10/10/2011

Actor Paddy Considine’s debut directorial feature, Tyrannosaur [+see also:
trailer
film profile], continues to sweep up awards on the international festival circuit. Having previously won Best Director and the Special Jury Prize for Acting (for its cast headed by Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman) at the latest Sundance festival, on Saturday the title nabbed the Golden Hitchcock for Best Film and the Best Screenplay Award at the 22nd Dinard British Film Festival.

Tyrannosaur tells the story of Joseph, a man plagued by violence and an anger that drives him to self-destruction. But a chance of redemption appears in the form of Hannah who works for a Christian charity. Their relationship develops, but Hannah is hiding a secret that will have a devastating impact on both their lives.

Produced by Warp X and Inflammable Films with backing from Film4, among others, the feature is sold by Protagonist Pictures. It was launched last Friday in UK theatres by StudioCanal and will be released on Thursday in Germany.

Considine (37) has enjoyed an impressive acting career over the past ten years or so. His credits include films like In America, Dead Man's Shoes, My Summer of Love [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jean-Paul Rougier
interview: Pawel Pawlikowski
interview: Tanya Seghatchian
film profile] and Submarine [+see also:
trailer
film profile]. His only directorial short, Dog Altogether, won the Silver Lion at Venice in 2007 and the BAFTA for Best Short Film in 2008.

The Dinard Festival also brought success for John Michael McDonagh’s The Guard [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: John Michael McDonagh
film profile], starring Brendan Gleeson. The film, which was a smash hit this summer in domestic theatres (see news) and will soon be released in Italy, Finland, Hungary, Sweden and France, took the Best Cinematography gong (Larry Smith) awarded by the jury (presided by Nathalie Baye), the Audience Award and the “Coup de Cœur” Prize awarded by a panel of exhibitors (who gave a Special Mention to Andrew Haigh’s Week End [+see also:
trailer
film profile]).

(Translated from French)