How To Date Billy Walsh is a teen romantic comedy directed by Alex Pillai. The Prime Video film follows the story of two high schoolers Amelia and Archie who have been friends since childhood. Archie is harboring secret feelings for Amelia but hasn’t told her and when he decides to do so, Amelia falls for the new transfer student Billy. Will Amelia end up choosing Billy or Archie? How To Date Billy Walsh stars Sebastian Croft, Charithra Chandran, and Tanner Buchanan in the lead roles with Daisy Jelley, Kunal Nayyar, Nick Frost, Lucy Punch, Guz Khan, and Charles Camrose starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the love triangle in How To Date Billy Walsh here are some similar films you should check out next.
The Kissing Booth (Netflix) Credit – Netflix
The Kissing Booth is the first film in a trilogy directed by Vince Marcello. Based on a...
The Kissing Booth (Netflix) Credit – Netflix
The Kissing Booth is the first film in a trilogy directed by Vince Marcello. Based on a...
- 4/8/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Disney+ has released the trailer for the highly anticipated second season of the award-winning comedy ‘Extraordinary.’
Season two picks up where season one spectacularly left off, following Jen (Máiréad Tyers) on her powers journey as she enrols as a client at the power clinic. Jen soon discovers that the process of finding her power isn’t as easy as she hoped, and things in the rest of her life aren’t smooth sailing either. Ex-cat, now-boyfriend Jizzlord (Luke Rollason) has had an unexpected revelation about his past, and Kash (Bilal Hasna) and Carrie (Sofia Oxenham) are attempting to be totally mature and dignified about their break-up, which is not easy when they’re still living under the same roof. It seems that Jen and the gang are dealing with new levels of adulting and chaos that none of them are prepared for.
The new cast members include Julian Barratt as George,...
Season two picks up where season one spectacularly left off, following Jen (Máiréad Tyers) on her powers journey as she enrols as a client at the power clinic. Jen soon discovers that the process of finding her power isn’t as easy as she hoped, and things in the rest of her life aren’t smooth sailing either. Ex-cat, now-boyfriend Jizzlord (Luke Rollason) has had an unexpected revelation about his past, and Kash (Bilal Hasna) and Carrie (Sofia Oxenham) are attempting to be totally mature and dignified about their break-up, which is not easy when they’re still living under the same roof. It seems that Jen and the gang are dealing with new levels of adulting and chaos that none of them are prepared for.
The new cast members include Julian Barratt as George,...
- 2/22/2024
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Disney Plus’ charming comedy Extraordinary has a new trailer which isn’t short on chaos. You can expect the series to drop in March. More below.
Extraordinary is returning for another rib-ticklingly funny season next month. And we now have a trailer to prove it.
The series is set in a world where everyone has superpowers. Everyone, except Jen (Máiréad Tyers). But it’s fine, Jen is totally okay with not having powers. Kind of.
Take a look at the first trailer for Extraordinary season 2.
The old cast from season two are joined by new additions Julian Barratt as George, Jen’s power coach at the Discovery Clinic; Rosa Robson as Nora, an unexpected person from Jizzlord’s past; Kwaku Mills as Clark, Carrie’s new work colleague; and Derek Jacobi, who will voice a special cameo role.
Emma Moran is acting as series creator and is also in charge of the scripts,...
Extraordinary is returning for another rib-ticklingly funny season next month. And we now have a trailer to prove it.
The series is set in a world where everyone has superpowers. Everyone, except Jen (Máiréad Tyers). But it’s fine, Jen is totally okay with not having powers. Kind of.
Take a look at the first trailer for Extraordinary season 2.
The old cast from season two are joined by new additions Julian Barratt as George, Jen’s power coach at the Discovery Clinic; Rosa Robson as Nora, an unexpected person from Jizzlord’s past; Kwaku Mills as Clark, Carrie’s new work colleague; and Derek Jacobi, who will voice a special cameo role.
Emma Moran is acting as series creator and is also in charge of the scripts,...
- 2/22/2024
- by Maria Lattila
- Film Stories
Disney+ has released new images for the highly anticipated second season of the award-winning comedy ‘Extraordinary.’
The images feature new cast members including Julian Barratt as George, Jen’s power coach at the Discovery Clinic; Rosa Robson as Nora, an unexpected person from Jizzlord’s past; and Kwaku Mills as Clark, Carrie’s new work colleague. Also joining the cast is Derek Jacobi, who will voice a special cameo role.
Season two picks up where season one spectacularly left off, following Jen (Máiréad Tyers) on her powers journey as she enrols as a client at the power clinic. Jen soon discovers that the process of finding her power isn’t as easy as she hoped, and things in the rest of her life aren’t smooth sailing either. Ex-cat, now-boyfriend Jizzlord (Luke Rollason) has had an unexpected revelation about his past, and Kash (Bilal Hasna) and Carrie (Sofia Oxenham) are...
The images feature new cast members including Julian Barratt as George, Jen’s power coach at the Discovery Clinic; Rosa Robson as Nora, an unexpected person from Jizzlord’s past; and Kwaku Mills as Clark, Carrie’s new work colleague. Also joining the cast is Derek Jacobi, who will voice a special cameo role.
Season two picks up where season one spectacularly left off, following Jen (Máiréad Tyers) on her powers journey as she enrols as a client at the power clinic. Jen soon discovers that the process of finding her power isn’t as easy as she hoped, and things in the rest of her life aren’t smooth sailing either. Ex-cat, now-boyfriend Jizzlord (Luke Rollason) has had an unexpected revelation about his past, and Kash (Bilal Hasna) and Carrie (Sofia Oxenham) are...
- 2/13/2024
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Hulu has officially announced its Spring 2024 slate of shows and movies landing on the streaming platform.
New installments of “Extraordinary” (Season 2) and “The Kardashians” (Season 5) will debut soon, and a fresh crop of highly anticipated titles are also set to premiere.
“The Act” star Joey King returns to Hulu with “We Were the Lucky Ones” based on the true story of a Jewish family separated at the start of WWII. Logan Lerman co-stars in the film based on Georgia Hunter’s New York Times bestselling book. A trailer was released ahead of the limited series’ March 28 premiere; “The Morning Show” writer Erica Lipez serves as showrunner, with “Fosse/Verdon” helmer Thomas Kail directing.
Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone continues her TV reign following “Reservation Dogs” with “Under the Bridge,” another adaptation of a true story. Based on author Rebecca Godfrey’s book, “Under the Bridge” captures the 1997 true story of 14-year-old Reena...
New installments of “Extraordinary” (Season 2) and “The Kardashians” (Season 5) will debut soon, and a fresh crop of highly anticipated titles are also set to premiere.
“The Act” star Joey King returns to Hulu with “We Were the Lucky Ones” based on the true story of a Jewish family separated at the start of WWII. Logan Lerman co-stars in the film based on Georgia Hunter’s New York Times bestselling book. A trailer was released ahead of the limited series’ March 28 premiere; “The Morning Show” writer Erica Lipez serves as showrunner, with “Fosse/Verdon” helmer Thomas Kail directing.
Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone continues her TV reign following “Reservation Dogs” with “Under the Bridge,” another adaptation of a true story. Based on author Rebecca Godfrey’s book, “Under the Bridge” captures the 1997 true story of 14-year-old Reena...
- 2/9/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Amazon MGM Studios has ordered a pilot based on the Charlie Bone children’s/YA fantasy novels.
The eight fantasy novels in the popular series were written by British author Jenny Nimmo and published between 2002-2010. The franchise also includes a prequel trilogy and two follow up books.
Filming is underway on location in the UK on the pilot, which stars Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale), Carmen Ejogo (The Penguin), Emma Sidi (Starstruck), Orlando Norman (Wreck), Beth Alsbury (Blindspot), Lewis Brophy (The Virtues), Brazilian singer and actress Giulia Be (Beyond The Universe), Olivia-Mai Barrett (Invasion), Fisayo Akinade (Hearstopper), and newcomer Cory McClane in the Charlie Bone role.
