer) Peter Mackie Burns (director) Valentina Brazzini and Tristan Goligher (producers)
• Engaged, James Condon (writer) Adam Randall (director) Bennett McGhee and Matt Wilkinson (producers)
• Kill Her Witch, Faye Gilbert (writer and director), Yaw Basoah (producer)
• The New Thirty, Wendy Okoi-Obuli (writer), Remi Vaughan-Richards (director), Yvonne Isimeme Ibazebo (producer)
• Night Dances, Johnny Kenton (writer and director), Jo Allan (producer)
• The Opposite of Everything, Ruth Pickett (writer), Nour Wazzi ( director), Stephen Smith (producer)
• Punch, Ruth Ivo (writer and director), Rachel Wardlow (producer)
• Unsung, Ayndrilla Singharay (writer), Liam Creighton (director) Fiona Black (producer)
• The Visitor, Sebastian Godwin (writer...
- 12/15/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
This week annoyed by a loudmouth blogger of some repute, who declared anime for paedophiles and insulted more or less the whole of Japanese culture, I decided to watch Netflix original anime Knights of Sidonia. His comments have widely been circulated and condemned by many people and he’s just made himself look a fool, and all this just because Gus Van Sant might be directing a Death Note movie. I recognise that anime is not for everyone but still, by dismissing all of it you are missing out on an awful lot of classic work and influential stuff.
Knights of Sidonia has been billed as a Netflix original but it’s quite hard to imagine that they would have been involved in the production of something like this, it’s pretty far out there even for anime and its more likely that Netflix have done what they did with...
Knights of Sidonia has been billed as a Netflix original but it’s quite hard to imagine that they would have been involved in the production of something like this, it’s pretty far out there even for anime and its more likely that Netflix have done what they did with...
- 7/21/2014
- by Chris Holt
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
To mark the release of The Hooligan Factory on 14th July, we’ve been given 3 copies to give away on Blu-ray.
The Hooligan Factory lovingly spoofs The Football Factory, Green Street, The Firm and many more. Director, writer, and star Nick Nevern (The Sweeney, Mrs Browns Boys D’Movie) is joined by Jason Maza (Shifty, Rise of the Footsoldier), who also produced.
The film tells the story of Danny (Jason Maza), who wants something more from life. Expelled from school and living in his Grandfather’s flat, he longs to live up to the image of his estranged father ‘Danny Senior’. Meanwhile legendary football hooligan ‘Dexter’ (Nick Nevern) is about to be released from prison and is on a quest of his own, one of vengeance against his nemesis and rival firm leader ‘The Baron’. But when Danny’s and Dexter’s paths cross they embark on a journey as old as hooliganism itself.
The Hooligan Factory lovingly spoofs The Football Factory, Green Street, The Firm and many more. Director, writer, and star Nick Nevern (The Sweeney, Mrs Browns Boys D’Movie) is joined by Jason Maza (Shifty, Rise of the Footsoldier), who also produced.
The film tells the story of Danny (Jason Maza), who wants something more from life. Expelled from school and living in his Grandfather’s flat, he longs to live up to the image of his estranged father ‘Danny Senior’. Meanwhile legendary football hooligan ‘Dexter’ (Nick Nevern) is about to be released from prison and is on a quest of his own, one of vengeance against his nemesis and rival firm leader ‘The Baron’. But when Danny’s and Dexter’s paths cross they embark on a journey as old as hooliganism itself.
- 7/11/2014
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Ahead of the World Premiere of The Hooligan Factory on Monday 9th June in London, we’ve been given these seven new posters for the movie to debut to the interwebs! The Hooligan Factory stars Jason Maza (Shifty, Rise of the Footsoldier) who Produced the film alongside Nick Nevern who not only stars but wrote and directed. Check out the new posters below which have a rather fun Top Trump esk theme to them! Not sure what our hooligan level would be! We’ve also placed the trailer. The movie hits UK cinemas 13th June.
The Hooligan Factory, a laugh-out-loud comedy tribute to one of Britain’s most successful home-grown genres, the football hooligan movie, will be kicking and punching its way into UK cinemas from June 13th 2014. Produced and starring Jason Maza (Shifty, Rise of the Footsoldier) The Hooligan Factory lovingly spoofs The Football Factory, Green Street, The Firm...
The Hooligan Factory, a laugh-out-loud comedy tribute to one of Britain’s most successful home-grown genres, the football hooligan movie, will be kicking and punching its way into UK cinemas from June 13th 2014. Produced and starring Jason Maza (Shifty, Rise of the Footsoldier) The Hooligan Factory lovingly spoofs The Football Factory, Green Street, The Firm...
- 6/3/2014
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
• Robert De Niro (The Bag Man) will star opposite Robert Pattinson (The Rover) in Olivier Assayas (Paris, je t’aime) upcoming indie action flick, Idol’s Eye. While plot details are being kept firmly under wraps, the film is being described as a “sophisticated heist/action thriller” and is set to begin principal photography in October in Chicago and Toronto.
• Johnny Depp (Black Mass) is reportedly in negotiations to star as Harry Houdini in Lionsgate/Summit’s upcoming film, The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero. Directed by Red 2′s Dean Parisot and based on...
• Johnny Depp (Black Mass) is reportedly in negotiations to star as Harry Houdini in Lionsgate/Summit’s upcoming film, The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America’s First Superhero. Directed by Red 2′s Dean Parisot and based on...
- 5/28/2014
- by Pamela Gocobachi
- EW - Inside Movies
Exclusive: £2.2m earmarked for new projects, Olivier Kaempfer joins team.
The BFI has joined Microwave founding partners Film London and BBC Films for the next iteration of the low-budget production initiative behind Sundance hit Lilting and Eran Creevy’s debut Shifty.
The trio has earmarked £2.2m for the next round of its Microwave scheme, which will now offer development funding to all shortlisted filmmakers and further development grants of up to £10k for advancing films.
The scheme is due to produce up to six features over three years with production budgets of £150k. £100k will come from Microwave, £50k from the film’s producers. Completed films will have access to an additional £25k of P&A funding.
The extended development programme, supported by Creative Skillset, will develop and train up to 36 filmmaking teams. It will also see the return of Microschool, the intensive five day training ‘bootcamp’.
Olivier Kaempfer, who produced previous Microwave title Borrowed Time and executive...
The BFI has joined Microwave founding partners Film London and BBC Films for the next iteration of the low-budget production initiative behind Sundance hit Lilting and Eran Creevy’s debut Shifty.
The trio has earmarked £2.2m for the next round of its Microwave scheme, which will now offer development funding to all shortlisted filmmakers and further development grants of up to £10k for advancing films.
The scheme is due to produce up to six features over three years with production budgets of £150k. £100k will come from Microwave, £50k from the film’s producers. Completed films will have access to an additional £25k of P&A funding.
The extended development programme, supported by Creative Skillset, will develop and train up to 36 filmmaking teams. It will also see the return of Microschool, the intensive five day training ‘bootcamp’.
Olivier Kaempfer, who produced previous Microwave title Borrowed Time and executive...
- 5/19/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Joel Silver thriller also starring Nicholas Hoult gets underway Monday in Germany.
Anticipated action-thriller Autobahn has received a potent injection of talent and finance as it heads into production on Monday (May 5).
Felicity Jones, Anthony Hopkins and Ben Kingsley have joined Nicholas Hoult on Eran Creevy’s action-thriller, which follows young Us couple Casey (Hoult) and Juliette (Jones) who are plunged into a game of cat-and-mouse across Germany when they find themselves caught between two ruthless criminals (Hopkins, Kingsley).
Creevy is the British director behind Shifty and Welcome to the Punch.
Joel Silver’s Silver Pictures has also boarded the hot Im Global sales title ahead of the Cannes Film Festival, with additional financing coming from Sycamore Pictures and Dmg Entertainment.
Silver produces F. Scott Frazier’s screenplay with Ben Pugh and Rory Aitken of 42, Brian Kavanaugh Jones of Automatik and Daniel Hetzer. Hands on Producers are co-producers.
Silver Pictures’ Steve Richards and Aaron Auch are executive...
