David Farnor | On 07, Dec 2021

Sky today has revealed the trailer for Save The Cinema, a new film inspired by the magic of cinema.

Based the extraordinary real-life events sparked by tenacious hairdresser Liz Evans (Samantha Morton), Save The Cinema illustrates how the resolve of a small Welsh town was able to bring Tinseltown to their doorstep. The sleepy town of Carmarthen in Wales is not exactly the first place to spring to mind when thinking of Hollywood blockbusters. But this changed in 1993 when the town council made the unwelcome announcement that The Lyric Theatre – the town’s much-loved but financially stricken cinema – would be demolished so a shopping centre could be built in its place.  

It’s down to Liz Evans, hairdresser and linchpin to the local community, to stand up for the ailing cinema and stop the bulldozers. As she and her friends barricade themselves in the theatre, she reaches out to postman turned town councillor Richard (Tom Felton) for help – and they come up with a grand plan. To revitalise the cinema and stop the council taking the heart of the community away, a desperate Liz persuades Richard to write to Hollywood to ask for a helping hand. One late night phone call later and one of Hollywood’s most legendary filmmakers throws The Lyric a monster-sized lifeline and a premiere Carmarthen will never forget. But will this be enough to save the cinema?  

Morton and Felton are joined by Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes), Adeel Akhtar (Enola Holmes), Erin Richards (Gotham), Owain Yeoman (Emergence), Susan Wokoma (Enola Holmes), Colm Meaney (Gangs Of London), Rhod Gilbert (Have I Got News For You) and Keith Allen (Kingsman: The Golden Circle).  The film is directed by Sara Sugarman (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen) and co-produced by Sky and Future Artists Entertainment in association with Head Gear Films, LipSync and Ffilm Cymru.  

The film will be released in cinemas and on Sky Cinema from 14th January 2022.

 

Save The Cinema: Samantha Morton, Tom Felton and Jonathan Pryce star in Sky original film

29th January 2021

Samantha Morton, Tom Felton and Jonathan Pryce will be teaming up to Save the Cinema in Sky’s new original movie.

Production on the project began today in Wales, telling the story of one woman bringing together a community to save the local cinema. Set in the 90’s, Save The Cinema is inspired by the life of Liz Evans, (Samantha Morton), a hairdresser and linchpin to the local community in the small town of Carmarthen in Wales. Her mission is to stop The Lyric Theatre being demolished by bulldozers and turned into a shopping centre. With the threat of demolition becoming ever more likely, Liz and friends barricade themselves in the cinema and with the help of postman turned local councillor Richard (Tom Felton), they come up with a grand plan.

To revitalise the cinema and stop the council taking the heart of the community away, a desperate Liz persuades Richard to write to Hollywood to ask for a helping hand. A phone call later and an influential filmmaker agrees to offer a very special treat for Carmarthen, but does this help save the future of The Lyric?

The film co-stars Adeel Akhtar (Enola Holmes), Erin Richards (Gotham), Owain Yeoman (Emergence), Susan Wokoma (Enola Holmes), Colm Meaney (Gangs Of London), Rhod Gilbert (Have I Got News For You) and Keith Allen (Kingsman: The Golden Circle). It is directed by Sara Sugarman (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen), written by Piers Ashworth (Fisherman’s Friends) from a story by Lorraine King, produced by Matt Williams, Piers Tempest and Karl Hall at FAE Film & Television and executive produced by Julia Stuart at Sky.

Sarah Wright, Director of Sky Cinema and Acquisitions at Sky UK & Ireland comments: “I’m thrilled to start production on Save The Cinema. Filmed in Wales and featuring the best of British talent, at its core is an incredible true story – one woman’s seemingly impossible dream to galvanise her community to stand up for local arts and all it represents. I cannot wait to bring this Sky Original film to Sky Cinema in 2021.”

The film will premiere on Sky Cinema later this year, joining a slate of films that will bring at least two new original films every month to Sky Cinema customers.

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