Currently untitled, the ensemble pilot heralds from UK-us production and management firm 42.
The adaptation follows Charlie Bone, a kid who has always been labeled a ‘problem’. He’s been expelled from every school in London. But he can’t help it – his...
The eight fantasy novels in the popular series were written by British author Jenny Nimmo and published between 2002-2010. The franchise also includes a prequel trilogy and two follow up books.
Filming is underway on location in the UK on the pilot, which stars Joseph Fiennes (The Handmaid’s Tale), Carmen Ejogo (The Penguin), Emma Sidi (Starstruck), Orlando Norman (Wreck), Beth Alsbury (Blindspot), Lewis Brophy (The Virtues), Brazilian singer and actress Giulia Be (Beyond The Universe), Olivia-Mai Barrett (Invasion), Fisayo Akinade (Hearstopper), and newcomer Cory McClane in the Charlie Bone role.
Currently untitled, the ensemble pilot heralds from UK-us production and management firm 42.
The adaptation follows Charlie Bone, a kid who has always been labeled a ‘problem’. He’s been expelled from every school in London. But he can’t help it – his...
- 11/21/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The 2023 London Screenings, which unfold Feb. 27 to March 3, take place in an increasingly crowded international TV calendar. The event kicks off just days after the Berlinale Series Market, overlaps with the BBC Studios Showcase and precedes Series Mania and MipTV.
The week-long showcase has established itself as a key place to acquire the best of British and international programming. All major global TV distributors, spanning 26 companies, have a plethora of content to offer across genres and formats, and a series of screenings, meetings and events have been lined up.
To help you cut through the slates, Variety has surveyed the goods from key international distributors. Here are our picks of 15 shows that will whet buyers’ appetites.
A Body That Works
(Keshet International)
“A Body That Works”
An intense triangle involving love, jealousy, desire and selflessness sees a childless couple enlist the help of a surrogate to conceive. At the heart...
The week-long showcase has established itself as a key place to acquire the best of British and international programming. All major global TV distributors, spanning 26 companies, have a plethora of content to offer across genres and formats, and a series of screenings, meetings and events have been lined up.
To help you cut through the slates, Variety has surveyed the goods from key international distributors. Here are our picks of 15 shows that will whet buyers’ appetites.
A Body That Works
(Keshet International)
“A Body That Works”
An intense triangle involving love, jealousy, desire and selflessness sees a childless couple enlist the help of a surrogate to conceive. At the heart...
- 2/24/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
“Poldark’s” Aidan Turner will star as a maverick coach guiding an up-and-coming tennis player (Ella Lily Hyland) to stardom in Amazon Prime Video’s new U.K. drama “Fifteen-Love.”
Created by Hania Elkington, “Fifteen-Love” explores the fictional story of Justine Pearce (Hyland), a young sports prodigy, who enjoyed a meteoric rise in the world of Grand Slam Tennis, aided by her coach Glenn Lapthorn (Turner), with whom she shared an intense rapport.
Together they reached the semi-final of the French Open but Justine’s dream was cut brutally short by a devastating injury and the end of her professional career. Five years on, now aged 22, Justine has a new life as a therapist at her old tennis academy Longwood, but when she makes an explosive allegation against her former coach, everyone is forced to reconsider what they thought they knew about Justine and Glenn’s past success.
Alongside Turner and Hyland,...
Created by Hania Elkington, “Fifteen-Love” explores the fictional story of Justine Pearce (Hyland), a young sports prodigy, who enjoyed a meteoric rise in the world of Grand Slam Tennis, aided by her coach Glenn Lapthorn (Turner), with whom she shared an intense rapport.
Together they reached the semi-final of the French Open but Justine’s dream was cut brutally short by a devastating injury and the end of her professional career. Five years on, now aged 22, Justine has a new life as a therapist at her old tennis academy Longwood, but when she makes an explosive allegation against her former coach, everyone is forced to reconsider what they thought they knew about Justine and Glenn’s past success.
Alongside Turner and Hyland,...
- 8/4/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Ragdoll Trailer — AMC+‘s Ragdoll (2021) TV show trailer has been released. The Ragdoll trailer stars Lucy Hale, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Ali Cook, Thalissa Teixeira, Perry Jaques, Douggie McMeekin, Phil Aizlewood, Rene Costa, Tim McDonnell, and Eric Raymond Lim. Crew Niall MacCormick and Toby MacDonald directed various episodes of Ragdoll. Phil Wood crafted the cinematography [...]
Continue reading: Ragdoll (2021) TV Show Trailer: Lucy Hale & Henry Lloyd-Hughes try to Hunt Down a Serial Killer [AMC+]...
Continue reading: Ragdoll (2021) TV Show Trailer: Lucy Hale & Henry Lloyd-Hughes try to Hunt Down a Serial Killer [AMC+]...
- 10/14/2021
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
“Ragdoll,” the new AMC-Alibi thriller starring Lucy Hale (“Pretty Little Liars”), has started production in London, Variety has learned.
Hale plays DC Lake Edmunds, a new recruit at the London Metropolitan Police, who is tasked with investigating a murderer known as the “Ragdoll Killer”. She is joined by Henry Lloyd-Hughes (“The Irregulars”) as DS Nathan Rose and Thalissa Teixeira (“Anne Boleyn”) as Di Emily Baxter.
As the case develops, the trio come under increasing public scrutiny, especially when the killer — whose modus operandi involves murdering and dismembering his victims before sewing them back together in the shape of one grotesque body — begins taunting Edmunds and her colleagues by sending them a list of his intended victims, which includes Rose.
Shooting started at the end of April and has continued through May in central London.
Based on Daniel Cole’s eponymous novel, the six-part show is scheduled to premiere...
Hale plays DC Lake Edmunds, a new recruit at the London Metropolitan Police, who is tasked with investigating a murderer known as the “Ragdoll Killer”. She is joined by Henry Lloyd-Hughes (“The Irregulars”) as DS Nathan Rose and Thalissa Teixeira (“Anne Boleyn”) as Di Emily Baxter.
As the case develops, the trio come under increasing public scrutiny, especially when the killer — whose modus operandi involves murdering and dismembering his victims before sewing them back together in the shape of one grotesque body — begins taunting Edmunds and her colleagues by sending them a list of his intended victims, which includes Rose.
Shooting started at the end of April and has continued through May in central London.
Based on Daniel Cole’s eponymous novel, the six-part show is scheduled to premiere...
- 5/28/2021
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has cancelled The Duchess TV series so, there won't be a second season for the British comedy-drama series. The first season of six episodes was directed by Toby MacDonald and released by the streaming service in September 2020.
Created, written, and executive produced by Katherine Ryan, The Duchess revolves around a fashionably disruptive single mom and ceramics artist named Katherine (Ryan) who lives in London and makes powerful and problematic choices for her life. Her daughter, Olive (Katy Byrne), is her greatest love so she debates a second child with her greatest enemy -- Olive's dad, Shep (Rory Keenan). Steen Raskopoulos, Michelle de Swarte, Sophie Fletcher, and Doon Mackichan also star in the series.
News of the show's cancellation comes from Ryan herself. While being interviewed by Vicky Pattison for her The Secret To... comedy podcast,...
Created, written, and executive produced by Katherine Ryan, The Duchess revolves around a fashionably disruptive single mom and ceramics artist named Katherine (Ryan) who lives in London and makes powerful and problematic choices for her life. Her daughter, Olive (Katy Byrne), is her greatest love so she debates a second child with her greatest enemy -- Olive's dad, Shep (Rory Keenan). Steen Raskopoulos, Michelle de Swarte, Sophie Fletcher, and Doon Mackichan also star in the series.
News of the show's cancellation comes from Ryan herself. While being interviewed by Vicky Pattison for her The Secret To... comedy podcast,...
- 5/1/2021
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
The Duchess, the comedy from British-based comedian Katherine Ryan, has been cancelled by Netflix after one season.