Anticipated action-thriller Autobahn has received a potent injection of talent and finance as it heads into production on Monday (May 5).
Felicity Jones, Anthony Hopkins and Ben Kingsley have joined Nicholas Hoult on Eran Creevy’s action-thriller, which follows young Us couple Casey (Hoult) and Juliette (Jones) who are plunged into a game of cat-and-mouse across Germany when they find themselves caught between two ruthless criminals (Hopkins, Kingsley).
Creevy is the British director behind Shifty and Welcome to the Punch.
Joel Silver’s Silver Pictures has also boarded the hot Im Global sales title ahead of the Cannes Film Festival, with additional financing coming from Sycamore Pictures and Dmg Entertainment.
Silver produces F. Scott Frazier’s screenplay with Ben Pugh and Rory Aitken of 42, Brian Kavanaugh Jones of Automatik and Daniel Hetzer. Hands on Producers are co-producers.
Silver Pictures’ Steve Richards and Aaron Auch are executive...
- 5/1/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Creative producer, business exec plan future collaborations.
Microwave creative producer Mia Bays and Business and finance producer Mike Kelly are leaving the Film London and BBC production scheme to pursue other opportunities.
The duo worked on eight films backed by the initiative, including Eran Creevy’s Shifty, Ben Drew’s iLL Manors and most recently Hong Khaou’s Sundance drama Lilting.
The Microwave initiative, which backs projects budgeted up to £120,000 ($200,000) is currently on hiatus with no projects in development but ScreenDaily understands that an announcement about the future of the scheme is in the pipeline.
Bays most recently independently produced upcoming music doc Backstreet Boys – The Movie for Pulse Films and co-wrote and produced upcoming short The Muse, directed by Tim Walker, starring Ben Whishaw.
Kelly will continue to structure and manage Seis and Sis finance and consulting through Northern Alliance.
The two also plan to work together on features, including a script...
Microwave creative producer Mia Bays and Business and finance producer Mike Kelly are leaving the Film London and BBC production scheme to pursue other opportunities.
The duo worked on eight films backed by the initiative, including Eran Creevy’s Shifty, Ben Drew’s iLL Manors and most recently Hong Khaou’s Sundance drama Lilting.
The Microwave initiative, which backs projects budgeted up to £120,000 ($200,000) is currently on hiatus with no projects in development but ScreenDaily understands that an announcement about the future of the scheme is in the pipeline.
Bays most recently independently produced upcoming music doc Backstreet Boys – The Movie for Pulse Films and co-wrote and produced upcoming short The Muse, directed by Tim Walker, starring Ben Whishaw.
Kelly will continue to structure and manage Seis and Sis finance and consulting through Northern Alliance.
The two also plan to work together on features, including a script...
- 4/14/2014
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Here’s some new images from gritty British spoof comedy film The Hooligan Factory which has been written, produced, Directed and stars Nick Nevern (The Sweeney, Mrs Browns Boys D’Movie). The movie also stars Jason Maza (Shifty, Rise of the Footsoldier), Tom Burke, Ray Fearon, Steven O’Donnell, Morgan Watkins, Josef Altin and Keith- Lee Castle and it’ll be with us June 13th.
Danny (Jason Maza) wants something more. Expelled from school and living in his Grandfather’s flat, he longs to live up to the image of his estranged father ‘Danny Senior’ (Ronnie Fox). Meanwhile legendary football hooligan ‘Dexter’ (Nick Nevern) is about to be released from prison and is on a quest of his own, one of vengeance against his nemesis and rival firm leader ‘The Baron’. But when Danny’s and Dexter’s paths cross they embark on a journey as old as hooliganism itself.
Danny (Jason Maza) wants something more. Expelled from school and living in his Grandfather’s flat, he longs to live up to the image of his estranged father ‘Danny Senior’ (Ronnie Fox). Meanwhile legendary football hooligan ‘Dexter’ (Nick Nevern) is about to be released from prison and is on a quest of his own, one of vengeance against his nemesis and rival firm leader ‘The Baron’. But when Danny’s and Dexter’s paths cross they embark on a journey as old as hooliganism itself.
- 4/2/2014
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
London’s Birds Eye View Film Festival will include 10 UK premieres and titles from Girls star Lena Dunham and Kelly Reichardt.
The Birds Eye View Film Festival (April 8-13), celebrating women’s work in film, has revealed details of its 2014 programme including works by British director Destiny Ekaragha and Laura Checkoway to films by Lena Dunham and Kelly Reichardt.
The festival will also celebrate inspiring female filmmakers and actors of recent times including the late pioneering animator Joy Batchelor, Broadway legend Elaine Stritch and award-winning British filmmaker Gurinder Chadha.
The festival will comprise 19 features including 10 UK premieres such as German director Katrin Gebbe’s debut Nothing Bad Can Happen and the London premiere of Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky’s Watermark, the follow-up to their 2006 documentary hit Manufactured Landscapes.
The programme also includes an American Indie strand featuring Kelly Reichardt’s thriller Night Moves starring Jesse Eisenberg and Dakota Fanning; Chiemi Karasawa’s documentary Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me; and the...
The Birds Eye View Film Festival (April 8-13), celebrating women’s work in film, has revealed details of its 2014 programme including works by British director Destiny Ekaragha and Laura Checkoway to films by Lena Dunham and Kelly Reichardt.
The festival will also celebrate inspiring female filmmakers and actors of recent times including the late pioneering animator Joy Batchelor, Broadway legend Elaine Stritch and award-winning British filmmaker Gurinder Chadha.
The festival will comprise 19 features including 10 UK premieres such as German director Katrin Gebbe’s debut Nothing Bad Can Happen and the London premiere of Jennifer Baichwal and Edward Burtynsky’s Watermark, the follow-up to their 2006 documentary hit Manufactured Landscapes.
The programme also includes an American Indie strand featuring Kelly Reichardt’s thriller Night Moves starring Jesse Eisenberg and Dakota Fanning; Chiemi Karasawa’s documentary Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me; and the...
- 3/10/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Eran Creevy, the writer/director behind Shifty and Welcome to the Punch, picked up the London Screenwriters’ Festival’s first British Screenwriter Award.
Upcoming writer/director Eran Creevy has been awarded the inaugural British Screenwriting Award by the London Screenwriters’ Festival.
Creevy’s low budget debut, Shifty, was critically acclaimed and his recent follow-up was Welcome to the Punch, starring James McAvoy and executive produced by Ridley Scott.
Basic Instinct screenwriter Joe Eszterhas presented the award (an ice-pick) and praised Creevy for his ‘writing talent, courage and chutzpah.
Creevy, who first got into the industry by working on Matthew Vaughn’s Layer Cake, is now in pre-production in his third feature, Autobahn.
Creevy said: “I am so honoured to be receiving the London Screenwriters’ Festival’s first screenwriting award and from Joe, a complete screenwriting legend and having him share his experience here with all of us filmmakers has been beyond words.”
Eszterhas spent the...
Upcoming writer/director Eran Creevy has been awarded the inaugural British Screenwriting Award by the London Screenwriters’ Festival.
Creevy’s low budget debut, Shifty, was critically acclaimed and his recent follow-up was Welcome to the Punch, starring James McAvoy and executive produced by Ridley Scott.
Basic Instinct screenwriter Joe Eszterhas presented the award (an ice-pick) and praised Creevy for his ‘writing talent, courage and chutzpah.
Creevy, who first got into the industry by working on Matthew Vaughn’s Layer Cake, is now in pre-production in his third feature, Autobahn.
Creevy said: “I am so honoured to be receiving the London Screenwriters’ Festival’s first screenwriting award and from Joe, a complete screenwriting legend and having him share his experience here with all of us filmmakers has been beyond words.”
Eszterhas spent the...
- 10/29/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Release of the week
From Up on Poppy Hill
Film
Like Studio Ghibli’s best work, From Up on Poppy Hill is driven by the intimate and beautifully realised relationships between the characters. In addition, there’s a wonderful cast of supporting characters, who while not quite as strange as those that inhabit Spirited Away’s bath house, are certainly as well rounded.
