BEATS CUED UP FOR UK & IRISH CINEMAS ON 17 MAY
News 15th February 2019 Jon Dingle 0
BRIAN WELSH’S STORY OF 90s RAVE CULTURE
Altitude will release Brian Welsh’s highly anticipated BEATS in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 17 May.
Scotland. 1994. Just as the Criminal Justice Bill attempted to place restrictions on the UK’s rave culture and the free party movement, BEATS is a story of friendship, rebellion and the irresistible power of gathered youth. A universal coming of age story, set to a soundtrack as eclectic and electrifying as the scene it gave birth to, BEATS is a story for our time.
Best mates Johnno and Spanner (Cristian Ortega and Lorn Macdonald in their feature film debuts) share a deep bond. Now on the cusp of adulthood, life is destined to take them in different directions – Johnno’s family are moving him to a new town and a better life, leaving Spanner behind to face a precarious future. But this summer is going to be different for them, and for the country. The explosion of the free party scene and the largest counter-cultural youth movement in recent history is happening across the UK.
Directed by Brian Welsh (BLACK MIRROR) and written by Welsh and Kieran Hurley (based on Hurley’s play by the same name), BEATS also stars Laura Fraser (BREAKING BAD) and introduces a talented ensemble cast including Brian Ferguson (OUTLANDER), Ross Mann (REVERB), Gemma McElhinney (OUTLAW KING), Amy Mason (BORN TO RUN) and Rachel Jackson (THE PARTY’S JUST BEGINNING).
BEATS is produced by Camilla Bray (ORANGES AND SUNSHINE) and executive produced by Academy-Award winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh (OCEAN’S ELEVEN).
The BEATS soundtrack is curated by Scottish club legend JD Twitch (Optimo) and features tracks from The Prodigy, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, The Belleville Three, Carl Craig, Hudson Mohawke, Leftfield, Plastikman, LFO an exclusive re-record by Orbital and original score by The Golden Filter.
BEATS received its World Premiere at the Rotterdam Film Festival on Thursday 24th January, followed by the North American premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival on 26th January. It will receive its UK premiere as the closing night film at the Glasgow Film Festival on 3 March and play at the Dublin International Film Festival on 2 March.
Altitude’s head of theatrical, Lia Devlin said, “BEATS is an infectiously euphoric and spirited coming-of-age film that marks the introduction of a huge new talent in director Brian Welsh. It works both as specific document of one of the most important youth culture movements ever seen and also as a timeless reminder of the joyfulness in having a good time with your friends.
BEATS joins Jonah Hill’s MID90s and Sarah Gavron’s UNTITLED GIRLS PROJECT amongst Altitude’s very strong 2019 line-up; all incredibly fresh, insightful and entertaining films for and about young people, that we cannot wait to release.”
Jon Dingle Editor
A film journalist, writer and a filmmaker in business for over 20 years. I am passionate about movies, television series, music and online games.
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