24/10/2006

UK broadcaster Channel 4 is launching its newly re-branded film arm Film4, (previously FilmFour) at the 50th London Film Festival (LFF), where four of its new co-productions are having their UK premieres.

UK Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Kevin Macdonald was the first to walk down the red carpet last Wednesday, with Forest Whitaker, Gillian Anderson and James McAvoy, the stars of his first feature film The Last King of Scotland, which opened the festival. The story of a Scottish doctor who falls under the spell of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin was greeted with warm applause. 20th Century Fox will release it on January 12, 2007.

Venus, re-uniting director Roger Michell with writer Hanif Kureishi ( The Mother [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), had the honour of being chosen as the Mayor of London Gala screening. The coming-of-very-old-age story starring Peter O’Toole and Leslie Phillips will be released by BVI on January 26.

Penny Woolcock’s Mischief Night, the third part of her Tina trilogy, is a comedy about race, love, religion and childhood, set in a multi-cultural neighbourhood in Northern England. It is screening in the New British Cinema slot and will be released nationwide by Verve Pictures on November 3.

Shane Meadows’ This is England [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which received a standing ovation at the RomeFilmFest and won a Special Prize, will now be shown at London’s Films on the Square ahead of its domestic release through Optimum Releasing.

Tessa Ross, Head of Film4 and C4 Drama, said: “Film4 has been intimately involved in nurturing these original and ambitious films from the beginning. Their screening at the London Film Festival marks the continuation of an exciting year for Film 4, during which we have worked with some of the most important and innovative filmmaking talent in the country and constantly striven to maintain our position as the most distinctive force in British cinema.”

Film4’s upcoming productions include David Mackenzie’s Hallam Foe, Sarah Gavron’s Brick Lane, Anand Tucker’s And When Did You Last See Your Father, Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges, and Mike Leigh’s new film.