RELEASE
Kenneth Branagh‘s “Belfast” and the late Roger Michell‘s “The Duke” will release theatrically in the U.K. on Jan. 21 and Feb. 25, 2022 respectively.
Featuring an ensemble cast, “Belfast” is an autobiographical story set in late 1960s Northern Ireland. It follows Buddy, a young boy on the cusp of adolescence, whose life is filled with familial love, childhood hijinks, and a blossoming romance. Yet, with his beloved hometown caught up in increasing turmoil, his family faces a momentous choice: hope the conflict will pass or leave everything they know behind for a new life.
The film won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and is an odds on favorite at the upcoming awards season.
Universal is giving “Belfast” a wide release of more than 300 screens.
Meanwhile, Pathe is also planning a wide release with more than 300 screens for “The Duke.” The film bowed at Venice in 2020 and also played Telluride and other festivals.
The comedy drama stars Oscar-winners Jim Broadbent (“Iris”) and Helen Mirren (“The Queen”). Set in 1961, the film follows Kempton Bunton, a 60-year-old taxi driver, who stole Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from London’s National Gallery. It was the first and only theft in the Gallery’s history. Kempton sent ransom notes promising to return the painting if the government invested more in care for the elderly.
“Rye Lane”
Photo by Chris Harris / Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures
FIRST LOOK
Searchlight Pictures has revealed a first look for “Rye Lane” the upcoming feature debut from British writer/director Raine Allen-Miller (the short “Jerk”), shot on location around South London earlier this year and currently in post-production.
The romantic comedy stars Vivian Oparah (“Class”) and David Jonsson (“Industry”), as twenty-somethings, both reeling from bad break-ups, who connect over the course of an eventful day in South London.
The film is based on an original screenplay from co-writers Nathan Bryon (“Bloods”) and Tom Melia (“Zero Chill”), and is produced by Yvonne Isimeme Ibazebo of Turnover Films (“Top Boy”) and Damian Jones of DJ Films (“The Lady in the Van”). The film was developed with the assistance of BBC Film, and funded by Searchlight Pictures, BBC Film and the BFI with Searchlight Pictures distributing worldwide. Executive producers are Eva Yates and Rose Garnett for BBC Films, Kristin Irving for the BFI, Paul Grindey and Sophie Meyer.
“Children of the Sun”
Courtesy of Film Island
AWARDS
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards have announced their non-juried prizes ahead of the main ceremony on Nov. 11, 2021. APSA’s Cultural Diversity Award under the patronage of UNESCO is awarded to Sri Lanka’s Prasanna Vithanage for “Children of the Sun” (aka “Gaadi”). Despite many previous APSA nominations for Sri Lankan films, this award marks the country’s first win. The Young Cinema Award in partnership with NETPAC and GFS is presented to Le Bao for his directorial debut “Taste” (aka “Vị”), marking the first APSA win for a film from Vietnam. The third is the FIAPF Award for Outstanding Contribution to Asia Pacific Cinema, which is awarded to prolific Russian producer, Sergey Selyanov (“Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan”). – Patrick Frater
PRODUCTION
Principal photography has wrapped on “Tyger”, the second feature film from writer/director Alexander Milo Bischof, whose debut feature, “Trouble Will Find Us,” premiered at Busan.
In “Tyger,” Dylan Edwards(“High-Rise”) plays a former soldier who fought in the Afghan war and a recovering addict, who is released from prison on bail after a five-year sentence. Forced to serve out his probation period, hundreds of miles away from his family, he goes about his daily grind, and the only thing that keeps him going is the thought of saving enough money to find his daughter Grace.
The cast also includes Laura Haddock (“White Lines”), Ben Aldridge (“Fleabag”), Natasha O’Keeffe (“Peaky Blinders”), Shaun Dooley (“It’s a Sin”) and Pearl Mackie (“The Long Call”).
“Tyger” is a privately funded production of Stave Hill Films.
“Tyger”
Stave Hill Films
Meanwhile, the U.K.’s Noah Media Group and Sky Studios have commenced production on the first project under their multi-title development deal that was announced earlier this year – a feature documentary centred around the story of Formula One legends, Gilles Villeneuve and Didier Pironi, in collaboration with Sky Italia.
The film focuses on the infamous 1982 F1 season, where the two rival Ferrari teammates were competing for the World Title. However, on the final laps of the Italian Grand Prix, Pironi passed Villeneuve to win the race. To Didier this was a racing move. To Gilles, it was an unexpected act that went completely against the team orders he thought both drivers were obeying. It became known as “The Betrayal”. The two racers would never speak again.
The documentary has the participation of both families.
Ahead of a planned late 2022 release, filming locations include the U.K., Canada, France and Italy. The film will be directed by Torquil Jones (“Bobby Robson: More Than a Manager”) and produced by John McKenna (“Finding Jack Charlton”) as well as former Formula One driver Mark Webber. The film will premiere on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW in the U.K., Italy and Germany. NBCUniversal Global Distribution will handle international sales of the documentary on behalf of Sky Studios.
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