Digital Departures Film Selected for Cannes Debut

IT has been announced that one of the three feature films currently being made in Liverpool as part of the cutting edge Digital Departures micro-budget filmmaking initiative, has been selected for screening at the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival in May.

Renowned British director, Terence Davies, says he’s thrilled his documentary, Of Time and the City, is to be given a Special Screening at Cannes, one of only two UK films to be shown as part of the festival’s ‘Official Selection’ this year.

Regional screen agency, Northwest Vision and Media, who devised the Digital Departures scheme together with partners the Liverpool Culture Company, the UK Film Council and the BBC, is confident the film will make a huge impression.

“Everyone at Digital Departures is delighted that the Terence Davies documentary has been chosen for a Special Screening at the Cannes Film Festival, giving us the chance to launch our first film on the international stage at Cannes,” says Vision and Media’s Lisa Marie Russo, one of the Executive Producers of the film.

Working with Terence on the film are Sol Papadopoulos and Roy Boulter of Hurricane Films, Merseyside-based producers of both factual and fictional film. Together, they have produced shorts, single dramas and international documentary series.

Speaking of his film’s inclusion at Cannes, Sol said he was delighted the documentary would be seen by some of the world’s leading film critics.

“We are stunned by the news, it’s absolutely incredible, wonderful!” explains Sol. “Terence, Roy and I were all in the voice over studio this morning when the call came from Cannes, and we were bowled over. Terence just went white, he had to sit down! I can’t even begin to explain how excited we are. It’s magnificent news.

“We’re so proud of the film, and we’re so thrilled that it’s being given a Special Screening.

“And what amazing company we’ll be sharing the stage with, with such esteemed international talent like Woody Allen and Spielberg all in the line-up, too. It’s an incredible honour, and it’s wonderful news for the whole Digital Departures project and for Liverpool that one of the three winning films is to be shown at Cannes,” adds Sol.

Chris Moll, Executive Producer at Vision and Media and the originator of the Digital Departures initiative, also welcomed the news from Cannes. “Seeing the Digital Departures initiative come to life with its unique blend of new and established talent has been one of my proudest moments. I’ve watched with growing admiration as each film has evolved and created its own unique ambience.

“It’s the character and mood of Terence’s film which shines through and I’m sure it will be warmly received at Cannes and will have a broad, international appeal,” says Chris.

Terence Davies has a long-standing relationship with the Cannes Film Festival, where he won the International Critics Award in 1988 for Distant Voices, Still Lives.

Of Time And The City is another film in his outstanding body of work that is deeply influenced by his Liverpool upbringing.

Together with the other two Digital Departures features, horror film, Salvage, and drama, Starstruck, Terence’s documentary is due to be premiered in Liverpool in the autumn as part of the 08 Capital of Culture celebrations.

Find out more about Digital Departures here.