20/06/2008

The Film Agency for Wales (FWA) has announced development finance for Welsh writer Phil Charles’ British feature comedy Mr Manchester.

The film deals with a debt-ridden, womanising builder who enters a gay beauty competition for the attractive prize money. He keeps his heterosexuality secret and his life is changed forever.

Set in Manchester, it is the first feature film to be developed by Snowball Pictures, the production company run by Lee Ruette and Britt Harrison.

Charles said, “Britt & Lee’s feedback and direction has been invaluable, and being Cardiff born and bred I’m thrilled to be developing my first feature with support from the Film Agency for Wales.”

Harrison said, “Lee and I are delighted to be working with Phil Charles on his terrific script. It is a testament to the universal ambitions and power of so many of the Welsh writers I had the privilege of working with during my tenure at the Film Agency.”

Ruette added, “If you’re going to tell people the truth, be funny or they’ll kill you. Britt and I feel incredibly lucky to be working with Phil on his rich script.”

Keith Potter, the Head of Talent for the FWA said, “As an agency, our role is to support and nurture Welsh filmmaking talent. Working with Britt and Lee at Snowball Pictures, Phil has developed a script that shows all the makings of a popular, mainstream comedy.”

“Once again, we’re delighted to have an opportunity to support a Welsh writer who’s developed a terrific script - our primary motivation for financially supporting a project, whatever its genre, budget or setting.”