9 more international co-productions backed by the BFI’s UK Global Screen Fund

Nine further co-productions are set to receive a share of £1.32 million from the £7 million UK Global Screen Fund, which is managed by the BFI on behalf of the UK government. Supporting UK producers to become partners in international feature films, animations and documentaries, this funding is increasing their ability to reach international audiences, creating more skilled jobs, and boosting the long-term reach of UK content on a global scale. 

The nine productions benefitting include:

• The Miracle Club, an Ireland/UK official co-production under the European Convention, starring Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates and Laura Linney. The feature film is produced by Chris Curling/Zephyr Films with Irish producer ShinAwil Limited and funding from Screen Ireland. It is being executive produced and sold by Embankment Films who have pre-sold 15 territories, including Lionsgate in the UK and Ireland and Transmission in Australia and New Zealand.
• The Tutor, a Germany/UK official co-production through the European Convention, directed by acclaimed British director Alice Troughton in her feature film debut. The film is produced by Camille Gatin/Poison Chef and Cassandra Sigsgaard/Jeva Films with German producer Judy Tossell /  Egoli Tossell Pictures and funding from German regional funds, in association with Film Constellation. 
• Drift, a UK/France official co-production by Fortyninesixty Films and La Cinéfacture with Greek producer Heretic Films participating as a third party co-producer, as well as Cor Cordium in the US. It will be directed by Anthony Chen and will start principal photography in the UK in March 2022. 
• The Ghastly Ghoul, co-produced by UK producer Lupus Films and Irish producer Dream Logic Animation Studios. This animated Halloween special is written by Emma Hogan and based on a story by Kealan O’ Rourke. It will be directed by Kealan O’Rourke and Maurizio Parimbelli with assistant director Corinne Ladeinde. It will start principal animation at the end of January 2022. 
• The Settlers, produced by Quiddity Films/Emily Morgan in the UK, is an unofficial co-production with Quijote Films in Chile, Rei Cine in Argentina, Cine-Sud in France and Snowglobe in Denmark. The feature film has funding secured from INCAA, CNCA and CNC Cinema Du Monde, and is also supported by IBERMEDIA and the Torino Film Lab. The project, directed by Felipe Gálvez, is joined by casting director Jessie Frost and will be sold by MK2 Films. 
• Merkel, an unofficial co-production between the UK, Germany, and Denmark. The UK producers are Passion Pictures, Odd Girl Out Productions and the Scottish production company Sonja Henrici Creates. The German producer is LOOKSfilm and the Danish producer is Sigrid Jonsson Dyekjær p.g.a.. This feature documentary about the outgoing German chancellor Angela Merkel is directed by Eva Weber, and has secured distribution from Curzon (UK), Madman (Australia and New Zealand), Cineart (Benelux) and two key broadcasters: RTL (Germany) and TV2 (Denmark). 
• Elephant Mother, an unofficial documentary co-production between the UK and Canada. Bungalow Town Productions is the majority co-producer with Canadian Inigo Films. The project is represented by Dogwoof and has already secured pre-sales with: WDR (Germany), ARTE (France) Channel 8 (Israel), DR (Denmark), NRK (Norway), RTS (Switzerland), SVT (Sweden) and EON (NL) with the support of the Creative Europe Programme – MEDIA.
• Stolen, an official co-production between the UK and South Africa. The feature film is co-produced by the UK producer Shantelle Rochester of Ida Rose with South African Uzanenkosi Mahlungu of Ants Multimedia. Michael Landes and Marsha Thomason are attached for the lead roles and it will be directed by Sheridan De Myers. The producers are collaborating with Bailey Bros, who are experienced stunt and action designers in South Africa, and the film is in receipt of funding from the South African fund Kwazulu Natal Film Commission. 
• Bring Them Down, a co-production through the European Convention between the UK, Belgium and Ireland. The feature film is co-produced by Stray Bear Productions, Frakas and Tailored and will be directed by Chris Andrews. MUBI, Screen Ireland and BAI (Broadcasting Authority Ireland) are all contributing to the finance of the film. 

Previously announced grant recipients include My Happy Ending, a UK/Israel official co-production, starring Miriam Margolyes and Andie MacDowell, which has recently wrapped production in Wales, and The Coop Troop, a UK/China/France animated co-production, which is now in the principal animation stage in Northern Ireland. 

“I am delighted that this latest round of UK Global Screen Fund awards is supporting such a diverse range of independent film and television projects across documentary, animation and fiction,” says Denitsa Yordanova, BFI Head of the UK Global Screen Fund. “This exciting collection of international co-productions brings new global collaborations with Latin America, China and South Africa alongside partnerships closer to home with Ireland, Germany and France. Each project has strong export potential and we look forward to supporting them to increase their visibility and reach new international audiences.”