The six-part series launched in September 2020 but will not return. It is centered around the powerful and problematic choices of a fashionably disruptive single mom living in London. Her daughter, Olive, is her greatest love so she debates a second child with her greatest enemy — Olive’s dad.
Ryan revealed the news on Vicky Pattison’s The Secret To… podcast. “[Netflix] didn’t want to make any more, not enough people watched it. I think something like 10 million people watched it in 28 days and that wasn’t enough,” she said. “But also, I’m not terribly sad about it. I feel like it’s a whole lot of work, a whole lot of time to make a sitcom. I was so grateful to able to make it, but I think it speaks for itself.
The six-part series launched in September 2020 but will not return. It is centered around the powerful and problematic choices of a fashionably disruptive single mom living in London. Her daughter, Olive, is her greatest love so she debates a second child with her greatest enemy — Olive’s dad.
Ryan revealed the news on Vicky Pattison’s The Secret To… podcast. “[Netflix] didn’t want to make any more, not enough people watched it. I think something like 10 million people watched it in 28 days and that wasn’t enough,” she said. “But also, I’m not terribly sad about it. I feel like it’s a whole lot of work, a whole lot of time to make a sitcom. I was so grateful to able to make it, but I think it speaks for itself.
- 4/29/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
AMC and UK’s Alibi have rounded out the the three leads of crime drama series Ragdoll, with Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Thalissa Teixeira joining previously announced Lucy Hale. The series, which begins production today in London, hails from Sid Gentle Films, the British production company behind Killing Eve. Toby MacDonald and Niall MacCormick will direct.
Ragdoll reunites Lloyd-Hughes with AMC Networks and Sid Gentle Films after he played Aaron Peel in season two of Killing Eve. The hit spy thriller originated on AMC Networks’ BBC America and has been also airing on sister network AMC.
Adapted for television by Freddy Syborn from the novel by Daniel Cole, the six-part Ragdoll is described as a modern-day Faustian thriller. It centers on the murder of six people whose bodies have been dismembered and sewn into...
Ragdoll reunites Lloyd-Hughes with AMC Networks and Sid Gentle Films after he played Aaron Peel in season two of Killing Eve. The hit spy thriller originated on AMC Networks’ BBC America and has been also airing on sister network AMC.
Adapted for television by Freddy Syborn from the novel by Daniel Cole, the six-part Ragdoll is described as a modern-day Faustian thriller. It centers on the murder of six people whose bodies have been dismembered and sewn into...
- 4/19/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Henry Lloyd-Hughes and Thalissa Teixeira will star alongside Lucy Hale in the AMC-Alibi series “Ragdoll,” Variety has learned.
The six-episode show, which was ordered to series back in February, is set to begin production on April 19 in London. The series is based on the novel of the same name by Daniel Cole. Variety exclusively reported Hale’s casting in March.
Assigned to a shocking new case, nicknamed The Ragdoll, are DS Rose (Lloyd-Hughes), Di Baxter (Teixeira) and DC Edmunds (Hale). The “Ragdoll Killer” taunts the police by sending them a list of his next victims, with Rose’s name at the very end. And with those victims to protect, our heroes soon come under intense public scrutiny.
“We’re thrilled to have Lucy, Thalissa and Henry on board as three ideal leads to bring Ragdoll to life,” said Dan McDermott, president of original programming for AMC Networks and co-head of AMC Studios.
The six-episode show, which was ordered to series back in February, is set to begin production on April 19 in London. The series is based on the novel of the same name by Daniel Cole. Variety exclusively reported Hale’s casting in March.
Assigned to a shocking new case, nicknamed The Ragdoll, are DS Rose (Lloyd-Hughes), Di Baxter (Teixeira) and DC Edmunds (Hale). The “Ragdoll Killer” taunts the police by sending them a list of his next victims, with Rose’s name at the very end. And with those victims to protect, our heroes soon come under intense public scrutiny.
“We’re thrilled to have Lucy, Thalissa and Henry on board as three ideal leads to bring Ragdoll to life,” said Dan McDermott, president of original programming for AMC Networks and co-head of AMC Studios.
- 4/19/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Liam Neeson revenge thriller Cold Pursuit opens behind half-term holdovers.
RankFilm (Distributor)Three-day gross (Feb 15-17) Total gross to date Week 1 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (Warner Bros) £2.4m £14m 3 2 Instant Family (Paramount) £1.67m £6.4m 2 3 How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (Universal) £1.66m £15.9m 4 4 Alita: Battle Angel (20th Century Fox) £870,704 £7.7m 3 5 The Kid Who Would Be King (20th Century Fox) £651,610 £2.6m 2 Warner Bros
The Lego Movie 2 - The Second Part easily held the top spot at the UK box office this three-day weekend (February 22-24), leading a field of family-friendly half-term titles.
A Star Is Born...
RankFilm (Distributor)Three-day gross (Feb 15-17) Total gross to date Week 1 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (Warner Bros) £2.4m £14m 3 2 Instant Family (Paramount) £1.67m £6.4m 2 3 How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (Universal) £1.66m £15.9m 4 4 Alita: Battle Angel (20th Century Fox) £870,704 £7.7m 3 5 The Kid Who Would Be King (20th Century Fox) £651,610 £2.6m 2 Warner Bros
The Lego Movie 2 - The Second Part easily held the top spot at the UK box office this three-day weekend (February 22-24), leading a field of family-friendly half-term titles.
A Star Is Born...
- 2/25/2019
- by Louise Tutt
- ScreenDaily
Liam Neeson revenge thriller Cold Pursuit opens behind half-term holdovers.
RankFilm (Distributor)Three-day gross (Feb 15-17) Total gross to date Week 1 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (Warner Bros) £2.4m £14m 3 2 Instant Family (Paramount) £1.67m £6.4m 2 3 How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (Universal) £1.66m £15.9m 4 4 Alita: Battle Angel (20th Century Fox) £870,704 £7.7m 3 5 The Kid Who Would Be King (20th Century Fox) £651,610 £2.6m 2 Warner Bros
The Lego Movie 2 - The Second Part easily held the top spot at the UK box office this three-day weekend (February 22-24), leading a field of family-friendly half-term titles.
A Star Is Born...
RankFilm (Distributor)Three-day gross (Feb 15-17) Total gross to date Week 1 The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (Warner Bros) £2.4m £14m 3 2 Instant Family (Paramount) £1.67m £6.4m 2 3 How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (Universal) £1.66m £15.9m 4 4 Alita: Battle Angel (20th Century Fox) £870,704 £7.7m 3 5 The Kid Who Would Be King (20th Century Fox) £651,610 £2.6m 2 Warner Bros
The Lego Movie 2 - The Second Part easily held the top spot at the UK box office this three-day weekend (February 22-24), leading a field of family-friendly half-term titles.
A Star Is Born...
- 2/25/2019
- by Louise Tutt
- ScreenDaily
The Bafta-nominated director on his boarding school take on Cyrano de Bergerac, its 1980s period setting, and leading man Alex Lawther
Having learned about film-making by starting as a runner at 17 and working his way up through the industry, Toby MacDonald cut his teeth with two Bafta-nominated short films, Je t’aime John Wayne (2001) and Heavy Metal Drummer (2005), and directed television and commercials. Now the west Londoner makes his feature debut with Old Boys, loosely based on the story of Cyrano de Bergerac. The film stars Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World) as Amberson, a student at a satirised version of an English boarding school. He must act as an intermediary between the daughter of the new French master and the handsome dunce who she erroneously believes is a poet.
You’ve travelled around the world with a film that has an archetypal British backdrop – a boys’ boarding school.
Having learned about film-making by starting as a runner at 17 and working his way up through the industry, Toby MacDonald cut his teeth with two Bafta-nominated short films, Je t’aime John Wayne (2001) and Heavy Metal Drummer (2005), and directed television and commercials. Now the west Londoner makes his feature debut with Old Boys, loosely based on the story of Cyrano de Bergerac. The film stars Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World) as Amberson, a student at a satirised version of an English boarding school. He must act as an intermediary between the daughter of the new French master and the handsome dunce who she erroneously believes is a poet.
