05/12/2008

No less than 12 British films, including three co-funded by the UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund, have been chosen for the prestigious 25th Sundance Film Festival (January 15-25, 2009).

Armando Iannucci’s political satire In the Loop [+see also:
trailer
film profile] will screen in the festival’s Premiere section while Alexis Dos Santos’ London’s East End-set Unmade Beds [+see also:
trailer
film profile] will screen in the World Cinema Dramatic Section. The latter film boasts of a star cast that includes Déborah François (L’Enfant [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Luc & Jean-Pierre Dardenne
film profile]) and Fernando Tielve (The Devil’s Backbone).

The other UK/Ireland films in this section are Oliver Hirschbiegel’s Five Minutes of Heaven [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Lone Scherfig’s An Education [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and Nicolas Winding Refn’s Bronson [+see also:
trailer
film profile].

Dominic Murphy’s White Lightnin’ [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] about mountain dancer Jesco White will play in the Park City at Midnight section. Momentum Pictures will distribute the film in the UK with Lumina Films handling international sales.

New Cinema Fund Head Lenny Crooks said, “For the second year running Sundance has recognised the enormous creativity at the heart of the new wave of British filmmaking. We’re especially pleased to have supported the creative teams behind the three New Cinema Fund backed films. Sundance is the key entry point into the US for independent films and can boost international sales potential. A strong slate of British films sends out a very powerful message.”

British films in the World Cinema Documentary Competition include Havana Marking’s Afghan Star, Kim Longinotto’s Rough Aunties and Rupert Murray’s The End of the Line. Other British Sundance selections include Peter Travis’ Endgame and Duncan Jones’ Moon.