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Paul Laverty, Ken Loach’s longtime screenwriter, was arrested by police in Edinburgh, Scotland during a pro-Palestine protest on Monday.

The Guardian reports that Laverty has been charged for “showing support for a proscribed organization” after wearing a t-shirt in support of the group Palestine Action during a protest outside a police station. Laverty’s t-shirt said, “Genocide in Palestine, time to take Action”.

The British government controversially proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist group on July 5 under the U.K.’s Terrorism Act.

Laverty was released later on Monday and is set to appear in court at a later date. Outside the police station, Laverty gave a statement. “The most important court in the world, is the court of public opinion. Ordinary people are appalled to see starvation and genocide, and selling of arms to the apartheid State of Israel,” he said. “So it’s actually a great pleasure...

It’s a brisk March morning in Luxembourg and my conversation with Paul Laverty has turned to Cantona. “Remember that goal he scored, with Brian McClair?” A classic, I agree. “He did that lovely 1-2, looked up, dented the ball,” Laverty explains, whistling the arc, “and then just stood there and stuck out his chest. He was everything you could be.” I was curious how Laverty, who wrote Ken Loach’s Looking for Eric, in which Cantona played himself, had approached the player with the script. “I thought, ‘What if this wee guy who nobody recognizes, his children ignore him, he’s just fucking lost?’ I said to Eric, ‘What would it be like if he has the odd spliff when he’s depressed and he speaks to you when things get too much?’ He just burst out laughing.”

No filmmaker comes anywhere close to the fifteen times Ken Loach...

If there was one puzzle from the 2023 Venice Film Festival, it concerned Caleb Landry Jones and the actor’s curious decision to conduct all his press arrangements for the Luc Besson thriller “Dogman” with a Scottish accent. As was later revealed, the Australian had taken a quick break from shooting U.K. drama “Harvest” on location in Scotland and was staying in character for the duration of his brief Italian detour.

Alongside honing Landry Jones’ vocal abilities, “Harvest,” being directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari (the Greek director’s first English-language film) and based on the book by Jim Crace, also marks the beginning of a new chapter for one of the U.K.’s best-known indie production companies.

Sixteen Films, co-founded by Ken Loach and producer Rebecca O’Brien in 2002, has been behind every film by the beloved and iconoclastic director over the last two decades, including “The Wind That Shakes the Barley,...

‘The Creator’ is opening in 655 cinemas through Disney.

Original sci-fi blockbuster The Creator leads the new titles at this weekend’s UK-Ireland box office, opening in 655 cinemas through Disney.

Directed by UK filmmaker Gareth Edwards, who wrote the screenplay with Chris Weitz, The Creator is set in a future where humans are at war with artificial intelligence, and a former soldier finds a secret robot weapon in the form of a young child.

The Creator is Edwards’ fourth feature film. His debut Monsters, also a sci-fi in which humans are battling for survival, opened to £348,577 in 2010, finishing on £952,963. He has...

Lionsgate sets widest franchise opening with ‘Saw X’.

Original sci-fi blockbuster The Creator leads the new titles at this weekend’s UK-Ireland box office, opening in 655 cinemas through Disney.

Directed by UK filmmaker Gareth Edwards, who wrote the screenplay with Chris Weitz, The Creator is set in a future where humans are at war with artificial intelligence, and a former soldier finds a secret robot weapon in the form of a young child.

The Creator is Edwards’ fourth feature film. His debut Monsters, also a sci-fi in which humans are battling for survival, opened to £348,577 in 2010, finishing on £952,963. He has...

The 1970 edition of the Cannes Film Festival was noted for giving rise to several bold new voices. Robert Altman arrived as an established (and notoriously troublesome) TV director but left a Palme d’Or winner with M*A*S*H, his launchpad to becoming one of the most pivotal figures of contemporary cinema. In the Directors’ Fortnight competition, then a year old, the German absurdist comedy Even Dwarfs Started Small gave audiences a hint of what a 20-something festival first-timer named Werner Herzog might have up his creative sleeve.

Over in the Critics’ Week sidebar, a rising English director named Ken Loach also was making his Cannes debut (like Herzog with his second feature).

The bespectacled 33-year-old had arrived as part of what he describes as a “rather snooty” U.K. delegation that didn’t have much time for someone then known for hard-hitting TV docudramas and not considered part...

Ken Loach has said that The Old Oak, his latest feature, will be his last. Probably.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter ahead of what will mark his 15th film premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, the veteran filmmaker, who turns 87 in June, acknowledged that “realistically, it would be hard to do a feature film again.

“Films take a couple of years and I’ll be nearly 90,” he said. “And your facilities do decline. Your short-term memory goes and my eyesight is pretty rubbish now, so it’s quite tricky.”

