Welsh actor, writer and director Celyn Jones has set “Madfabulous” as his next directorial venture.
The British indie is based on the true story of Henry Cyril Paget, fifth Marquess of Anglesey, who was once one of the richest men in Britain but died penniless and forgotten at the age of 29 in France.
“It’s full of pathos and humanity, it’s very much a character who wants to get the attention of his family who don’t want him and he keeps upping the ante with his spending, his flamboyance and his dancing,” Jones told Variety about the 1890s-set film. “What happens if you are a theatrical, and you are very gender fluid at a time when when people didn’t even know what that was? And you’ve got all the money in the world to do that. Well, of course, you buy a theater company, you buy...
The British indie is based on the true story of Henry Cyril Paget, fifth Marquess of Anglesey, who was once one of the richest men in Britain but died penniless and forgotten at the age of 29 in France.
“It’s full of pathos and humanity, it’s very much a character who wants to get the attention of his family who don’t want him and he keeps upping the ante with his spending, his flamboyance and his dancing,” Jones told Variety about the 1890s-set film. “What happens if you are a theatrical, and you are very gender fluid at a time when when people didn’t even know what that was? And you’ve got all the money in the world to do that. Well, of course, you buy a theater company, you buy...
- 5/8/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Zany caper follows Jo Hartley as a big-veg enthusiast defending her patch from elaborate ill-doings
Chaos reigns in this strange, funny and amiably anarchic mockumentary about dirty tricks in the cutthroat world of competitive marrow-growing, written and co-directed by film-maker Brook Driver. Maybe the script could have gone through another couple of drafts, but that might have removed some of the flavour. As it is, it feels like Thomas Pynchon had emailed Ricky Gervais an idea he’d had for a British comedy, and the result certainly has some laughs.
Jo Hartley (a stalwart of Shane Meadows’s movies Dead Man’s Shoes and This Is England) is Caroline, a marrow-grower and a divorcee who pretends her ex-husband is dead and is now in a kind of Nsa relationship with her needy neighbour Willy (Celyn Jones); they are both mates with conspiracy theorist and fanatically competitive prize-veg enthusiast Paul (Richard Lumsden...
Chaos reigns in this strange, funny and amiably anarchic mockumentary about dirty tricks in the cutthroat world of competitive marrow-growing, written and co-directed by film-maker Brook Driver. Maybe the script could have gone through another couple of drafts, but that might have removed some of the flavour. As it is, it feels like Thomas Pynchon had emailed Ricky Gervais an idea he’d had for a British comedy, and the result certainly has some laughs.
Jo Hartley (a stalwart of Shane Meadows’s movies Dead Man’s Shoes and This Is England) is Caroline, a marrow-grower and a divorcee who pretends her ex-husband is dead and is now in a kind of Nsa relationship with her needy neighbour Willy (Celyn Jones); they are both mates with conspiracy theorist and fanatically competitive prize-veg enthusiast Paul (Richard Lumsden...
- 4/17/2024
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
"I can't believe you shot me!" Belstone Pictures, Picnik Ent., & Deadbeat Studios have revealed the official trailer for an indie comedy titled Swede Caroline, made by the filmmakers Finn Bruce & Brook Driver. This mockumentary about farming first premiered in 2022 at the Raindance Film Festival, and is getting a UK release in select theaters this April. The mock doc film explores the highly competitive and murky world of giant vegetable growing! As Caroline readies herself for the big championship with the help of her trusty partners Willy & Paul, she sets off in search of the truth. On the way enduring kidnappings, car chases and – worst of all – courgettes. But will the culprit(s) ever be caught? The film bounces from one quintessential British location to the next, as Caroline's quest leads her from allotments to service stations, by way of chip shops & the odd lay-by. Starring a bumper crop of acting talent including Jo Hartley,...
- 2/27/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Swede Caroline, a British mockumentary starring Jo Hartley (After Life) and Aisling Bea from Nicola Pearcey, formerly President, Lionsgate UK & Europe, and now CEO of Picnik Entertainment, has landed both a theatrical and digital release.
