Bryan Forbes accepts prestigious BFI Fellowship Award

The BFI is proud to announce that Bryan Forbes has accepted a prestigious BFI Fellowship Award. Announced in a special ceremony last night by BFI Chair Greg Dyke at BFI Southbank, the award is in recognition of Bryan Forbes’ outstanding contribution to film as an actor, director, producer and writer. The award joins Forbes’ impressive accolades which include a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire), Academy Award, two BAFTA awards, two Writers Guild Awards, a Critics Circle Award, an Edgar Allen Poe Award, wins at both the Berlin and San Sebastien International Film Festivals and numerous nominations, including an Academy Awards nomination for The Angry Silence in 1960. 

 

Brian Forbes said ‘I would like to say to Greg Dyke and colleagues what a great honour the BFI does to me, which I appreciate more than I can say. When you're 85 as I am, it's like as Betty Davies once said to me, old age ain’t for sissies!’

 

Greg Dyke said ‘The multi talented Brian Forbes has made an outstanding contribution to British film for over 60 years, both on and off screen. We are delighted and honoured that he has accepted a BFI Fellowship - the highest accolade the BFI can bestow.’

 

The BFI Fellowship award is in the gift of the Board of Governors, and it is intended to recognise “outstanding achievement in film and television”, given to those who have helped shape film and television culture in the UK. Brian joins an eminent list of BFI Fellows that include Peggy Ashcroft, Dirk Bogarde, Richard Attenborough, Judi Dench, Alec Guinness, Maggie Smith, Bernardo Bertolucci, Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles, Jack Cardiff, Jeanne Moreau and Mike Leigh.

 

Bryan Forbes’ career in film has spanned over 60 years. He made his screen debut in 1948 and went on to have supporting roles in films including An Inspector Calls (1954) and The Colditz Story (1955). Forbes was then lured behind the camera, first as a screenwriter winning critical acclaim for both his screenplay for Basil Dearden's The League of Gentlemen and his most controversial screenplay Guy Green's The Angry Silence, starring Richard Attenborough. Forbes made his directorial debut with Whistle Down The Wind (1961) and went on to make films including King Rat (1965), The Stepford Wives (1974) and International Velvet (1978). He is married to actress Nanette Newman and they have two children, TV presenter Emma Forbes and Sarah Standing. Forbes has also written several novels and two volumes of his autobiography. He is now president of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain.

COURAGEOUS

Honour Begins at Home


COURAGEOUS

 

Debuting on DVD February 27

Extensive Bonus Materials Include Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes, Deleted Scenes, and a Blooper Reel

 

London, UK. 19.12.11 – The latest film from Sherwood Pictures and Alex and Stephen Kendrick (Fireproof, Facing the Giants and Flywheel) is the action-packed inspirational drama Courageous, debuting on DVD February 27 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and AFFIRM Films. Courageous will have families laughing and cheering as they are inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children. Bonus materials include four behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, a blooper reel and commentary by The Kendrick Brothers.Courageous will be available for £19.99 (DVD). 
 
Synopsis: 
As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes and their partners willingly stand up to the worst the world can offer, yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. While they consistently give their best on the job, they quickly discover that their children are beginning to drift further away from them. When tragedy hits home, these men are left with a newfound urgency to renew their faith and reach out to their own children. Will they be able to find a way to serve and protect those who are most dear to them?
 
DVD Bonus Features Include:

• OUTRAGEOUS: Outtakes and Bloopers
• “Courageous in 60 Seconds” Featurette
• “The Making of Courageous” Featurette
• “The Heart of Courageous” Featurette
• “The Story of My Father” Featurette
• Deleted Scenes
• Commentary by The Kendrick Brothers 

 
Directed by Alex Kendrick from a screenplay by Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick,Courageous was produced by Stephen Kendrick, with Michael Catt, Jim McBride and Terry Hemmings serving as executive producers.
 
Courageous has a running time of 124 minutes and is rated 12.

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER

‘BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE-COMEDY OR MUSICAL’

  ‘MICHELLE WILLIAMS’

***

6 BAFTA AWARD NOMINATIONS

INCLUDING

‘LEADING ACTRESS’ FOR ‘MICHELLE WILLIAMS’

***

LONDON CRITICS CIRCLE – SUPPORTING ACTOR OF THE YEAR

‘KENNETH BRANAGH’

***

2 ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINATIONS

BEST ACTRESS – MICHELLE WILLAMS

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – KENNETH BRANAGH

My Week with Marilyn will be released by Entertainment in Video on Rental & Retail DVD & Blu-Ray

On

12^th March 2012

…..A PERFECT GIFT FOR MOTHERS DAY…..

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

Starring an award-winning all-star cast and based on the diaries of Colin Clark, the film captures a love affair with the world’s most famous woman, Marilyn Monroe.