It’s also driven by the soundtrack, much more than most Ghibli movies. The studio have always had recognisable themes, but much of the incidental music, beautiful though it can be, is left to recede into the background. Here almost every cue comes to the fore, giving the movie a sense of musicality that’s rather appealing.
In spite of being insubstantial by Ghibli standards, the movie is far from vapid, and it’s certainly entertaining. The dialogue used on the English language dub works well, and the voice cast,...
From Up on Poppy Hill
Film
Like Studio Ghibli’s best work, From Up on Poppy Hill is driven by the intimate and beautifully realised relationships between the characters. In addition, there’s a wonderful cast of supporting characters, who while not quite as strange as those that inhabit Spirited Away’s bath house, are certainly as well rounded.
It’s also driven by the soundtrack, much more than most Ghibli movies. The studio have always had recognisable themes, but much of the incidental music, beautiful though it can be, is left to recede into the background. Here almost every cue comes to the fore, giving the movie a sense of musicality that’s rather appealing.
In spite of being insubstantial by Ghibli standards, the movie is far from vapid, and it’s certainly entertaining. The dialogue used on the English language dub works well, and the voice cast,...
- 9/24/2013
- by Adam Lowes
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Launched on Kickstarter last month, upcoming British gangster film, Hackney’s Finest, is heading for the last hurdles on its path to distribution.
The two-month production was completed earlier in the year, and is just shy of its £6,000 goal over on Kickstarter, with a little under a week left on the clock.
To help whet your appetite, a new extended trailer has landed online, giving a good look at what’s to come. And though some of the accents feel a little off – though, having never been to Hackney, take that with a pinch of salt – it looks like a kind of Lock, Stock fifteen years on.
Hackney’s Finest is a lighthearted journey into the dark underbelly of London. A fast-paced crime thriller, packed with intrigue, corruption, dirty police, Afghan heroin smugglers, Welsh-Jamaican arms dealers and Eastern-European skinheads!
A ruthless police detective plans to steal a shipment of heroin...
The two-month production was completed earlier in the year, and is just shy of its £6,000 goal over on Kickstarter, with a little under a week left on the clock.
To help whet your appetite, a new extended trailer has landed online, giving a good look at what’s to come. And though some of the accents feel a little off – though, having never been to Hackney, take that with a pinch of salt – it looks like a kind of Lock, Stock fifteen years on.
Hackney’s Finest is a lighthearted journey into the dark underbelly of London. A fast-paced crime thriller, packed with intrigue, corruption, dirty police, Afghan heroin smugglers, Welsh-Jamaican arms dealers and Eastern-European skinheads!
A ruthless police detective plans to steal a shipment of heroin...
- 8/2/2013
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
★★★☆☆ After helming the ultra low budget and critically praised urban thriller Shifty (2008), BAFTA nominated director Eran Creevy returns with Welcome to the Punch (2013), an explosive action film that sees Creevy depicting London in altogether more sleek and slick parameters than his directorial predecessor. Armed with a bigger budget and the clout of executive producer Ridley Scott, Welcome To the Punch stems from, and indeed owes a debt to, a particularly stylised brand of American action cinema governed by the likes of Michael Mann and Tony Scott, though its bracing energy fails to mask a decidedly limp plot.
The film opens with James McAvoy's police detective Max Lewinsky desperately pursuing successful career criminal Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) mid-heist across London, a chase that culminates in Max getting shot in the leg. Cut to three years later and Max is haunted by his previous inability to catch Sternwood whilst harbouring a...
The film opens with James McAvoy's police detective Max Lewinsky desperately pursuing successful career criminal Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) mid-heist across London, a chase that culminates in Max getting shot in the leg. Cut to three years later and Max is haunted by his previous inability to catch Sternwood whilst harbouring a...
- 7/29/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Side Effects; The Paperboy; The Host; Welcome to the Punch; A Late Quartet; In the House; GI Joe: Retaliation
Released amid declarations that he was to stop making feature films, Steven Soderbergh's terrifically enjoyable Side Effects (2013, EOne, 15) looks like a retrospective romp through the writer-director's career; from the Oscar-courting seriousness of Erin Brockovich to the genre thrills of Contagion and Haywire via the probing character insights of sex, lies and videotape. Soderbergh cites Adrian Lyne's watercooler hit Fatal Attraction as an influence, although I was reminded more of Basic Instinct 2 – and not in a bad way.
Jude Law stars as the slightly slimy shrink who overprescribes medication for Rooney Mara's depressive patient with potentially lethal results, the spectre of professional ruin and personal loss looming large.
In its early stages this appears to be a low-key indictment of heartless big pharma, a worthy exposé of the...
Released amid declarations that he was to stop making feature films, Steven Soderbergh's terrifically enjoyable Side Effects (2013, EOne, 15) looks like a retrospective romp through the writer-director's career; from the Oscar-courting seriousness of Erin Brockovich to the genre thrills of Contagion and Haywire via the probing character insights of sex, lies and videotape. Soderbergh cites Adrian Lyne's watercooler hit Fatal Attraction as an influence, although I was reminded more of Basic Instinct 2 – and not in a bad way.
Jude Law stars as the slightly slimy shrink who overprescribes medication for Rooney Mara's depressive patient with potentially lethal results, the spectre of professional ruin and personal loss looming large.
In its early stages this appears to be a low-key indictment of heartless big pharma, a worthy exposé of the...
- 7/27/2013
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
Side Effects; The Paperboy; The Host; Welcome to the Punch; A Late Quartet; In the House; GI Joe: Retaliation
Released amid declarations that he was to stop making feature films, Steven Soderbergh's terrifically enjoyable Side Effects (2013, EOne, 15) looks like a retrospective romp through the writer-director's career; from the Oscar-courting seriousness of Erin Brockovich to the genre thrills of Contagion and Haywire via the probing character insights of sex, lies and videotape. Soderbergh cites Adrian Lyne's watercooler hit Fatal Attraction as an influence, although I was reminded more of Basic Instinct 2 – and not in a bad way.
Jude Law stars as the slightly slimy shrink who overprescribes medication for Rooney Mara's depressive patient with potentially lethal results, the spectre of professional ruin and personal loss looming large.
In its early stages this appears to be a low-key indictment of heartless big pharma, a worthy exposé of the...
Released amid declarations that he was to stop making feature films, Steven Soderbergh's terrifically enjoyable Side Effects (2013, EOne, 15) looks like a retrospective romp through the writer-director's career; from the Oscar-courting seriousness of Erin Brockovich to the genre thrills of Contagion and Haywire via the probing character insights of sex, lies and videotape. Soderbergh cites Adrian Lyne's watercooler hit Fatal Attraction as an influence, although I was reminded more of Basic Instinct 2 – and not in a bad way.
Jude Law stars as the slightly slimy shrink who overprescribes medication for Rooney Mara's depressive patient with potentially lethal results, the spectre of professional ruin and personal loss looming large.
In its early stages this appears to be a low-key indictment of heartless big pharma, a worthy exposé of the...
- 7/27/2013
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
This Docklands-set crime thriller was a huge struggle. It took four attempts to get through it. A host of decent British actors fail to grapple with the clunky script and muddled plot about a master villain (Mark Strong), some political skulduggery and a damaged copper (James McAvoy). Eran Creevy, who excelled with the low-budget Shifty, comes a cropper with this quite unpleasant film.
- 7/26/2013
- The Independent - Film
Each week we take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly of the home entertainment offerings, reviewing and rating the films and the special features packed onto the discs.
Release of the Week
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
Film
The BFI have been working hard on their Masters of Cinema collection, a British equivalent to the Criterion Collection. This is their fifth and final introduction into the John Cassavetes collection which includes Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under the Influence and Opening Night. The story of Cosmo Vitelli (Ben Gazzara – mesmerising), a small strip-club owner who gets in too deep with some murky characters because of his consuming gambling addiction which leaves him $23,000 in the red. The mob then use this as a handle to blackmail him into murdering someone to wipe off some of his debt. It goes behind the scenes of a seemingly successful man...
