25/06/2007

The annual London UK Film Focus will feature over 40 new British films this year. Amongst them are Peter Howitt’s Dangerous Parking (Velvet Octopus), where a hedonistic British independent film director decides to tackle his destructive addictions head on and the horror David Howard’s horror film Flick (AV Pictures) where a murder victim from the 1950s comes back to life to track down his girlfriend and the person responsible for his death.

The event, which will take place June 25-28 at the newly refurbished BFI Southbank, is expected to attract over 150 international buyers and film festival directors. Other premieres include Paris Leonti’s Daylight Robbery (AV Pictures) where a gang heists a London bank during the World Cup football frenzy, Richard Laxton’s Grow Your Own (Pathe) where a community is up in arms when a refugee family is allotted a vegetable patch and Julian Gilbey’s Rise of the Footsoldier (Carnaby International) that traces the evolution of a football hooligan to a crime boss.

The ‘Breakthrough’ section, which is supported by UK Trade & Investment features films by emerging British talent who have not yet found sales representation. This year the selection includes Mark Norfolk’s It’s A Wonderful Life-esque Crossing Bridges, Suzie Halewood’s Bigga Than Ben that follows the antics of a pair of scamsters in London and Mark Jenkin’s The Midnight Drives that takes a look at a dysfunctional family on a Cornwall holiday. In addition, the footage screening section will highlight clips from the highly anticipated St. Trinians, Oliver Parker and Barnaby Thompson’s take on the cult series.

This year, buyers will be also able to watch participating titles on a secure video on demand service, Vizumi Pro, thanks to Arts Alliance Media and Barco’s support. The titles will also be available online through September 30.

The London UK Film Focus is a Film London initiative for the export and promotion of British films and talent to the international marketplace.