Francesca Annis stars in Lucy Kirkwood's short film, The Briny

8 July 2014

Francesca Annis stars alongside Larry Lamb, Stephen Campbell Moore, Emma Fielding and Anna-Maria Nabirye in Lucy Kirkwood’s directorial debut The Briny, a Film4-backed short film which has just wrapped filming in Suffolk.

The Briny is the first film from Olivier award-winning playwright and screenwriter Lucy Kirkwood (Chimerica, NSFW, The Smoke). She directs her own original script which tells the story of Maureen (Annis), a woman who believes herself to be suffering from a sympathetic pregnancy to the Royal baby.

Eva Yates, Senior Development Executive at Film4, says: “Our shorts slate epitomises what Film4 exists to do in finding new voices in British film – giving distinctive creative talent the chance to take their first steps into filmmaking with full support from industry professionals. The calibre of cast and crew for The Briny is testament to Lucy’s originality of vision and great potential as a filmmaker as she brings this poignant and surreal story to life.”

Allon Reich of DNA Films, says: “We all loved Chimerica and are thrilled to be producing Lucy's funny, touching and cinematic short film at DNA. We are sure this is just the start of her career as a writer and director for the big screen.”

In preparing for the shoot, Lucy Kirkwood shadowed Paolo Sorrentino (The Great Beauty) on the set of the Film4-backed Youth, currently shooting and starring Michael Caine, Rachel Weisz, Harvey Keitel, Paul Dano and Jane Fonda.

The Briny is produced by Alex Kendall and Teresa Moneo of DNA Films, with Andrew Macdonald, Allon Reich, and Joanne Smith executive producing alongside Film4’s Eva Yates.

Cinematography is by Charlotte Bruus Christensen (The Hunt, Far From the Madding Crowd, Anton Corbijn’s upcoming Life). Production design is by Alison Butler (Liam & Lenka, Cherry Tree Lane), Costumes by Holly Waddington (Ginger & Rosa) and editing by Hazel Baillie (In Our Name, Black Mirror).

Film4’s current shorts slate also includes screenwriter and playwright Sean Buckley’s Polar Bear, produced by Inflammable Films, due to shoot this summer and ahead of which Buckley spent time shadowing Justin Kurzel on the set of Macbeth; and Bat for Lashes musician Natasha Khan’s filmmaking debut Gotcha, produced by Cowboy Films, currently in development due to shoot later this year.

Film4’s supports a small number of short films each year, enabling creative talent to gain invaluable experience of the filmmaking process from start to finish – from acquiring knowledge and familiarity on set and fostering relationships with key crew, to cultivating ideas and developing their visual style. Past Film4-backed shorts include Paddy Considine’s BAFTA-winning Dog Altogether, which became the genesis of Tyrannosaur ; Andrea Arnold’s Wasp, her latest feature American Honey is due to shoot later this year; Chris Morris’s BAFTA-winning My Wrongs 8245-8249 and 117, which preceded Four Lions; Sam Taylor Wood’s BIFA-winning Love You More, ahead of her feature debut Nowhere Boy; and John Maclean’s BAFTA-winning Pitch Black Heist, his first feature Slow West is currently in post-production.

A collection of Film4’s shorts are available to view online at http://www.film4.com/film4-productions/shorts - with further films including Andrea Arnold’s WASP, Jesse Armstrong’s No Kaddish in Carmarthen and Daniel Mulloy’s Baby scheduled for release on the Film4 site in 2014.

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, 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.

Film4’s recent and upcoming slate includes Jonathan Glazer’s UNDER THE SKIN, Richard Ayoade’s THE DOUBLE, David Mackenzie’s STARRED UP, Lone Sherfig’s THE RIOT CLUB, Lenny Abrahamson’s FRANK, Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard’s 20,000 DAYS ON EARTH, Kevin Macdonald’s BLACK SEA, Sarah Gavron’s SUFFRAGETTE, Todd Haynes’ CAROL, Justin Kurzel’s MACBETH, Debbie Tucker Green’s SECOND COMING, Mike Leigh’s MR. TURNER, Ken Loach’s JIMMY’S HALL, Alex Garland’s EX MACHINA, Yann Demange’s ’71, Damon Beesley and Iain Morris’s INBETWEENERS II and Anton Corbijn’s A MOST WANTED MAN.

For further information visit www.film4.com/productions<http://www.film4.com/productions>
@Film4Insider

DNA Films

DNA Films is run by Andrew Macdonald and his producing partner Allon Reich and is one of the UK’s most successful film production companies, producing over 20 films since 2000.  Based in London, DNA has produced for Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Searchlight, Universal and Entertainment Film Distributors.  Forthcoming releases include Alex Garland's Ex-Machina and Thomas Vinterberg's Thomas Hardy classic, Far From the Madding Crowd.  Previous productions include Sunshine on Leith (2013) Dredd (2012), Never Let Me Go (2010), 28 Weeks Later (2008), Sunshine (2007), The Last King of Scotland (2006), Notes on a Scandal (2006), The History Boys (2005), 28 Days Later (2002), The Beach (2000), Trainspotting (1996) and Shallow Grave (1994).

www.dnafilms.com