Author: Alton Williams

Off Grid, a short supernatural thriller starring an A-list cast of James Cosmo, CBE (Game of Thrones) and Alison Steadman, MBE (Gavin and Stacey), will be showing as part of the Lift Off London Film Festival on Friday 13^th at 8.30 PM. Directed by Carl Timms and written by Mark Brendan, Off Grid also features Coronation Street’s Marc Baylis, and is a tense story of an elderly couple trying to survive an apocalypse of demonic possession.

Attracted by the script, James Cosmo filmed Off Grid between roles in smash hit BBC dramas In the Name of the Rose and His Dark Materials. The leads are joined in Off Grid by horror actress Kate Davis-Speak (The Barge People) and Midlands actor Francis Quigley.

Dark Matter Films is an independent film production company based in the Midlands and has also had a stunning viral YouTube success this week. Their 7min zombie comedy short film Still has racked up over 120,000 views in the space of just five days and has been hailed as one of the most original zombie films to hit YouTube. The short film has already had a successful festival run screening at 25 festivals all over the world and winning 9 awards, and was the writing and directing debut of Off Grid director, Carl Timms.

Both films feature practical special effects by horror legend Stuart Conran, lead FX designer on cult horror films Shaun of the Dead, Attack the Block and The Descent. Stuart has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Peter Jackson and Tim Burton. 

Director Carl says of the screening: “Off Grid’s screening at the Lift-Off London Film Festival is a dream for me as I get to see a film of mine have a London premiere. Following recent successes, we are just hoping to keep pushing the boundaries of high quality horror short films.” 

Writer, Mark Brendan says, “Off Grid’s genesis came about as a small personal project I could film myself on a phone, with some friends. Instead I met Carl at a networking event and sent him the script, and now we have a high quality production, made by a hugely talented crew, starring a dream cast. To say it has wildly exceeded my ambitions would be quite the understatement.”

Off Grid screens at 8.30pm at the Close-Up Cinema, 97 Sclater St, London E1 6HR as part of the Lift-Off London Film Festival’s Members screenings. Dark Matter Films are currently working on a slate of feature length and short films and are seeking producers to join them. 

Action movie franchise spin-off Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw steers into the Number 1 spot on this week’s Official Film Chart, overthrowing Disney’s The Lion King as the UK’s most popular movie of the week in the nation’s homes.

Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jason Statham as lawman Luke Hobbs and outcast Deckard Shaw who form an unlikely alliance when a cyber-genetically enhanced villain threatens the future of humanity, Fast & Furious is the best seller on DVD and Blu-ray over the past seven days.

Down one place to Number 2 is former chart-topper The Lion King, while Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the gang of Toy Story 4 also skid a place to Number 3, along with Spider-Man (4).

Bringing the Christmas cheer at Number 5, it’s much-loved 2003 festive comedy Elf, telling the story of Buddy who was adopted and raised by Santa’s elves. Buddy heads out on an adventure to New York to meet his biological father and to spread Christmas cheer amid a world of cynics. Elf climbs 8 places and is the most downloaded movie of the week.

Rocketman and Disney’s Aladdin slip one place each to Number 6 and 7, while Danny Boyle’s Yesterday is a non-mover (8). The Grinch (9) and Avengers: Endgame complete the Top 10.

On this week’s Official Film Chart online show take a look at this exclusive clip of Gerard Butler in Angel Has Fallen, available to download & keep from 16 December.

The Official Film Chart Top 10 – 4 December 2019

Pos	Title	Label
1	FAST & FURIOUS: HOBBS & SHAW	UNIVERSAL PICTURES
2	THE LION KING	WALT DISNEY
3	TOY STORY 4	WALT DISNEY
4	SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME	SONY PICTURES HE
5	ELF	WARNER HOME VIDEO
6	ROCKETMAN	PARAMOUNT
7	ALADDIN	WALT DISNEY
8	YESTERDAY	UNIVERSAL PICTURES
9	THE GRINCH	UNIVERSAL PICTURES
10	AVENGERS: ENDGAME	MARVEL FILMS

© Official Charts Company 2019

VIEW THE FULL TOP 40 – https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/film-chart/

The British Academy Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) today announced the shortlisted films in the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer category.