Loach said that while he had little issue on The Old Oak dealing with the physical demands of long working days required during production, it has become harder to sustain, “with good humor,” the “nervous emotional energy” he needs to set the tempo during a shoot and to keep that momentum going.

Loach, of course, has “retired” before. When he brought...

Cameras are rolling on Ken Loach’s latest film, The Old Oak.

Principal photography on the Studiocanal UK, Sixteen Films and Why Not Productions drama, which stars Dave Turner (Sorry We Missed You) and newcomer Ebla Mari and is written by Paul Laverty, began today in the North East of England.

Loach’s previous two films — I, Daniel Blake and Sorry We Missed You — were also shot in the same part of the UK.

The Old Oaks is based around a pub that is not only the last local standing, but also the only remaining public space where people can meet in a once thriving mining community that has now fallen on hard times after 30 years of decline.

Landlord Tj Ballantyne (Turner) hangs on by his fingertips, and his predicament is made harder when the pub becomes contested territory after the unexpected arrival of Syrian refugees. He makes an unlikely...

Seemingly coming out of nowhere, the werewolf horror-thriller Wolf Manor, from actor and director Dominic Brunt has entered post-production. Directed by Brunt, the full-throttle, gore-filled film is the tale of a film crew caught in the claws of a manor house’s resident werewolf, was shot in three weeks in locations in Shropshire.

Shooting a vampire flick in an old, abandoned manor house should have worked like a dream, but the film crew are out of their depth, over schedule and desperate to get the shoot finished and go home. However, as the moon turns full, the nightmare begins. Blood flows and the body count rises as cast & crew meet the manor’s resident werewolf…

Brunt’s UK-produced film, which was written by Pete Wild and Joel Ferrari, stars James Fleet, Jay Taylor, Thaila Zucchi, Rupert Procter and John Henshaw. Wolf Manor’s creature design was created by renowned special make-up effects artist Shaune Harrison.

French soccer player-turned-actor Eric Cantona (“Looking for Eric”) is set to star in “Giant With Feet of Clay” (“Le Colosse aux pieds d’argile”), a television drama about sexual harassement and abuse in sports.

The movie is about to start shooting in Southwestern France with French director Stéphanie Murat; and is being produced by Sydney Gallonde’s Make It Happen Studio and Tetra Media Studio (“Paris Police 1900”).

Aude Marcle penned the script which is loosely based on the true story of Sébastien Boueilh, who penned the book “Le Colosse aux pieds d’argile” with Thierry Vildary. The timely movie has been commissioned by French TV network TF1 which is also co-producing.

Cantona as Sébastien, a successful former rugbyman who was raped by someone close to his parents for four years when he was a teenage athlete and has been unable to tell anyone what happened to him. Torn by...

Exclusive: Euro producer and sales firm Anton is launching world sales on completed Eric Cantona movie Magic 7 from Heartbreaker, The Intouchables and The Death Of Stalin producer Nicolas Duval Adassovsky of Quad Productions.

The family film will see former Manchester United legend Cantona playing ‘Eric’, a former football star and now coach for a Chinese league team, who ends up in a small village after being falsely accused of corruption. When a young boy saves him from near death in the desert he requests that in exchange Eric coaches the local team. At first only preoccupied by saving his reputation, Eric slowly comes around and rediscovers his passion for football thanks to the young players whom he guides to a junior cup final.

Steve Weiz directs the Mandarin-language movie (with English subtitles), which also stars Chinese actress Jingjing Qu, known for box office smash The Wandering Earth.

Chinese partners on...

Best known for his acclaimed 2013 film “2 Autumns, 3 Winters,” filmmaker Sebastien Betbeder has built a stable, yet under-the-radar career making underrated observational comedies, a trend that he continues with his latest film “Ulysses and Mona,” which just premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. Featuring former soccer star turned actor Eric Cantona (“Looking for Eric“) as the titular Ulysses and Manal Issa as Mona, this low-key film follows a reclusive artist’s attempt to make amends with the family and friends that he has wronged.

Continue reading ‘Ulysses and Mona’ Recalls ‘About Schmidt’ & ‘Lost in Translation’ [Tiff Review] at The Playlist.

Hulu has confirmed that several of its original series will be debuting new episodes on the streaming service in July, including the first season of the highly anticipated Stephen King thriller “Castle Rock” as well as season 2 of the costume drama “Harlots” and season 4 of the comedy “Casual.”

And there will also be new to Hulu seasons of some of your favorites from other networks, including season 2 of “The Strain,” season 4 of “The Vikings” and season 8 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Likewise, there will be plenty of movies making their first Hulu appearances including the first five films in the “Star Trek” franchise and the Oscar-winning “Rosemary’s Baby.”