You’ve travelled around the world with a film that has an archetypal British backdrop – a boys’ boarding school.
- 2/23/2019
- by Wendy Ide
- The Guardian - Film News
Though when invited onto the set of Toby MacDonald’s boarding school set romantic comedy Old Boys, we had anticipated a Hogwarts like journey into the depths of the English countryside, instead we had to suspend our disbelief somewhat, as we head right into the centre of London, at the old Central St. Martin’s art college, a now unused, rather derelict building that is perfect for shooting movies.
The film’s affable, affectionate tone was more than evident during our afternoon there, as there was a positive spirit in the air, and a bunch of easy going young actors all seemingly enjoying themselves. We had the pleasure on set to grab a very quick chat with the film’s leading star Alex Lawther, who plays Amberson; a downtrodden, nerdy kid who has a creative spark within him. In what is a loose adaptation of the famous French tale Cyrano de Bergerac,...
The film’s affable, affectionate tone was more than evident during our afternoon there, as there was a positive spirit in the air, and a bunch of easy going young actors all seemingly enjoying themselves. We had the pleasure on set to grab a very quick chat with the film’s leading star Alex Lawther, who plays Amberson; a downtrodden, nerdy kid who has a creative spark within him. In what is a loose adaptation of the famous French tale Cyrano de Bergerac,...
- 2/22/2019
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
In Toby MacDonald’s debut feature Old Boys, Alex Lawther stars as an awkward pupil at an all-boys boarding school who helps the handsome but dim school-hero pursue the teenage daughter of their French teacher in this charming new re-imagining of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac.
Earlier this week, HeyUGuys were lucky enough to speak to both Lawther and MacDonald during what seemed like a gruelling day of interviews and Q&As about their experiences of working on such an unusual project, and the challenges they met along the way.
For those still unfamiliar with Lawther’s name or body of work, it’s safe to say that if you’ve watched any TV or have been to the cinema regularly in the last couple of years, there is a strong chance that you might have come across the shy and softly spoken actor one way or another. At...
Earlier this week, HeyUGuys were lucky enough to speak to both Lawther and MacDonald during what seemed like a gruelling day of interviews and Q&As about their experiences of working on such an unusual project, and the challenges they met along the way.
For those still unfamiliar with Lawther’s name or body of work, it’s safe to say that if you’ve watched any TV or have been to the cinema regularly in the last couple of years, there is a strong chance that you might have come across the shy and softly spoken actor one way or another. At...
- 2/22/2019
- by Linda Marric
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Several family-friendly holdover titles looking for strong holds.
Studiocanal’s revenge thriller Cold Pursuit will aim to weather the storm of recent controversy around star Liam Neeson to challenge a selection of family titles at the UK box office this weekend.
In the film, Neeson plays a snowplough driver who seeks revenge against the drug dealers he believes killed his son. Hans Petter Moland directs, with the film based on his 2014 Norwegian title In Order Of Disappearance.
Neeson has fronted a string of box office hits in recent years, led by the Taken series. The first title started with £1.2m in September 2008, finishing on £6.4m.
Studiocanal’s revenge thriller Cold Pursuit will aim to weather the storm of recent controversy around star Liam Neeson to challenge a selection of family titles at the UK box office this weekend.
In the film, Neeson plays a snowplough driver who seeks revenge against the drug dealers he believes killed his son. Hans Petter Moland directs, with the film based on his 2014 Norwegian title In Order Of Disappearance.
Neeson has fronted a string of box office hits in recent years, led by the Taken series. The first title started with £1.2m in September 2008, finishing on £6.4m.
- 2/22/2019
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Under-the-radar film has been shooting in France.
Alex Lawther, the breakout star of hit Netflix/Channel 4 series The End Of The F***Ing World, has joined the cast of Wes Anderson’s next film The French Dispatch.
Currently shooting in France, the under-the-radar production has a typically star-studded cast for an Anderson film. The roster features the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Benicio Del Toro and Kate Winslet, as well as Anderson regulars Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray and Bob Balaban.
Screen understands that Lawther is playing a supporting role.
Plot details are under wraps, but the...
Alex Lawther, the breakout star of hit Netflix/Channel 4 series The End Of The F***Ing World, has joined the cast of Wes Anderson’s next film The French Dispatch.
Currently shooting in France, the under-the-radar production has a typically star-studded cast for an Anderson film. The roster features the likes of Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Benicio Del Toro and Kate Winslet, as well as Anderson regulars Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray and Bob Balaban.
Screen understands that Lawther is playing a supporting role.
Plot details are under wraps, but the...
- 1/31/2019
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
We’ve been on many a fantastic trip here at HeyUGuys, and needless to say, heading over to China to attend the International Film Festival of Macau, was right up there with the best of them. As we landed in Hong Kong, before taking the ferry over to the Island populated by Casinos (it didn’t get the nickname ‘the Las Vegas of Asia’ for nothing) we had an inkling this would be a special week.
Of course we were there to work, so when we weren’t stuffing our faces with the local delicacy of egg tarts, or the ‘pork chop in a bun’ which is, unsurprisingly, just a pork chop in a bun, we were found in the Cultural Centre, indulging in some of the very best cinema from around the world, several of which are films you’ll expect to hear a lot more of come award’s season.
Of course we were there to work, so when we weren’t stuffing our faces with the local delicacy of egg tarts, or the ‘pork chop in a bun’ which is, unsurprisingly, just a pork chop in a bun, we were found in the Cultural Centre, indulging in some of the very best cinema from around the world, several of which are films you’ll expect to hear a lot more of come award’s season.
- 12/18/2018
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Vasan Bala’s “The Man Who Feels No Pain,” and Qiu Sheng’s “Suburban Birds” are among 11 films set for competition at the third edition of the International Film Festival & Awards Macao. Peter Farrelly’s “Green Book” will open the festival in an out of competition slot.
Other films in competition include: “Aga” by Milko Lazarov (Bulgaria); “All Good,” by Eva Trobisch (Germany); “Clean Up,” by Kwon Man-ki (South Korea); “Jesus,” by Hiroshi Okuyama (Japan); “Scarborough,” by Barnaby Southcombe (U.K.) “School’s Out” by Sebastien Marnier (France); “The Good Girls,” by Alejandra Marquez (Mexico); “The Guilty,” by Gustav Moller (Denmark); and “White Blood” by Barbara Sarasola – Day (Argentina). The competition is only open to first or second time feature directors.
The lineup was announced Thursday in Macau by artistic director Mike Goodridge. The jury which will select the prize-winners includes Chen Kaige as president, alongside Mabel Cheung (Hong Kong...
Other films in competition include: “Aga” by Milko Lazarov (Bulgaria); “All Good,” by Eva Trobisch (Germany); “Clean Up,” by Kwon Man-ki (South Korea); “Jesus,” by Hiroshi Okuyama (Japan); “Scarborough,” by Barnaby Southcombe (U.K.) “School’s Out” by Sebastien Marnier (France); “The Good Girls,” by Alejandra Marquez (Mexico); “The Guilty,” by Gustav Moller (Denmark); and “White Blood” by Barbara Sarasola – Day (Argentina). The competition is only open to first or second time feature directors.
The lineup was announced Thursday in Macau by artistic director Mike Goodridge. The jury which will select the prize-winners includes Chen Kaige as president, alongside Mabel Cheung (Hong Kong...
- 11/8/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Film won four prizes including the Golden Hitchcock Jury Grand Prize.
James Gardner’s Jellyfish scooped the top prizes at last night’s awards ceremony for the 29th edition of the Dinard Film Festival in France.
The film took the Golden Hitchcock: Jury Grand Prize, the Hitchcock for Best Screenplay, and a special ad hoc performance Hitchcock award for young star Liv Hill, all presented by jury president Monica Bellucci. It also won the inaugural Critics Hitchcock, awarded for the first time in 2019.
