LONDON, Thursday 29th October - Film4 has won an inaugural Star Of London Award at the London International Film Festival, where The Scouting Book For Boys’ screen screenwriter Jack Thorne picked up the Best Newcomer prize.

Film4 is also nominated for nine prestigious British Independent Film Awards (BIFAS), for Sam Taylor Wood’s Nowhere Boy, which receives its World Premiere at the London International Film Festival tonight, Paul King’s Bunny And The Bull, which is released in November and Ken Loach’s Looking For Eric. The BIFAS will be held in London on Sunday 6 December.

Nowhere Boy about the life and times of the young John Lennon has been nominated for six awards. Besides nods for Best Actor (Aaron Johnson), Best Supporting Actress (Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff) and Best Screenplay (Matt Greenheigh), filmmaker Sam Taylor-Wood has been nominated for the Douglas Hickox Award for best debut director, and the picture is in the running for the Best British Independent Film Award.

Bunny And The Bull Paul ‘Mighty Boosh’ King’s absurd comedy has scored two nominations – Best Production Design and Best Achievement In Production.

Looking For Eric Ken Loach’s cracking comedy-drama has also been recognised. John Henshaw is up for Best Supporting Actor.

About Film4
Film4, headed by Tessa Ross, is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. The company develops and co-finances film productions and is known for working with the most innovative talent in the UK, whether new or established. Film4 is a founding partner of the Warp X digital studio.

Film4’s latest release was Ken Loach’s Cannes competition film, Looking for Eric. Other 2009 releases include Danny Boyle’s, Slumdog Millionaire; Steve McQueen’s Hunger; Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges; Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky and Michael Winterbottom’s Genova.

Upcoming Film4 releases include Paul King’s Bunny and the Bull; Xiaolu Guo’s She, A Chinese, winner of the Golden Leopard at Locarno Film Festival earlier this year; Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones; Chris Morris’ Four Lions and Sam Taylor Wood’s Nowhere Boy.

Currently completing post production are Kevin Macdonald’s Eagle of the Ninth; Mark Romanek’s Never Let Me Go; Peter Mullan’s Neds, Hideo Nakata’s Chat Room and Mike Leigh’s 09 Project.

Press contact:
Debra Johnson
020 8206 5151
debra.johnson@taylorherring.com

Brand new series starts 9pm, Tuesday 2 June, Channel 4

With the onset of credit crunch Britain, customers have become more selective about where they do their shopping and how much they spend. As one of the UK’s retail giants, Sainsbury’s is facing one of the most competitive climates in living memory. Chief Executive, Justin King, has come up with a plan.

He believes that somewhere on the shop floor, among the shelf stackers, cleaners, trolley pushers and checkout workers, may lie the next big idea that will give the supermarket the edge. So he has decided to allow four shop floor workers the opportunity to try and roll their ideas out across the business, or take up a position of power where they can endeavour to make a difference. Cameras will follow every challenge, obstacle and success along the way. Will they be able to handle the responsibilities and stresses? Will their suggestions actually work?

How will the Sainsbury’s executive team handle taking directions from a shelf-stacker? And has Justin hit on an innovative new idea or is he unleashing chaos on his own company? I’m Running Sainsbury’s is a four part documentary series which starts on Tuesday 2 June at 9pm on Channel 4.

I’m Running Sainsbury’s is a Silver River production for Channel 4.

For more information and interviews with the contributors contact Nicola Dann at Taylor Herring PR on 020 8206 5151 or email: nicola.dann@taylorherring.com

Film4’s phenomenal success this awards season continues with 8 Oscars for Danny Boyle’s Film4 funded Slumdog Millionaire including Best Motion Picture, Best Director, Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score.

Tessa Ross, Controller of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama said: “We are over the moon that the Oscars have acknowledged and rewarded British independent film this year. It is hugely important for the talent to see their work recognised internationally and is a great reassurance that it is worthwhile taking creative risks. At a time when the future of public service broadcasting, and therefore Film4’s own future is being debated as never before, it is wonderful to see films, that would not exist without Film4’s continual support, garner global recognition. Britain needs these break out films to show the international film industry that there is a huge appetite and audience for independent British film.”