Belstone Pictures, Deadbeat Studios, and Pearcey’s Picnik Entertainment will jointly send the pic into cinemas on April 19, with Sky Cinema set to premiere the film later this year. The deal with Sky was closed by Finn Bruce of Belstone on behalf of the filmmakers and by Rachel Trawicki and Alexander Wright for Sky.
Swede Caroline is the debut feature of directing duo Brook Driver and Finn Bruce, who previously collaborated on SXSW Special Jury Prize-winning Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break. Swede Caroline was penned by Driver. The story is centered around the eccentric world of competitive vegetable growing. The plot follows Caroline as she readies herself for the big championship when the...
Belstone Pictures, Deadbeat Studios, and Pearcey’s Picnik Entertainment will jointly send the pic into cinemas on April 19, with Sky Cinema set to premiere the film later this year. The deal with Sky was closed by Finn Bruce of Belstone on behalf of the filmmakers and by Rachel Trawicki and Alexander Wright for Sky.
Swede Caroline is the debut feature of directing duo Brook Driver and Finn Bruce, who previously collaborated on SXSW Special Jury Prize-winning Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break. Swede Caroline was penned by Driver. The story is centered around the eccentric world of competitive vegetable growing. The plot follows Caroline as she readies herself for the big championship when the...
- 2/23/2024
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
‘Swallow’ takes best international feature; ‘My Name Is Andrea’ wins best documentary.
Michael Morris’ debut feature To Leslie and Moshe Rosenthal’s Israeli comedy Karaoke were the big winners at the UK’s Raindance Film Festival, which announced the prizes for its 30th edition in London today (November 4).
US drama To Leslie won the film of the festival award and best performance for Andrea Riseborough, who plays a Texan single mother who attempts to rebuild her life after squandering a lottery win. It premiered at SXSW in March. Morris was formerly director of London’s Old Vic Theatre and has...
Michael Morris’ debut feature To Leslie and Moshe Rosenthal’s Israeli comedy Karaoke were the big winners at the UK’s Raindance Film Festival, which announced the prizes for its 30th edition in London today (November 4).
US drama To Leslie won the film of the festival award and best performance for Andrea Riseborough, who plays a Texan single mother who attempts to rebuild her life after squandering a lottery win. It premiered at SXSW in March. Morris was formerly director of London’s Old Vic Theatre and has...
- 11/4/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
‘Swallow’ takes best international feature; ‘My Name Is Andrea’ wins best documentary.
Michael Morris’ debut feature To Leslie and Moshe Rosenthal’s Israeli comedy Karaoke were the big winners at Raindance Film Festival, which announced the prizes for its 30th edition at a ceremony in Covent Garden, London today (November 4).
US drama To Leslie won Film of the Festival and best performance for Andrea Riseborough, who plays a Texan single mother who attempts to rebuild her life after squandering a lottery win. It premiered at SXSW in March. Morris was formerly director of London’s Old Vic Theatre and previously...
Michael Morris’ debut feature To Leslie and Moshe Rosenthal’s Israeli comedy Karaoke were the big winners at Raindance Film Festival, which announced the prizes for its 30th edition at a ceremony in Covent Garden, London today (November 4).
US drama To Leslie won Film of the Festival and best performance for Andrea Riseborough, who plays a Texan single mother who attempts to rebuild her life after squandering a lottery win. It premiered at SXSW in March. Morris was formerly director of London’s Old Vic Theatre and previously...
- 11/4/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Michael Morris’ debut feature “To Leslie” has won Film of the Festival at the 30th Raindance Film Festival in London and Andrea Riseborough won Best Performance for the film.