Writer-director Gardner’s debut feature Jellyfish follows a young carer who discovers an unlikely talent for stand-up comedy.
James Gardner’s Jellyfish scooped the top prizes at last night’s awards ceremony for the 29th edition of the Dinard Film Festival in France.
The film took the Golden Hitchcock: Jury Grand Prize, the Hitchcock for Best Screenplay, and a special ad hoc performance Hitchcock award for young star Liv Hill, all presented by jury president Monica Bellucci. It also won the inaugural Critics Hitchcock, awarded for the first time in 2019.
Writer-director Gardner’s debut feature Jellyfish follows a young carer who discovers an unlikely talent for stand-up comedy.
- 9/30/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Company will released Old Boys and Pond Life as first two titles in new initiative.
UK distributor Verve Pictures is launching a non-profit first feature distribution support scheme that will back six debuts over the next 12 months.
The company has received a £135,000 award from the BFI Audience Fund to back the project, which has selected the first two features that will benefit – Bill Buckhurst’s Pond Life, which Verve has taken UK rights to, and Toby MacDonald’s Old Boys, which the company is now working on a deal for. Four more films will be selected over the course of the next year.
UK distributor Verve Pictures is launching a non-profit first feature distribution support scheme that will back six debuts over the next 12 months.
The company has received a £135,000 award from the BFI Audience Fund to back the project, which has selected the first two features that will benefit – Bill Buckhurst’s Pond Life, which Verve has taken UK rights to, and Toby MacDonald’s Old Boys, which the company is now working on a deal for. Four more films will be selected over the course of the next year.
- 9/19/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
We’ve seen so many screen variations on the “Cyrano de Bergerac” story over the years that “Old Boys” can’t even claim to be the first to spin it as a high school comedy. But Toby MacDonald’s sweet, puppyish debut feature finds at least one twist to the tale that renders it both appealing and, in its own dippy way, lightly plausible: The young nerd creating romantic missives on behalf of the handsome dunce, in pursuit of a winsome French girl more mature than both boys combined, has scarcely more understanding than the other guy of life, love and what women want.
Set in an ultra-posh English boys’ boarding school, where masculinity is at once fragile and boorishly vocal, MacDonald’s film blends heightened, era-fudging nostalgia with a blacker strain of farce and class satire. If the combination doesn’t always fly, the film’s scrappy visual ingenuity...
Set in an ultra-posh English boys’ boarding school, where masculinity is at once fragile and boorishly vocal, MacDonald’s film blends heightened, era-fudging nostalgia with a blacker strain of farce and class satire. If the combination doesn’t always fly, the film’s scrappy visual ingenuity...
- 6/26/2018
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
"Love is a lesson learnt the hard way." Film4 in the UK has debuted an official trailer for an indie coming-of-age comedy titled Old Boys, from newcomer director Toby MacDonald. The film is another new updated adaptation of the classic play Cyrano de Bergerac, about a guy who tries to setup his friend with a girl. This film is set at a British boarding school and is about an awkward kid who helps setup the "school-hero" with the daughter of a visiting French teacher. Old Boys stars the talented Alex Lawther as well as Pauline Etienne, Jonah Hauer-King, Joshua McGuire, Denis Menochet, and Nicholas Rowe. This looks amusing and cute, perhaps worth a watch sometime. Here's the first official UK trailer for Toby MacDonald's Old Boys, direct from YouTube (via Tmb): In this school-set re-working of Edmond Rostand's play Cyrano de Bergerac, an awkward but imaginative pupil helps...
- 5/30/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Here’s the first trailer for Edinburgh Film Festival-bound Brit comedy Old Boys, starring Black Mirror and The Imitation Game actor Alex Lawther.
WestEnd Films handles world sales on the Film4- and BFI-backed movie from first timer Toby MacDonald. Also starring are Pauline Etienne (Eden), Denis Ménochet (Inglourious Basterds), Jonah Hauer-King (Howards End) and Joshua McGuire (About Time).
In the school-set reworking of Cyrano de Bergerac, an awkward but imaginative pupil (Lawther) helps the handsome but spectacularly dim school-hero (Hauer-King) pursue the fiery daughter (Etienne) of a visiting French teacher (Ménochet).
The film is produced by Luke Morris (All Tomorrow’s Parties) and co-produced by Erik Hemmendorff (The Square) at Plattform Produktion. Film4 and the BFI co-developed and co-financed the film while Creative England and Film Väst also contributed finance. Script comes from Luke Ponte and Freddy Syborn (Bad Education).
The film will get its world premiere...
WestEnd Films handles world sales on the Film4- and BFI-backed movie from first timer Toby MacDonald. Also starring are Pauline Etienne (Eden), Denis Ménochet (Inglourious Basterds), Jonah Hauer-King (Howards End) and Joshua McGuire (About Time).
In the school-set reworking of Cyrano de Bergerac, an awkward but imaginative pupil (Lawther) helps the handsome but spectacularly dim school-hero (Hauer-King) pursue the fiery daughter (Etienne) of a visiting French teacher (Ménochet).
The film is produced by Luke Morris (All Tomorrow’s Parties) and co-produced by Erik Hemmendorff (The Square) at Plattform Produktion. Film4 and the BFI co-developed and co-financed the film while Creative England and Film Väst also contributed finance. Script comes from Luke Ponte and Freddy Syborn (Bad Education).
The film will get its world premiere...
- 5/23/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Films starring Andrew Scott, Alex Lawther and Samantha Morton in line-up.
The full line-up for the 2018 Edinburgh Film Festival (20 June to 1 July) has been announced by artistic director Mark Adams.
This year’s programme features 21 world premieres, including Stephen Moyer’s directorial debut, The Parting Glass, starring Melissa Leo, Cynthia Nixon, Denis O’Hare, Anna Paquin (who also produces), Rhys Ifans and Ed Asner. Moyer and Paquin will also take part in an ‘In Person’ event.
Other world premieres include Simon Fellows’ thriller Steel Country starring Andrew Scott; comedy Old Boys starring Alex Lawther and directed by Toby MacDonald; coming-of-age...
The full line-up for the 2018 Edinburgh Film Festival (20 June to 1 July) has been announced by artistic director Mark Adams.
This year’s programme features 21 world premieres, including Stephen Moyer’s directorial debut, The Parting Glass, starring Melissa Leo, Cynthia Nixon, Denis O’Hare, Anna Paquin (who also produces), Rhys Ifans and Ed Asner. Moyer and Paquin will also take part in an ‘In Person’ event.
Other world premieres include Simon Fellows’ thriller Steel Country starring Andrew Scott; comedy Old Boys starring Alex Lawther and directed by Toby MacDonald; coming-of-age...
- 5/23/2018
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
David Dencik (Top of The Lake: China Girl), Jonas Karlsson (The Snowman) and Alba August (Becoming Astrid) will star in Quick.
David Dencik (Top of The Lake: China Girl), Jonas Karlsson (The Snowman) and Alba August (Becoming Astrid) will star in Quick for director Mikael Håfström (Evil), which TrustNordisk is selling.
Quick is among the new projects backed by Film i Väst, Scandinavia’s leading film fund, which is based in Trollhättan in West Sweden.
Quick, produced by Helena Danielsson for Brain Academy, is described as a “character-driven journalistic thriller and psychological drama.” Director Håfström told Screen, “Thomas Quick was Sweden’s worst serial killer,...
David Dencik (Top of The Lake: China Girl), Jonas Karlsson (The Snowman) and Alba August (Becoming Astrid) will star in Quick for director Mikael Håfström (Evil), which TrustNordisk is selling.
Quick is among the new projects backed by Film i Väst, Scandinavia’s leading film fund, which is based in Trollhättan in West Sweden.
Quick, produced by Helena Danielsson for Brain Academy, is described as a “character-driven journalistic thriller and psychological drama.” Director Håfström told Screen, “Thomas Quick was Sweden’s worst serial killer,...
- 5/12/2018
- ScreenDaily
Dcm’s credits include A Ciambra and Mediterranea.
