29/10/2015 - Dave Johns, Hayley Squires amongst cast

Firmly dispelling rumours that 2014’s Jimmy’s Hall [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: Ken Loach
film profile] would be his last narrative feature, British veteran Ken Loach has commenced principal photography on his next feature I, Daniel Blake [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] at Newcastle and environs. The ongoing shoot will be for a total of six weeks. Long time Loach collaborator Paul Laverty (The Wind That Shakes the Barley [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ken Loach
interview: Rebecca O’Brien
film profile]) has written the script that follows a 50 something carpenter who needs state welfare after falling ill. He comes across a single mother whose circumstances also compel her to seek the refuge of the welfare state; only, negotiating the red tape proves to be a challenge. Dave Johns and Hayley Squires are playing the leads.

The film is produced by Sixteen Films’ Rebecca O’Brien and is a co-production with Why Not Productions and Wild Bunch. The British Film Institute and BBC Films are backing the project.

Loach is a Cannes regular, being nominated several times for the Palme d’Or and winning it for The Wind That Shakes the Barley. It is therefore conceivable that I, Daniel Blake will get its first international outing at Cannes 2016. 

Wild Bunch is handing international sales. eOne Films will release the film in the UK and Ireland in 2016.