Slumdog Millionaire, which was originally optioned and developed by Film4 and subsequently co-financed with Celador also picked up Achievement in Cinematography, Achievement in Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Song) for Jai Ho, Achievement in Film Editing and Achievement in Sound Mixing.

Slumdog Millionaire is currently storming the international box office and has taken £21million at the UK box office since opening on January 9th. Recently it picked up 7 BAFTA awards, following four wins at the Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director – Motion Picture.

The full details of the Oscar awards are as follows:

Best Motion Picture – Slumdog Millionaire (Christian Colson, Producer)
Achievement in Directing – Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Adapted Screenplay – Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Achievement in cinematography – Anthony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire
Achievement in film editing – Chris Dickens, Slumdog Millionaire
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (original score) – A.R. Raham, Slumdog Millionaire
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (original song) – “Jai Ho”, Slumdog Millionaire. Music by A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Gulzar
Achievement in sound mixing – Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty, Slumdog Millionaire

Film4 has had a spectacular awards season scooping an impressive 9 awards at the BAFTAs including Best Film and Director for Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Original Screenplay for In Bruges and The Carl Foreman Award For Special Achievement By A British Director, Writer Or Producer For Their First Feature Film for Hunger. Film4 also won six awards at the Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director – Motion Picture for Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.

Previous Oscar wins for Film4 include Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland in 2007 and Best Live Action Short Film for Six Shooter in 2006. Visit www.channel4.com/film

Film4 Press contact: Taylor Herring PR 0208 206 5151

Channel 4 will market upcoming shows through a ‘bookable trails’ service.

When watching a promo for an upcoming series viewers are prompted to press the green button on their remote control. The interactive green button service encourages views to watch or record programmes. If viewers have Sky Plus, they are given the option to record the series.

(source: Brand Republic)

Film4 is celebrating today after scooping an unprecedented six awards at last night’s Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director – Motion Picture for Danny Boyle’s Film4 funded Slumdog Millionaire.

Slumdog Millionaire took away four awards in total including Best Screenplay – Motion Picture for Simon Beaufoy and Best Original Score – Motion Picture for A. R. Rahman. Colin Farrell received the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Award – Musical or Comedy for his role in Martin McDonagh’s Film4 funded In Bruges. The award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy went to Sally Hawkins for Mike Leigh’s Film4 funded Happy-Go-Lucky.

Tessa Ross, Controller of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama said:

“The success for Film4 at the Golden Globes is testament to the creative talent that exists in the UK. In this current climate it is a real boost to the British film industry to be recognised for its achievements. At Film4 we are about nurturing projects that wouldn’t necessarily secure funding elsewhere to bring fresh ideas to life on the big screen.”

Last night’s success follows wins for Happy-Go-Lucky and Slumdog Millionaire at the Annual National Society of Film Critics Awards in early January. Happy-Go-Lucky took four awards – Best Director and Screenwriter for Mike Leigh, Best Actress for Sally Hawkins and Best Supporting Actor for Eddie Marsan. Slumdog Millionaire took the Best Cinematography Award.

Slumdog Millionaire also performed well at last week’s BFCA Critics’ Choice Awards where it picked up five awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Writer (Original or Adapted Screenplay), Best Young Actor for Dev Patel and Best Composer.

Whether it’s rock, indie, pop or hip-hop, unsigned acts from all music genres were invited to take part for the chance to be mentored and nurtured by some of the most renowned music experts in the industry and win a recording contract with Universal Records. The 12 week run is almost at its end and the finalists have been chosen.

Bo Bruce, Tommy Reilly, Toby Sebastian and Hip Parade will battle it out in the live final on Sunday 25th January. Special guest judge Lily Allen will join the prestigious panel which includes the new addition of TV and radio presenter, Lauren Laverne, Britain’s most respected female radio DJ, Jo Whiley, famed bassist, Alex James from Brit Pop band Blur, and the man who discovered Duffy, Head of A & M Records, Simon Gavin. The foursome will be joined by quirky presenter Alex Zane. 

For interview requests with Alex Zane, Alex James, Simon Gavin, Lauren Laverne and the 10 finalists please contact ashley.charles@taylorherring.com.