Israel’s Moshe Rosenthal won Best Director and Best Screenplay for “Karaoke.” Korean director Hee-il Leesong’s “Swallow,” starring actor and musician Woo Ji-hyun, which had its world premiere at Raindance, won Best International Feature. Pratibha Parmar’s hybrid documentary drama “My Name is Andrea,” with a cast including Ashley Judd, Soko and Andrea Riseborough, won Best Documentary Feature. Selected as the U.K. entry to the Oscars’ international feature film category, “Winners” was named Raindance’s Best U.K. Feature.
Raindance Film Festival 2022 Award Winners
Film Of The Festival: “To Leslie”
Best Performance: Andrea Riseborough, “To Leslie”
Best International Feature: “Swallow”
Best U.K. Feature: “Winners”
Best Documentary Feature: “My Name Is Andrea”
Best Director: Moshe Rosenthal, “Karaoke” (Israel)
Best Screenplay: Moshe Rosenthal,...
Israel’s Moshe Rosenthal won Best Director and Best Screenplay for “Karaoke.” Korean director Hee-il Leesong’s “Swallow,” starring actor and musician Woo Ji-hyun, which had its world premiere at Raindance, won Best International Feature. Pratibha Parmar’s hybrid documentary drama “My Name is Andrea,” with a cast including Ashley Judd, Soko and Andrea Riseborough, won Best Documentary Feature. Selected as the U.K. entry to the Oscars’ international feature film category, “Winners” was named Raindance’s Best U.K. Feature.
Raindance Film Festival 2022 Award Winners
Film Of The Festival: “To Leslie”
Best Performance: Andrea Riseborough, “To Leslie”
Best International Feature: “Swallow”
Best U.K. Feature: “Winners”
Best Documentary Feature: “My Name Is Andrea”
Best Director: Moshe Rosenthal, “Karaoke” (Israel)
Best Screenplay: Moshe Rosenthal,...
- 11/4/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
The British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) have revealed the nomination longlists for Best Feature Documentary and Best International Independent Film categories. In addition, BIFA’s Raindance Discovery Award longlist has also been unveiled.
Of the 15 films longlisted for Best Feature Documentary, eight are directed by women. The 17 films longlisted for Best International Independent Film have already won top prizes from this year’s premier international festivals.
The final five nominations in each category will be announced in early November and winners will be revealed at the 25th annual BIFA ceremony on Dec. 4.
Best International Independent Film Sponsored By Champagne Taittinger
“Alcarràs” – Carla Simón, María Zamora, Stefan Schmitz, Tono Folguera, Sergi Moreno
“All The Beauty And The Bloodshed” – Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, Nan Goldin, Yoni Golijov, John S. Lyons
“Argentina, 1985” – Santiago Mitre, Mariano Llinás, Axel Kuschevatzky, Federico Posternak, Agustina Llambi Campbell, Ricardo Darín, Santiago Carabante, Chino Darín, Victoria Alonso
“Broker” – Kore-eda Hirokazu,...
Of the 15 films longlisted for Best Feature Documentary, eight are directed by women. The 17 films longlisted for Best International Independent Film have already won top prizes from this year’s premier international festivals.
The final five nominations in each category will be announced in early November and winners will be revealed at the 25th annual BIFA ceremony on Dec. 4.
Best International Independent Film Sponsored By Champagne Taittinger
“Alcarràs” – Carla Simón, María Zamora, Stefan Schmitz, Tono Folguera, Sergi Moreno
“All The Beauty And The Bloodshed” – Laura Poitras, Howard Gertler, Nan Goldin, Yoni Golijov, John S. Lyons
“Argentina, 1985” – Santiago Mitre, Mariano Llinás, Axel Kuschevatzky, Federico Posternak, Agustina Llambi Campbell, Ricardo Darín, Santiago Carabante, Chino Darín, Victoria Alonso
“Broker” – Kore-eda Hirokazu,...
- 10/21/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Festival will play select titles from its previous editions.
World premieres of Stephen Moyer’s A Bit Of Light and Dishad Husain’s Banglatown headline the programme of the 30th Raindance Film Festival, which runs from October 26-November 5 in London cinemas and online throughout the UK.