Academy Award®   nominee Michelle Williams stars as Marilyn Monroe(Blue Valentine, Shutter Island, Brokeback Mountain) and is joined by a stellar cast including Eddie Redmayne as Colin Clark (The Other Boleyn Girl, The Good Shepherd), Kenneth Branagh as Sir Laurence Olivier (Thor, ‘Wallander’), Dame Judi Dench as Dame Sybil Thorndike (Quantum of Solace), Julia Ormond as Vivien Leigh (Che, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Dougray Scott as Arthur Miller (Mission Impossible II), Zoe Wanamaker as Paula Strasberg (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone), Emma Watson (Harry Potter), Dominic Cooper (Tamara Drewe, An Education, Mamma Mia), Derek Jacobi (Gosford Park), Toby Jones (Frost Nixon, Infamous), Miranda Raison (Spooks), Philip Jackson (Little Voice), Geraldine Somerville (Harry Potter) and Michael Kitchen (‘Foyle’s War’).

My Week with Marilyn is the true story of a star-struck boy who falls in love with the biggest celebrity in the world, Marilyn Monroe.

23 year-old Colin Clark was determined to break into the film business and his first job was The Prince and The Showgirl - the film that was set to be the smash hit of the year famously uniting the biggest stars of the day, Marilyn Monroe and Sir Laurence Olivier.  On honeymoon in Britain with her new husband, Arthur Miller, Marilyn is excited about the project but quickly becomes desperate to run away from her Hollywood entourage, the pressures of work and the press who hound her.  For Marilyn, Colin is a welcome antidote and he offers her everything she craves when, together, they escape the film set to get closer in an idyllic Britain.

Cert – 15

Running Time DVD – 95mins

Running Time Blu-Ray - 99mins

Cat Number       Recommended Retail Price
Rental DVD -  EDR4241     £N/A
Retail DVD -  EDV9719     £19.99

Blu-Ray - EBR5201     £24.99

Bonus Features

• The untold story of an American Icon
• Director’s Commentary

 

SCIENCE WRITER AND ‘BLUE PETER’ EDITOR HONOURED

Biddy Baxter and Nigel Henbest to receive Honorary Degrees from the University of Leicester

The producer of BBC Television’s ‘Blue Peter’ for many years and an internationally acclaimed writer on astronomy and space and are to receive Honorary Degrees from the University of Leicester on Friday 27th January 2012 at De Montfort Hall.

Joan Maureen (Biddy) Baxter MBE, the producer and editor who turned the BBC children’s programme ‘Blue Peter’ into the success it has been for the past five decades, was born in Leicester and educated at what was then the Wyggeston Girls’ Grammar School.

Following a degree at St Mary’s College, Durham, Biddy Baxter began her BBC career in 1955 as a radio trainee studio manager.   In 1962 she became producer of ‘Blue Peter’ and, with Director Edward Barnes, she began the process that was to transform the programme into a national institution.  In 1965 she became Programme Editor and was honoured with an MBE in 1981.

Nigel Henbest is well-known worldwide for his books, articles and award-winning television productions popularising astronomy and space.  

A graduate of the University of Leicester, where he studied astrophysics, he went on to research radio astronomy at Cambridge.

Nigel Henbest was co-founder of the television production company Pioneer Productions, with screen credits on BBC Television, Channel 4, the Learning and Discovery Channels, as well as in the US and Australia.

With Heather Couper – a fellow University of Leicester graduate and Honorary Graduate - he writes a regular column for The Independent and also writes for the science magazine, BBC Focus.   He has been Astronomy Consultant for New Scientist, Editor of the Journal of British Astronomical Association, and Media Consultant to the Royal Greenwich Observatory.

Biddy Baxter MBE will receive the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws at 1pm on Friday 27th January at De Montfort Hall, Leicester.

She said, “Nothing could thrill me more than to be honoured by the University of Leicester!

“The degree ceremony in the De Montfort Hall will bring back vivid memories of the Wyggeston Grammar School for Girls’ annual Dancing Demonstrations.  The last time I walked the length of the hall and climbed up the rostra on to the platform, I was dressed as Britannia complete with trident, plumed helmet and metal breastplate and wearing a very tight long skirt made from a Union flag.  I felt and probably looked absolutely ridiculous! 

“As a junior member of the Little Theatre I adored the build up to our performances, the read throughs, costume fittings and the hope of photographs and a review in the Leicester Mercury or the Mail.  One of my fellow actors was a very quiet boy called Joe Orton – no indication then that he would become the most famous playwright of his generation!

“Leicester was my life until I left for university and I have very fond memories of all my Leicester years.”

Nigel Henbest will receive the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science at 4pm on Friday 27th January at De Montfort Hall, Leicester.

He said, “I am absolutely delighted to accept the Honorary Doctorate from my alma mater, the University of Leicester, which helped launch me on my career as a science populariser – twice over!

“The University of Leicester’s innovative, flexible and forward-looking curriculum for undergraduates attracted me as an A-level student (even though the Head of Science at my school recommended I should apply to Cambridge “where, Henbest, you will rub shoulders with your peers!”)

