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Fremantle has acquired international distribution rights to “Taken Down,” a politically minded crime series directed by David Caffrey (“Pinky Blinders”) and produced by Spiral Pictures.

Set in contemporary Ireland, the series follows an investigation launched in the aftermath of the violent death of a young Nigerian migrant who was found abandoned close to a Direct Provision Centre, where refugees wait for political asylum.

Commissioned by RTÉ Television in association with Arte France, “Taken Down” stars Aissa Maiga (“Anything for Alice”), Brian Gleeson (“Resistance”), Lynn Rafferty (“Love/Hate”). The cast is completed by Orla Fitzgerald (“The Young Offenders”) Jimmy Smallhorne (“Love/Hate”), Barry Ward (“The Fall”), Enoch Frost (“Skyfall”) and Slimane Dazi (“A Prophet”).

“‘Taken Down’ is a gripping and authentic drama which highlights the reality of living as a refugee in Ireland today,” said Rebecca Dundon, director of international acquisitions at Fremantle. The executive said the series will have “global audiences transfixed...

Exclusive: British director created YouTube sensation The Hunt For Gollum.

Gravitas Ventures has picked up Us rights to Chris Bouchard’s gangster film London’s Finest.

Nathanael Wiseman, Arin Alldridge and Enoch Frost star in the story of a small-time drug-dealer who lands in trouble when a corrupt police officer tries to steal a consignment intended for vicious criminals.

Framestore served as executive producer on London’s Finest, while Shudder Films and Porter Pictures co-produced.

Bouchard co-directed the upcoming Hans Christian Andersen adaptation The Little Mermaid that stars Shirley MacLaine and Gina Gershon, as well as YouTube hit The Hunt For Gollum.

“Framestore has a proud history of nurturing talent within its ranks,” global marketing director Stephanie Bruning said. “We were keen to support Chris’ directing work on London’s Finest having been impressed with his ambitious Tolkien fan film.”

The film was released in the UK through Trinity Films as Hackney’s Finest.

Jeff Porter of [link...

Stars: Nathanael Wiseman, Arin Alldridge, Enoch Frost, Marlon G. Day, Rajan Sharma, Neerja Naik, Malcolm Tomlinson, Sean Cronin, Jeanette Rourke, Christopher Dingli, Katarina Gellin | Written by Thorin Seex | Directed by Chris Bouchard

I’ve reviewed quite a few British gangster movies and know what to expect, some take themselves a little too seriously and others look to offer comedy. As long as you know that then there is a good chance they end up being entertaining at least. The British gangster movie to be released is Hackney’s Finest, which is a film I remember looking for funding from a Kickstarter campaign, so it’s nice to see an independent film getting some success to mainstream distribution.

Sirus (Nathanael Wiseman) is a small time drug dealer who, when his friend Asif (Rajan Sharma) offers him a new delivery of drugs invites his Welsh friends Tony (Enoch Frost) and B (Marlon G. Day...

London crime drama, from the director of YouTube hit The Hunt for Gollum, set for release early 2015.

UK distribution and production company Trinity has acquired Chris Bouchard’s debut feature, Hackney’s Finest, which premiered at this year’s East End Film Festival. Release has been earmarked for early 2015.

Set in London’s East End, the film centres on a group of small-time Afghan heroin dealers and hapless minicab operator Sirus (Nathanael Wiseman) are forced to take on corrupt detective inspector Priestley (Arin Allridge) and his Russian associates, while having to face gun-toting Welsh-Jamaican yardies Tony and B (Marlon G. Day, Enoch Frost).

Hackney’s Finest is based on an original story written by Thorin Seex, a former heroin addict and squatter living on Hackney’s notorious ‘murder mile’.

It is executive produced by Framestore, the London visual-effects company behind Gravity.

It marks the debut feature of Bouchard’s and actor-producer Alldridge. Bouchard previously...

Launched on Kickstarter last month, upcoming British gangster film, Hackney’s Finest, is heading for the last hurdles on its path to distribution.

The two-month production was completed earlier in the year, and is just shy of its £6,000 goal over on Kickstarter, with a little under a week left on the clock.

To help whet your appetite, a new extended trailer has landed online, giving a good look at what’s to come. And though some of the accents feel a little off – though, having never been to Hackney, take that with a pinch of salt – it looks like a kind of Lock, Stock fifteen years on.

Hackney’s Finest is a lighthearted journey into the dark underbelly of London. A fast-paced crime thriller, packed with intrigue, corruption, dirty police, Afghan heroin smugglers, Welsh-Jamaican arms dealers and Eastern-European skinheads!

A ruthless police detective plans to steal a shipment of heroin...