03/05/2011

ill Manors, the directorial debut of musician turned actor Ben Drew (photo), AKA Plan B, will be distributed in the UK by Revolver Entertainment.

Made under Microwave, the micro-budget feature film fund from Film London and BBC Films with support from Skillset and the UK Film Council, ill Manors stars Riz Ahmed (Four Lions [+see also:
trailer
film profile]) and Natalie Press (Red Road [+see also:
trailer
film profile]).

Currently in post-production, the film is a multi-character story set against the tough streets of Forest Gate, East London, where everyone is fighting for respect.

Drew is best known for his music career – with a number one hit album, The Defamation of Strickland Banks, picking up the Brit Award for Best British Male this year. As an actor he has appeared in Adulthood [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and 4.3.2.1 [+see also:
trailer
film profile], starred opposite Michael Caine in the critically acclaimed Harry Brown [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and will star in the forthcoming The Sweeney alongside Ray Winstone.

Drew said, “The experience I've gained from making a feature film on such a small budget was invaluable. It was like being the underdog in a boxing match, holding punches against the ropes and just having to hang in there, but I still loved every minute of it.”

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London, said, “[We] have been working with Ben for almost two years now and backed ill Manors before he had a hit album or we’d seen Harry Brown. This is the fourth Microwave film to secure distribution in the UK and as we pride ourselves in discovering raw talent, it has been fantastic to see his career – across film and music – take off in such a remarkable way.”