GREAT8 Showcase at Cannes 2024

The GREAT 8 showcase, which presents new UK feature films from some of the UK’s most exciting first and second-time filmmakers to international distributors and festival programmers, has announced eight new projects for this year’s edition, taking place in the run-up to this year’s Cannes Marché.

Now in its seventh year, the 2024 GREAT 8 showcase is funded and produced by the BFI and the British Council, with support from BBC Film and Film4. In preparation for the Marché, unseen footage from all of the titles will be introduced by their filmmakers and screened exclusively to buyers and festival programmers on Thursday 9 May and made available across five different time zones. All of the features will be available to buyers during the Cannes Marché (14-25 May).

Find out more about the films and filmmakers in this year’s GREAT 8 below.

Brides – director Nadia Fall, writer Suhayla El-Bushra
Bring Them Down – director/writer Christopher Andrews
The Fall Of Sir Douglas Weatherford – director/writer Sean Dunn
On Falling – director/writer Laura Carreira
The Salt Path – director Marianne Elliott, writer Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Sunlight – director Nina Conti, writers Shenoah Allen, Nina Conti
Surviving Earth – director/writer Thea Gajić
Witches – director/writer Elizabeth Sankey

In addition, the films and filmmakers will be in Cannes and presented to international delegates attending the Marché at a special event on Thursday 16 May hosted by the UK Pavilion and supported by the GREAT's Audacious Kingdom campaign. Baroness Neville-Rolfe, the UK Minister of State whose brief includes import and export trade, will be attending and giving her support to the showcase. GREAT is the UK Government’s international marketing campaign showcasing the very best of the UK and celebrating the UK's audacious spirit as a hub of creators, trendsetters, and innovators who defy the status quo.

Previous GREAT 8 selections have sold widely internationally, being acquired by major studios, global streaming platforms, and independent distributors who each play a vital role in bringing cinema to national audiences. GREAT 8-selected films and filmmakers who have gone on to find international critical acclaim and commercial success include Charlotte Wells’s Aftersun (BAFTA Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, 2023) which became MUBI’s highest earning release in the UK. Rungano Nyoni’s I Am Not A Witch (Camera d’Or nominee, 2017) followed its Cannes world premiere in the Directors’ Fortnight with being selected by other leading international film festivals. Rose Glass’s Saint Maud (BIFA Douglas Hickox Award, 2021 and BFI London Film Festival, Best Film-Honourable Mention) was acquired by A24 for the US and launched Glass’s career internationally. Tinge Krishnan’s Been So Long (GREAT 8 2017) was bought worldwide by Netflix in what was named the biggest single acquisition of a UK film by a streaming platform at that point. Other successes include Michael Pearce’s Beast (BAFTA Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer, 2019), Georgia Oakley’s Blue Jean (Venice Giornate degli Autori People’s Choice Award, 2022) and Charlotte Regan’s Scrapper (Sundance, Grand Jury Prize, World Cinema - Dramatic, 2023).

International buyers and festival programmers welcome the opportunity offered by GREAT 8 to have an early look at the consistently high-quality new UK films and co-productions alongside the introductions given by their filmmakers. Previous attendees have included Bleecker Street, SPC, Apple, IFC, Neon, A24, 30 West (US); Charades, Diaphana, Haut et Court, LE PACTE, The Jokers (France); Shochiku (Japan); UPIE, Transmission Films, Madman Entertainment (ANZ); Cherry Pickers (Netherlands); and MUBI.

Agnieszka Moody, BFI Head of International Relations says, “Cannes is the place where we celebrate film as a global community. We are extremely grateful to our partners at the GREAT campaign for enabling our exciting emerging filmmaking talent to be present at this very special event as it can be nothing short of life-changing in terms of giving them exposure that will accelerate their already promising careers. I look forward with to seeing what gems we uncover in this year’s impressive line-up and wish them all the best of luck in attracting the attention they deserve.”

Briony Hanson, the British Council's Director of Film says, “Looking back over the six previous editions of GREAT 8, it’s gratifying to see the heights that many of our former picks have risen to (not least that two of them, Fyzal Boulifa and Rungano Nyoni, will be taking the Croisette by storm with their latest projects in the Cannes selection next week). This year’s line-up has knocked us out again – a rich collection of voices, styles, and subjects that makes us proud of - and excited about - UK film in 2024.”

GREAT is the UK government's international marketing campaign, showcasing the very best of the UK.

