Better Things selected for Cannes
Better Things, the first feature film from British director Duane Hopkins, has been selected for the Critics' Week competition at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
LONDON – Monday 12 May 2008. Better Things, the first feature film from British director Duane Hopkins, has been selected for the Critics' Week competition at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
Set in a small, rural community in the Cotswolds, Better Things tells the story of a group of young people as they struggle to come to terms with the difficulties of growing up in a world of limited opportunities, whilst their parents and grandparents try to hold their families and their own relationships together. The cast features up and coming actors as well as non-professional actors.
Better Things received £300,000 of National Lottery funding from the UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund and has already been acquired for cinema release in the UK by Soda Pictures. In addition, Hopkins' short film Love Me or Leave Me Alone was supported by the New Cinema Fund/Film4 short film initiative Cinema Extreme.
Hopkins and his producer collaborator Samm Haillay first hit the international film industry radar in Cannes in 2004 when they won the MEDIA New Talent Prize for best screenplay for Better Things. Duane and Sam will be the special guests in an open discussion with Time Out Film Editor Dave Calhoun in the UK Film Centre in the International Village on Monday 19 May, 3.30pm (seats available on first-come, first-served basis).
Samm Haillaysays, "Better Things' selection for the Critics' Week this year is fantastic news for the director, the producers and everyone connected with the film. Cannes represents an important platform for artistically driven film and we are very proud to be part of a distinguished history of films that have been invited to premiere at the festival."
Lenny Crooks of the UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund says, "We're delighted that Duane Hopkins' first feature film has been selected for Critics' Week at Cannes. Part of our work is about finding and supporting new talent and I'm glad that we've been able to help Duane from shorts to feature films and we all wish him the very best for Cannes."
"Duane is a rare talent and deserves this platform at Cannes," adds Peter Carlton at Film4. "As a first feature, Better Things demonstrates a remarkably confident and singular approach to cinema. Film4 joins its partners in wishing Duane every success as this film begins to reach the international audiences it should."
Debbie Williams, Chief Executive EM Media comments, "In a festival which can introduce the best of world cinema the official selection of Better Things is a fantastic achievement and we congratulate all involved - writer/director Duane Hopkins, producer Samm Haillay and are delighted our production finance and continued support for producers Alistair Clark and Rachel Robey of Wellington Films has produced such a memorable film."
Better Things has been co-funded by the UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund with Film4, EM Media (through the European Regional Development Fund), ZDF-Arte, Northern Film and Media, and the Glasgow Film Office and produced by Third Films, Wellington Films and Flying Moon Filmproduktion. Celluloid Dreams is handling international sales.
Also screening at Cannes in the official selections are:
- Terence Davies' Of Time and the City (Special Screening)
- Steve McQueen's Hunger (Un Certain Regard)
- Thomas Clay's Soi Cowboy (Un Certain Regard)
- Sam Taylor Wood's Love You More (Short Films Selection)
For press enquiries please contact:
Caroline Nagle / Tina McFarling
UK Film Council press office
T: +44 (0)20 7861 7508/7901
E: press@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
Notes to Editors
The UK Film Council is the Government backed lead agency for film in the UK. We aim to make sure that the UK has a dynamic film industry fit for the digital age and to help UK audiences enjoy the best of British and world cinema.
