There is something of In Bruges about this Belgium-set tale of whistleblowers in hiding, with a little bit of David Brent
Neil Maskell is the charismatic British actor known for his complex, seriocomic tough-guy performances in the movies of Ben Wheatley and Paul Andrew Williams; now he makes a worthwhile feature debut as writer-director in this diverting if slightly lightweight black-comic sketch about political paranoia, on which Wheatley has an executive producer credit.
Amit Shah and Sura Dohnke play Ewan and Silke, a married couple who are whistleblowers hiding out in Belgium, having revealed a government secret to a newspaper.
Neil Maskell is the charismatic British actor known for his complex, seriocomic tough-guy performances in the movies of Ben Wheatley and Paul Andrew Williams; now he makes a worthwhile feature debut as writer-director in this diverting if slightly lightweight black-comic sketch about political paranoia, on which Wheatley has an executive producer credit.
Amit Shah and Sura Dohnke play Ewan and Silke, a married couple who are whistleblowers hiding out in Belgium, having revealed a government secret to a newspaper.
- 8/29/2023
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
From terrifying audiences in Kill List to squaring up to Elba in airline thriller Hijack, the actor has made his name playing a host of wrong’uns. Now he’s leaving the baddies behind to direct a Belgium-based whistleblower drama
If you know Neil Maskell as an actor, you might fancy you’d know him as a film-maker, too. And you’d be right. But you’d also be very wrong. “I think if you see Klokkenluider it’s not really the work of … ” Maskell pauses to determine where his directorial film debut diverges from his onscreen persona. “I was gonna say a ‘tough guy’, but that’s not very fair, because I know some very intelligent tough guys. But it’s not the work of, like, a thug.”
In fact, the title alone – a Dutch word meaning “whistleblower” – sets Klokkenluider above the violent Brit-flicks Maskell once starred in. He is calling today from Antwerp,...
If you know Neil Maskell as an actor, you might fancy you’d know him as a film-maker, too. And you’d be right. But you’d also be very wrong. “I think if you see Klokkenluider it’s not really the work of … ” Maskell pauses to determine where his directorial film debut diverges from his onscreen persona. “I was gonna say a ‘tough guy’, but that’s not very fair, because I know some very intelligent tough guys. But it’s not the work of, like, a thug.”
In fact, the title alone – a Dutch word meaning “whistleblower” – sets Klokkenluider above the violent Brit-flicks Maskell once starred in. He is calling today from Antwerp,...
- 8/22/2023
- by Ellen E Jones
- The Guardian - Film News
"You have absolutely no idea what's coming." Central City Media in the UK has unveiled an official trailer for an indie dark comedy called Klokkenluider (Dutch for "whistleblower"), the feature directorial debut of British actor Neil Maskell. This premiered at last year's London Film Festival, and still doesn't have any US release set yet. A hapless government whistleblower hides out in a remote Belgian cottage with his wife and two incompetent bodyguards. As a newspaper journalist travels to the safe-house, unlikely relationships form under the atmosphere of fear, uncertainty and boredom. Klokkenluider also has perhaps the greatest game of charades ever committed to film! The film's "kitchen sink drama and conspiracy thriller elements combine to create an unsettling comedy gem." The film stars Tom Burke, Jenna Coleman, Amit Shah, Roger Evans, & Sura Dohnke. And it's exec produced by Ben Wheatley. This looks damn good! I'm in. // Continue Reading ›...
- 8/11/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
There are such a fine myriad of film festivals around the world, with all major cities spotlighting domestic talent, and showcasing the latest films from around the world to local audiences and visiting guests. While a small collective, namely Berlin, Cannes & Venice stand out on the European festival calendar, there’s another contender on the block; a simply brilliant celebration of cinema, with a mighty fine programme, and it takes place in the capital city of Estonia.
The Tallinn Black Nights Festival just closed its doors on the 26th edition of this annual, winter event, and we here at HeyUGuys were fortunate enough to have been invited along. Named ‘Black Nights’, we presume, because it gets dark every day around mid-afternoon, it’s a bitterly cold fortnight, where naturally you find yourselves gravitating towards the warm, cosiness of a cinema complex – and when doing so, there sure was a lot to indulge in.
The Tallinn Black Nights Festival just closed its doors on the 26th edition of this annual, winter event, and we here at HeyUGuys were fortunate enough to have been invited along. Named ‘Black Nights’, we presume, because it gets dark every day around mid-afternoon, it’s a bitterly cold fortnight, where naturally you find yourselves gravitating towards the warm, cosiness of a cinema complex – and when doing so, there sure was a lot to indulge in.
