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Manx Film opens Sundance Festival 6 December 2004 Out of a total of 2,613 features submitted for consideration, Manx made movie On A Clear Day has been selected as
the opening premiere in the World Cinema dramatic competition at next month's
prestigious Sundance Film Festival.
Alex Downie, Minister for Trade & Industry said:
"We are thrilled but not surprised that the film has received such an honour.
"Like The Libertine which brought Johnny
Depp to the Island earlier this year, this film was a casualty of the changes in
UK tax laws relating to film. Isle of Man Film championed the project and was
instrumental in re-structuring the finance to get the film completed. The
positive exposure that this film will generate for the Isle of Man will enable
us to build stronger relationships with the production industry in the United
States, hopefully leading us to bigger budget, higher calibre productions for
2005."
On A Clear Day features British
favourites Brenda Blethyn, Peter Mullan and Billy Boyd. It was made on the
Island in June and July this year.
Directed by Gaby Dellal, it tells the story of love, loss, mid-life crisis and
eventual triumph:
"When Frank loses his job in the shipyards after thirty six years he finds he
has nothing to fall back on except his swimming which he has done regularly for
the past twenty years. He has had a good marriage even though he has closed up
his feelings since the death of his son, Stuart, many years previously. His
other son Rob is a stranger to him and the two men cannot reconcile their loss.
They bottle their grief up individually. With a group of friends to help and
hinder him, Frank embarks upon a personal challenge - swimming the Channel! The
story is full of comedy and pathos, but culminates with Frank being reborn to be
reconciled with Rob and gaining new love for and from his wife."
Robert Redford's legendary Sundance Film Festival has been the industry's major
showcase for new talent and independent film production since 1978. Previous
films that have benefited from Sundance exposure include The Full Monty,
Reservoir Dogs, Blair Witch Project and Sex, Lies and Videotape. The Sundance
Film Festival takes place in Utah in the United States from January 20th/30th
2005. More stories >>>
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