02/05/2003 - In contrast to last year the 2003 crop of British films saw just one title selected

In contrast to last year, when films by Ken Loach, Mike Leigh and Michael Winterbottom were selected for the official competition at the Cannes Film Festival, the 2003 crop of British films saw just one title selected: Peter Greenaway’s The Tulse Luper Suitcase. Three other films will screen in sidebar sections: David Mackenzie’s Young Adam and Emily Young’s Kiss of Life in Un Certain Regard and Roger Michell’s The Mother, selected for Directors’ Fortnight.
Greenaway’s new film stars JJ Field, Ornella Muti, Isabella Rossellini and Steven Mackintosh is a European co-production by Kasander Productions (The Netherlands), GAM Film (Italy), Delux Productions (Luxembourg, ABS Productions (Spain) Studio 12A (Russia), Focus Film (Hungary) and NET Entertainment (Germany). Since Fortissimo Film are handling the sales, no UK investment was injected in the film.
Young Adam, starring Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, Emily Mortimer and Peter Mullan was produced by industry veteran Jeremy Thomas and sold by his sales outfit Hanway Films. It is about the discovery of a young woman’s body by a drifter whose past relationship with her gradually comes to light.
Kiss of Life (formerly known as Helen of Peckham) is the feature debut by the UK’s hottest new director Emily Young. She won the Cinefondation award in 1999 in Cannes for a short film entitled Second Hand. Kiss Of Life, starring Ingeborga Dapkunaite and Peter Mullan, is an intricate and moving journey into the heart of a family. The UK/French co-production by the Wild Horse Film Company and Haut et Court is sold internationally by Celluloid Dreams. Both UK films in Un Certain Regard are supported by the UK Film Council.
The Mother, in Directors’ Fortnight is about a grandmother who embarks on a passionate love affair with a man half her age and stars Anne Reid (Liam) and Daniel Craig (Road To Perdition). It reunited high-profile director, Roger Michell (Notting Hill, Changing Lanes) with screenwriter, Hanif Kureishi (Intimacy, My Beautiful Laundrette). Produced by Kevin Loader (Free Range Films) for BBC Films, Renaissance Films are handling the international rights to The Mother.

Finally, Alicia Duffy’s short film entitled The Most Beautiful Man In The World, selected for the official competition, was jointly funded by the FC’s New Cinema Fund and the French CNC’s Short Channel strand.