London, Wednesday 16th December 2009: The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards herald the beginning of the major awards season, and in the nominations announced, The Lovely Bones has been selected for Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture for Stanley Tucci and Chiwetel Ejiofor in Endgame for Best Performance By An Actor In A Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television. Golden Globe winners will be announced on Sunday, January 17th, 2010.

This follows Film4’s early December success at the British Independent Film Awards, where Channel 4’s film arm picked up four awards for Nowhere Boy, Looking For Eric, Bunny & The Bull and Love You More. Steve McQueen’s Hunger also won Best First Film at the New York Critics Circle this week.

Tessa Ross, Controller of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama said: “I’m delighted that the The Lovely Bones and Endgame have been recognised at the Golden Globes. Congratulations and best of luck to Stanley Tucci and Chiwetel Ejiofor for the awards ceremony in January.”

At the recent British Independent Film Awards, Anne-Marie Duff picked up Best Supporting Actress for Film4-funded Nowhere Boy, John Henshaw was awarded Best Supporting Actor for Looking For Eric, Love You More took home Best Short and Best Achievement in Production went to Bunny & The Bull.

Film4’s current slate of British feature films either in production or due to be released includes Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones, Sam Taylor-Wood’s Nowhere Boy, Chris Morris’ Four Lions, which will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Mark Romanek’s Never Let Me Go based on Ishiguro’s novel of the same name, Peter Mullan’s Neds, Mike Leigh’s next film and finally Kevin Macdonald’s Roman epic, The Eagle of the Ninth.

Film4’s reputation for nurturing new talent and building on its family of returning talent in the UK is now well established and with a bill shortly due to be passed enshrining film in Channel 4’s public service remit, that commitment is clearly stronger than ever. Directors such as Danny Boyle, Shane Meadows, Michael Winterbottom, Andrea Arnold, Kevin Macdonald, Ken Loach, Sam Taylor-Wood and Mike Leigh have all benefited from Film4’s unflinching support of their particular vision.

 Taylor Herring PR: (+44) 208 206 5151

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

Film4’s phenomenal success this awards season continues with 12 Oscar nominations across three Film4 titles announced today. Danny Boyle’s Film4 funded Slumdog Millionaire, is in the running for 10 awards including Best Motion Picture, Achievement in Directing, Adapted Screenplay and Music (score) while Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges and Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky are both nominated for Best Original Screenplay. 

Tessa Ross, Controller of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama said: “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. Working with Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy and producer Christian Colson on Slumdog Millionaire has been an absolute joy and we are thrilled their work and that of their talented team has been recognised today. It’s also wonderful to see Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky and Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges up for Best Original Screenplay.”

Slumdog Millionaire is currently storming the international box office and this week enjoyed the most successful second weekend ever for a film at the British box office, taking £2.6million, up a record 44 per cent from its opening weekend. Last week it picked up 11 Bafta nominations, following four wins at the Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director – Motion Picture.

The full details of nominations are as follows:

Best Motion Picture – Slumdog Millionaire (Christian Colson, Producer)
Achievement in Directing – Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Adapted Screenplay – Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Original Screenplay – Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky
Original Screenplay – Martin McDonagh, In Bruges
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 music written for motion pictures (original song) – “O Saya”, Slumdog Millionaire. Music and Lyric by A.R. Raham and Maya Arulpragasam
Achievement in sound editing – Tom Sayers, Slumdog Millionaire
Achievement in sound mixing – Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty, Slumdog Millionaire

Taylor Herring PR have been appointed by Slumdog Millionaire producer, Film4, to handle corporate press in the UK and internationally.

The appointment of the agency is announced as Film4 scooped six awards for Slumdog Millionaire, Happy-Go-Lucky and In Bruges at the Golden Globe Awards this week..

Slumdog Millionaire has, this morning, received 11 nominations for the Orange British Academy Film Awards in 2009. The movie has been nominated in the categories Best Film, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing, Music, Production Design, Sound and Outstanding British Film. Danny Boyle is nominated for Director, Dev Patel is nominated for Leading Actor and Freida Pinto receives a nomination as Supporting Actress.

In Bruges has been nominated for Original Screenplay, Editing, Supporting Actor for Brendan Gleeson and Outstanding British Film.

Slumdog Millionaire is based on the novel Q+A which was originally optioned and developed by Film4 and subsequently co-financed with Celador.

Taylor Herring will provide full PR support across a diverse slate of movies directed by established and new film talent.

Film4’s most recent releases include Steve McQueen’s Cannes award-winning Hunger, Bob Weide’s How To Lose Friends and Alienate People, Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges, Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky which won a Silver Bear for actress Sally Hawkins at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, Sarah Gavron’s Brick Lane, Anand Tucker’s And When Did You Last See Your Father?, Chris Waitt’s Complete History of My Sexual Failures and Olly Blackburn’s Donkey Punch.

Up and coming Film4 projects include Michael Winterbottom’s Genova, Fabrice de Welz’s Vinyan, Sharon Maguire’s Incendiary, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Vito Rocco’s Faintheart, Mark Tonderai’s Hush, Duane Hopkins’ Better Things, which was selected for Cannes Critics Week 2008, Alexis Dos Santos’ Unmade Beds, Gerald McMorrow’s Franklyn, Sam Taylor-Wood’s The Story of You and Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones.

Film4, headed by Tessa Ross, is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. The company develops and co-finances film productions, working with the UK’s most innovative new and established talent.

Press contact: james@taylorherring.com

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.