Film4's Shame and Wuthering Heights bound for Venice

1 August 2011

The Venice Film Festival, which takes place between 31st August and 10th September 2011, has invited two highly anticipated Film4-backed films to screen at the festival this year. 

The Film4 contingent is Steve McQueen's Shame and Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights who will both be in the running for the prestigious Golden Lion Award.

Co-written and directed by Turner Prize winner, Steve McQueen (Hunger), Shame sees Brandon (Michael Fassbender), a 30-something man living in New York City, struggle in controlling and managing his sexual compulsions once his willful younger sister (Carey Mulligan) moves in.

Wuthering Heights features Kaya Scodelario (Skins) and James Howson, the first black actor to play the character of Heathcliff, and promises a raw and edgy take on the classic novel.

On this year's festival line up, Channel 4's Controller of Film and Drama, Tessa Ross said: ‘We are honoured to have two exceptional films in the Venice line-up this year. 2011 has seen some fantastic new projects which demonstrate the range of talent and audience that we support. Undoubtedly, it is a delight to be part of such a prestigious festival.'

The directorial debut from Debbie Tucker Green, adapted from her critically acclaimed play at London's Royal Court Theatre, is a gripping drama starring Nadine Marshall

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 U.K., 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, Mike Leigh's Another Year, Mark Romanek's Never Let Me Go, Chris Morris' Four Lions and Peter Mullan's NEDS.

Film4's 2011 releases have included Kevin Macdonald's The Eagle, Richard Ayoade's Submarine and Joe Cornish's directorial debut Attack The Block which recently won the Midnight Screening Audience Award at SXSW. Shortly due for release are Ben Palmer's The Inbetweeners Movie, Lone Scherfig's One Day,  Miranda July's second film The Future, Paddy Considine's debut feature Tyrannosaur, Ben Wheatley's Kill List and Terence Davies' The Deep Blue Sea, all released in the UK later this year. 

Film4's current productions include Pawel Pawlikowski's The Woman In The Fifth, Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady, Steve McQueen's Shame, Walter Salles' On The Road, Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights and Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio.

For further information visit http://www.film4.com/productions