- 12/2/2022
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Kill List star Neil Maskell makes his feature directorial debut with the dark comedy Klokkenluider, which had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. The title is Dutch for “whistleblower,” and Maskell’s script sees a couple hiding out in a remote Belgian cottage, nervously preparing to spill the beans to a newspaper journalist. When they’re joined by two bodyguards, tensions rise but relationships are formed. It’s an involving character-driven drama/thriller that recalls cult British fare such as Black Mirror, as well as the work of Maskell’s regular cohort Ben Wheatley.
After some slightly clunky establishing scenes between It guy Ewan (Amit Shah) and his wife Silke (Sura Dohnke), the film settles into a more confident comedic tone upon the arrival of Chris (Tom Burke) and Glynn (Roger Evans). A mismatched pair of heavies for hire, they’re tasked with keeping the couple safe – and also,...
After some slightly clunky establishing scenes between It guy Ewan (Amit Shah) and his wife Silke (Sura Dohnke), the film settles into a more confident comedic tone upon the arrival of Chris (Tom Burke) and Glynn (Roger Evans). A mismatched pair of heavies for hire, they’re tasked with keeping the couple safe – and also,...
- 10/11/2022
- by Anna Smith
- Deadline Film + TV
Th 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival has selected its Industry Selects, a section of ten audience friendly films up for global acquisition. In addition it was announced that Jason Reitman’s Live Read is returning to the Festival for an all-star event featuring a surprise cast; the filmmaker presenting a surprise screenplay in honor of his late father, Ivan Reitman.
“We’ve worked to build a selection that will appeal to buyers as well as audiences,’’ said Norm Wilner, Programmer, Digital Releasing and Industry Selects. “We aim to celebrate new voices and showcase international talent, in line with the Festival’s global spirit.”
“We’re delighted to present these director-driven and audience-engaging sales titles from around the world to international buyers who rely on our festival to strengthen their upcoming film slate,” added Geoff Macnaughton, Senior Director, Industry and Theatrical. “Fostering sales at the Festival is a key part of our mandate,...
“We’ve worked to build a selection that will appeal to buyers as well as audiences,’’ said Norm Wilner, Programmer, Digital Releasing and Industry Selects. “We aim to celebrate new voices and showcase international talent, in line with the Festival’s global spirit.”
“We’re delighted to present these director-driven and audience-engaging sales titles from around the world to international buyers who rely on our festival to strengthen their upcoming film slate,” added Geoff Macnaughton, Senior Director, Industry and Theatrical. “Fostering sales at the Festival is a key part of our mandate,...
- 8/23/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Maskell’s feature directorial debut is a darkly comic thriller.
Jenna Coleman and Tom Burke will lead the cast of Klokkenluider, the feature directorial debut of actor Neil Maskell, which will start its three-week shoot on February 28 in East Sussex in southern England.
The film is written by Maskell, produced by Helen Simmons and Stephanie Aspin of UK production company Erebus Pictures, and executive produced by Ben Wheatley and Andy Starke at Rook Films. John Jencks is an executive producer, and Savannah Power is a co-producer.
US financier MarVista Entertainment is representing sales on the title alongside Endeavor Content. Neil Elman,...
Jenna Coleman and Tom Burke will lead the cast of Klokkenluider, the feature directorial debut of actor Neil Maskell, which will start its three-week shoot on February 28 in East Sussex in southern England.
The film is written by Maskell, produced by Helen Simmons and Stephanie Aspin of UK production company Erebus Pictures, and executive produced by Ben Wheatley and Andy Starke at Rook Films. John Jencks is an executive producer, and Savannah Power is a co-producer.
US financier MarVista Entertainment is representing sales on the title alongside Endeavor Content. Neil Elman,...
- 2/19/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Roster of participants includes 44 female producers out of 73 in total.
The latest projects from producers of French Exit and The Babadook are among the roster at the virtual 15th Ontario Creates International Financing Forum (iff) set to run from September 13-14.
The co-financing and co-production market takes place in association with Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and serves international and Canadian producers developing mostly English-language projects.
The two-day schedule includes networking opportunities for producers with international sales agents, financiers, distributors, agents, and executive producers, as well as an exclusive state-of-the-industry panel discussion, producer drop-in sessions, and access to a TIFF case study on co-productions.
The latest projects from producers of French Exit and The Babadook are among the roster at the virtual 15th Ontario Creates International Financing Forum (iff) set to run from September 13-14.
The co-financing and co-production market takes place in association with Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and serves international and Canadian producers developing mostly English-language projects.
The two-day schedule includes networking opportunities for producers with international sales agents, financiers, distributors, agents, and executive producers, as well as an exclusive state-of-the-industry panel discussion, producer drop-in sessions, and access to a TIFF case study on co-productions.
- 9/1/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Roster of participants includes 44 female producers out of 73 in total.
The latest projects from producers of French Exit and The Babadook are among the roster at the virtual 15th Ontario Creates International Financing Forum (iff) set to run from September 13-14.
