Lottery funded films from first time feature directors Rupert Wyatt, Chris Waitt, and Olly Blackburn and new feature from director James Marsh selected for top indie film festival
London: Four Lottery funded titles are screening at the Sundance Film Festival taking place from January 17-27 2008 in Park City, Utah, USA, with three marking feature debuts for new British directors.
Sundance is America's leading indie festival, the premier showcase for new work by independent filmmakers. The four films co-funded by the UK Film Council, selected by Sundance from a record number of films submitted from around the world are:
- Rupert Wyatt's The Escapist
- Christ Waitt's A Complete History of My Sexual Failures
- Olly Blackburn's Donkey Punch
- James Marsh's Man on Wire
The Escapist is backed by the UK Film Council's Premiere Fund while AComplete History of my Sexual Failures, Donkey Punch and Man on Wire are backed by the New Cinema Fund.
The Escapist is a prison escape thriller set in the subterranean tunnels beneath London, starring Brian Cox and Joseph Fiennes. It is the feature debut of award-winning director Rupert Wyatt, who also co-wrote the script.
A Complete History of My Sexual Failures and Donkey Punch are projects from Warp X, the digital studio co-funded by the New Cinema Fund with partners Film4, EM Media, Screen Yorkshire and Optimum Releasing.
A Complete History of My Sexual Failures is the feature debut of award-winning shorts writer and director Chris Waitt, a comedy documentary about being a loser in love.
Donkey Punch is the feature debut of writer and director Olly Blackburn and writer David Bloom, with a cast including Julian Morris and Jaime Winstone in a thriller about seven young holiday-makers caught up in a deadly game of survival on a boat.
Man on Wire is a documentary feature from BAFTA award-winning director James Marsh presenting the dramatic retelling of Philippe Petit's daring, and illegal, scheme to walk the high-wire between New York's twin towers - the artistic crime of the 20th century.
Sally Caplan, Head of the Premiere Fund says, "We are delighted that Rupert Wyatt who emerged from the UK Film Council's Cinema Extreme short film scheme is now among the talented directors whose films have been selected for Sundance 2008. We are particularly thrilled that the film has been included in the festival's Premiere section. The Escapist is a compelling film and an excellent feature debut. It's great to see it join a range of Lottery funded titles from new and established talent achieving recognition at one of the world's leading film festivals."
Lenny Crooks, Head of the New Cinema Fund says, "With A Complete History of My Sexual Failures and Donkey Punch, Warp X has established itself as the industry leader in low budget feature films made for a worldwide audience. The whole team should be congratulated on achieving a Sundance double, with extremely gifted first time feature film directors Chris Waitt and Olly Blackburn.
"Meanwhile, the selection of Man on Wire, demonstrates the great potential of feature documentaries if we tackle subjects with an international perspective. James Marsh is a proven talent, both in drama and documentary, and we are privileged to be supporting him on this film."
A number of other British films have also been selected to screen at Sundance including:
- Isaac Julien's Derek
- Marc Evans's In Prison My Whole Life
- Tanaz Eshaghian's Be Like Others
- Martin McDonagh's In Bruges
- Sharon Maguire's Incendiary
- Stephen Walker's Young @ Heart
For press enquiries please contact:
Chloe Lola Riess
UK Film Council press office
T: +44 (0)20 7861 7901
E: chloe.riess@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
The UK Film Council is the Government-backed strategic agency for film in the UK. We aim to stimulate a successful, vibrant film industry and to promote the widest possible enjoyment and understanding of cinema throughout the UK.
We invest Government grant-in-aid and Lottery money in developing new filmmakers, in funding exciting new British films and in getting a wider choice of films to audiences throughout the UK. We also invest in training, promoting Britain as an international filmmaking location and in raising the profile of British films abroad. We aim to deliver lasting benefits to the industry and the public through:
- creativity - encouraging the development of new talent, skills, and creative and technological innovation in UK film and assisting new and established filmmakers to produce successful and distinctive British films;
- enterprise – supporting the creation and growth of sustainable businesses in the film sector, providing access to finance and helping the UK film industry compete successfully in the domestic and global marketplace;
- imagination - promoting education and an appreciation and enjoyment of cinema by giving UK audiences access to the widest range of UK and international cinema, and by supporting film culture and heritage.
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