This award was established to encourage British filmmaking by recognising individuals in the selected disciplines whose first film sets them apart as a talent with a distinct vision and potential. It was previously presented as the Carl Foreman Award for Special Achievement by a British Writer, Director or Producer in their First Feature Film.

Marc Samuelson, Chair of BAFTA’s Film Committee said: “New talent is the lifeblood of the British film industry. This shortlist of ten films shines a light on a diverse group of talented debut British filmmakers who demonstrate that the future of British film is in good hands.”

The shortlist for the two other BAFTA jury categories – British Short Film and British Short Animation – will be announced Tuesday 10 December 2019.

Nominations for all categories will be announced on Tuesday 7 January 2020, with the EE Rising Star nominations announced the previous day, Monday 6 January.

Shortlisted for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer

Nominations and winner to be decided by Outstanding Debut Jury

Animals Writer:  Emma Jane Unsworth

Bait Writer/Director: Mark Jenkin, Producers: Kate Byers, Linn Waite

Being Frank: The Chris Sievey Story Director/Producer: Steve Sullivan

Blue Story Writer/Director: Rapman, Producer: Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor (also produced by Damien Jones)

For Sama Director/Producer: Waad al-Kateab, Director: Edward Watts

The Last Tree Producer: Myf Hopkins (also produced by Lee Thomas)

Maiden Director: Alex Holmes

Only You Writer/Director: Harry Wootliff

The Party’s Just Beginning Writer/Director: Karen Gillan

Retablo Writer/Director: Álvaro Delgado-Aparicio (also written by Héctor Gálvez)

The EE British Academy Film Awards take place on Sunday 2 February 2020 at the Royal Albert Hall. The ceremony will be hosted by Graham Norton and will be broadcast exclusively on BBC One, BBC One HD and BBC iPlayer. The ceremony is also broadcast in all major territories around the world. On the night, http://www.bafta.org will feature red carpet highlights, photography and winner’s interviews, as well as dedicated coverage on its social channels including Facebook (/BAFTA), Twitter (@BAFTA / #EEBAFTAs) and Instagram.

The UK’s leading film critics today announced that Sally Potter will receive their top honour, the Dilys Powell Award for Excellence in Film, at the 40th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards presented by Pearl Pictures Productions on 30th January at the May Fair Hotel.

In response, Potter said: “To be honoured by critics is an exceptional joy. To be honoured in Dilys Powell’s name is to be blessed by a legend, someone whose love for the films that she wrote about so fluently was held by an archaeological knowledge of the history of cinema. I met her just once, when I was starting out as a filmmaker. Her critical gaze and precise language was uncompromising but respectful and therefore encouraging, which is all anyone ever needs. It is very moving to imagine those beady eyes looking at me again several decades later.”

London-born Sally Potter OBE made her first 8mm short film at age 14, and then in 1983 wrote and directed her first feature The Gold Diggers, starring Julie Christie. Her breakthrough film was the 1992 Oscar-nominated drama Orlando, based on the Virginia Woolf novel and starring Tilda Swinton in her breakout role.

Subsequent award-winning features include the Bafta-nominated The Tango Lesson (1997) in which she starred as a filmmaker named Sally, The Man Who Cried (2000) with Cate Blanchett and Johnny Depp, the poetic Yes (2004) with Joan Allen, the colourfully experimental Rage (2009) with an all-star cast led by Judi Dench, Ginger & Rosa (2012) with Elle Fanning and Alice Englert, and the blistering political comedy The Party (2017) with Kristin Scott Thomas, Timothy Spall and Patricia Clarkson.

Known for her bold approach to filmmaking, Potter has had a major impact on the industry by crushing stereotypes, discovering new stars, refusing to shy away from provocative material and taking risks with genres.

With a background in choreography, she has also directed opera, including Bizet’s Carmen for ENO (2007). Her book Naked Cinema: Working With Actors was published in 2014. She has recently completed production on her latest film starring Elle Fanning and Javier Bardem. The story recounts a turbulent 24 hours in the life of a father and daughter.

As this year marks the awards’ 40th anniversary, the Critics’ Circle will give out multiple special honours at their gala ceremony, in addition to the regular line-up of awards in various international and British/Irish categories. A full list of nominations and special awards will be announced on 17th December at The May Fair Hotel by British actors Jenn Murray and John Dagleish.