See Netflix schedule: Here’s what is coming and leaving in July

Available July 1: TV

Alaska: The Last Frontier: Complete Season 4 (Discovery)

Deadliest Catch: Complete Season 11 (Discovery)

Deadly Women: Complete Season 6 (ID)

Dual Survival: Complete Season 5 (Discovery)

Elementary: Complete Season...

Exclusive: Further cast attached to soccer drama include Gary Lewis, Michael Socha and Chloe Harris.

UK-Germany co-pro Trautmann, a biopic of legendary German goalkeeper Bert Trautmann, has rounded out its cast and begun filming in Northern Ireland.

Joining the recently announced John Henshaw (Looking For Eric) and Dervla Kirwan (Ballykissangel) are: Dave Johns (I, Daniel Blake), Harry Melling (Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1), Gary Lewis (Billy Elliot), Michael Socha (Being Human), Mikey Collins (Dunkirk), Chloe Harris (Call The Midwife) and Barbara Young (Coronation Street).

Germany’s David Kross plays Trautmann and 2013 UK Star of Tomorrow Freya Mavor is the love of his life, Margaret, who was the daughter of his English coach.

The film tells the story of Bert Trautmann, the former Nazi paratrooper who became a goalkeeping legend at Manchester City, making 545 appearances and famously playing in the Fa Cup final with a broken neck.

The first image has also been released (see above...

The New York Film Festival kicks off this week, sending us straight into the second half of a very busy fall festival season. In preparation for the festival, we’re rolling out a series of previews to point you in the direction of all the movies you have to see (or at least, all the movies you have to start anticipating right now). Today, some new offerings from cinema’s greatest master and auteurs — new, emerging and beloved.

“Manchester By The Sea,” Kenneth Lonergan

Over the course of just three feature films, multi-hyphenate Kenneth Lonergan has proven himself to be one of America’s most exciting rising auteurs. Uniquely capable of capturing great emotion without even a hint of melodrama or a single false note, his long-awaited follow-up to the grievously mistreated “Margaret” — perhaps this decade’s cinematic endeavor most deserving of critical reappraisal after critical reappraisal — again returns him...

Ahead of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Screen looks back at the hits and misses of 2009 according to our jury of critics.

Screen’s jury of international critics has long been a strong diviner as to what will win the top prizes at the Cannes Film Festival – and 2009 was no different.

Topping the grid was Jacques Audiard’s crime drama A Prophet, starring then newcomer Tahar Rahim, which scored an impressive 3.4 out of 4 and went on to win to the festival’s Grand Prix.

The winner of the coveted Palme d’Or was Michael Haneke’s chilling pre-war drama The White Ribbon, which came a close joint second on the grid with 3.3 alongside Jane Campion’s period romance Bright Star.

While the Palme d’Or alluded Audiard in 2009, the French filmmaker returned in 2015 with Dheepan and picked up the festival’s top prize.

The 2009 line-up also featured a divisively generous portion of violence courtesy of [link...

Eric Cantona is to lead a new comedy film about a synchronised swimming coach.

The former Manchester United footballer will star in The Mermaid Man as Franck, a widower who sets up a swimming group made out of unemployed men as they struggle through depression and poverty.

The Full Monty-style film will be set in the Thatcher era of the 1980s, with Cantona's men hoping to win an international competition in honour of his late wife, a former swimming champion.

Stéphane Giusti will direct the film, while David C Barrot will produce with a British film crew.

Since retiring from football, Cantona has had a successful acting career, with Elizabeth and Looking for Eric among his most high-profile projects.

He will soon star in western The Salvation alongside Mads Mikkelsen and Eva Green, which releases at cinemas on April 17. Watch a trailer below:

Watch a trailer below:...

The worlds of football and cinema frequently collide, and judging by the number of great sportsmen who've tried their hand at acting, it's clear that Hollywood holds a strong allure for the professional athlete.

With the 2014 FIFA World Cup about to get underway, Digital Spy takes a look at a handful of actors who've made it to the big screen.

1. Pelé (Escape to Victory)

Arguably the greatest footballer of all time, Pelé lined up alongside fellow icons Bobby More and Ossie Ardiles (and a host of Ipswich Town greats!) in this inspiring blend of Great Escape-style war flick and underdog sports story.

A firm Bank Holiday favourite, Escape to Victory also boasts a starting eleven containing Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone. They don't make them like this anymore.

2. Vinnie Jones (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels)

After retiring from the beautiful game, Wimbledon hardman Vinnie Jones established a second career for himself.

