Published: 01 Sep 2016
Una, starring Academy Award nominee Rooney Mara (Carol) and Ben Mendelsohn (upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) has been selected to screen in competition at the 60th BFI London Film Festival, 5-16 October 2016.
Directed by multi-award winning stage director Benedict Andrews, Una is the cinematic adaptation of the Olivier Award-winning play Blackbird (staged in Broadway early 2016), written by Scottish playwright David Harrower, who also adapted the script with Benedict Andrews.
When a young woman (Mara) unexpectedly arrives at an older man's workplace (Mendelsohn), looking for answers, the secrets of the past threaten to unravel the new life he has created for himself. Their confrontation will uncover buried memories and unspeakable desires. It will shake them both to the core.
The film which also stars Riz Ahmed (Jason Bourne) is produced by Jean Doumanian and Patrick Daly alongside WestEnd Films.
Eve Schoukroun, Managing Director at WestEnd Films: "Una gathers creative and outstanding talents from all over the world, from Scotland, Australia, the US and the UK. We are very proud it's coming back home, to London, where the film was shot, after its opening in Toronto, to have its European Premiere."
The film, which had its world premiere at Telluride Film Festival (2-5 September 2016), is supported by Creative Scotland, Film4 and WestEnd Films, which is also handling world sales.
Robbie Allen, Senior Screen Executive at Creative Scotland, said: “We’re really pleased that Una will screen in competition and receive its European premiere at London. It provides the ideal platform to showcase the international screenwriting career of David Harrower, one of Scotland’s most celebrated playwrights. We’re proud to support David with this film adaptation of his award-winning and acclaimed stage-play, Blackbird."
Scottish filmmaker Hope Dickson Leach’s directorial feature debut The Levelling, starring Ellie Kendrick (Game of Thrones) will also have its European premiere at London Film Festival when it screens in competition in the First Feature category.
When a young Somerset farmer shoots himself, his sister Clover (Kendrick) sets out to understand what may have driven him to this and in doing so is forced to confront her own role in the tragedy.
View the full programme for the 60th BFI London Film Festival.
Creative Scotland funding for UNA: £300,000 National Lottery funding through Creative Scotland’s Targeted Screen Fund.
Creative Scotland funding for The Levelling: £7,000 National Lottery funding through Creative Scotland Targeted Screen Fund.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland
Eilidh Walker
Media Relations & PR Assistant
Creative Scotland
E: eilidh.walker@creativescotland.com
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