Release of the Week
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
Film
The BFI have been working hard on their Masters of Cinema collection, a British equivalent to the Criterion Collection. This is their fifth and final introduction into the John Cassavetes collection which includes Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under the Influence and Opening Night. The story of Cosmo Vitelli (Ben Gazzara – mesmerising), a small strip-club owner who gets in too deep with some murky characters because of his consuming gambling addiction which leaves him $23,000 in the red. The mob then use this as a handle to blackmail him into murdering someone to wipe off some of his debt. It goes behind the scenes of a seemingly successful man...
- 7/19/2013
- by Adam Lowes
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Stars: James McAvoy, Mark Strong, Andrea Riseborough, Johnny Harris, Daniel Mays, David Morrissey, Peter Mullan, Natasha Little, Daniel Kaluuya, Ruth Sheen, Jason Flemyng | Written and Directed by Eran Creevy
Directors making a step up in their second film seems to be becoming a micro-trend of late. For example, Marc Webb went from manic pixie dream girl rom-com (500) Days of Summer to mega-budget franchise reboot The Amazing Spider-Man and Gareth Edwards is currently finishing up shooting on his risky Godzilla reboot for Warners after creating much of his first feature Monsters essentially in his own house. While not as much of a seismic shift as those two examples, this general rule still applies to Eran Creevy, a man who went from the Film London Microwave scheme funded Shifty to his second feature, the Ridley Scott backed, impressively cast action-thriller Welcome To The Punch, a film which while not quite being a revolution in Britflicks,...
Directors making a step up in their second film seems to be becoming a micro-trend of late. For example, Marc Webb went from manic pixie dream girl rom-com (500) Days of Summer to mega-budget franchise reboot The Amazing Spider-Man and Gareth Edwards is currently finishing up shooting on his risky Godzilla reboot for Warners after creating much of his first feature Monsters essentially in his own house. While not as much of a seismic shift as those two examples, this general rule still applies to Eran Creevy, a man who went from the Film London Microwave scheme funded Shifty to his second feature, the Ridley Scott backed, impressively cast action-thriller Welcome To The Punch, a film which while not quite being a revolution in Britflicks,...
- 7/17/2013
- by Ian Loring
- Nerdly
Welcome To The Punch is the explosive new action film starring James McAvoy (Wanted, X Men: First Class), Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and 2012 British Independent Film Awards Best Actress winner Andrea Risborough (Oblivion). It comes to DVD & Blu-ray 22nd July packed with extra features, and we have 3 Blu-rays to give away!
Produced by multi-award winning director Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator) and directed/ written by BAFTA nominated Eran Creevy (Shifty), the film, beautifully shot amidst the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, is a fast-paced slick action film containing some of the best stunts of the year.
Ex-criminal Jacob Sternwood (Strong) is forced to return to London from his Icelandic hideaway when his son is arrested leaving the country and suffering from a gunshot wound. This gives Sternwood’s arch enemy, detective Max Lewinsky (McAvoy), his last chance to catch the man he’s always been after. As the...
Produced by multi-award winning director Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator) and directed/ written by BAFTA nominated Eran Creevy (Shifty), the film, beautifully shot amidst the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, is a fast-paced slick action film containing some of the best stunts of the year.
Ex-criminal Jacob Sternwood (Strong) is forced to return to London from his Icelandic hideaway when his son is arrested leaving the country and suffering from a gunshot wound. This gives Sternwood’s arch enemy, detective Max Lewinsky (McAvoy), his last chance to catch the man he’s always been after. As the...
- 7/15/2013
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
Film London announces Lilting, the latest project from Film London Microwave, will be distributed by Curzon Film World’s Artificial Eye in the UK with Protagonist Pictures to manage international sales. A striking feature debut from director Hong Khaou with an all-star cast led by Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, Cloud Atlas) and Cheng Pei Pei (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), Lilting explores love without a common language.
Written and directed by Khaou and produced by Dominic Buchanan, Lilting is the eighth film from the successful feature film fund Film London Microwave. Alongside Whishaw and Pei Pei, the film also stars Peter Bowles (Blow-Up, The Bank Job), Morven Christie (House of 9, The Young Victoria) and Andrew Leung (The List).
As part of Film London Microwave’s mentorship component, award-winning film-maker Michael Winterbottom acted as writer/director Khaou’s mentor, while producer Buchanan received guidance and support from his mentor Ken Marshall, the producer of London to Brighton, Filth and Song for Marion.
Curzon Film World’s Artificial Eye is known for its discerning taste in the best of European and world cinema. The label has released more winners of the Cannes Palme d'Or than any other UK distributor, with titles including The Class (2008) and The White Ribbon (2009).
Commercially-minded and creatively-spirited Protagonist Pictures is an international sales company committed to strong relationships with film-makers. Recent highlights in their catalogue include Searching for Sugar Man, Sightseers, The Imposter and Microwave’s Shifty. This year at Cannes they represent The Selfish Giant by Clio Barnard, screening in Directors’ Fortnight, and in the Critics’ Week, Paul Wright’s debut feature For Those In Peril.
Lilting tells the story of a Chinese mother (Pei Pei) as she grieves for her son (Leung) following his untimely death. He was her eyes and ears in the UK, their adopted country, and without him she is stranded. The only person left is his lover (Whishaw) – who she knows only as his flat mate. Together they are forced to overcome their differences and unite in sorrow whilst struggling against the absence of a shared language. An intimate and thoughtful film, Lilting addresses overcoming cultural and generational boundaries, the power of memory, and the lifelines and relationships formed in the face of grief.
Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said: “Lilting is a moving cinematic achievement and I am delighted that it will reach UK audiences through Curzon Film World and that Protagonist will be managing international sales. It is a testament to Microwave’s innovative approach to film-making that its projects attract high-calibre talent and prestigious commercial distributors and sales agents. The scheme’s successful track record is also a result of the Microwave team, who are integral to nurturing and guiding all our film-makers. I am proud to see another Microwave feature proving itself in the commercial marketplace and hope this is only the start of Lilting’s success.”
Louisa Dent, Managing Director of Curzon Film World said: "When we read the script, it was clear that this was something special. There is an emotional urgency that is compelling and honest. Hong is a real emerging talent and his short films marked him out. We knew that the Microwave/Film London team would be great partners on this and with a quality cast it seemed liked a perfect fit for us.”
Mike Goodridge, CEO of Protagonist Pictures said: “I had admired Hong's shorts so it was with great excitement that I watched his first feature Lilting. But Hong exceeds expectations: the film is an accomplished and mature portrait of love and loss, graced by two extraordinary lead performances. The whole Protagonist team was knocked out by it and we are confident it will be embraced by distributors around the world.”
Funded by Film London Microwave, additional finance came from production companies Stink Films and Andy Brunskill’s recently launched Sums Film and Media Ltd., supported by financier/producer Bob & Co, Lim Kay Sui and Neo Swee Lin.
Film London Microwave is a unique training-through-production scheme delivered in partnership with BBC Films and with support from Creative Skillset. Challenging London-based film-makers to shoot a feature film for up to £120,000, Film London Microwave enables talent to thrive in a limited budget with its integrated training programme which offers crucial guidance and mentoring throughout the film-making process.
The Film London Microwave team is made up of Creative Producer Mia Bays, who also acts as the Distribution/Marketing Consultant and Mike Kelly, Business and Finance Producer, alongside Film London’s Talent Development Manager Kevin Dolan and Development and Production Officer Tessa Inkelaar. Film London will soon be appointing a new Head of Talent Development and Production, who will head up the Microwave team.
Encompassing training and development from script to screen and beyond, Film London Microwave has enjoyed excellent results. Last year saw the successful UK theatrical releases of Ben Drew’s iLL Manors, released by Revolver, and Frances Lea’s Strawberry Fields, released through Soda Pictures’ New British Cinema Quarterly programme. Other films produced through the scheme include the BAFTA-nominated Shifty, award-winning horror Mum & Dad, documentary The British Guide to Showing Off, teen drama Freestyle and the yet to be release Borrowed Time which was awarded Best in Fest at the 2012 Edinburgh International Film Festival.
