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PRODUCTION UK

BBC Films reveals raft of films shooting this year

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- Stephen Frears, Lone Scherfig and Ricky Gervais projects get under way

BBC Films reveals raft of films shooting this year
Director Stephen Frears

BBC Films has announced several films that are in pre-production and are due to film this year. Stephen FrearsFlorence Foster Jenkins [+see also:
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tells the story of the world’s worst soprano who sold out Carnegie Hall, and stars Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant. Lone Scherfig will direct Their Finest Hour and a Half [+see also:
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 based on the novel by Lissa Evans. Amanda Posey and Stephen Woolley will produce the hilarious and moving portrait of the topsy-turvy world of wartime London. City of Tiny Lights [+see also:
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 is a contemporary detective thriller based on the novel by Patrick Neate. Produced by Ado Yoshizaki, Charles Steel and Rebecca O’Brien, Pete Travis directs and the cast includes Riz Ahmed and Cush Jumbo. Ricky Gervais writes and directs Life on the Road, the film about his seminal creation David Brent, who, 15 years on is a travelling salesman who wants to be a rockstar. Gervais will produce with Charlie Hanson.

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BBC Films has also invested in two new initiatives. ‘Greenlight’ is a joint venture with the National Film and Television School (NFTS) to fund one short film a year for three years directed and crewed by NFTS recent graduates. By giving the successful filmmakers access to a bigger budget, the aim is to accelerate the process from student filmmaking to full-scale access to the industry.

‘Screenplay First’ is a screenwriting award to be curated by BBC Writersroom in collaboration with BBC Films. The award will be open to writers with previous credits in theatre, TV or radio but have yet to have a feature film commissioned. In addition to a prize of £10,000, the winner will receive assistance with development from BBC Films.

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