Andrea Arnold's BIRD to Premiere at Cannes
Televisual - 11th April 2024
Two films backed by the BBC and the BFI Filmmaking Fund – Bird, directed by Andrea Arnold and Santosh, directed by Sandhya Suri – will receive their world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this year.
A third film at Cannes, September Says, directed by Ariane Labed, was supported by the BBC and the UK Global Screen Fund.
While On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, written and directed by Rungano Nyoni and produced by Element Pictures, was supported by the BBC.
Mia Bays, Director of the BFI Filmmaking Fund, said: “We are energised by the strong line-up of UK films just announced in official selection at Cannes 2024. Particularly Andrea Arnold, returning to the festival with her incredible new film Bird and whilst also being honoured with the Directors’ Fortnight’s Carrosse d’Or award; and for Sandhya Suri whose stunning narrative debut feature Santosh will screen in Un Certain Regard. They are two very distinctive female filmmakers at very different stages of their careers, who we are proud to support through the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund.”
Eva Yates, Director of BBC Film, says of the Cannes selections: “We couldn’t be happier for Andrea, Rungano, Sandhya, Ariane and their filmmaking teams, who have made truly brilliant films that we cannot wait for the world to see. The BBC is proud to be a home for their vital work; Bird, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, Santosh and September Says are four singular films which share a vigour and incision through which they tell us so much about ourselves and our humanity.”
Andrea Arnold’s Bird will screen in Competition. Written and directed by Andrea Arnold, starring Barry Keoghan and Franz Rogowski. Produced by Tessa Ross, Lee Groombridge and Juliette Howell. 12-year-old Bailey lives with her single dad Bug and brother Hunter in a squat in North Kent. Bug doesn’t have much time for his kids and Bailey who is approaching puberty seeks attention and adventure elsewhere.
Produced by House Productions, and developed with BBC Film, financiers include BBC Film, BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Pinky Promise, FirstGen and Access Entertainment. Cornerstone are handling international sales.