The social realist tendencies in British director Ken Loach's films started nearly half a century ago, so it's easy to forget that no matter his penchant for tackling serious issues with historical weight, he's also capable of crafting smooth entertainment—especially with his recent comedies "Looking for Eric" and "The Angels' Share"—without sacrificing their credibility and intelligence. At 77, Loach hasn't lost touch with this balance, as proven by his enjoyable period drama "Jimmy's Hall." Though it features a dramatic scenario involving the censorship of a small Irish town in the early thirties, Loach manages to enliven potentially stuffy material with lively storytelling and likable personalities. Chief among them is real-life Irish communist Jimmy Gralton (Barry Ward), who challenged the religious community in the provincial country town he grew up by creating a gathering place for locals to dance and engage in intellectual discussion. Naturally, that decision doesn't sit well.

Eric Cantona is to front a new football documentary ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The Manchester United and France icon will host Looking for Rio, which will premiere at Amnesty UK's first Football Film Festival.

The festival will run from Friday, June 6 to Sunday, June,8 at the Hackney Picturehouse, and will screen films, Q&As and panel discussions about football and human rights.

Looking for Rio will see Cantona explore the development of Rio's four main football clubs - Fluminense, Vasco de Gama, Flamengo and Botafogo.

It will also delve into the fierce rivalries between the clubs, the social aspect behind the teams, and how government spending on the World Cup has let to Brazilians protesting on the streets.

Cantona will take part in a discussion about the film as well, along with brothers Joel and Jean-Marie, who form the 'Canto Bros' production company.

"I'm very pleased Looking for...

The first trailer has been released for Ken Loach's upcoming film Jimmy's Hall.

Based on a true story, the film is directed by Loach and written by Paul Laverty (Looking for Eric).

Last year, Loach announced that the project will most likely be his final film.

Jimmy's Hall stars Barry Ward (Songs for Amy), Simone Kirby (Season of the Witch), Jim Norton (American History X), Francis Magee (Layer Cake), Aisling Franciosi (The Fall), Andrew Scott (Sherlock) and Brian F O'Byrne (Million Dollar Baby).

Set in 1932, the film is centred around Jimmy Gralton, who returns to Ireland from New York after a decade away, having previously built a dance hall in the rural town.

Loach won the Cannes Palme d'Or in 2006 for The Wind that Shakes the Barley and won a career Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 1994.

It's clear Shia Labeouf was not in the mood for a press conference this weekend. About 10 minutes after a presser in Berlin began for his upcoming flick Nymphomaniac Sunday, the thesp got up and walked right out of the room when he was asked why he wanted to do a movie with so many sex scenes, according to the Hollywood Reporter. He did answer the question before walking away, saying slowly, "When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much." Apparently, the line is a quote from French soccer legend Eric Cantona, who says those words in the film Looking for Eric, while the credits are rolling. What that has to do...

Shia Labeouf made quite an impression while promoting his new film at the Berlin International Film Festival this weekend. The actor stormed out of a press conference for Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac: Volume I after giving a bizarre answer to a single question on Sunday, and later donned a paper bag on his head for the red-carpet premiere of the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Take a Look Through Shia Labeouf's Diy Graphic Novels

About ten minutes into the press conference, Labeouf was asked what it...

“The angels’ share” is a term used in the distillery world to describe the two percent of a whiskey that evaporates while it spends years aging to perfection in its oaken cask. It’s a lovely, oddly poetic sentiment, and a perfect title for the latest collaboration between director Ken Loach and writer Paul Laverty (The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Looking for Eric). Winner of the 2012 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize, The Angels’ Share is an uplifting comedy-drama that tells the story of Robbie Emmerson, a young man who has so far wasted his short life fighting in the Glasgow gutters. After his most recent violent scrape earns him a sentence of 300 hours of community service, Robbie decides to finally turn his life around--before it’s too late to do so. He is motivated to succeed by his loving girlfriend and their newborn son, but everyone else who knows...

Football's renaissance man describes latest venture Les rencontres d'après minuit as 'elegant and unique'

Eric Cantona had no problem dropping his trousers for his latest film in which arthouse meets soft porn, revealing an unfeasibly large appendage.

The footballer-turned-photographer-turned-actor is reincarnated as "the Stallion" in Les rencontres d'après minuit, described by one French critic as "a superb artistic orgy".

A trailer for the film, which will open in Britain in the autumn as You and the Night, shows the ex-Man United striker preparing to undress and reveal what we are reliably informed is a plastic prothesis. "I warn you, it's in sleep mode," he says in the film clip, with that familiar deadpan expression. So far, so smutty, but this is France; it's not crude or salacious, it's art, stupid.

Cantona, who says the film is "not foolishly voyeuristic, but elegant and unique", is certainly not talking dirty. "I read...

Homage to the British filmmakers work to feature at the festival in February, where he will receive an honorary Golden Bear.

British director Ken Loach is to be awarded the Honorary Golden Bear for lifetime achievement at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 6-16).

The award ceremony will be accompanied by a screening of Raining Stones, Loach’s film about a man who makes disastrous choices in trying to raise the money for his daughter’s first Communion dress. It won the jury prize at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.

