London, 26th September 2016: The UK Cinema Association – the trade body representing the UK’s cinema operators - has teamed up with Twentieth Century Fox to put on a special preview of Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
The preview will be shown at over 400 cinemas around the UK on September 29th and participating sites have committed to raise at least £100,000 from ticket sales to go towards supporting new talent at the National Film and Television School (NFTS).
A specially commissioned short film made by NFTS students and graduates, will be shown before the preview to highlight the creative talent from the film school that went into the making of Miss Peregrine, and to thank the audience for their support. The short film was made as part of the NFTS Bridges to Industry scheme, which gives students and recent graduates the opportunity to create work for Industry partners. The film is directed by NFTS graduate, Tom Day; shot by cinematography student Anna MacDonald; and includes work from current DFX student, Suoran Li and animation graduate, Liam Harris who has just won a hat trick of awards for his NFTS graduation film, Perched. Watch the film here.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is an unforgettable motion picture experience from visionary director Tim Burton and is based upon the best-selling novel. It follows Jake who discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies. Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.
Cameron Saunders, Twentieth Century Fox Managing Director, said: “I’m delighted UK cinemas chose to partner with 20th Century Fox to raise funds for new NFTS scholarships, enabling more peculiars from all walks of life to deliver their creative potential.”
The Association is a NFTS ‘Key Partner Sponsor’ and will work with the school’s board, tutors and students to support a wide variety of new initiatives to embed exhibition practice within the school including a new Marketing, Distribution, Sales and Exhibition MA. The Association will also award two scholarships to MA students to support them through their two-year courses.
UK Cinema Association Chief Executive Phil Clapp says: “We are delighted to be working with Fox to launch this special preview to raise funds for the National Film and Television School. For over forty years and more, films involving graduates from the NFTS have entertained many millions of UK cinema-goers; it is therefore only right that the sector gives something back in recognition.”
NFTS director, Nik Powell added: “Our students are incredibly excited to be part of this fundraising preview and we are extremely grateful to the Association and Fox for organising it and of course for their support. Developing high-calibre graduates who go on to play key roles in making entertaining and highly anticipated films like Miss Peregrine is our main goal and we couldn’t do it without the ongoing support of organisations like the Association and Fox.”
Preview tickets can be purchased from participating cinemas at www.staypeculiar.co.uk.
Applications are open now for our new MA in Marketing, Sales, Distribution and Exhibition until October 13th 2016 and the course will start in January 2017.
ENDS
Contacts:
Vicky Hewlett, Head of PR and Communications, NFTS:
Rebecca Davies, Policy Executive, UK Cinema Association: rebecca.davies@cinemauk.org.uk
About the UK Cinema Association
The UK Cinema Association represents the interests of well over 90 per cent of UK cinema operators by number and market share. The Association’s membership includes single screen/owner-managed sites as well as the largest circuit and multiplex operators. The UK Cinema Association advocates on behalf of the UK cinema sector at international, national, regional and local level.
About The National Film and Television School
The NFTS is one of the World's leading film, games and television schools. It has been cited by some media as one of the top five film schools globally and by one as the No.1 international film school. In 1967, the government recommended the creation of a national film school for the UK and in 1971 the National Film School opened its doors for the first time focussing on postgraduate education. In the 1980s, the school officially changed its name to the National Film and Television School to incorporate the demand for courses in television production and has since added games to its remit.
The NFTS prides itself on producing world-class, award-wining industry leaders. It has more Student Academy Awards (Foreign Category) than any other film school. NFTS students and graduates also regularly win BAFTAs and have won the short film category for the last three years. Other prestigious accolades include the Grierson Award for Best Student Documentary, which NFTS students have won for the last three years as well as multiple Royal Television Society student awards and Annecy Animation Awards. NFTS graduates have gone on to win seven Oscars and 100 BAFTAs with alumni including cinematographer, Roger Deakins (12 times Oscar nominee); BAFTA winning director, David Yates, (best known for directing the Harry Potter films); Oscar winning animator Nick Park (creator of Wallace & Gromit) and Oscar winning composer Dario Marianelli among others. The NFTS is a registered charity (313429). For more information see www.nfts.co.uk