One of nine feature world premieres in the selection, A Bit Of Light is the second directorial feature of UK actor Moyer, who is best known for his lead role in long-running vampire TV series True Blood.
Starring Ray Winstone and Moyer’s wife Anna Paquin, the film follows a nearly-forty-year-old woman who is...
World premieres of Stephen Moyer’s A Bit Of Light and Dishad Husain’s Banglatown headline the programme of the 30th Raindance Film Festival, which runs from October 26-November 5 in London cinemas and online throughout the UK.
One of nine feature world premieres in the selection, A Bit Of Light is the second directorial feature of UK actor Moyer, who is best known for his lead role in long-running vampire TV series True Blood.
Starring Ray Winstone and Moyer’s wife Anna Paquin, the film follows a nearly-forty-year-old woman who is...
- 9/21/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Joachim Back’s “Corner Office,” featuring “Mad Men” star John Hamm, will open the 30th edition of London’s Raindance Film Festival (Oct. 26-Nov. 5). Austin Bragg and Meredith Bragg’s “Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game” will close the festival.
To mark its 30th anniversary, Raindance will screen iconic independent films that had their U.K. premieres at the festival, including “Pulp Fiction,” “Memento,” “The Blair Witch Project” and “Oldboy.”
Special screenings of new films include the world premiere of Stephen Moyer’s “A Bit of Light” (U.K.), starring Anna Paquin and Ray Winstone; director Moshe Rosenthal will take part in a Raindance masterclass and present the U.K. premiere of “Karaoke” (Israel); and the world premiere of Dilshad Husain’s British Asian feature “Banglatown.”
The festival’s homegrown strand for U.K.-produced features include Pushan Kripalani’s “Goldfish,” Elisabeth Felson’s “Night Burns Like Cigarettes,” Finn...
To mark its 30th anniversary, Raindance will screen iconic independent films that had their U.K. premieres at the festival, including “Pulp Fiction,” “Memento,” “The Blair Witch Project” and “Oldboy.”
Special screenings of new films include the world premiere of Stephen Moyer’s “A Bit of Light” (U.K.), starring Anna Paquin and Ray Winstone; director Moshe Rosenthal will take part in a Raindance masterclass and present the U.K. premiere of “Karaoke” (Israel); and the world premiere of Dilshad Husain’s British Asian feature “Banglatown.”
The festival’s homegrown strand for U.K.-produced features include Pushan Kripalani’s “Goldfish,” Elisabeth Felson’s “Night Burns Like Cigarettes,” Finn...
- 9/21/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Festival will play select titles from its previous editions.
World premieres of Stephen Moyer’s A Bit Of Light and Dishad Husain’s Banglatown headline the programme of the 30th Raindance Film Festival, which runs from October 26-November 5 in London cinemas and online throughout the UK.
One of nine feature world premieres in the selection, A Bit Of Light is the second directorial feature of UK actor Moyer, who is best known for his lead role in long-running vampire TV series True Blood.
Starring Ray Winstone and Moyer’s wife Anna Paquin, the film follows a nearly-forty-year-old woman who is...
World premieres of Stephen Moyer’s A Bit Of Light and Dishad Husain’s Banglatown headline the programme of the 30th Raindance Film Festival, which runs from October 26-November 5 in London cinemas and online throughout the UK.
One of nine feature world premieres in the selection, A Bit Of Light is the second directorial feature of UK actor Moyer, who is best known for his lead role in long-running vampire TV series True Blood.
Starring Ray Winstone and Moyer’s wife Anna Paquin, the film follows a nearly-forty-year-old woman who is...
- 9/21/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
A mother’s love can move mountains. It must in the case of Paul Dood (Tom Meeten) since he doesn’t really have anything else propelling him forward. Did he aspire to be a superstar? No. He merely asked his mom (June Watson’s Julie) if she thought he had what it took while watching an episode of Britain’s Got Talent. She of course said yes. She said he was “better than anyone else on that show.” Love is blind, though, and unwittingly creates lies—Paul is hardly a Susan Boyle with talent to spare if someone would simply give him a chance. He’s not even a William Hung earning views for second-hand embarrassment. He’s lucky to get three viewers per stream: Mum, Clemmie (Katherine Parkinson), and Bruce (Jarred Christmas).