Berlin will also host a homage to Loach’s work, including 1966 TV drama Cathy Come Home, about a young mother who becomes homeless after her husband loses his job.

It was seen by 12 million people on its first broadcast - a quarter of the UK population - and is regularly cited as one of the best, most influential British TV dramas and led to the setting up of the...

Cinema Made in Belgium event held to encourage co-production.

Belgian film companies were out in force in London this week at networking event Cinema Made In Belgium.

Their aim was to entice British producers to co-produce with Belgian partners and to take advantage of the country’s film tax shelter system and its regional film funds.

Tax expert Michela Ritondo, from Belgium’s Fiscal department for Foreign Investments, warned that the British were lagging behind their European counterparts in using what is reckoned to be one of the most generous “soft money” schemes in Europe.

“I think there are not enough British companies and producers who come in Belgium to shoot. We don’t know why,” Ritondo said.

Philippe Reynaert, director of regional investment fund Wallimage, made a similar point.

“It’s not so easy to co-produce with you (in the UK). I don’t know why,” he joked to his audience.

Courting the UK...

After 14 years reporting from the red carpet, our film diarist bids farewell with a selection of glilttering memories…

Best festival

Trash was born at Cannes in 1999, when the idea struck me that the best way to cover this polymorphously perverse festival was through a diary. So it's probably in that environment that my column has thrived most. It coincided with the rise of the "festival circuit", and I was fortunate to have the willing co-operation of the Observer and the festivals themselves in getting to cover so many of them.

I still recall the jolt of a morning vodka with Alan Parker in Moscow where, because his Pink Floyd film The Wall was the most famous bootleg of the Soviet era, he is some kind of deity. Marrakech is a wonderful setting for a film festival and I shall cherish an afternoon with Martin Scorsese there, even though he spilt...

Eric Cantona to head the 24th Dinard British Film Festival jury, which will also include actress Star Trek Into Darkness actress Alice Eve, actor Toby Jones and Oscar-winning producer David Parfitt

The Dinard British Film Festival has announced its full line-up of British films and the jury who will judge this year’s competition section.

As well as more than 30 British films being screened from Oct 2-6, programmed by festival director Hussam Hindi for festival president Sylvie Mallet, the festival will celebrate the work of director of photography Phillippe Rousselot and the films of acclaimed actor Toby Jones.

As previously announced, professional footballer-turned-actor Eric Cantona will be the jury president. Jury members from France and the UK include:

Actress Alice EveActor Toby JonesOscar-winning producer David ParfittActor Michael SmileyScreenwriter Natalie CarterDirector Fred CavayéActor Hippolyte Girardot Director/screenwriter Amanda Sthers

The films in competition for the Golden Hitchcock Award, which the jury will consider, include:

Everyone...

Former footballer Eric Cantona has been announced as the head of a film festival jury in France.

The 47-year-old, who embarked on a career in acting following his retirement from competitive sport, will chair a panel of eight at this year's Dinard Film Festival, which celebrates British films.

Cantona - whose most high-profile roles have been in Ken Loach's 2009 film Looking for Eric and 1998's Elizabeth - will assess six British films at the Brittany event, which is scheduled to run from October 2 to October 6.

One of the films will be awarded the 'Hitchcock d'Or', or Golden Hitchcock award.

Previous winners have included Shadow Dancer, which received the accolade at last year's festival, and 2011 victor Tyrannosaur.

In June, Cantona performed 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' on stage in Lyon with The Clash's Mick Jones.

Watch the trailer for Looking For Eric below:...

Professional footballer-turned-actor named jury president of this year’s Dinard British Film Festival.

Eric Cantona, former professional footballer and actor, has been confirmed as the jury president of this year’s Dinard British Film Festival (Oct 2-6) held in Brittany, France.

After winning a role in Le Bonheur est dans le pré, directed by Étienne Chatiliez, he retired from football in 1997 to pursue a career in film.

In 1998, he appeared in Shekhar Kapur’s Oscar-winning Elizabeth. His other credits include The Over-Eater (L’Outremangeur) by director Thierry Binisti and he also starred opposite Isabelle Adjani in De Force from director Frank Henry. Cantona then crossed over into English language films with his role in Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or nominated Looking for Eric in 2009.

He will next appear in French drama You and the Night (Les Rencontres d’après minuit), directed by Yann Gonzalez.

The festival, which celebrates its 24th anniversary this year, focusses on new...

Ken Loach will retire from making feature-length films after he completes his latest project Jimmy Hall.

According to Loach's long-time producer Rebecca O'Brien, the critically-acclaimed director is "unlikely" to continue making films for the big screen, but will still direct documentaries and TV programmes.

"This is probably the last narrative feature for Ken," O'Brien told Screen Daily.

