The BFI and British Council have revealed the line-up for this year’s Great8 showcase, which allows international distributors and festival programmers to get an early look at eight releases from emerging U.K. filmmakers in the run-up to Cannes.
On June 17, the talent behind these films — all of which are now in post-production and available to buy during the online Cannes Marché — will introduce their work and offer sneak peeks of unseen footage. The online Cannes Marché runs from June 21-25.
The GREAT8 showcase is now in its fourth year, having previously presented films such as “Days of the Bagnold Summer,” from Simon Bird, Rubika Shah’s “White Riot” and Rungano Nyoni’s “I Am Not A Witch” (which was a Camera d’Or nominee in 2017). The showcase is funded and organized by the BFI and the British Council, in partnership with BBC Film and Film4.
“The high quality and diversity of U.K. filmmaking talent bringing their stories to film is exciting and a conversation that has grown through GREAT8,” said Neil Peplow, the BFI’s director of industry and international affairs. “The level of interest shown by international buyers, programmers and the wider industry in the program has been encouraging and we look forward to seeing their response this year.”
“GREAT8 plays an important part in our activities to support the export of U.K. film around the world and build international relationships, work that we will be expanding thanks to our government’s support for the new U.K. Global Screen Fund.”
See the complete line-up below:
Ballywater, directed by Prasanna Puwanarajah. Written by Stacey Gregg. Produced by James Bierman, Nik Bower. With Seána Kerslake, Patrick Kielty. Sales: Bankside Films.
A Banquet, directed by Ruth Paxton. Written by Justin Bull. Produced by Leonora Darby, Mark Lane, James Harris, Nik Bower, Laure Vaysse. With Sienna Guillory, Jessica Alexander, Ruby Stokes, Kaine Zajaz, Lindsay Duncan. Sales: Hanway Films.
Boxing Day, directed by Aml Ameen. Written by Aml Ameen and Bruce Purnell. Produced by Matthew G Zamias, Damian Jones, Aml Ameen, Dominique Telson, Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor. With Aml Ameen, Aja Naomi King, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Tamara Lawrence. Sales: Rocket Science.
Brian and Charles, directed by Jim Archer. Written by David Earl and Chris Hayward. Produced by Rupert Majendie. With David Earl, Chris Hayward, Louise Brealey, Jamie Michie, Nina Sosanya. Sales: Bankside Films.
The Real Charlie Chaplin, directed by Peter Middleton, James Spinney. Written by Oliver Kindeberg, Peter Middleton, James Spinney. Produced by Ben Limberg, John Battsek, Mike Brett, Steve Jamieson, Jo-Jo Ellison. Sales: Altitude Film Sales.
Ride the Wave, directed by Martyn Robinson. Produced by Martyn Robinson, Louise Storrie. Sales: MetFilm Sales.
She Will, directed by Charlotte Colbert. Written by Kitty Percy, Charlotte Colbert. Produced by Jessica Malik, Bob Last. With Alice Krige, Kota Eberhardt, Malcolm McDowell, Rupert Everett. Sales: Rocket Science
True Things, directed by Harry Wootliff. Written by Harry Wootliff, Molly Davies. Produced by Tristan Goligher, Ruth Wilson, Ben Jackson, Jude Law. With Ruth Wilson, Tom Burke. Sales: The Bureau Sales.