About Film London Microwave
Launched in 2006, Microwave is the acclaimed micro-budget feature film scheme set up by Film London with BBC Films, with support from Creative Skillset. Committed to discovering and investing in emerging London-based film-makers, Microwave backs talented teams with fresh voices and strong stories. A unique ‘apprenticeship’ scheme, it provides an intensive approach to film-making with the emphasis on original ideas, tightly focussed scripts and short production schedules. Film-makers are supported by an extensive training and mentoring programme from development, through production, all the way to the film’s release in the UK and internationally.
In pre production:
Seekers Written by Arinze Kene, directed by Nicole Volavka and produced by Rob Watson.
A thriller set in the world of London's underclass. An African single mother finds new happiness with Jean-Baptiste, a refugee from Rwanda, and their struggle to survive in the big city eases. But a chance sighting of a ghost from the past exposes long buried traumas, which puts their lives in danger and everything they have is threatened.
Completed features:
Mum & Dad (2008) Directed & written by Steven Sheil and produced by Lisa Trnovski. Released Boxing Day 2008 in the UK and Mother’s Day 2009 in North America courtesy of Revolver Entertainment
Shifty (2008) Directed & written by Eran Creevy and produced by Rory Aitken and Ben Pugh. Released on 24 April 2009 in the UK courtesy of Metrodome Distribution. Shifty received a BAFTA nomination for the Carl Foreman Award (Best Debut) in 2010 and 5 Bifa nominations in 2008
Freestyle (2009) a teen romance based around the world of freestyle basketball, directed by Kolton Lee and produced by Lincia Daniel. Released in London and key cities by Revolver in February 2010 and became the first Microwave film to receive a theatrical release in the Us through Phase 4
The British Guide to Showing Off, director Jes Benstock’s Alternative Miss World documentary produced by Dorigen Hammond. Distributed by Verve Pictures in autumn 2011
Strawberry Fields, directed by Frances Lea and produced by Liam Beatty and Lucie Wenigerova, is an intense rites of passage film bursting with energy, sex and humour set during a perfect English summer. It received its World Premiere at the 55th BFI London Film Festival and released by Soda Pictures on 6 July
iLL Manors, written and directed by Ben Drew and produced by Atif Ghani
A unique crime thriller set on the unforgiving streets of London, following six disparate lives, all struggling to survive the circles of violence that engulf them. Released by Revolver on 8 June 2012
Borrowed Time, a bittersweet comedy about growing up and rediscovering youth, written and directed by Jules Bishop and produced by Olivier Kaempfer, starring Philip Davis, Theo Barklem-Biggs and Perry Benson. The film received its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2012 and is set for release in 2013.
Lilting Written and directed by Hong Khaou and produced by Dominic Buchanan
Starring Ben Whishaw and Cheng Pei Pei, Lilting is an intimate and thoughtful film about communication, falling in love and forming relationships without a common language. A mother’s attempt at understanding who her son is after his untimely death, her emotions are stirred up by presence of his partner.
The Film London Microwave team includes Kevin Dolan, Talent Development Manager, Tessa Inkelaar, Development and Production Officer, Creative Producer Mia Bays, who also acts as the Distribution/Marketing Consultant, and Mike Kelly, Business and Finance Producer.
About Film London
Film London, as the capital’s film and media agency, aims to ensure London has a thriving film sector that enriches the city’s businesses and its people. The agency works with all the screen industries to sustain, promote and develop London as a major international production and film cultural capital, and it supports the development of the city’s new and emerging film-making talent. Film London is funded by the Mayor of London, the National Lottery through the BFI, and receives significant support from Arts Council England and Creative Skillset.
About BBC Films
BBC Films is the feature filmmaking arm of the BBC. It aims to make strong British films with range and ambition, bringing the best of British talent to audiences. BBC Films is firmly established at the forefront of British independent filmmaking and co-produces around eight films a year, working in partnership with major international and UK distributors. Christine Langan is the Head of BBC Films, responsible for the development and production slate, strategy and business operations.
Recent releases include Sally Potter’s reflection on troubled friendship Ginger and Rosa currently in cinemas, Ol Parker’s teen romance Now is Good, Fernando Meirelles’ stylish and contemporary drama 360, James Marsh’s heart-wrenching thriller Shadow Dancer, Julien Temple’s documentary feature London – The Modern Babylon, Lasse Hallström’s romantic comedy Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Max and Dania’s kinetic 3D film StreetDance 2, Ralph Fiennes’ contemporary Shakespeare adaptation Coriolanus, Simon Curtis’ comedy drama My Week with Marilyn, Nick Murphy’s supernatural mystery The Awakening, Lynne Ramsay’s adaptation of the Winner for the Orange Prize for Fiction We Need to Talk About Kevin, David Mackenzie’s romantic thriller Perfect Sense, Cary Fukunaga’s modern retelling of Jane Eyre, and James Marsh’s moving documentary Project Nim.
Forthcoming films include Mike Newell’s sumptuous Dickens classic Great Expectations in cinemas 30 November and Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut, the wickedly comic Quartet, which will be in cinemas 4 January 2013, and in March Terri Hooley biopic Good Vibrations from directors Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn will feature in cinemas. Also set for a Spring release is Nick Murphy’s gripping thriller Blood.
BBC Films has an impressive back catalogue, which includes titles such as Nigel Cole’s Made in Dagenham, Lone Scherfig’s Academy Award® nominated and BAFTA award-winning An Education; Armando Iannucci’s Academy Award® and BAFTA award-nominated In the Loop; Jane Campion’s Academy Award®nominated Bright Star; and Andrea Arnold’s BAFTA award-winning Fish Tank.
Twitter @BBCFilms...
Written and directed by Khaou and produced by Dominic Buchanan, Lilting is the eighth film from the successful feature film fund Film London Microwave. Alongside Whishaw and Pei Pei, the film also stars Peter Bowles (Blow-Up, The Bank Job), Morven Christie (House of 9, The Young Victoria) and Andrew Leung (The List).
As part of Film London Microwave’s mentorship component, award-winning film-maker Michael Winterbottom acted as writer/director Khaou’s mentor, while producer Buchanan received guidance and support from his mentor Ken Marshall, the producer of London to Brighton, Filth and Song for Marion.
Curzon Film World’s Artificial Eye is known for its discerning taste in the best of European and world cinema. The label has released more winners of the Cannes Palme d'Or than any other UK distributor, with titles including The Class (2008) and The White Ribbon (2009).
Commercially-minded and creatively-spirited Protagonist Pictures is an international sales company committed to strong relationships with film-makers. Recent highlights in their catalogue include Searching for Sugar Man, Sightseers, The Imposter and Microwave’s Shifty. This year at Cannes they represent The Selfish Giant by Clio Barnard, screening in Directors’ Fortnight, and in the Critics’ Week, Paul Wright’s debut feature For Those In Peril.
Lilting tells the story of a Chinese mother (Pei Pei) as she grieves for her son (Leung) following his untimely death. He was her eyes and ears in the UK, their adopted country, and without him she is stranded. The only person left is his lover (Whishaw) – who she knows only as his flat mate. Together they are forced to overcome their differences and unite in sorrow whilst struggling against the absence of a shared language. An intimate and thoughtful film, Lilting addresses overcoming cultural and generational boundaries, the power of memory, and the lifelines and relationships formed in the face of grief.
Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said: “Lilting is a moving cinematic achievement and I am delighted that it will reach UK audiences through Curzon Film World and that Protagonist will be managing international sales. It is a testament to Microwave’s innovative approach to film-making that its projects attract high-calibre talent and prestigious commercial distributors and sales agents. The scheme’s successful track record is also a result of the Microwave team, who are integral to nurturing and guiding all our film-makers. I am proud to see another Microwave feature proving itself in the commercial marketplace and hope this is only the start of Lilting’s success.”
Louisa Dent, Managing Director of Curzon Film World said: "When we read the script, it was clear that this was something special. There is an emotional urgency that is compelling and honest. Hong is a real emerging talent and his short films marked him out. We knew that the Microwave/Film London team would be great partners on this and with a quality cast it seemed liked a perfect fit for us.”