"There are a few documentary ideas kicking around, and that will probably be the way to go, but this is a serious period drama with a lot of moving parts so it's a big thing to put together. I think we should go out while we're on top."

She continued: "It's such a huge operation and Ken doesn't sit in a director's chair, telling people what to do; he runs around. It requires a lot of physical and mental stamina. Realistically, I'd be very surprised if we made another feature after this one.

Exclusive: Jimmy’s Hall, which has begun shooting in Ireland, is likely to be Ken Loach’s last narrative feature - but he will continue to direct documentaries.

Ken Loach’s upcoming drama, Jimmy’s Hall, will likely be his last, according to regular producer Rebecca O’Brien.

“This is probably the last narrative feature for Ken,” O’Brien told ScreenDaily. “There are a few documentary ideas kicking around, and that will probably be the way to go, but this is a serious period-drama with a lot of moving parts so it’s a big thing to put together. I think we should go out while we’re on top.”

O’Brien, who has produced more than a dozen features with Loach since 1990, said that the 77 year-old director is likely to continue to make documentaries and TV work but that he is “unlikely” to make another narrative feature.

“It’s such a huge operation and Ken doesn...

Exclusive: Jimmy’s Hall, which has begun shooting in Ireland, is likely to be Ken Loach’s last narrative feature - but he will continue to direct documentaries.

Ken Loach’s upcoming drama, Jimmy’s Hall, will likely be his last, according to regular producer Rebecca O’Brien.

“This is probably the last narrative feature for Ken,” O’Brien told ScreenDaily. “There are a few documentary ideas kicking around, and that will probably be the way to go, but this is a serious period-drama with a lot of interconnecting elements so it’s a big thing to put together. I think we should go out while we’re on top.”

O’Brien, who has produced more than a dozen features with Loach since 1990, said that the 77 year-old director is likely to continue to make documentaries and TV work but that he is “unlikely” to make another narrative feature.

“It’s such a huge operation and Ken doesn...

★★★☆☆ It would seem that 2013 is shaping up to be the true second coming of legendary Manchurian outfit The Stone Roses. Following triumphant reunion gigs and an equally lauded documentary, Made of Stone, into the mix comes Roses-tinged teen tribute-cum-standalone rites of passage tale Spike Island (2012). It's the summer of 1990 and the streets are filled with the sights and sounds of The Stone Roses, in both an aural and visual sense (the band's Jackson Pollock-inspired, signature abstract paint splashes imaginatively invade the frame). Thus, anticipation is naturally high for six school chums on the cusp of adulthood.

Not only are the boys harbouring plans for pop world domination with their own band, Shadowcaster, but their musical heroes The Stone Roses have a huge outdoor gig planned at Spike Island. The gang are eager to get tickets, although frontman 'Tits' is in a quandary about making the date, owing to the...

Previously announced Palme d'Or recipient Mads Mikkelsen (A Royal Affair, The Hunt) is joined by Eva Green (Casino Royale, Dark Shadows), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen, Red Dawn, Eric Cantona (Looking for Eric), Mikael Persbrandt (In a Better World, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug), Douglas Henshall (The Eagle), Michael Raymond-James (True Blood, Jack Reacher) and Jonathan PrycePirates of The Caribbean: The Curse of The Black Pearl, Hysteria, G.I. Joe Retaliation) among others for The Salvation.

The film has just begun an 8-week shoot on location in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Paying tribute to the classic western with inspiration from the Nordic sagas, The Salvation takes place in the 1870s America. When settler John kills his family's murderer, he unleashes the fury of notorious gang leader Delarue. Betrayed by his corrupt and cowardly community, the peaceful pioneer must turn vengeful hunter, slay the outlaws, and cleanse the town's black heart. The Salvation...

The working class are a little funny in “The Angels’ Share,” English director Ken Loach’s new bluecollar comedy. “The Angels’ Share” is Loach’s (“Kes”) premiered at Cannes last year after his “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” won the 2006 Palme d’Or and both "Route Irish" and "Looking for Eric" played in competition in 2010 and 2009, respectively. Tonally, Loach’s latest is more of a piece with “Looking for Eric” than “Sweet Sixteen,” though all three films concern young people looking for a way to find a loophole and rise above their lousy social stations in life. In Loach’s recent films, capitalism is like a ponzi scheme and his well-intentioned protagonists are all victims looking to get out with a little something for themselves. In “The Angels’ Share,” members of a Scottish, court-mandated community service group plot to make a little money for themselves and are generically rewarded for their efforts.

Still from Looking for Eric

Due to the acquisition stop of European TV stations, even very successful European art-house distributors are facing a difficult situation, reported Birgit Heidsiek from European Film Market at Berlinale 2013.

In Germany, TV buyers such as Ard Degeto no longer acquire any art-house films, even passing by Oscar or Golden Bear winners.