The co-financing and co-production market takes place in association with Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and serves international and Canadian producers developing mostly English-language projects.
The two-day schedule includes networking opportunities for producers with international sales agents, financiers, distributors, agents, and executive producers, as well as an exclusive state-of-the-industry panel discussion, producer drop-in sessions, and access to a TIFF case study on co-productions.
The latest projects from producers of French Exit and The Babadook are among the roster at the virtual 15th Ontario Creates International Financing Forum (iff) set to run from September 13-14.
The co-financing and co-production market takes place in association with Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and serves international and Canadian producers developing mostly English-language projects.
The two-day schedule includes networking opportunities for producers with international sales agents, financiers, distributors, agents, and executive producers, as well as an exclusive state-of-the-industry panel discussion, producer drop-in sessions, and access to a TIFF case study on co-productions.
- 9/1/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Roster of participants includes 44 female producers out of 73 in total.
The latest projects from producers of French Exit and The Babadook are among the roster at the virtual 15th Ontario Creates International Financing Forum (iff) set to run from September 13-14.
The co-financing and co-production market takes place in association with Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and serves international and Canadian producers developing mostly English-language projects.
The two-day schedule includes networking opportunities for producers with international sales agents, financiers, distributors, agents, and executive producers, as well as an exclusive state-of-the-industry panel discussion, producer drop-in sessions, and access to a TIFF case study on co-productions.
The latest projects from producers of French Exit and The Babadook are among the roster at the virtual 15th Ontario Creates International Financing Forum (iff) set to run from September 13-14.
The co-financing and co-production market takes place in association with Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and serves international and Canadian producers developing mostly English-language projects.
The two-day schedule includes networking opportunities for producers with international sales agents, financiers, distributors, agents, and executive producers, as well as an exclusive state-of-the-industry panel discussion, producer drop-in sessions, and access to a TIFF case study on co-productions.
- 9/1/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Director Ben Wheatley is best known for his crazy films such as Kill List, Free Fire, Sightseers, High Rise, and A Field in England. He always does some crazy far-out stuff in his films and I’ve liked everything that he’s done.
He has now made a family reunion comedy that looks unlike anything that he’s made before. It’s called Happy New Year, Colin Burstead and even though it looks like it will be his most normal movie yet, I’m sure that won’t be the case. Wheatley has never made anything normal.
Here’s the synopsis:
Colin Burstead has hired a heritage mansion for a New Year's Eve party for his extended family and hangers-on, with his own wife Val, teenage daughter Fran, and infant son Jamie in tow. Colin's mother–the family's matriarch–dramatically injures her ankle before she has even crossed the manor house's threshold.
He has now made a family reunion comedy that looks unlike anything that he’s made before. It’s called Happy New Year, Colin Burstead and even though it looks like it will be his most normal movie yet, I’m sure that won’t be the case. Wheatley has never made anything normal.
Here’s the synopsis:
Colin Burstead has hired a heritage mansion for a New Year's Eve party for his extended family and hangers-on, with his own wife Val, teenage daughter Fran, and infant son Jamie in tow. Colin's mother–the family's matriarch–dramatically injures her ankle before she has even crossed the manor house's threshold.
- 4/30/2019
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
"You need to get your house in order!" Limelight Distribution has debuted a trailer for Ben Wheatley's latest film, a familial dramedy titled Happy New Year, Colin Burstead. This already showed on BBC TV last year, after touring around film festivals starting with the London Film Festival. The raucous "family reunion comedy" is about a man named Colin Burstead, of course, who has decided to rent a lavish country manor for his extended family to celebrate New Year. Unfortunately for Colin his position of power in the family is under serious threat from the arrival of his estranged brother David, sending everything into chaos. The cast includes Neil Maskell as Colin, with Sura Dohnke, Marvin Maskell, Nicole Nettleingham, Doon Mackichan, Bill Paterson, Hayley Squires, Mark Monero, Richard Glover, and Sudha Bhuchar. This looks great! This impressed me, and it still has Wheatley's style. I love the dramatic turn in the trailer.
- 4/29/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Stars: Neil Maskell, Sura Dohnke, Marvin Maskell, Nicole Nettleingham, Doon Mackichan, Bill Paterson, Hayley Squires, Mark Monero, Richard Glover, Sudha Bhuchar, Vincent Ebrahim, Sinead Matthews, Sarah Baxendale, Charles Dance, Joe Cole, Peter Ferdinando | Written and Directed by Ben Wheatley
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead follows in the stead of Ben Wheatley’s previous directing efforts, in particular his 2013 black and white acid trip exploit A Field in England, in the case of releasing his picture simultaneously on both demand and a limited cinematic release. However this may alos just be his unsung masterpiece in a filmography that continues to evoke a grand sense of evolution with each entry and distinctive palette, which reinforces Wheatley’s stunning artistic ability with every and any angle.