Director Nick Gillespie and co-writers Matthew White and Brook Driver nevertheless introduce their lead with extreme confidence as...
Director Nick Gillespie and co-writers Matthew White and Brook Driver nevertheless introduce their lead with extreme confidence as...
- 8/5/2021
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
The SXSW Film Festival has announced the winners of its juried and special awards on Friday. In a year mostly free of major studio features and established talents, the 2021 winners class is made up of indie outings and rising stars to watch. Top Grand Jury awards went to Narrative Feature Competition winner “The Fallout” from director Megan Park, which was picked up by Universal late last year, and Jeremy Workman’s documentary “Lily Topples the World.”
The festival virtually screened 75 features, 84 shorts and music videos, 11 episodic selections, 20 virtual cinema projects, 14 title design entries, and 34 special events. Fifteen juries — which included IndieWire’s own Kate Erbland, plus industry heavy-hitters like Jason Blum and Sheila Nevins — bestowed awards to over three dozen titles.
The all-virtual festival wraps Saturday at 11:59 p.m. Ct; Audience Award voting continues for 24 hours after that. Those awards will be announced on sxsw.com on Tuesday.
Below...
The festival virtually screened 75 features, 84 shorts and music videos, 11 episodic selections, 20 virtual cinema projects, 14 title design entries, and 34 special events. Fifteen juries — which included IndieWire’s own Kate Erbland, plus industry heavy-hitters like Jason Blum and Sheila Nevins — bestowed awards to over three dozen titles.
The all-virtual festival wraps Saturday at 11:59 p.m. Ct; Audience Award voting continues for 24 hours after that. Those awards will be announced on sxsw.com on Tuesday.
Below...
- 3/19/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
SXSW: British Black Comedy ‘Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break’ Picked Up By Concourse Media (Exclusive)
Belstone Pictures has inked a worldwide sales deal with Concourse Media on hot SXSW title “Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break.”
Concourse will handle all international and domestic sales for the title, and Belstone Pictures will co-represent in the U.K. The black comedy, directed by Nick Gillespie (“Tank 432”), will have its world premiere at SXSW this week in the narrative spotlight section.
The film follows Paul, a charity shop worker who when his chances of winning a national talent competition are ruined and his dreams of fame are slashed, plans a deathly revenge mission. The cast includes a raft of British talent, including BAFTA nominee Tom Meeten (“The Ghoul”) as Paul Dood, alongside Katherine Parkinson (“Doc Martin”), Kris Marshall (“Love Actually”), Alice Lowe (“Prevenge”), Pippa Haywood (“Bridgerton”), Steve Oram (“The End of the F***ing World”), Mandeep Dhillon (“After Life”), June Watson (“Chernobyl”), Johnny Vegas (“Home From Home”) and Kevin Bishop...
Concourse will handle all international and domestic sales for the title, and Belstone Pictures will co-represent in the U.K. The black comedy, directed by Nick Gillespie (“Tank 432”), will have its world premiere at SXSW this week in the narrative spotlight section.
The film follows Paul, a charity shop worker who when his chances of winning a national talent competition are ruined and his dreams of fame are slashed, plans a deathly revenge mission. The cast includes a raft of British talent, including BAFTA nominee Tom Meeten (“The Ghoul”) as Paul Dood, alongside Katherine Parkinson (“Doc Martin”), Kris Marshall (“Love Actually”), Alice Lowe (“Prevenge”), Pippa Haywood (“Bridgerton”), Steve Oram (“The End of the F***ing World”), Mandeep Dhillon (“After Life”), June Watson (“Chernobyl”), Johnny Vegas (“Home From Home”) and Kevin Bishop...
- 3/15/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
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