Mike Goodridge, CEO of Protagonist Pictures said: “I had admired Hong's shorts so it was with great excitement that I watched his first feature Lilting. But Hong exceeds expectations: the film is an accomplished and mature portrait of love and loss, graced by two extraordinary lead performances. The whole Protagonist team was knocked out by it and we are confident it will be embraced by distributors around the world.”
Funded by Film London Microwave, additional finance came from production companies Stink Films and Andy Brunskill’s recently launched Sums Film and Media Ltd., supported by financier/producer Bob & Co, Lim Kay Sui and Neo Swee Lin.
Film London Microwave is a unique training-through-production scheme delivered in partnership with BBC Films and with support from Creative Skillset. Challenging London-based film-makers to shoot a feature film for up to £120,000, Film London Microwave enables talent to thrive in a limited budget with its integrated training programme which offers crucial guidance and mentoring throughout the film-making process.
The Film London Microwave team is made up of Creative Producer Mia Bays, who also acts as the Distribution/Marketing Consultant and Mike Kelly, Business and Finance Producer, alongside Film London’s Talent Development Manager Kevin Dolan and Development and Production Officer Tessa Inkelaar. Film London will soon be appointing a new Head of Talent Development and Production, who will head up the Microwave team.
Encompassing training and development from script to screen and beyond, Film London Microwave has enjoyed excellent results. Last year saw the successful UK theatrical releases of Ben Drew’s iLL Manors, released by Revolver, and Frances Lea’s Strawberry Fields, released through Soda Pictures’ New British Cinema Quarterly programme. Other films produced through the scheme include the BAFTA-nominated Shifty, award-winning horror Mum & Dad, documentary The British Guide to Showing Off, teen drama Freestyle and the yet to be release Borrowed Time which was awarded Best in Fest at the 2012 Edinburgh International Film Festival.
About Film London Microwave
Launched in 2006, Microwave is the acclaimed micro-budget feature film scheme set up by Film London with BBC Films, with support from Creative Skillset. Committed to discovering and investing in emerging London-based film-makers, Microwave backs talented teams with fresh voices and strong stories. A unique ‘apprenticeship’ scheme, it provides an intensive approach to film-making with the emphasis on original ideas, tightly focussed scripts and short production schedules. Film-makers are supported by an extensive training and mentoring programme from development, through production, all the way to the film’s release in the UK and internationally.
In pre production:
Seekers Written by Arinze Kene, directed by Nicole Volavka and produced by Rob Watson.
A thriller set in the world of London's underclass. An African single mother finds new happiness with Jean-Baptiste, a refugee from Rwanda, and their struggle to survive in the big city eases. But a chance sighting of a ghost from the past exposes long buried traumas, which puts their lives in danger and everything they have is threatened.
Completed features:
Mum & Dad (2008) Directed & written by Steven Sheil and produced by Lisa Trnovski. Released Boxing Day 2008 in the UK and Mother’s Day 2009 in North America courtesy of Revolver Entertainment
Shifty (2008) Directed & written by Eran Creevy and produced by Rory Aitken and Ben Pugh. Released on 24 April 2009 in the UK courtesy of Metrodome Distribution. Shifty received a BAFTA nomination for the Carl Foreman Award (Best Debut) in 2010 and 5 Bifa nominations in 2008
Freestyle (2009) a teen romance based around the world of freestyle basketball, directed by Kolton Lee and produced by Lincia Daniel. Released in London and key cities by Revolver in February 2010 and became the first Microwave film to receive a theatrical release in the Us through Phase 4
The British Guide to Showing Off, director Jes Benstock’s Alternative Miss World documentary produced by Dorigen Hammond. Distributed by Verve Pictures in autumn 2011
Strawberry Fields, directed by Frances Lea and produced by Liam Beatty and Lucie Wenigerova, is an intense rites of passage film bursting with energy, sex and humour set during a perfect English summer. It received its World Premiere at the 55th BFI London Film Festival and released by Soda Pictures on 6 July
iLL Manors, written and directed by Ben Drew and produced by Atif Ghani
A unique crime thriller set on the unforgiving streets of London, following six disparate lives, all struggling to survive the circles of violence that engulf them. Released by Revolver on 8 June 2012
Borrowed Time, a bittersweet comedy about growing up and rediscovering youth, written and directed by Jules Bishop and produced by Olivier Kaempfer, starring Philip Davis, Theo Barklem-Biggs and Perry Benson. The film received its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in June 2012 and is set for release in 2013.
Lilting Written and directed by Hong Khaou and produced by Dominic Buchanan
Starring Ben Whishaw and Cheng Pei Pei, Lilting is an intimate and thoughtful film about communication, falling in love and forming relationships without a common language. A mother’s attempt at understanding who her son is after his untimely death, her emotions are stirred up by presence of his partner.
The Film London Microwave team includes Kevin Dolan, Talent Development Manager, Tessa Inkelaar, Development and Production Officer, Creative Producer Mia Bays, who also acts as the Distribution/Marketing Consultant, and Mike Kelly, Business and Finance Producer.
About Film London
Film London, as the capital’s film and media agency, aims to ensure London has a thriving film sector that enriches the city’s businesses and its people. The agency works with all the screen industries to sustain, promote and develop London as a major international production and film cultural capital, and it supports the development of the city’s new and emerging film-making talent. Film London is funded by the Mayor of London, the National Lottery through the BFI, and receives significant support from Arts Council England and Creative Skillset.
About BBC Films
BBC Films is the feature filmmaking arm of the BBC. It aims to make strong British films with range and ambition, bringing the best of British talent to audiences. BBC Films is firmly established at the forefront of British independent filmmaking and co-produces around eight films a year, working in partnership with major international and UK distributors. Christine Langan is the Head of BBC Films, responsible for the development and production slate, strategy and business operations.
Recent releases include Sally Potter’s reflection on troubled friendship Ginger and Rosa currently in cinemas, Ol Parker’s teen romance Now is Good, Fernando Meirelles’ stylish and contemporary drama 360, James Marsh’s heart-wrenching thriller Shadow Dancer, Julien Temple’s documentary feature London – The Modern Babylon, Lasse Hallström’s romantic comedy Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Max and Dania’s kinetic 3D film StreetDance 2, Ralph Fiennes’ contemporary Shakespeare adaptation Coriolanus, Simon Curtis’ comedy drama My Week with Marilyn, Nick Murphy’s supernatural mystery The Awakening, Lynne Ramsay’s adaptation of the Winner for the Orange Prize for Fiction We Need to Talk About Kevin, David Mackenzie’s romantic thriller Perfect Sense, Cary Fukunaga’s modern retelling of Jane Eyre, and James Marsh’s moving documentary Project Nim.
Forthcoming films include Mike Newell’s sumptuous Dickens classic Great Expectations in cinemas 30 November and Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut, the wickedly comic Quartet, which will be in cinemas 4 January 2013, and in March Terri Hooley biopic Good Vibrations from directors Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn will feature in cinemas. Also set for a Spring release is Nick Murphy’s gripping thriller Blood.
BBC Films has an impressive back catalogue, which includes titles such as Nigel Cole’s Made in Dagenham, Lone Scherfig’s Academy Award® nominated and BAFTA award-winning An Education; Armando Iannucci’s Academy Award® and BAFTA award-nominated In the Loop; Jane Campion’s Academy Award®nominated Bright Star; and Andrea Arnold’s BAFTA award-winning Fish Tank.
Twitter @BBCFilms...
- 5/27/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Backpacking across Europe is a time-honored tradition for many, but for Zac Efron and Amber Heard it will be a journey plagued by peril. The Wrap reports the pair have signed on to star in an original feature called Autobahn. Named for the German highway system, this thriller has Efron on board to play an American backpacker whose holiday becomes horrific after he joins a scam for a Turkish gang. Heard will play his American girlfriend, who is sucked into trouble alongside him as they flee thugs in Munich. English writer-director Eran Creevy co-wrote the film with F. Scott Frazier (The Numbers Station), and will direct. Creevy has a developing reputation for directing noteworthy crime dramas. His 2008 directorial debut Shifty won him the attention of the BAFTA awards, and his follow-up Welcome to the Punch attracted stars including James McAvoy, Andrea Riseborough, and Mark Strong. Autobahn's premise seems to...
