Ben Wheatley's A Field in England

8 May 2013

Film4, Picturehouse Entertainment, 4DVD, Film4 Channel partner for day-and-date release– with support from the BFI Distribution Fund

Ben Wheatley’s A Field in England will be the first ever film to be released in UK nationwide cinemas, on free TV, on DVD and on Video-on-Demand on the same day – with Film4, Picturehouse Entertainment, 4DVD and Film4 Channel partnering for nationwide multi-platform distribution on Friday 5th July.  The film is one of the first to receive funding from the BFI Distribution Fund New Models strand, which supports experimental and ambitious release models.

The unique release will give audiences and fans of Wheatley’s previous films (Down Terrace, Kill List, Sightseers) the choice of how and where to experience his new film – a brilliant psychedelic trip into magic and madness – whether it’s amidst an audience in the cinema, followed by a satellite Q&A with Ben and the cast; delving into multiple extras on a special edition DVD; from the comfort of the sofa showcased with a director’s intro and interview on TV; or the freedom to watch when they want on VoD.  The more intrepid audiences can also follow in the footsteps of the film’s characters, with screenings planned in a field (or few) in England across the summer.

A Field in England is the first feature to be developed and fully financed through Film4’s innovation hub Film4.0, and was conceived as a film which would be funded, shot, edited and distributed in an agile and ambitious way.   A digital masterclass designed to immerse audiences in the making of the film will also launch around release, developed by Film4.0 in partnership with the filmmakers.  Through behind-the-scenes interviews, on-set videos, and unseen rushes, Ben Wheatley, cast and key crew will take the audience on a unique journey through the creative choices that determined the final cut. 

Ben Wheatley says: "It's great to team up with Film4 to make this film and to work with new partners such as Picturehouse and 4DVD. We have tried to innovate with this film, in production and distribution. I'm very proud of the results and look forward to sharing the film with the audience."

Anna Higgs, Film4.0 Commissioning Editor, says: “From the word go, A Field in England was a hugely original idea - you'd expect no less from Ben and Amy – so we wanted to build the project with the team in a way that was true to that. The film is a really exciting next step in the progression of Ben's work as a director and will be something the likes of which a whole generation of audiences won't have ever seen.  I'm incredibly pleased we've formed this innovative partnership to take this brilliant film out to them in a truly ground-breaking way."

Sue Bruce-Smith, Film4’s Head of Commercial and Brand Strategy, says: “Ben is undoubtedly one of our boldest, brightest and most audience savvy filmmakers and so it made complete sense to look to develop a project with him that would lend itself to this kind of daring and innovative release. We’re lucky to have found in Picturehouse Entertainment, 4DVD, the Film4 channel and BFI partners who share our vision to disrupt the status quo and experiment with new distribution patterns, to create this exciting event style release.”

Clare Binns, Director of Programming and Acquisitions, says: "We're proud to have an intimate understanding of our audience, as are Film4, which is what makes this collaboration so exciting. Our eagerness to explore and experiment with new platforms of distribution in an evolving film landscape makes us all the more thrilled to be able to get this innovative film out there to the audience it so readily deserves. Ben Wheatley is a genuinely unique British talent and we could not be happier to be working with him on this film."

A Field in England is written by Amy Jump and produced by Claire Jones and Andy Starke at Rook Films, with Anna Higgs Executive Producer for Film4.  Protagonist Pictures are handling international sales.

Cont’d…
A FIELD IN ENGLAND

England during the Civil War.

A small group of deserters flee from a raging battle through an overgrown field. They are captured by two men: O'Neil and Cutler.

O'Neil (Michael Smiley), an alchemist, forces the group to aid him in his search to find a hidden treasure that he believes is buried in the field.

Crossing a vast mushroom circle, which provides their first meal, the group quickly descend into a chaos of arguments, fighting and paranoia, and, as it becomes clear that the treasure might be something other than gold, they slowly become victim to the terrifying energies trapped inside the field.

A Field in England stars Michael Smiley (Kill List), Peter Ferdinando (Tony), Reece Shearsmith (The League of Gentlemen), Julian Barratt (The Mighty Boosh), Richard Glover (Sightseers) and Ryan Pope (Ideal).

Press Contacts

A Field in England press requests please contact Zoe Flower:
zoe@emfoundation.com / 020 7247 4171

Film4 press requests please contact Lyndsey Honour:

lhonour@channel4.co.uk / 020 7306 8572

Picturehouse Entertainment press requests please contact Charles McDonald:

charles@charlesmcdonald.co.uk / 0207 736 3445 / 07785 246 377

BFI press please contact Emma Hewitt:
Emma Hewitt / +44 (0)20 7173 3256 / +44 (0)7584 264 618

http://www.film4.com/reviews/2013/a-field-in-england

Editors Notes

About Film4

Film4, headed by Tessa Ross, is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most innovative talent in the UK, whether new or established.

Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years, films like Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire  and 127 Hours, Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges, Steve McQueen’s Hunger and Shame, Mike Leigh’s Another Year, Chris Morris’ Four Lions , Richard Ayoade’s Submarine,  Joe Cornish’s Attack The Block , Lone Scherfig’s One Day, Ben Wheatley’s Kill List, Paddy Considine’s Tyrannosaur and Ben Palmer’s The Inbetweeners Movie.

Recent releases include Andrea Arnold’s Wuthering Heights, Terence Davies’ The Deep Blue Sea, Carol Morley’s Dreams of a Life, Phyllida Lloyd’s The Iron Lady, Pawel Pawlikowski’s The Woman In The Fifth, Bart Layton’s The Imposter, Peter Strickland’s Berberian Sound Studio and Walter Salles’ On the Road, Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers, Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths, Roger Michell’s Hyde Park on Hudson and Danny Boyle’s Trance.

Forthcoming releases include Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant, Sophie Fiennes’ The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology, Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, Shane Meadows’ The Stone Roses: Made of Stone, Kevin Macdonald’s How I Live Now, Paul Wright’s For Those in Peril, James Griffiths’ Cuban Fury, Richard Ayoade’s The Double, Michael Winterbottom’s The Look of Love, Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave and Roger Michell’s Le Weekend. For further information visit www.film4.com/productions

Film4 Channel, Channel 4’s free-to-air film channel, is the UK’s number one film channel, and fourth largest digital channel overall.  It screens a mix of major Hollywood and British films, independent and world cinema, timeless classics and cult favourites, through an innovative schedule that features regular themed strands and seasons. It also showcases the films made by Film4 Productions, including the award-winning The Iron Lady, Shame, Attack the Block and Kill List.

About Picturehouse Entertainment

Picturehouse Entertainment is the distribution arm of Picturehouse Cinemas, the owner and operator of 21 Picturehouse Cinemas and programming agent for a further 46 venues around the country. Formed in 1989 to challenge the multiplex model, Picturehouse Cinemas are Britain’s largest circuit of independent cinemas, located in city centres and offering diverse programmes that encompass quality mainstream, family, art-house, independent, foreign-language and documentary films. 

Picturehouse Cinemas have been at the forefront of digital cinema and pioneered live satellite broadcasts, bringing non-film content such as director Q&As, concerts, the New York Met Opera and the Royal Ballet to community cinema screens.

Sister company Picturehouse Entertainment launched in 2010. Its theatrical releases to date include: Jean Becker's My Afternoons with Margueritte; the record-breaking Werner Herzog 3D documentary, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Miranda July’s The Future, Jean-Pierre Améris’ Romantics Anonymous, Rebecca Thomas’s Electrick Children, and BAFTA winner The Imposter. Upcoming releases include Shane Meadows'  The Stone Roses: Made of Stone and Sophie Fiennes' The Pervert's Guide to Ideology. Picturehouse Entertainment also distributes a wide variety of non-film content to cinemas around the country. This includes live satellite transmissions of seasons from world-class arts organisations such as the Bolshoi Ballet and the National Theatre, and special one-off events such as Stephen Fry’s talk, The Fry Chronicles, and Jamie Cullum live at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. 

About Rook Films

Rook Films was started in 2009 by Ben Wheatley & Andy Starke to produce Ben’s first film Down Terrace. Since then Rook has co-produced all of Wheatley’s movies and has a slate of film and television productions with other directors from around the world up and running; including Peter Strickland’s The Duke of Burgundy which will shoot this summer, Sidharth Srinivasan's The Profane and Jim Hosking's Whitaker.

About BFI  

The BFI is the lead organisation for film in the UK with the ambition to create a flourishing film environment in which innovation, opportunity and creativity can thrive by:

• Connecting audiences to the widest choice of British and World cinema
• Preserving and restoring the most significant film collection in the world for today and future generations
• Championing emerging and world class film makers in the UK
• Investing in creative, distinctive and entertaining work
• Promoting British film and talent to the world 
• Growing the next generation of film makers and audiences

The BFI is now a Government arm’s-length body and distributor of Lottery funds for film. The BFI serves a public role which covers the cultural, creative and economic aspects of film in the UK. It delivers this role:

• As the UK-wide organisation for film, a charity core funded by Government
• By providing Lottery and Government funds for film across the UK
• By working with partners to advance the position of film in the UK.

Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter.

The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Greg Dyke.