02/11/2009

Writer/director Richard Ayoade’s debut feature Submarine has commenced principal photography in Wales. Shooting will take place in Cardiff for seven weeks.

Submarine, an adaptation of Joe Dunthorne’s novel, is a coming-of-age comedy following 15-year-old Oliver Tate (newcomer Craig Roberts) through the impending break-up of his parents’ marriage and his first relationship. The film also stars Noah Taylor (Shine), Paddy Considine (Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee) and Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky [+see also:
trailer
film profile]).

Andy Stebbing (Kicks [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Brick Lane [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Mark Herbert (This Is England [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Dead Man’s Shoes) and Mary Burke (Bunny and the Bull [+see also:
trailer
film profile], A Complete History of My Sexual Failures [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) are producing. Submarine is a Warp Films production in association with Red Hour Films backed by Film4, the UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund, Wales Creative IP Fund and Film Agency Wales.

Warp Films optioned Joe Dunthorne’s novel and Film4 assisted in script development. Protagonist Pictures are handling international sales and Optimum Releasing will distribute the film in the UK. Dragon DI will provide the post-production services. Executive producers are Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld, Jeremy Kramer, Tessa Ross, Peter Carlton, Will Clarke, Linda James, Pauline Burt and Paul Higgins.

Ayoade is a Perrier Award winning writer and director. In 2004, he co-created and directed Channel 4’s spoof horror comedy series Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, in which he also appeared. He also directed the feature-length concert film of the Arctic Monkeys at the Apollo, which was released in 2008.