“The main TV stations stopped buying films two years ago,” said Licensing & Acquisition Managing Director Ira von Gienanth at the Munich-based arthouse distribution company Prokino. “Until 2017 they don’t have any slots for art-house films.”

A year ago, a group of 24 independent distributors cited their protest in an open letter, but did not receive an official response.

While there is now less TV money coming in, the costs have not gone down although many cinemas have been digitized. “In Germany, 70% of art-house cinemas have digital projection so that we still need to do an inter-negative,...

The Raid; The Cabin in the Woods; The Angels' Share; All in Good Time; Free Men; The Dictator

Film fans enduring the typically murky stereoscopy of Dredd 3D in UK cinemas may also experience a sense of deja vu about its plot, which traps beleaguered law enforcement agents in a tower block run by vicious drug-dealing criminals, from which they must attempt to escape with their lives. A strikingly similar scenario underpins Gareth Huw Evans's altogether superior martial-arts thriller The Raid (2011, Momentum, 18), though any comparison between the two ends there. For while Dredd galumphs its heavy booted, bombastic way around the screen, The Raid is altogether lighter on its feet, reminding us of the close comparison between martial arts movies and highly choreographed musicals, both of which have the unmistakeable physicality of acrobatic human interaction at their heart.

Incongruously directed in Indonesia by Welshman Evans, The Raid plays its...

Fall weather is in the air, university students dominate the Halifax streets and Tiff is nearly over. That can only mean one thing, it’s once again time for Halifax’s own Atlantic Film Festival. The festival is in it’s 32nd year this fall and is once again able to boast a pretty impressive line up. Traditionally, what the festival does best is to balance a mix of international and critically claimed and much awaited fare with homegrown features and shorts. This year is no different. I have attended the film festival twice now and think that this is perhaps the fest’s strongest line up in my own personal memory. Here are some of the films I’m most excited to see:

The Angels’ Share

Ken Loach’s new film opens the festival and promises to be a return to form for the notoriously Hollywood-evading Irish filmmaker. I...

Guinea Pigs

Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies

Stars: Aneurin Barnard, Oliver Coleman, Steve Evets, Alex Reid, Chris Larkin | Written and Directed by Ian Clark

Debuting at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival Ian Clark’s much anticipated first feature, Guinea Pigs finally makes it’s Frighfest debut – having originally scheduled to show in 2011 – but despite delivering some sharp moments of tension and a realistic style, the film unfortunately lacks in lasting impact.

Eight volunteers are sent to a remote medical facility to begin clinical trials on a new drug, tentatively titled Pro-9. It soon becomes apparent that this is no ordinary drug as extreme side affects begin to appear – you know, like turning into a raging psychopath. Although the subject of clinical trials has been tackled in the horror genre before, it still remains a chilling concept. Ian Clark furthers these chills by instilling a...

British movies surrounding events like Weddings and Funerals and what not are generally really watchable, likeable and funny. Well, if this trailer is anything to go by, then you can add The Knot to that list. A decent cast (including Noel Clarke and Mena Suvari) coupled with a wedding day full of mishaps will no doubt have rom-com fans flocking to cinemas when the movie is released. But there seems to be that “British” thing about it, that makes it cheeky and snappy too which will suit the blokes as well. Let us know what you think with the trailer, and be warned theres a great Lol moment at the end! For all you social networkaholics, there’s a Twitter and Facebook page too! Synopsis: The Knot is a romantic comedy starring a host of British and American acting talent; including Mena Suvari (American Beauty, American Pie), Talulah Riley (St Trinian’s,...

The superhero's latest sticky situation ensnares viewers, despite the tennis, and India-produced movies make their mark

The winner

Following four consecutive weeks when Euro 2012 football saw a succession of commercially modest titles land into an ever-diminishing market, salvation for cinemas has arrived at last in the guise of a familiar costumed superhero. The Amazing Spider-Man debuted with a hefty £11.09m, including £4.33m in previews earned from Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. That's the second-highest opening of the year, after The Avengers on £15.78m, including £2.55m in previews. For a like-for-like comparison, looking just at the Friday-to-Sunday periods of the films' opening weekends, the new Spider-Man picture grossed 51% of Avengers' total.

If it continues in the same vein, it will get to around £26.5m in the UK, but Sony will be banking on a slower burnout. Five years ago, Sony's last Spider-Man movie, the third in the Sam Raimi trilogy, opened with...

Eric Cantona attended a Stone Roses concert in France last night, according to reports. The Manchester United legend and movie icon performed on stage in Lyon with the gig's support act, The Clash's Mick Jones. The Looking for Eric actor was attending an event organised to benefit the victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Cantona performed a duet of anthem 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' with Jones, who was collaborating with The Farm and Pete Wylie. The elusive Frenchman, 46, was originally expected to accompany The Stone Roses on stage. Sheila Coleman, a spokeswoman for the Hillsborough (more)...