Film4’s development and production executive Philippa Tsang has joined German production-finance-distribution company Dcm as its UK-based head of production and development.
Tsang will work on building a slate of English-language projects with UK and international talent.
Dcm’s recent credits as a producer include Jonas Carpignano’s A Ciambra and Mediterranea as well as Dustin Hoffman’s Quartet as a co-producer. At Film4, Tsang worked on titles including Michael Pearce’s Beast, Toby MacDonald’s Old Boys and Stephen Merchant’s Fighting With My Family.
Tsang joins Dcm from Monday, May...
Film4’s development and production executive Philippa Tsang has joined German production-finance-distribution company Dcm as its UK-based head of production and development.
Tsang will work on building a slate of English-language projects with UK and international talent.
Dcm’s recent credits as a producer include Jonas Carpignano’s A Ciambra and Mediterranea as well as Dustin Hoffman’s Quartet as a co-producer. At Film4, Tsang worked on titles including Michael Pearce’s Beast, Toby MacDonald’s Old Boys and Stephen Merchant’s Fighting With My Family.
Tsang joins Dcm from Monday, May...
- 5/2/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Four films, including the latest projects from Amma Asante, Mike Leigh and Lynne Ramsay, were granted more than £1m in production funding in 2016.
Four films received more than £1m in production funding through the BFI Film Fund this year, with Mike Leigh’s anticipated Peterloo drama leading the way with an award of £1.46m.
The BFI backed around 30 projects with production funding up until December 15. Since launching the BFI Film Fund six years ago, the organisation’s biggest single production grant remains the £2m awarded to Aardman and Studiocanal’s animation Early Man in 2015.
The ten biggest awards of 2016:
1. Peterloo (£1,461,000)
Mike Leigh’s Peterloo massacre drama is set to depict the protest of more than 60,000 people for parliamentary reform in 1819 and the death of 15 protesters who were charged down by British cavalry troops. Dick Pope, the director’s frequent collaborator, will be the cinematographer for the film, while Georgina Lowe will be executive producer after performing...
Four films received more than £1m in production funding through the BFI Film Fund this year, with Mike Leigh’s anticipated Peterloo drama leading the way with an award of £1.46m.
The BFI backed around 30 projects with production funding up until December 15. Since launching the BFI Film Fund six years ago, the organisation’s biggest single production grant remains the £2m awarded to Aardman and Studiocanal’s animation Early Man in 2015.
The ten biggest awards of 2016:
1. Peterloo (£1,461,000)
Mike Leigh’s Peterloo massacre drama is set to depict the protest of more than 60,000 people for parliamentary reform in 1819 and the death of 15 protesters who were charged down by British cavalry troops. Dick Pope, the director’s frequent collaborator, will be the cinematographer for the film, while Georgina Lowe will be executive producer after performing...
- 12/28/2016
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Alex Lawther, Pauline Étienne, Jonah Hauer-King lead cast on UK comedy; first image revealed.
WestEnd Films has boarded world sales ahead of Cannes on Film4 and BFI-backed UK comedy Old Boys (working title), which features rising stars including The Imitation Game actor Alex Lawther and The Nun lead Pauline Étienne, who makes her English-language debut.
Production wraps this weekend on Toby MacDonald’s under-the-radar coming-of-age feature debut, which has been filming in locations across Sussex, UK.
Also starring are Jonah Hauer-King, currently filming opposite Bel Powley in Ashes In The Snow, Denis Ménochet (Inglourious Basterds) and Joshua McGuire (Mr. Turner).
Inspired by Edmond Rostand’s classic Cyrano de Bergerac story, the film is written by The Bad Education Movie co-writer Freddy Syborn and is produced by first-timer Luke Morris.
In the school-set re-working of Cyrano, an awkward but imaginative pupil (Lawther) helps the handsome but spectacularly dim school-hero (Hauer-King) pursue the fiery daughter (Étienne) of a visiting...
WestEnd Films has boarded world sales ahead of Cannes on Film4 and BFI-backed UK comedy Old Boys (working title), which features rising stars including The Imitation Game actor Alex Lawther and The Nun lead Pauline Étienne, who makes her English-language debut.
Production wraps this weekend on Toby MacDonald’s under-the-radar coming-of-age feature debut, which has been filming in locations across Sussex, UK.
Also starring are Jonah Hauer-King, currently filming opposite Bel Powley in Ashes In The Snow, Denis Ménochet (Inglourious Basterds) and Joshua McGuire (Mr. Turner).
Inspired by Edmond Rostand’s classic Cyrano de Bergerac story, the film is written by The Bad Education Movie co-writer Freddy Syborn and is produced by first-timer Luke Morris.
In the school-set re-working of Cyrano, an awkward but imaginative pupil (Lawther) helps the handsome but spectacularly dim school-hero (Hauer-King) pursue the fiery daughter (Étienne) of a visiting...
- 5/5/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Alex Lawther, Pauline Étienne, Jonah Hauer-King lead cast on UK comedy; first image revealed.
WestEnd Films has boarded world sales ahead of Cannes on Film4 and BFI-backed UK comedy Old Boys (working title), which features rising stars including The Imitation Game actor Alex Lawther and The Nun lead Pauline Étienne, who makes her English-language debut.
Production wraps this weekend on Toby MacDonald’s under-the-radar coming-of-age feature debut, which has been filming in locations across Sussex, UK.
Also starring are Jonah Hauer-King, currently filming opposite Bel Powley in Ashes In The Snow, Denis Ménochet (Inglourious Basterds) and Joshua McGuire (Mr. Turner).
Inspired by Edmond Rostand’s classic Cyrano de Bergerac story, the film is written by The Bad Education Movie co-writer Freddy Syborn and is produced by first-timer Luke Morris.
In the school-set re-working of Cyrano, an awkward but imaginative pupil (Lawther) helps the handsome but spectacularly dim school-hero (Hauer-King) pursue the fiery daughter (Étienne) of a visiting...
WestEnd Films has boarded world sales ahead of Cannes on Film4 and BFI-backed UK comedy Old Boys (working title), which features rising stars including The Imitation Game actor Alex Lawther and The Nun lead Pauline Étienne, who makes her English-language debut.
Production wraps this weekend on Toby MacDonald’s under-the-radar coming-of-age feature debut, which has been filming in locations across Sussex, UK.
Also starring are Jonah Hauer-King, currently filming opposite Bel Powley in Ashes In The Snow, Denis Ménochet (Inglourious Basterds) and Joshua McGuire (Mr. Turner).
Inspired by Edmond Rostand’s classic Cyrano de Bergerac story, the film is written by The Bad Education Movie co-writer Freddy Syborn and is produced by first-timer Luke Morris.
In the school-set re-working of Cyrano, an awkward but imaginative pupil (Lawther) helps the handsome but spectacularly dim school-hero (Hauer-King) pursue the fiery daughter (Étienne) of a visiting...
- 5/5/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Channel 4 Chief Executive David Abraham has announced that Daniel Battsek will join the corporation as Director of Film4, following the news that David Kosse is to step down to join Stx Entertainment.
Battsek will join Film4 in July, relocating to the UK from New York after fulfilling his contract as President of Cohen Media Group - where he has overseen the acquisition and release of projects including back-to-back Oscar® nominees "Timbuktu" and "Mustang," as well as a development and production slate of films that includes John Williams’ renowned novel Stoner, a co-production with Film4. Prior to this role Daniel was President of National Geographic Films, and before that President, Filmed Entertainment at Miramax Films.
David Kosse will continue working for Film4 during the transition period on a consultancy basis until October.
Battsek will inherit the increased spend announced by David Abraham and David Kosse in February 2016 of £25 million for the year, with the ambition of maintaining similar increased levels of Film4 funding in future years.
Under Battsek’s leadership, Film4 will continue to seek out new partnerships like those announced with Fox Searchlight and Fp Films in February, which allow the company to take a greater stake in certain projects, with a view to seeing more of the returns flowing back to Film4 for investment in the company’s future slate.