- 5/17/2013
- cinemablend.com
Having proved he’s a director to watch with Shifty and more recently Welcome To The Punch, Eran Creevy is now kicking things up a gear for road thriller Autobahn. He’s been attached for a while, but has now cast Zac Efron and Amber Heard as his speedy leads.Autobahn, set (and set to shoot), in Germany, sees an American backpacker (Efron) falling foul of a Turkish gang when he agrees to take part in a scam.Fleeing his pursuers around Munich, he must keep his girlfriend (Heard) safe and stay alive himself as they both try to untangle themselves from the mess.This one has been in the development garage for a while as directors including Mark Steven Johnson have come in, tutted about not being able to get the right parts until Tuesday, and gone. Now Creevy, who has done a pass on the script with The Numbers Station...
- 5/16/2013
- EmpireOnline
Damn it. Just when we thought we were going to be able to ignore Zach Braff's controversially crowd-sourced sophomore feature, he goes and casts Anna Kendrick. According to The Wrap, the "Pitch Perfect" star, so often the best thing in whatever she's in, has joined the cast of Braff's currently-prepping "Wish I Was Here." The actress will play the love interest of Braff's character's brother (Josh Gad), a young cosplayer named Janine. Manic Pixie Dream Girl alert! Mandy Patinkin is also in the cast (Mandy Patinkin Dream Girl alert!), and Kendrick will next be seen in the questionable-looking "Rapturepalooza," which opens on June 7th. Someone else we're a big fan of is British director Eran Creevy, who made an ace debut a few years back with "Shifty," and followed it up earlier this year with homegrown actioner "Welcome To The Punch." We've been tipping the filmmaker, who was one...
- 5/16/2013
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Once again our brill media partners Indybrown.tv, Omkari and Ashanti Omkar bring us a special video interview, this time with Riz Ahmed. On screen, Riz Ahmed is best known for his intense performances in films such as Four Lions, Shifty and Trishna. Off-screen, under the name Riz Mc, he has been working a parallel career in hip hop. Ahmed once again took to the film stage and has been garnering rave, rave, rave reviews for his performance in Mira Nair’s The Reluctant Fundalmentalist. He is brilliant in the role of Changez, in a film that also boasts incredible actors like Liev Schreiber, Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland and Om Puri. Now playing in the Us, the film opens in the UK on May 10th and it is one we say you must check out!
Check out what this rising star in cinema reveals to Ashanti Omkar about his biggest...
Check out what this rising star in cinema reveals to Ashanti Omkar about his biggest...
- 5/7/2013
- by Stacey Yount
- Bollyspice
At public school he threw a chair through a window. At Oxford he took on the black-tie brigade. Now Riz Ahmed is ready to shake up the film industry. But first he puts us right on a few things
Riz Ahmed is talking so fast, I can't keep up. He has opinions on everything, and he hurls them at you so enthusiastically, so ferociously, that before long you feel battered. Within seconds, he has taken me on a global tour of his favourite cities. New York? "It's become so gentrified that it's lacking in soul." London? "The most gloriously eclectic city in the world." Tokyo? "Everyone's beautiful, everything's futuristic, but it's ethnically homogeneous."
Then he's on to his theory about why London has such a thriving indie arts scene (because the mainstream is so establishment), why Mo Farah represents all that's great about Britain, the impact of cuts in arts funding for disadvantaged inner-city kids…...
Riz Ahmed is talking so fast, I can't keep up. He has opinions on everything, and he hurls them at you so enthusiastically, so ferociously, that before long you feel battered. Within seconds, he has taken me on a global tour of his favourite cities. New York? "It's become so gentrified that it's lacking in soul." London? "The most gloriously eclectic city in the world." Tokyo? "Everyone's beautiful, everything's futuristic, but it's ethnically homogeneous."
Then he's on to his theory about why London has such a thriving indie arts scene (because the mainstream is so establishment), why Mo Farah represents all that's great about Britain, the impact of cuts in arts funding for disadvantaged inner-city kids…...
- 4/27/2013
- by Simon Hattenstone
- The Guardian - Film News
Knockout Loss: Creevy’s Sophomore Effort Easy and Breezy
After crafting his 2008 Riz Ahmed starring debut Shifty from personal experiences, director Eran Creevy turns to the heist genre for his sophomore effort, Welcome to the Punch. Featuring a salivating mix of some of the best character actors from the UK, this glossy effort, which Creevy also wrote, is an altogether steady if somewhat unenthralling exercise in convention. The Ridley Scott produced venture can’t avoid feeling like an appetizer before the real meal, unfortunately, its bland title referencing the name of the self storage unit where key scenes and plot points transpire.
Opening in the middle of a high adrenaline heist, detective Max Lewinsky (James McAvoy) gets shot down by his arch nemesis, Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) a criminal mastermind that has eluded the indefatigable detective for some time. Three years later, Lewinsky has a bruised reputation and a bum...
After crafting his 2008 Riz Ahmed starring debut Shifty from personal experiences, director Eran Creevy turns to the heist genre for his sophomore effort, Welcome to the Punch. Featuring a salivating mix of some of the best character actors from the UK, this glossy effort, which Creevy also wrote, is an altogether steady if somewhat unenthralling exercise in convention. The Ridley Scott produced venture can’t avoid feeling like an appetizer before the real meal, unfortunately, its bland title referencing the name of the self storage unit where key scenes and plot points transpire.
Opening in the middle of a high adrenaline heist, detective Max Lewinsky (James McAvoy) gets shot down by his arch nemesis, Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) a criminal mastermind that has eluded the indefatigable detective for some time. Three years later, Lewinsky has a bruised reputation and a bum...
- 4/2/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Welcome to the Punch Director: Eran Creevy (‘Shifty’) Starring: James McAvoy, Mark Strong (‘Sherlock Holmes,’ ‘Zero Dark Thirty’), Andrea Riseborough (‘W.E.’), David Morrissey (TV’s ‘The Walking Dead’) and Peter Mullan (‘War Horse’) Overcoming political struggles and legal procedures in order to defeat a menacing enemy is an all-too-important objective for both the protagonist and antagonist in the new crime action adventure, ‘Welcome to the Punch.’ Writer-director Eran Creevy aimed to showcase how both law enforcement agents and criminals take whatever means necessary to overcome whatever obstacles their nemesis puts in their way. The filmmaker succeeded in emphasizing that vengeance-driven motivation with distinct cinematography and a carefully orchestrated score. Unfortunately, Creevy’s [ Read More ]
The post Welcome to the Punch Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Welcome to the Punch Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 3/27/2013
- by Karen Benardello
- ShockYa
Judging by the recent import The Sweeney and now the policier Welcome to the Punch, testosterone seems to be in ample supply in Blighty. This high-octane crime drama written and directed by Eran Creevy (Shifty) certainly looks terrific, reflecting the influence of Ridley Scott, one of its executive producers. And it boasts a terrific British cast, including James McAvoy, Mark Strong, Peter Mullan and David Morrissey, all in full-on macho mode. But despite its fast pacing and well-staged action set-pieces, the film fails to make much of an impression. Perhaps it needed a memorable catch phrase
read more...
read more...
- 3/26/2013
- by Frank Scheck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Gareth Edwards made a remarkable debut back in 2010 with Monsters. After production began on Edwards’ follow-up film, Godzilla, last week, news now comes that the sequel to his first film, entitled Monsters: Dark Continent, has begun production as well.
Edwards is still on board as an executive producer, and he hands over the reigns to Tom Green (Misfits), who will be making his own feature debut behind the camera here.
Screen International report that principal photography is officially underway now out in Jordan, with a six-week shoot planned, including a week of filming in Detroit after Jordan.
In Monsters: Dark Continent, Infected Zones have spread across the world. While Us military try to wipe out the monsters, they soon realize they face resistance from a number of corners.
The official announcement also brings with it our first piece of casting news on the film.
Johnny Harris (Welcome to the Punch...
Edwards is still on board as an executive producer, and he hands over the reigns to Tom Green (Misfits), who will be making his own feature debut behind the camera here.
