11/05/2010

Lenny Crooks, the former head of the UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund (NFC), is shifting base to New York to set up a consultancy service supporting filmmakers working on both sides of the Atlantic.

Films backed by the NCF have won BAFTAs for Best British Film in the last three years and international acclaim has been driven by the Best Documentary Oscar for Man on Wire [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the Cannes Special Jury Prize for Fish Tank [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andrea Arnold
film profile] and Oscar nominations for Bright Star [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and In the Loop [+see also:
trailer
film profile].

Crooks said, “I am looking forward to relocating to NYC where I can make use of the extensive industry and talent contacts I have made to bring the most adventurous North American and European independent production and financing organisations together. I view this time of global realignment as an opportunity for new creative coalitions to challenge the old conventions. In addition, I can see great opportunities in working with the not-for-profit sector in developing and promoting the work of emerging filmmakers.

“The current slate of NCF backed films continues to highlight the strength of British filmmaking talent. Cannes has selected Chatroom [+see also:
trailer
film profile] for Un Certain Regard, Native Son in the Critics’ Week and Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff for Cannes Classics; and over the next year festivals and audiences will enjoy fantastic films including Peter Mullan’s NEDs, James Marsh’s One of Us and Lynne Ramsay’s We Need to Talk about Kevin.”