BRIDES

Director | Nadia Fall
Writer | Suhayla El-Bushra
Producers | Nicky Bentham, Marica Stocchi
Cast |  Ebada Hassan, Safiyya Ingar, Yusra Warsama, Cemre Ebuzziya, Aziz Capkurt
Production | Neon Films, Rosamont, BFI, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Bankside Films, Rai Cinema, MIC, Audiovisual Fund Development Friuli Venezia Giulia
Sales | Bankside Films

Synopsis – 15-year-olds Doe and Muna are going on the trip of a lifetime. Quiet, watchful Doe hasn’t gone anywhere since arriving in the UK as a refugee at the age of three from Somalia. Badass Muna, of Pakistani heritage, is the dominant force. As she leads Doe through airport security, the girls are giddy and hysterical but their mood changes as soon as their flight is announced. These girls are not going on holiday, but to Istanbul, to be met by a stranger who will take them to the border to start a new life in Syria. Disaster strikes when their chaperone doesn’t show up, but they form a new plan to continue their journey alone, testing their resolve, their faith and their friendship.  As we discover the experiences that led them here, the girls get ever closer to their destination, so must confront the reality of their futures.

Nadia Fall (whose screen work includes No Masks for Sky Arts, Bush for Film4, and Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads for BBC1) is the CEO and artistic director of Theatre Royal Stratford East, and was a former associate artist at the National Theatre, working for many years with acclaimed theatre and film director, Sir Nicholas Hytner. Nadia’s works include Home (also as writer), Chewing Gum Dreams (created by Michaela Coel) and Three Sisters (in a new version at the National Theatre by Inua Ellams). In 2020, Fall was named as a Sky Arts Ambassador and a 2023 Screen Star of Tomorrow.

BRING THEM DOWN | UK - Ireland - Belgium | Thriller
Writer-director | Christopher Andrews
Producers | Ivana MacKinnon, Jacob Swan Hyam, Ruth Treacy , Julianne Forde , Jean-Yves Roubin, Cassandre Warnauts
Cast | Christopher Abbott, Barry Keoghan, Colm Meaney, Nora-Jane Noone, Paul Ready
Production | Wild Swim, Tailored Films, Screen Ireland, MUBI, Frakas Productions. Supported by the UK Global Screen Fund
Sales | Charades

Synopsis | Michael, the last son of a shepherding family, lives with his ailing father, Ray. Burdened by a terrible secret, Michael has isolated himself from the world. When a conflict with rival farmer Gary and his son Jack escalates, Michael is drawn into a devastating chain of events, forcing him to confront the horrors of his past, leaving both families permanently altered.

Christopher Andrews is a filmmaker based in Norwich. Chris' debut feature, Bring Them Down, is currently in post-production. The film stars Oscar-nominated Barry Keoghan and Christopher Abbott and is based on Chris' Brit List featured original screenplay. Chris' previous shorts include BAFTA longlisted Fire and Stalker. He was also named a Screen Star of Tomorrow in 2019.  Chris is also a prolific writer, and current projects include the script of upcoming period thriller Cavendish for Ivana MacKinnon and Emily Leo of Wild Swim Films, to be financed by StudioCanal, and an adaptation of Man Booker Prize nominated Frankenstein In Baghdad. In television, he is developing original projects with Hera Pictures, Severn Screen and 60/40, as well as adapting Andrew Michael Hurley's Devil’s Day for The Ink Factory and Range Media.

THE FALL OF SIR DOUGLAS WEATHERFORD | UK | Comedy/Dram
Writer-director | Sean Dunn
Producers | Scott Macaulay, Jennifer Monks, Alex Polunin
Cast | Peter Mullan, Gayle Rankin, Jakob Oftebro, Sid Sagar, Lewis MacDougall
Production | BBC Film, BBC Scotland, BFI, Screen Scotland, Ossian Pictures, Come Into the Fold, Forensic Films Inc
Sales | Charades

Synopsis | Kenneth (Peter Mullan) works in the Arberloch visitor centre as a tour guide, dressing up as the town's most notable historical figure, Sir Douglas Weatherford, an 18th century philosopher and inventor who Kenneth proudly claims as his ancestor. When the village becomes the base of a big-budget fantasy TV show, ‘The White Stag of Emberfell’, the visitor centre is transformed into an Emberfell fan experience. With the show's costumed fans descending on the town, Kenneth's sanity crumbles as the traditions he holds dear are casually dismissed - a mental decline his daughter Anna (Gayle Rankin) attributes to grief over the loss of his wife. Kenneth's crisis takes an even darker turn when his ire becomes fixated on the show's handsome star, Oscar Sorenson (Jakob Oftebro). The Fall Of Douglas Weatherford is a dark comedy exploring the thin line between history and fantasy.

Sean Dunn is from Edinburgh and he attended Columbia University’s Film Programme in New York City, where he graduated with an MFA in Film Directing. His thesis film, British By The Grace Of God, premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and went on to win international awards. His next short Kingdom Come was supported by Screen Scotland and BFI NETWORK, premiering at the Venice Film Festival in 2019. As a producer Sean has worked on films that have screened internationally, including the Sundance, Chicago, and BFI London film festivals.

Synopsis | On Falling tells the story of Aurora, a Portuguese warehouse picker working in a vast fulfilment centre in Scotland. Trapped between the confines of her workplace and the solitude of her flatshare, Aurora seeks to resist the loneliness, alienation and ensuing small talk which begin to threaten her sense of self. Set against a landscape dominated by an algorithm-driven gig economy, designed to keep us apart, On Falling explores the silent, vital struggle to find meaning and connection.

Laura Carreira is a Portuguese filmmaker based in Edinburgh. Her short film The Shift premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2020 and was nominated for the European Film Awards and the London Critics' Circle Film Awards. In 2021 it won the New Talent Award at IndieLisboa. In 2022, Laura was named one of the Rising Stars Scotland by Screen International. Laura’s first short film Red Hill won the New Visions Award at the 73rd Edinburgh International Film Festival and was nominated for the Best Short Film award at the 2019 BAFTA Scotland Awards. Her second feature film is under development with Sixteen Films and Film4.

Synopsis –| The Salt Path is the profound true story of husband and wife Raynor and Moth Winn’s 630-mile trek along the beautiful but rugged Cornish, Devon and Dorset coastline. After being forcibly removed from their home, they make the desperate decision to walk in the hope that, in nature, they will find solace and a sense of acceptance. With depleted resources, only a tent and some essentials between them, every step along the path is a testament to their growing strength and determination. The Salt Path is a journey that is exhilarating, challenging, and liberating in equal measure. A portrayal of home, how it can be lost and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways.

Marianne Elliott has directed some of the most celebrated theatrical productions in the West End and on Broadway; War Horse, The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time, Angels In America, Company and Death Of A Salesman. She is the only woman to have won three Tony Awards for Best Direction.

Synopsis | Roy’s attempt to end his life fails when a woman dressed in a monkey suit intervenes. Beneath the furry costume is Jane, who is in the process of escaping a toxic relationship. Empowered by her alter ego ‘Monkey’, Jane commandeers Roy and his silver Airstream and they take to the open road. The unlikely duo soon hatch a plan that could help finance a new life, but could also land them in jail! Hot on their heels is Jane’s controlling partner Wade, who aims to put an end to Jane’s newfound freedom. This unconventional comedy is about two people on the edge of life who find purpose and romance through an unlikely connection, both escaping the darkness in search of some sunlight. 

Comedian and ventriloquist Nina Conti won a British Comedy Award, a BBC New Comedy Award, a Grierson Award, and made a BAFTA-nominated film – all without moving her lips. Along with numerous TV appearances, including Live at the Apollo, her comedy skits frequently go viral, amassing over 2.5 million likes on TikTok, and views in the double-figure millions across Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Nina recently completed filming Spinal Tap II, directed by Rob Reiner, just concluded her 5-star reviewed, sell-out show, The Dating Show, and will embark on a new world tour of Whose Face Is It Anyway? which will hit major cities such as LA, Melbourne, New York, Edinburgh, and London's West End in January 2025. She will also be performing in David Byrne's Cabaret at Bam in New York this autumn.

Synopsis | Based on a true story, Surviving Earth follows Vlad, a talented harmonica player who arrived in the UK in the 1990s after fleeing the conflict in Yugoslavia. Vlad, now living in Bristol and working as a counsellor, has brought his roots and love for Balkan music to the city by forming a band with his friends from work. The band strives for success, but as they do, Vlad is revisited by the traumas of his past life. His carefully rebuilt world starts to fracture, with the hardest hit being his only daughter Maria, the most important person in his life. 

Thea Gajić is a British writer and director, born and raised in South London. Her first short film RUN was selected as BFI NetWork Postroom's Pick of The Month, Short of The Week and won New Talent Award at BFI Future Film Fest. It also earned her a Sundance Ignite Fellowship.

Synopsis | In this personal and intimate film writer-director Elizabeth Sankey uses her own story of being admitted to a psychiatric ward after the birth of her son to explore the unexpected yet compelling connections between perinatal mental health illness and the history and portrayal of witches in western society. Using clips of cinematic witches to illustrate her own experience and those of fellow sufferers, alongside interviews with medical professionals and academics, Sankey creates her own spell book for all to use.

Elizabeth Sankey is a filmmaker, writer and musician. In 2019 she wrote and directed her debut feature documentary, Romantic Comedy, a personal exploration of the genre, with contributions from Jessica Barden (The End Of The F***ing World), Charlie Shackleton (Beyond Clueless) and others. Created independently, the film was shown at over 35 international festivals including IFFR, SXSW, Sheffield DocFest, CPH:DOX and AFI Docs, before being acquired for distribution by MUBI in the UK and 1091 in the US, among other international sales.

In 2022 Elizabeth wrote and directed Boobs, a feminist TV piece about womens’ bodies for Channel 4. She has also written several shorts for BBC iPlayer’s Inside Cinema strand. With her band Summer Camp she has released four studio albums, and in 2014 created the soundtrack to Charlie Shackleton’s feature debut Beyond Clueless. She has also written for The Guardian, NME, Vice and McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern.

BRIDES

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