Screen International report that principal photography is officially underway now out in Jordan, with a six-week shoot planned, including a week of filming in Detroit after Jordan.
In Monsters: Dark Continent, Infected Zones have spread across the world. While Us military try to wipe out the monsters, they soon realize they face resistance from a number of corners.
The official announcement also brings with it our first piece of casting news on the film.
Johnny Harris (Welcome to the Punch...
- 3/26/2013
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Detective Max Lewinsky (James McAvoy) has been trying to nab elite criminal Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) his entire career. And in Welcome to the Punch (in Us theaters March 27) he finally gets his shot: Sternwood comes out of hiding when his son is hospitalized. Your move, Lewinsky.
But of course, things aren’t always what they seem. In the stylish new trailer for Eran Creevy’s (Shifty) thriller, already out in the U.K., James McAvoy and his beard stumble onto a dangerous conspiracy. A man in a suit whispers “I think Max is about to figure out what is going on.
But of course, things aren’t always what they seem. In the stylish new trailer for Eran Creevy’s (Shifty) thriller, already out in the U.K., James McAvoy and his beard stumble onto a dangerous conspiracy. A man in a suit whispers “I think Max is about to figure out what is going on.
- 3/20/2013
- by Lindsey Bahr
- EW - Inside Movies
Four years ago Eran Creevy made a highly promising debut with Shifty, an ultra-low-budget crime movie under the auspices of the enterprising Film London Microwave project, about a day in the life of a young Muslim dealing drugs in an anonymous new town outside London. Creevy's follow-up, decently funded by Ridley Scott's Scott Free company, is a glitzy thriller, shot largely at night around the steel-and-glass skyscrapers of Canary Wharf. Cast against type, James McAvoy plays a tough detective sergeant seeking revenge on the big-time crook (Mark Strong) who wounded him during a big heist three years earlier. The plot, involving a conspiracy between gangsters, police and politicians, is confused, but the set pieces (most especially the opening robbery) are expertly, if self-consciously staged.
ThrillerCrimeJames McAvoyAndrea RiseboroughPeter MullanRidley ScottPhilip French
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content...
ThrillerCrimeJames McAvoyAndrea RiseboroughPeter MullanRidley ScottPhilip French
guardian.co.uk © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content...
- 3/17/2013
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
Beyond The Hills | The Incredible Burt Wonderstone | The Paperboy | Welcome To The Punch | Shell | The Spirit Of '45 | Red Dawn | Vinyl | Maniac | Michael H. Profession: Director
Beyond The Hills (12A)
(Cristian Mungiu, 2012, Rom) Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur. 152 mins
Romanian patriarchy had a lot to answer for in Mungiu's 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days, and it's even more to blame in this powerful convent drama. It starts with a young woman coming to visit her former girlfriend, who's now a nun, but events increasingly spiral out of control, to the extent that romantic frustration is diagnosed as demonic possession… and duly treated.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (15)
(Don Scardino, 2013, Us) Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Jim Carrey. 100 mins
Doing for Vegas-style magic what Blades Of Glory did for figure skating, Carell and co conjure just enough comedy out of a sitting-duck premise, as their cheesy stage act is threatened by Carrey's Blaine-style endurance stunts.
The Paperboy (15)
(Lee Daniels,...
Beyond The Hills (12A)
(Cristian Mungiu, 2012, Rom) Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur. 152 mins
Romanian patriarchy had a lot to answer for in Mungiu's 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days, and it's even more to blame in this powerful convent drama. It starts with a young woman coming to visit her former girlfriend, who's now a nun, but events increasingly spiral out of control, to the extent that romantic frustration is diagnosed as demonic possession… and duly treated.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (15)
(Don Scardino, 2013, Us) Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Jim Carrey. 100 mins
Doing for Vegas-style magic what Blades Of Glory did for figure skating, Carell and co conjure just enough comedy out of a sitting-duck premise, as their cheesy stage act is threatened by Carrey's Blaine-style endurance stunts.
The Paperboy (15)
(Lee Daniels,...
- 3/16/2013
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Eran Creevy’s debut feature, the micro-budget urban thriller Shifty, announced the director as one of British filmmaking’s most promising talents. Coming good on that promise, Creevy is back with Welcome to the Punch; a London-set action movie in the vein of Infernal Affairs, simultaneously evoking the style of Michael Mann, Tony Scott and John Woo.
We’re immediately thrown into a high stakes game of cops and robbers, as James McAvoy’s Detective Max Lewinsky pursues criminal mastermind Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) across our crisply shot capital. The pre-titl showdown between the pair sees Sternwood ultimately putting a bullet in the hot-headed Lewinsky’s knee and escaping with his retirement fund.
But a few years later, with Lewinsky still draining fluid from his shattered knee, Sternwood is forced to return to London from his Icelandic retreat when his son is involved with a heist gone wrong, and the...
We’re immediately thrown into a high stakes game of cops and robbers, as James McAvoy’s Detective Max Lewinsky pursues criminal mastermind Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) across our crisply shot capital. The pre-titl showdown between the pair sees Sternwood ultimately putting a bullet in the hot-headed Lewinsky’s knee and escaping with his retirement fund.
But a few years later, with Lewinsky still draining fluid from his shattered knee, Sternwood is forced to return to London from his Icelandic retreat when his son is involved with a heist gone wrong, and the...
- 3/15/2013
- by Joe Cunningham
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
British director Eran Creevy's step-up to a big commercial movie doesn't hit the same quality mark as his earlier drama Shifty
Eran Creevy is the British director who made the very good urban drama Shifty in 2008, and this is his step up to a big commercial picture – a London crime thriller with plenty of hardware: handguns, machine-pistols, automatic rifles, the lot. James McAvoy is Max, a detective tortured by his demons. Some years before, he failed to nab top bad guy Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) and is still tortured by the pain of getting shot in the leg. Now he's got the chance to nail Sternwood, but is getting no real support from superior officers Bartnick (Daniel Mays) and Geiger (David Morrissey), and there's a conspiracy happening somewhere over his head. This is an ambitious picture that may have drawn some inspiration from the Hong Kong Infernal Affairs movies,...
Eran Creevy is the British director who made the very good urban drama Shifty in 2008, and this is his step up to a big commercial picture – a London crime thriller with plenty of hardware: handguns, machine-pistols, automatic rifles, the lot. James McAvoy is Max, a detective tortured by his demons. Some years before, he failed to nab top bad guy Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) and is still tortured by the pain of getting shot in the leg. Now he's got the chance to nail Sternwood, but is getting no real support from superior officers Bartnick (Daniel Mays) and Geiger (David Morrissey), and there's a conspiracy happening somewhere over his head. This is an ambitious picture that may have drawn some inspiration from the Hong Kong Infernal Affairs movies,...
- 3/15/2013
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
British director Eran Creevy's step-up to a big commercial movie doesn't hit the same quality mark as his earlier drama Shifty
Eran Creevy is the British director who made the very good urban drama Shifty in 2008, and this is his step up to a big commercial picture – a London crime thriller with plenty of hardware: handguns, machine-pistols, automatic rifles, the lot. James McAvoy is Max, a detective tortured by his demons. Some years before, he failed to nab top bad guy Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) and is still tortured by the pain of getting shot in the leg. Now he's got the chance to nail Sternwood, but is getting no real support from superior officers Bartnick (Daniel Mays) and Geiger (David Morrissey), and there's a conspiracy happening somewhere over his head. This is an ambitious picture that may have drawn some inspiration from the Hong Kong Infernal Affairs movies,...
Eran Creevy is the British director who made the very good urban drama Shifty in 2008, and this is his step up to a big commercial picture – a London crime thriller with plenty of hardware: handguns, machine-pistols, automatic rifles, the lot. James McAvoy is Max, a detective tortured by his demons. Some years before, he failed to nab top bad guy Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong) and is still tortured by the pain of getting shot in the leg. Now he's got the chance to nail Sternwood, but is getting no real support from superior officers Bartnick (Daniel Mays) and Geiger (David Morrissey), and there's a conspiracy happening somewhere over his head. This is an ambitious picture that may have drawn some inspiration from the Hong Kong Infernal Affairs movies,...
- 3/14/2013
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
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