“In fact, I found my peers at Leicester, both in the vibrant student life – where I ended up running the Astronomical Society with my life-long friend from Leicester days, Heather Couper – and in the inspiration from the Departments of Astronomy and Physics (which in those days were distinct). In fact, my first published article – on a visit to the sixteenth century Danish observatory on the island of Hven – appeared in the magazine of the student Physics Society!

“But no previous visit to Leicester has given me anything like the joy and excitement of this invitation to return to the University which first directed my feet on the path to astronomy, to public outreach – and to the stars.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Robert Burgess said: “We chose Biddy Baxter and Nigel Henbest because they are excellent communicators in their chosen fields.  Biddy Baxter is a household name, courtesy of producing the ‘Blue Peter’ TV programme, while Nigel Henbest is well known worldwide for communicating complex ideas in astrophysics to a very wide audience.  They have both won many awards for their work in television and are both people associated with Leicester in the case of Biddy Baxter and the University of Leicester in the case of Nigel Henbest.”

MONEYBALL

“One of the year’s best films *****”
Colin Kennedy – Metro
 
“Brad Pitt is at his best”
Philip French – The Observer
 
“an award-calibre performance by Brad Pitt”
Robbie Collin – The Daily Telegraph
 
*****
The Sunday Times
 
Based on a True Story & the Best-Selling Book
 
Starring Two-Time Academy Award^® Nominee Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Academy Award^® Winner Philip Seymour Hoffman

 
MONEYBALL 

A Film by Bennett Miller

On Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital Download March 19
 
Nominated for 3 Orange British Academy Film Awards
 
Leading Actor – Brad Pitt
Supporting Actor – Jonah Hill
Adapted Screenplay – Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin
 

London, UK. 12/01/2012– The inspirational story based on Michael Lewis’ best-selling book, Moneyball, slides home on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital Download on March 19 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The critically acclaimed film stars two-time Academy Award^® nominee Brad Pitt (2008, Best Actor, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, 1996, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Twelve Monkeys) in an outstanding performance as Oakland A’s General Manager, Billy Beane. On the roster with Pitt are Jonah Hill (Get Him to the Greek), Academy Award^® winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (2005, Best Actor, Capote) and Golden Globe^® nominee Robin Wright (1994,Best Actress, Forrest Gump).

Moneyball also features an all-star lineup of filmmakers. Academy Award^® winners Steven Zaillian (1993, Best Adapted Screenplay, Schindler's List) and Aaron Sorkin (2010, Best Adapted Screenplay, The Social Network) wrote the screenplay. The film was directed by Academy Award^®nominee Bennett Miller (2005, Best Director, Capote), produced by Michael DeLuca (The Social Network), Rachael Horovitz (About Schmidt) and Brad Pitt; and executive produced by Scott Rudin, Andrew Karsch (Conviction), Sidney Kimmel (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Mark Bakshi (Rango).

The Blu-ray™ and DVD contain all-new special features including four featurettes, a blooper reel and much more. Moneyball will be available on Blu-ray™ for £22.99 RRP and on DVD for £17.99 RRP.

The book, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, is published by Norton and available now.

Synopsis: 
Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) challenges the system and defies conventional wisdom when he is forced to rebuild his small-market team on a limited budget. Despite opposition from the old guard, the media, fans and their own field manager (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Beane - with the help of a young, number crunching, Yale-educated economist (Jonah Hill) - develops a roster of misfits and changes the way the game is played forever.

MONEYBALL Special Features include:

• Blooper with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill
• Billy Beane: Re-Inventing the Game
• Moneyball: Playing The Game
• Deleted Scenes

Exclusive to Blu-ray™:

• Drafting The Team
• Adapting Moneyball
• PS3 Wallpaper/Theme

Moneyball has a run time of approximately 133 minutes on Blu-ray™ and 128 minutes on DVD and is rated 12.
 

ASDA OFFERS BRITAIN’S LOWEST COST 40 INCH FULL HD TV

·         Luxor 40” Full HD 1080p LCD TV now on sale for an amazing £249

Asda has knocked £50 off the price of one of its largest HDTVs.  The Luxor 40” TV, exclusive to Asda, is now available for just £249.  It features a crystal clear 1080p full HD screen and is perfect for watching high definition TV, Blu-ray movies and for playing games.

This LCD TV, with its integrated digital Freeview technology does not require a set-top box and is ready to receive up to 50 channels and 24 radio stations, offering outstanding choice for the whole family.

The versatile TV features 2 HDMI sockets and 2 Scart sockets enabling simple and convenient connection to an array of other digital devices.

Asda technology expert, Michael Arnott said: “We’re delighted to be offering our customers this product at such a fantastic price.  This high definition TV can turn any living room into a quality home cinema.  With the lowest cost on the market, this TV offers unbeatable value to our customers.”

The Luxor is manufactured exclusively for Asda at factories that also make some of the world’s leading television brands.  The television has an uncompromising specification, delivering outstanding quality at an exceptional price.