jimmy
05-17-2008, 01:31 AM
City film-makers head off in hope for Cannes
May 16 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post
SOME of the leading lights in Liverpool’s burgeoning film industry are heading to the Cannes Film Festival to show their work and try to secure worldwide distribution.
The festival, now in its 61st year, began yesterday, and local producers and directors are flying out to meet movie executives who could secure international audiences for their features.
Barefooting, a romantic comedy filmed on location across Warrington, Liverpool and Northwich will be screened at the festival next Thursday.
It is the story of two men who try to resolve a lifelong mutual hatred by running a cross-country race.
Writer and director Phil Stagg, from Appleton, Warrington, said: “We’re delighted to be taking Barefooting to an international audience.
“The Cannes Film Festival is the perfect place to source a distribution deal and attract interest from across the world.”
Barefooting premiered at Woolton Cinema last year, but is yet to receive a distribution deal.
Two years in the making, it features a cast of professional and local actors and was produced by North West-based Arena Nova Films.
Ken Ward, who plays Norman in the film, said: “At Cannes, we’re establishing a name for ourselves and enabling the film to receive the audience it deserves.
“It has a fine balance of humour and drama that makes it very entertaining and watchable.
“It’s the sort of film which I think will particularly appeal to audiences in countries like Canada, New Zealand or Australia but could be bought up by anyone”.
Alan Field, of Embrace Productions, is going over to promote his film Act of Grace, a story of a friendship between a Liverpudlian boy and Chinese immigrant family.
Mr Field said: “We’re going out to persuade the Chinese market to back the film because of the Chinese strand of the story.
“Everyone who was involved with the film believed it was a totally fresh story that’s never been told in this way.”
Also hoping to drum up interest is the team behind Liverpool heist movie Outlaws, based on the novel by Kevin Sampson and described as “Trainspotting meets The Sopranos”.
It will be distributed in the UK in September, but it is hoped the trip to Cannes will garner American interest.
Producer Ian Brady said: “It’s about a criminal family in Liverpool and is more a Cain and Abel story with one brother betraying another.”
The Calling, a documentary by Formby-based In the Dark productions, was filmed in Israel, Palestine, and the US.
Director Stuart Kershaw said: “It looks at how young men’s romantic notions of heroism can be exploited by mass movements, how a revolutionary movement can be corrupted by something at the other end of the spectrum.”
All eyes will be on Cannes for the world premiere of the Indiana Jones sequel during the two-week event.
vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk
May 16 2008 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post
SOME of the leading lights in Liverpool’s burgeoning film industry are heading to the Cannes Film Festival to show their work and try to secure worldwide distribution.
The festival, now in its 61st year, began yesterday, and local producers and directors are flying out to meet movie executives who could secure international audiences for their features.
Barefooting, a romantic comedy filmed on location across Warrington, Liverpool and Northwich will be screened at the festival next Thursday.
It is the story of two men who try to resolve a lifelong mutual hatred by running a cross-country race.
Writer and director Phil Stagg, from Appleton, Warrington, said: “We’re delighted to be taking Barefooting to an international audience.
“The Cannes Film Festival is the perfect place to source a distribution deal and attract interest from across the world.”
Barefooting premiered at Woolton Cinema last year, but is yet to receive a distribution deal.
Two years in the making, it features a cast of professional and local actors and was produced by North West-based Arena Nova Films.
Ken Ward, who plays Norman in the film, said: “At Cannes, we’re establishing a name for ourselves and enabling the film to receive the audience it deserves.
“It has a fine balance of humour and drama that makes it very entertaining and watchable.
“It’s the sort of film which I think will particularly appeal to audiences in countries like Canada, New Zealand or Australia but could be bought up by anyone”.
Alan Field, of Embrace Productions, is going over to promote his film Act of Grace, a story of a friendship between a Liverpudlian boy and Chinese immigrant family.
Mr Field said: “We’re going out to persuade the Chinese market to back the film because of the Chinese strand of the story.
“Everyone who was involved with the film believed it was a totally fresh story that’s never been told in this way.”
Also hoping to drum up interest is the team behind Liverpool heist movie Outlaws, based on the novel by Kevin Sampson and described as “Trainspotting meets The Sopranos”.
It will be distributed in the UK in September, but it is hoped the trip to Cannes will garner American interest.
Producer Ian Brady said: “It’s about a criminal family in Liverpool and is more a Cain and Abel story with one brother betraying another.”
The Calling, a documentary by Formby-based In the Dark productions, was filmed in Israel, Palestine, and the US.
Director Stuart Kershaw said: “It looks at how young men’s romantic notions of heroism can be exploited by mass movements, how a revolutionary movement can be corrupted by something at the other end of the spectrum.”
All eyes will be on Cannes for the world premiere of the Indiana Jones sequel during the two-week event.
vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk