High Point gets Passionate
High Point Films has acquired international rights for A Passionate Woman, based on Kay Mellor’s feel-good play that enjoyed a successful West End run. Mellor (Fanny and Elvis) will co-direct the film with Antonia Bird (Ravenous).
The film – which stars Billie Piper, Sue Johnston, Alun Armstrong and Frances Barber – recounts the tale of a young married mother who has an affair with her Polish neighbour in the 50s with disastrous, and hilarious, consequences 30 years later on her son’s wedding day.
The production will be shot at various locations in Leeds with Regional Screen Agency Screen Yorkshire putting in £250,000 and executive producing. In the UK, the film will broadcast as a two-part mini series on BBC 1 whilst, internationally, High Point will present it to buyers as a feature film.
Hugo Heppell, executive producer of A Passionate Woman and head of production at Screen Yorkshire, said, “We are thrilled to be able to help Kay Mellor bring her much cherished, worldwide smash hit play to the big screen. We believe the film will have huge appeal for international audiences and festivals and brilliantly evoke the time Room at the Top put Yorkshire on the world cinema map.
“With a longer version being made for the BBC, and featuring stellar British talent...and newcomer Theo James, A Passionate Woman will be one of the stand-out productions of 2010.”
High Point’s Carey Fitzgerald said, “Kay Mellor has a deservedly robust reputation as one of the top dramatists working in the UK today and we are proud to be taking A Passionate Woman to the international market.”
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