Battsek also inherits a development slate which includes new work from Lenny Abrahamson, Yorgos Lanthimos, Andrew Haigh, Steve McQueen, Martin McDonagh, Clio Barnard, Bart Layton, Garth Davis and Mike Leigh. as well as completed or near completed films from Andrea Arnold, Ben Wheatley, Ang Lee, Paddy Considine, Susanna White, John Cameron Mitchell, acclaimed theatre director Benedict Andrews, newcomer Toby Macdonald and Danny Boyle.
Channel 4 Chief Executive David Abraham commented: “Daniel Battsek’s passion for independent, filmmaker driven cinema, and experience in film production, development and distribution at the highest level in both the Us and UK markets, are second to none. He’s a perfect fit for the Film4 brand. We’re thrilled to bring this talented British executive back to the UK.
“As demonstrated by our record breaking year at both the Oscars and the BAFTAs, Daniel will inherit a Film4 business in fine creative and commercial health from David Kosse. We’re sad he couldn’t have been with us longer but he’s had an incredible impact in the time he has led the division. Both the exciting upcoming slate and the increased funding for original film we announced earlier this year are testament to the successful strategy implemented by David. I’m delighted that he will be working alongside Daniel on a smooth transition over the summer and ensuring that it is business as usual for Film4 over this period.”
Daniel Battsek added: "I am hugely honored to have been offered this opportunity. My career began with so many of Film4's early productions and I have retained strong ties with British filmmakers throughout my time in the Us. Joining Film4 feels almost like coming full circle. I look forward to returning to the UK and putting the experience I've gained on both sides of the Atlantic to good use."
David Kosse said: "Film4 is a unique organization and a very special brand and it was a difficult decision to leave, but joining Stx at this stage is an opportunity that I couldn't pass up. Over almost two years, I'm incredibly proud to have put in place a new strategy for Film4 which has boosted funding for the film industry to a record level and to have introduced an exciting new slate of high quality productions and developments with a diverse group of filmmakers. David Abraham and the Channel 4 leadership team have been fantastic partners since day one and I look forward to continuing to work with them over the coming months."
Having worked at the cutting edge of the independent sector on three continents, Battsek brings 30 years’ production, development and distribution experience to Film4. For the last three years Battsek has served as President of New York based Cohen Media Group, where he has overseen the acquisition and release of arthouse/crossover releases including back-to-back Oscar® nominees "Timbuktu" and "Mustang," as well as a development and production slate of films that includes John Williams’ renowned novel Stoner, a co-production with Film4. Prior to that he spent 2½ years at National Geographic Films, where as President he acquired projects for development and production including the Oscar® nominated documentary Restrepo, as well as National Geographic branded large screen and Imax 3D projects.
Battsek relocated from the UK to New York in 2005, where he served for five years as President, Filmed Entertainment at Miramax Films. Projects he greenlit and/or acquired there included Oscar® winners "The Queen," "No Country For Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" and Oscar® nominees "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" and "Happy-Go-Lucky". From 1991 to 2005, Battsek held the position of Evp and Managing Director, UK Distribution and European Production & Acquisitions at Buena Vista International, UK, where he oversaw all aspects of UK distribution for 18-25 releases per annum from Walt Disney Studios and their partners including Pixar and Miramax Films. At Bvi, Battsek also set up a Comedy Production Label in 2001 which financed and produced three films, including "Calendar Girls" and "Kinky Boots." Prior to that, Battsek spent six years as Managing Director of Palace Pictures, where he was responsible for the acquisition and distribution of quality independent titles from around the world for release in the UK, and he also spent three years as a Sales & Marketing Executive for Hoyts Entertainment in Australia, where he first cut his teeth in distribution.
Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division, which develops and co-finances films and has an established track record for working with the most distinctive and innovative talent in UK and international filmmaking. Film4 has developed and/or co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years - Academy Award-winners such as Steve McQueen’s "12 Years a Slave," Danny Boyle’s "Slumdog Millionaire," Lenny Abrahamson’s "Room," Alex Garland’s "Ex Machina," Asif Kapadia’s Amy, Andrew Haigh’s "45 Years" and Phyllida Lloyd’s "The Iron Lady," in addition to critically-acclaimed award-winners such as Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, Chris Morris’ "Four Lions," Shane Meadows’ "This is England," Martin McDonagh’s "Seven Psychopaths," Yann Demange’s "71," Ben Wheatley’s "High-Rise," Clio Barnard’s "The Selfish Giant," Jonathan Glazer’s "Under the Skin" and David Mackenzie’s "Starred Up."...
Battsek will join Film4 in July, relocating to the UK from New York after fulfilling his contract as President of Cohen Media Group - where he has overseen the acquisition and release of projects including back-to-back Oscar® nominees "Timbuktu" and "Mustang," as well as a development and production slate of films that includes John Williams’ renowned novel Stoner, a co-production with Film4. Prior to this role Daniel was President of National Geographic Films, and before that President, Filmed Entertainment at Miramax Films.
David Kosse will continue working for Film4 during the transition period on a consultancy basis until October.
Battsek will inherit the increased spend announced by David Abraham and David Kosse in February 2016 of £25 million for the year, with the ambition of maintaining similar increased levels of Film4 funding in future years.
Under Battsek’s leadership, Film4 will continue to seek out new partnerships like those announced with Fox Searchlight and Fp Films in February, which allow the company to take a greater stake in certain projects, with a view to seeing more of the returns flowing back to Film4 for investment in the company’s future slate.
Battsek also inherits a development slate which includes new work from Lenny Abrahamson, Yorgos Lanthimos, Andrew Haigh, Steve McQueen, Martin McDonagh, Clio Barnard, Bart Layton, Garth Davis and Mike Leigh. as well as completed or near completed films from Andrea Arnold, Ben Wheatley, Ang Lee, Paddy Considine, Susanna White, John Cameron Mitchell, acclaimed theatre director Benedict Andrews, newcomer Toby Macdonald and Danny Boyle.
Channel 4 Chief Executive David Abraham commented: “Daniel Battsek’s passion for independent, filmmaker driven cinema, and experience in film production, development and distribution at the highest level in both the Us and UK markets, are second to none. He’s a perfect fit for the Film4 brand. We’re thrilled to bring this talented British executive back to the UK.
“As demonstrated by our record breaking year at both the Oscars and the BAFTAs, Daniel will inherit a Film4 business in fine creative and commercial health from David Kosse. We’re sad he couldn’t have been with us longer but he’s had an incredible impact in the time he has led the division. Both the exciting upcoming slate and the increased funding for original film we announced earlier this year are testament to the successful strategy implemented by David. I’m delighted that he will be working alongside Daniel on a smooth transition over the summer and ensuring that it is business as usual for Film4 over this period.”
Daniel Battsek added: "I am hugely honored to have been offered this opportunity. My career began with so many of Film4's early productions and I have retained strong ties with British filmmakers throughout my time in the Us. Joining Film4 feels almost like coming full circle. I look forward to returning to the UK and putting the experience I've gained on both sides of the Atlantic to good use."
David Kosse said: "Film4 is a unique organization and a very special brand and it was a difficult decision to leave, but joining Stx at this stage is an opportunity that I couldn't pass up. Over almost two years, I'm incredibly proud to have put in place a new strategy for Film4 which has boosted funding for the film industry to a record level and to have introduced an exciting new slate of high quality productions and developments with a diverse group of filmmakers. David Abraham and the Channel 4 leadership team have been fantastic partners since day one and I look forward to continuing to work with them over the coming months."
Having worked at the cutting edge of the independent sector on three continents, Battsek brings 30 years’ production, development and distribution experience to Film4. For the last three years Battsek has served as President of New York based Cohen Media Group, where he has overseen the acquisition and release of arthouse/crossover releases including back-to-back Oscar® nominees "Timbuktu" and "Mustang," as well as a development and production slate of films that includes John Williams’ renowned novel Stoner, a co-production with Film4. Prior to that he spent 2½ years at National Geographic Films, where as President he acquired projects for development and production including the Oscar® nominated documentary Restrepo, as well as National Geographic branded large screen and Imax 3D projects.