Eric Cantona attended a Stone Roses concert in France last night, according to reports. The Manchester United legend and movie icon performed on stage in Lyon with the gig's support act, The Clash's Mick Jones. The Looking for Eric actor was attending an event organised to benefit the victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Cantona performed a duet of anthem 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?' with Jones, who was collaborating with The Farm and Pete Wylie. The elusive Frenchman, 46, was originally expected to accompany The Stone Roses on stage. Sheila Coleman, a spokeswoman for the Hillsborough (more)...

Guinea Pigs

Review by Andrew McArthur of The People’s Movies

Stars: Aneurin Barnard, Oliver Coleman, Steve Evets, Alex Reid?, Chris Larkin | Written and Directed by Ian Clark

Ian Clark’s much anticipated first feature, Guinea Pigs receives its debut at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. Despite delivering some sharp moments of tension and a realistic style, Guinea Pigs unfortunately lacks in lasting impact.

Eight volunteers are sent to a remote medical facility to begin clinical trials on a new drug, tentatively titled Pro-9. It soon becomes apparent that this is no ordinary drug as extreme side affects begin to appear – you know, like turning into a raging psychopath. ??Although the subject of clinical trials has been tackled in the horror genre before, it still remains a chilling concept. Ian Clark furthers these chills by instilling a strong sense of realism throughout Guinea Pigs, most notably through his almost documentary style direction.

The top three won't budge, thanks to distributors wary of Euro 2012, while Rock of Ages crumbles and Red Lights flickers out

The immovable objects

For the third successive week, the top three places at the UK box-office are occupied by Prometheus, Men in Black 3 and Snow White and the Huntsman. The current market is the most becalmed since January 2010, when Avatar, Sherlock Holmes and Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel dominated over a lengthy period. It's a case of strong product arriving for the half-term holiday, followed by two successive weekends of weaker films, with studios deterred by competition for eyeballs from Euro 2012 football. Prometheus leads the pack with a solid £19.45m, ahead of the likes of X-Men 3: The Last Stand (£19.22m) and Angels and Demons (£18.79m) in the all-time UK rankings. Top earner for the year remains The Avengers, in 17th place in the all-time chart, with £50.96m.

The Angels’ Share

Written by Paul Laverty

Directed by Ken Loach

UK/France, 2012

Though often associated with social realism, a few of Ken Loach’s films have possessed a comedic streak, and his latest film has more in common with the likes of Looking for Eric than it does Kes or The Wind That Shakes the Barley. Transforming into a heist caper in its second half, The Angels’ Share bares resemblances to the much beloved Ealing comedies, most obviously Whisky Galore with which it shares the common thread of whisky theft. There’s also some clear inspiration from Bill Forsyth’s films of Scottish youth in Loach and regular writing partner Paul Laverty’s focus on young, wily Glasgow-based men and women; much of the film’s most successful comedy thrives on Scottish colloquialisms. This comedic leaning represents one aspect of Loach’s brand of filmmaking, but the film’s...

Ridley Scott's alien yarn heads a trio of strong holdovers that includes Men in Black 3 and Snow White and the Huntsman

The winners

With no major blockbusters entering the market, three holdover titles dominated, with Prometheus once again top of the pile. Second weekend takings of £3.14m represent a 50% drop from the opening frame, but the more flattering story is the £9.24m it's grossed over the past seven days, to deliver a 10-day total of £15.47m. For context, that's just behind the lifetime total of Ridley Scott's Robin Hood (£15.65m), and ahead of Michael Fassbender's previous best lead role X-Men: First Class, which maxed out at £15.03m.

Dropping a mild 16%, Men in Black 3 is holding well on its third week of play. Again, its £2.53m weekend gross is less remarkable than the £7.12m it's added over the past seven days, taking advantage of the half-term holiday and indifferent weather.

Sci-fi prequel enjoys biggest debut for any Ridley Scott film, while Snow White has a fairytale opening and Men in Black 3 gets back on its feet

The winner

With £6.24m for Prometheus over the three-day weekend, Twentieth Century Fox has achieved the second-biggest opening of 2012, behind just Disney's Marvel Avengers Assemble. Add in takings from the bank holidays on Monday and Tuesday, and the Prometheus tally rises to £9.92m. That figure is already more than the total gross of any of the Alien movies, and the biggest debut for any Ridley Scott film. Gladiator kicked off its run in May 2000 with £3.56m, on its way to an impressive £31.2m total. Robin Hood started bigger (£5.75m including £1.39m in previews) but sputtered out quicker (a £15.6m total). Hannibal also started strong (£6.40m), ending up with a decent £21.58m.

Prometheus' best result was at the BFI Imax, with more than £200,000 over the five days.