Cheering on British film in Cannes: the UK Film Centre

Clio Barnard and Mark Cousins are among the filmmakers and industry professionals celebrating British film at the UK Film Centre in Cannes.

International Village, Cannes

Flying the flag for the British film industry in Cannes this year, the UK Film Centre hosts a full programme of events with filmmakers and industry professionals, alongside one-to-one advisory sessions with industry experts on various aspects of film funding and production. Situated in the International Village next to the Palais des Festivals, the centre is open throughout the festival. Promoting British film to festival delegates, it carries the new We Are UK Film brand, which brings together nine UK film organisations and is led and managed by the BFI.

Filmmakers Clio Barnard, Mark Cousins and Ruairi Robinson are among those dropping by for Q&As. Barnard will be discussing her new film, The Selfish Giant, just picked up in the festival marketplace for UK distribution in the autumn by Artificial Eye; Robinson and actress Olivia Williams will talk about their new film Last Days on Mars, situating Robinson’s directorial debut within the history of science-fiction cinema; while, with his latest film, A Story of Children and Film, screening in the festival, Mark Cousins will take part in a discursive event considering images of children in cinema.

With the recent news that the latest Star Wars episode will be filmed in Britain, a timely panel discussion event will discuss the practical, creative and financial advantages of filming in the UK. John Hadity, executive vice president for Entertainment partners, will chair.

Another highlight is the event Casting and the Green Light, which will examine the relationship between casting directors and directors/producers, asking how it’s possible to get a star attached to your project without financing. Emmy-nominated casting director Nancy Bishop (The Bourne Identity, Mission Impossible IV) will lead a discussion with international producers, agents and casting directors.

Elsewhere, the event Pitch Perfect will provide producers and filmmakers with the opportunity to pitch their project to a panel of international film experts.

For a full programme of events and to register for updates, see the We Are UK Film website.