Battsek relocated from the UK to New York in 2005, where he served for five years as President, Filmed Entertainment at Miramax Films. Projects he greenlit and/or acquired there included Oscar® winners "The Queen," "No Country For Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" and Oscar® nominees "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" and "Happy-Go-Lucky". From 1991 to 2005, Battsek held the position of Evp and Managing Director, UK Distribution and European Production & Acquisitions at Buena Vista International, UK, where he oversaw all aspects of UK distribution for 18-25 releases per annum from Walt Disney Studios and their partners including Pixar and Miramax Films. At Bvi, Battsek also set up a Comedy Production Label in 2001 which financed and produced three films, including "Calendar Girls" and "Kinky Boots." Prior to that, Battsek spent six years as Managing Director of Palace Pictures, where he was responsible for the acquisition and distribution of quality independent titles from around the world for release in the UK, and he also spent three years as a Sales & Marketing Executive for Hoyts Entertainment in Australia, where he first cut his teeth in distribution.
Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division, which develops and co-finances films and has an established track record for working with the most distinctive and innovative talent in UK and international filmmaking. Film4 has developed and/or co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years - Academy Award-winners such as Steve McQueen’s "12 Years a Slave," Danny Boyle’s "Slumdog Millionaire," Lenny Abrahamson’s "Room," Alex Garland’s "Ex Machina," Asif Kapadia’s Amy, Andrew Haigh’s "45 Years" and Phyllida Lloyd’s "The Iron Lady," in addition to critically-acclaimed award-winners such as Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, Chris Morris’ "Four Lions," Shane Meadows’ "This is England," Martin McDonagh’s "Seven Psychopaths," Yann Demange’s "71," Ben Wheatley’s "High-Rise," Clio Barnard’s "The Selfish Giant," Jonathan Glazer’s "Under the Skin" and David Mackenzie’s "Starred Up."...
- 4/14/2016
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Cohen Media Group president takes the reins at the UK broadcaster following David Kosse’s appointment at Stx.
Cohen Media Group president Daniel Battsek is to take the reins at Film4 as its new director, UK broadcaster Channel 4 has confirmed.
As previously revealed by Screen, the former Miramax Films president emerged as the clear favourite for the job following the departure of David Kosse who is leaving to join Us mini-studio Stx Entertainment as president of international.
Battsek will join Film4 in July, relocating to the UK from New York after fulfilling his contract as president of distributor Cohen Media Group, where he has overseen the acquisition and release of projects including back-to-back Oscar nominees Timbuktu and Mustang, as well as a development and production slate of films that includes John Williams’ hit novel Stoner, a co-production with Film4.
The handover is understood to have been in the works for a matter of months with outgoing...
Cohen Media Group president Daniel Battsek is to take the reins at Film4 as its new director, UK broadcaster Channel 4 has confirmed.
As previously revealed by Screen, the former Miramax Films president emerged as the clear favourite for the job following the departure of David Kosse who is leaving to join Us mini-studio Stx Entertainment as president of international.
Battsek will join Film4 in July, relocating to the UK from New York after fulfilling his contract as president of distributor Cohen Media Group, where he has overseen the acquisition and release of projects including back-to-back Oscar nominees Timbuktu and Mustang, as well as a development and production slate of films that includes John Williams’ hit novel Stoner, a co-production with Film4.
The handover is understood to have been in the works for a matter of months with outgoing...
- 4/8/2016
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
New deals announced with Fox Searchlight and The Inbetweeners creators Fp Films in statement of intent from Film4 boss David Kosse.
Film4 has announced a major increase in its funding, which will rise from $22m to $36m (£15m to £25m) for 2016.
The substantial funding increase will also include two major new partnerships: a co-financing deal with Fox Searchlight for In Bruges director Martin McDonagh’s new film, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; and a new two-year partnership with Entertainment Film Distributors (Efd) and Fp Films, the production company set up by The Inbetweeners creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, for four new comedy feature films.
The funding boost and new partnerships demonstrate the scale of Film4’s future ambitions, and represent a major coup for director of Film4 David Kosse as well as a huge vote of confidence from Channel 4 in his vision for the company’s film division.
Interview: [link=co...
Film4 has announced a major increase in its funding, which will rise from $22m to $36m (£15m to £25m) for 2016.
The substantial funding increase will also include two major new partnerships: a co-financing deal with Fox Searchlight for In Bruges director Martin McDonagh’s new film, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; and a new two-year partnership with Entertainment Film Distributors (Efd) and Fp Films, the production company set up by The Inbetweeners creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, for four new comedy feature films.
The funding boost and new partnerships demonstrate the scale of Film4’s future ambitions, and represent a major coup for director of Film4 David Kosse as well as a huge vote of confidence from Channel 4 in his vision for the company’s film division.
Interview: [link=co...
- 2/9/2016
- by matt.mueller@screendaily.com (Matt Mueller)
- ScreenDaily
New deals announced with Fox Searchlight and The Inbetweeners creators Fp Films in statement of intent from Film4 boss David Kosse.
Film4 has announced a major increase in its funding, which will rise from $22m to $36m (£15m to £25m) for 2016.
The substantial funding increase will also include two major new partnerships: a co-financing deal with Fox Searchlight for In Bruges director Martin McDonagh’s new film, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; and a new two-year partnership with Entertainment Film Distributors (Efd) and Fp Films, the production company set up by The Inbetweeners creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, for four new comedy feature films.
The funding boost and new partnerships demonstrate the scale of Film4’s future ambitions, and represent a major coup for director of Film4 David Kosse as well as a huge vote of confidence from Channel 4 in his vision for the company’s film division.
Interview: [link=co...
Film4 has announced a major increase in its funding, which will rise from $22m to $36m (£15m to £25m) for 2016.
The substantial funding increase will also include two major new partnerships: a co-financing deal with Fox Searchlight for In Bruges director Martin McDonagh’s new film, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; and a new two-year partnership with Entertainment Film Distributors (Efd) and Fp Films, the production company set up by The Inbetweeners creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, for four new comedy feature films.
The funding boost and new partnerships demonstrate the scale of Film4’s future ambitions, and represent a major coup for director of Film4 David Kosse as well as a huge vote of confidence from Channel 4 in his vision for the company’s film division.
Interview: [link=co...
- 2/9/2016
- by matt.mueller@screendaily.com (Matt Mueller)
- ScreenDaily
Former UK and Ireland production executive talks growing international ties and incoming projects at Swedish funding body.
Veteran UK and Ireland production executive Simon Perry has been settled in Goteborg for eight months as head of production at Film Vast (formerly Film i Vast), the regional film fund of Western Sweden.
Perry, who worked at British Screen and the Irish Film Board before heading Ace in Paris, replaced Swedish producer Jessica Ask, who joined production outfit Anagram Film & TV.
Film Vast has an annual budget of $11.5m (Sek 93m) and is the largest public funder in the country after the Swedish Film Institute (Sfi).
“My being here helps the balance between Swedish projects and international projects,” Perry told Screen.
“I have more reach into the international market than my predecessor. The international side of the work has been going well.”
Several notable projects from the UK are headed to work in the region.
“A very interesting...
Veteran UK and Ireland production executive Simon Perry has been settled in Goteborg for eight months as head of production at Film Vast (formerly Film i Vast), the regional film fund of Western Sweden.
Perry, who worked at British Screen and the Irish Film Board before heading Ace in Paris, replaced Swedish producer Jessica Ask, who joined production outfit Anagram Film & TV.
Film Vast has an annual budget of $11.5m (Sek 93m) and is the largest public funder in the country after the Swedish Film Institute (Sfi).
“My being here helps the balance between Swedish projects and international projects,” Perry told Screen.
“I have more reach into the international market than my predecessor. The international side of the work has been going well.”
Several notable projects from the UK are headed to work in the region.
“A very interesting...
- 8/19/2015
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
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