Debut for star of tomorrow
BFI Distribution announces the acquisition of Fyzal Boulifa’s debut feature LYNN + LUCY for release in the UK and Ireland.
The film will premiere on BFI Player’s Subscription service on 2 July 2020 and be available to other digital platforms for TVOD and EST. As cinemas continue to open later in the year, it will also be available for theatrical exhibition on the big screen, including at BFI Southbank, with a date to be confirmed.
Written and directed by Fyzal Boulifa (named one of Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow for 2012) and produced by Camilla Bray (Beats, Oranges and Sunshine), one of the BFI’s Vision Award producers, LYNN + LUCY stars newcomer Roxanne Scrimshaw and Nichola Burley (Dominic Savage’s Love and Hate, Andrea Arnold’s Wuthering Heights) in the titular roles. The film tells the story of two best friends, whose relationship is tested after a tragedy, and is a study of escalating hysteria at a societal level. It premiered at San Sebastian International Film Festival in 2019. Fyzal Boulifa, Roxanne Scrimshaw and Nichola Burley have each won awards at subsequent film festivals and Boulifa and Scrimshaw were each nominated in the respective Best Newcomer categories at the 2019 BIFA Awards. The film’s UK premiere was at the BFI London Film Festival 2019.
The deal was negotiated with Jean-Felix Dealberto at international sales agency Charades by BFI Acquisitions Manager Laura Dos Santos.
Stuart Brown, BFI Head of Programme and Acquisitions says: ‘We’re very happy to be partnering with Charades in releasing LYNN + LUCY – a powerful and provocative drama that takes a bold artistic approach in telling a story about life in contemporary Britain, which feels more urgent and relevant with each passing day. Fyzal Boulifa is a distinctive talent and we’re delighted to be supporting his first feature.’
Carole Baraton and Jean-Felix Dealberto at Charades say: ‘We are really excited that the BFI will be UK’s home to Fyzal’s Boulifa’s debut. It’s a great opportunity for the filmmaker to be accompanied by such a prestigious and dynamic distributor.’
LYNN + LUCY was supported in development and production by BBC Films and the BFI. The film is presented in association with LipSync and Charades, and was produced by Rosetta Productions, in association with Sixteen Films and Vixens.
LYNN + LUCY was supported through development and production by the BFI Film Fund, using National Lottery money to back filmmakers with bold and distinctive projects, progressive, and culturally relevant stories that reflect people from different backgrounds. Emerging filmmakers, Boulifa and Bray were both supported by the BFI NETWORK talent development programme; Boulifa received early development support via Creative England’s Emerging Talent Fund; whilst producer Camilla Bray took part in the 2016 residential BFI NETWORK Weekender development programme. That same year, Bray received a BFI Vision Award to build her production company Rosetta Productions and develop her ambitious slate of projects.
