LUFF returns with 12 premieres

by Naman Ramachandran

29/05/2012 - Film London’s annual London UK Film Focus (LUFF, June 25-28) will showcase 12 premiere titles and has over 150 international film buyers and festival directors participating. The 12 films will premiere with the aim of securing international sales. The 2011 LUFF resulted in $11.5m of sales, the highest in the event’s eight-year history.

Films premiering include Ashes, directed by Mat Whitecross (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll), and starring Ray Winstone, Jim Sturgess and Leslie Manville; Charles Sturridge’s The Scapegoat, based on a Daphne du Maurier novel and starring Matthew Rhys (Patagonia); and Julien Temple’s documentary about London’s music scene, BabyLon/don.

Helena Mackenzie, Head of Inward Investment & Business Development at Film London says, “LUFF offers a unique avenue for British film to reach international audiences and, most importantly, it achieves results. Consistently securing millions of dollars in international sales deals, the numbers alone prove its relevance and success as part of the industry calendar.”

LUFF's Breakthrough strand provides a platform for emerging British filmmakers seeking sales representation. Titles selected this year include Film London Microwave's Borrowed Time, directed by Jules Bishop and starring Phil Davies, Swandown a documentary directed by Andrew Kötting, and Day of the Flowers, directed by John Roberts starring Eva Birthistle and Charity Wakefield.

LUFF 2012's primary funders are Film London and the British Film Institute (BFI), with support from Mayor of London, Film Export UK and UK Trade & Investment.