Wheatley’s latest is a somewhat ironic variation of his first cinematic feature in Down Terrace and his breakout action hit of 2016, Free Fire - with the...
Happy New Year, Colin Burstead follows in the stead of Ben Wheatley’s previous directing efforts, in particular his 2013 black and white acid trip exploit A Field in England, in the case of releasing his picture simultaneously on both demand and a limited cinematic release. However this may alos just be his unsung masterpiece in a filmography that continues to evoke a grand sense of evolution with each entry and distinctive palette, which reinforces Wheatley’s stunning artistic ability with every and any angle.
Wheatley’s latest is a somewhat ironic variation of his first cinematic feature in Down Terrace and his breakout action hit of 2016, Free Fire - with the...
- 1/9/2019
- by Jak-Luke Sharp
- Nerdly
“Reboot” is a word bandied about so much in the film industry these days that its meaning has become entirely elastic, referring to anything from a sequel to a remake to a mildly delayed franchise chapter. A lo-fi, high-volume original character piece from Ben Wheatley, “Happy New Year, Colin Burstead” is none of these things — and yet, in the sense that a reboot describes a freshly started system following technical complications, it feels like one for this genre-roaming writer-director. After mixed returns for the dizzy formal chaos of his J.G. Ballard adaptation “High-Rise” and the vapid shoot-’em-up varnish of “Free Fire,” Wheatley’s restless study of a dysfunctional family reunited for a prickly New Year’s Eve party is a back-to-basics affair that rewardingly sets him back in the seasick domestic space of his debut “Down Terrace,” albeit with words as its only weapons this time.
Working without his usual writing partner Amy Jump,...
Working without his usual writing partner Amy Jump,...
- 10/14/2018
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
Simon Brew Aug 10, 2017
26 short genre films are heading to London at the end of the month - and we've got the full list here...
One of the many treats – well, 26 of the many treats – awaiting attendees of Horror Channel FrightFest in London at the end of the month is the short film showcase, that’s just been announced.
Across three days, 26 short genre movies will be screened, including 12 from the UK. Den Of Geek alumnus James Moran’s Blood Shed, starring Shaun Dooley, Sally Phillips and a garden shed, is screening. As is Katie Bonham’s Mab, Sean Healy’s Judgement and Stefano Nurro’s Hum.
The full line up is at the bottom of this post. Meanwhile, if you’re after tickets, Horror Channel FrightFest runs from 24th to the 28th of August in London. You can buy single tickets and passes here: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/tickets.
26 short genre films are heading to London at the end of the month - and we've got the full list here...
One of the many treats – well, 26 of the many treats – awaiting attendees of Horror Channel FrightFest in London at the end of the month is the short film showcase, that’s just been announced.
Across three days, 26 short genre movies will be screened, including 12 from the UK. Den Of Geek alumnus James Moran’s Blood Shed, starring Shaun Dooley, Sally Phillips and a garden shed, is screening. As is Katie Bonham’s Mab, Sean Healy’s Judgement and Stefano Nurro’s Hum.
The full line up is at the bottom of this post. Meanwhile, if you’re after tickets, Horror Channel FrightFest runs from 24th to the 28th of August in London. You can buy single tickets and passes here: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/tickets.
- 8/10/2017
- Den of Geek
With twenty-six films over three days, including ten World, four European and seven UK premieres, Horror Channel FrightFest’s short film showcase unleashes this year’s eclectic mix of the bold, brave, bloody and barmy with films programmed to entertain, frighten, enlighten and simply amaze.
From the press release:
There are twelve films from the United Kingdom, forming the centerpiece of this year’s line-up. These include James Moran’s Blood Shed, starring Shaun Dooley and Sally Phillips, where a man’s love of his garden shed takes a rather murderous turn. In Judgement, Neil Maskell stars as a single man looking for love in all the wrong places and Laurence R. Harvey shines as a mutated children’s’ toy in Teddy Bear’S Picnic. Then there’s Katie Bonham’s Mab, about a girl who turns to witchcraft to teach someone a lesson.
The other home-grown offerings see people...
From the press release:
There are twelve films from the United Kingdom, forming the centerpiece of this year’s line-up. These include James Moran’s Blood Shed, starring Shaun Dooley and Sally Phillips, where a man’s love of his garden shed takes a rather murderous turn. In Judgement, Neil Maskell stars as a single man looking for love in all the wrong places and Laurence R. Harvey shines as a mutated children’s’ toy in Teddy Bear’S Picnic. Then there’s Katie Bonham’s Mab, about a girl who turns to witchcraft to teach someone a lesson.
The other home-grown offerings see people...
- 8/3/2017
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
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