Why BBC Film and Film4 each backed a Cannes Competition film with no UK director or production company

Cannes title Sentimental valuethe sixth film from Danish Norwegian director Joachim Trier, and The history of sound, Additionally, the sixth film by highly acclaimed South African director Oliver Hermanus has secured funding from British public broadcasters, BBC films and films, respectively.

Financial support from UK public broadcasters has raised the brows of some of the UK’s independent production community as they have not been directed by British filmmakers, British production companies, told British stories, or received a majority shooting alongside a majority British cast and crew in the UK.

Due to limited UK funding for independent films, BBC films have a pot of about £11 million a year. Film4 invests around £22.5 million –screen I asked BBC Film and Film4 to talk about the strategies behind their decision to support the two films. BBC Film director Eva Yates and Film4 director Ollie Madden declined to comment directly, but the two funder spokesmen provided some insight into why the two films are supported by UK public broadcasters.

Sentimental value It is a drama about a family living in Oslo, and was produced by Norwegian Maria Ekerjodo in collaboration with Andrea Ottomer of Ii I Productions, and was produced alongside Zentropa (Denmark and Sweden), Kuprisen Films (Germany), and Lumen and MK Productions (France). Its international cast includes Renate Reigns, Inga Evesdotter Lileas, Elle Fanning and Stellan Skarsgard, and features French MK2 films on sale. Additional funders include the Norwegian Film Institute.

I rode a BBC movie Sentimental value In 2023, both had BBC films working previously, via producers and sales agents. The quality of the script attracted BBC films to the project, a spokesman eager to guarantee the UK’s free television rights to BBC channels and IPlayer said.

“Joachim Trier is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers in the world,” a spokesperson for BBC Films said. “Sentimental value A theme that spoke of emotional clarity about the universal themes of family and the values ​​of art, and felt resonated with our commands as a BBC audience and cultural organisation. ”

It’s not the first time a BBC film has supported a film without a British producer or a British director. Two recent examples are the Eliza Hittman’s Sundance 2020 Premiere. Always, sometimes never Annie Baker’s 2023 Telluride Title Janet Planet, From both American filmmakers and producers.

BBC Films wants to highlight that supporting British talent remains the forefront of its strategy, supporting 29 films over the past two years. The spokesman also said the BBC films are supporting 24 UK producers through the BBC Small Indie Fund.

Three of the UK titles are certain, and all debut features: Harry Lighton’s PillionAkinola Davies Jr’s Father’s shadow Harris Dickinson’s Sea sea urchin. Everything received long-term development support from BBC Films.

“We are proud of our support for British filmmaking, which has helped launch some of the most exciting filmmaking voices of recent years,” the spokesman said. “And that is that we can promote international relationships that support culturally urgent work with the appeal of a strong audience.”

The history of sound

The history of sound It’s one of a handful of films Film4 recently supported without substantial involvement in the UK. Further projects include two films produced by Iconoclast, an international production group based in the US, and by media Robert Wallach in the mid-March Cyprus Headquarters. Sacrifice (Produced by the Greek heretic and Gablas) Filmed in Greece and Bulgaria, French filmmaker Leo Bern’s still filming companion I’m a monster (It was also produced by Madant in Poland) and is planned for filming in London.

Irish actor Paul Mezcal and British Josh O’Connor star The history of sound This is primarily set during the US World War I era. It is produced through US production costumes End Cue and Fat City, along with Thérèsa Ryan-Van Graan and Hermanus, as well as Zhang Xin from New York-based Production and Finance Company Closer Media. Ryan Van Grahn heads Penzance Films, a South African producer of Hermanus, and is currently based in the UK, but the film is not produced by British entities.

Further support from Storm City Films and Tango Entertainment is with international focus/universal variance, with Mubi, with Closer Media stakes and released in the US.

Following the 2022 film’s collaboration with Division and Hermanus living, Film4 was developed and produced by the 9th British film, which was partially funded. Hermanus went directly to Film4 with his script The history of soundThe spokesman, set in the United States, Italy and the UK, revealed.

“Oliver was a world-class filmmaker who promised to work in the UK and was extremely proud to support his first British production. living,’ The spokesman said. “success living He demonstrated his ability to connect with his audience on the global stage. ”

Involvement of major UK crews including British actor O’Connor and editor Chris Wyatt The history of sound It was also a draw from the UK funders, with some of the filming taking place in the UK. Another draw was to ensure the UK’s free television rights to Film4 channels and Channel 4 streaming, as well as the commercial potential of the film.

“Given the caliber of talent involved, The history of sound It is one of our more commercially ambitious projects. In success, these projects will help fund high-risk films in the market, including those from first-time filmmakers,” the spokesman said, and for the past two years, Film4 has supported 21 productions by British Irish filmmakers.

The recent UK debuts supported by Film4 include Rebecca Ren Kiwitz’s Berlin Premier Hot milk, Dylan Southern’s Sundance Title Something with feathers And TheaGajić’s SXSW title Surviving Earth.