09/08/2013 - Film Fund supports Sleeping Out by Philippa Lowthorpe, Departure by Andrew Steggall, and The Incident by Jane Linfoot

The British Film Institute (BFI) Film Fund is supporting the feature debuts of three emerging filmmakers under the aegis of their First Feature Awards for first time directors’ projects budgeted under £2 million. The three films are Philippa Lowthorpe’s Sleeping Out, Andrew Steggall’s Departure and Jane Linfoot’s The Incident.

Lowthorpe is a BAFTA-winning veteran of British television. Sleeping Out is a Leeds-set drama about teenage friendship. Steggall honed his craft in theatre and opera before turning to shorts and now a feature. Departure borrows elements of opera and mythology to chart the unravelling of an English family in the South of France. Linfoot has directed four acclaimed shorts. The Incident will tell the story of a couple whose comfortable lives are disrupted when they ignore the plight of a troubled young girl.

Ben Roberts, Director of the BFI Film Fund, said, “It’s gratifying to see a diversity of voices finding opportunities through our First Feature strand. We felt that Philippa, Andrew and Jane would bring unique and distinctive qualities to their work, and we’re pleased to be supporting their journeys.”

BFI Film Fund applicants who receive a positive decision in principle are issued with a Letter of Intent, enabling some of the projects to secure the final stage of their funding by demonstrating the Film Fund’s commitment and endorsement.