Film4 unveils a bold slate of auteur-driven films in Cannes

Film4 today unveiled a bold and blistering upcoming slate from a range of established auteurs and first-time filmmakers at the Cannes Film Festival.

Offering a preview of forthcoming Film4-backed projects, head of Film4 Tessa Ross said:  “The range of storytelling and talent showcased in these films is extraordinary.  Whether it’s a debut director embarking on their first feature, or a seasoned filmmaker making their twentieth film, what links them all together is a singular vision and unwavering passion to create something bold and resonant.  We hope there’s a film in there for everyone to get excited about – we certainly can’t wait for audiences to see them.”  

Film4 forthcoming film completed / in-production include:

• Michael Fassbender as MACBETH and Marion Cotillard as his Lady Macbeth in Justin Kurzel’s visceral interpretation of Shakespeare’s Scottish play
• A powerful film on the women’s rights movement, SUFFRAGETTE, written by Abi Morgan, directed by Sarah Gavron, and starring Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson, Anne-Marie Duff, Ben Whishaw, Romola Garai and Meryl Streep
• Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in Todd Haynes’ CAROL, written by Phyllis Nagy and based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel
• Lone Scherfig’s THE RIOT CLUB, adapted by Laura Wade from her acclaimed West End play Posh, starring Sam Claflin, Max Irons and Douglas Booth
• Jude Law in Kevin Macdonald’s submarine thriller BLACK SEA, written by Dennis Kelly
• Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz in Yorgos Lanthimos’ dystopian love story THE LOBSTER
• Andrew Haigh’s authentic and moving exploration of marriage, 45 YEARS, starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay 
• Anton Corbijn’s LIFE starring Robert Pattinson as photographer Dennis Stock and Dane DeHaan as fledgling star James Dean
• Gerard Johnson’s crime thriller HYENA, recently announced to open this year’s Edinburgh Film Festival
• Peter Strickland’s deeply atmospheric look at relationships and ritual THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY
• Powerful documentaries Angus Macqueen’s THE LEGEND OF SHORTY, Louise Osmond’s DARK HORSE and Brian Hill’s THOMAS QUICK (working title)
• Debut features from BAFTA short film winner John Maclean (SLOW WEST), Olivier Award-winning playwright Debbie Tucker Green (SECOND COMING), Top Boy director Yann Demange (’71), screenwriter Alex Garland (EX MACHINA), artists Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard (20,000 DAYS ON EARTH), Inbetweeners creators Damon Beesley and Iain Morris (THE INBETWEENERS II)  music video director Daniel Wolfe (CATCH ME DADDY) and Dr Who director Adam Smith (TRESPASS AGAINST US)
• Short films from Bat for Lashes musician Natasha Khan, award-winning Chimerica playwright Lucy Kirkwood and award-winning playwriter/Skins writer Sean Buckley

Alongside previewing forthcoming projects, Film4 also has three titles world-premiering on the Croisette.  Competing for the esteemed Palme D’Or in Official Selection are Mike Leigh’s MR. TURNER, a biopic of British painter J.M.W. Turner starring Timothy Spall, and Ken Loach’s JIMMY’S HALL, the story of Irish social activist James Gralton and the dance-hall he fought to protect.  CATCH ME DADDY, the debut feature from acclaimed music video and commercials director Daniel Wolfe, premieres in Director’s Fortnight. 

FUTURE PRODUCTIONS  
Film4 also announced their involvement in future productions including Andrea Arnold’s AMERICAN HONEY, Elizabeth Stoppard’s FORGIVENESS, Ben Wheatley’s HIGHRISE, Susanna White’s OUR KIND OF TRAITOR, Lenny Abrahamson’s ROOM, Shane Meadows’ TOMMY SIMPSON and Paddy Considine’s THE YEARS OF THE LOCUST.

Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division.  It develops and co-finances films with an annual budget of £15 million and is known for working with the most innovative talent in the UK.

Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years, Academy Award-winners such as Steve McQueen’s 12 YEARS A SLAVE, Danny Boyle’s SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, Martin McDonagh’s IN BRUGES and Phyllida Lloyd’s THE IRON LADY; critically-acclaimed award-winners such as Mike Leigh’s ANOTHER YEAR, Chris Morris’ FOUR LIONS, Shane Meadows’ THIS IS ENGLAND, Ben Wheatley’s SIGHTSEERS and Clio Barnard’s THE SELFISH GIANT; and the most successful British comedy at the UK box office, Ben Palmer’s THE INBETWEENERS MOVIE.

Recent releases includes Jonathan Glazer’s UNDER THE SKIN, Richard Ayoade’s THE DOUBLE, David Mackenzie’s STARRED UP and Lenny Abrahamson’s FRANK.