Red & Black Films Announce Dan Pringle’s A PATRIOT attaches Oscar Winner Tim Robbins alongside Eva Green, Kathy Bates + Ed Skrein

Umedia and Texit Films become A Patriot Equity Financiers at Cannes

White Lantern Film and Red & Black Films are thrilled to announce that Academy Award winner Tim Robbins attaches to their science-fiction thriller A PATRIOT, currently in pre-production starring Eva Green, Kathy Bates, Ed Skrein. The Patriot team also welcomes equity financiers Umedia (Executive Producers Adrian Politowski and Peter Bevan) and Texit Films (Executive Producers Tommaso Marzotto and Italo Marzotto) to the project.

A PATRIOT has Dan Pringle (K-SHOP) attached to direct from an original screenplay he wrote, produced by Adam J. Merrifield (K-SHOP) from White Lantern Film and John Giwa-Amu from Red & Black Films with Executive Producer Angus Finney.

A PATRIOT takes place in a future authoritarian state that has walled itself away from a world ravaged by climate chaos and resource wars. The story follows the unquestioning Border Corp Captain — played by Green — as she fights to defend the purity of the population, until a chance discovery makes her doubt the authorities she has pledged her allegiance and life to protect.

Director Dan Pringle added “Tim is an icon of cinema who possesses a striking versatility. I’m delighted to welcome him to the team we’ve assembled for A PATRIOT.”

Producer John Giwa Amu, Red & Black Films said “We are thrilled to be working with dynamic new equity players Texit films and the well-established team at U Media to complete the equity financing of A Patriot this week.”

The Exchange has worldwide sales rights for A PATRIOT and will be introducing the title to buyers at the upcoming Cannes market. The film will shoot in the UK.

Robbins is represented by ICM, Green is represented by Tavistock Wood Management and UTA, Bates by ICM, Skrein by 42 and CAA.

JOHN GIWA-AMU
PRODUCER
John Giwa-Amu runs production, distribution and financing company Red and Black Films with writer/director Caradog James. John produced the company’s first feature, Little White Lies, which won two BAFTA Cymru Awards and was BIFA nominated. His follow up feature, sci-fi cult hit The Machine, was selected from over 6,000 films to premier in Tribeca and won three BAFTAs Cymru including Best Picture, a BIFA and the Screen Award for UK distribution also managed by John.

The film was commissioned to be made into a TV Pilot by NBC Universal/SyFy which John Executive Produced in 2017. Brit List winning screenplay The Call Up premiered at BIFF 2016 and is released in cinemas by Altitude. Co Production, The Silent Storm, starring Damien Lewis and Andrea Riseborough was also released in cinemas in May 2016 by Sony. Don’t Knock Twice, by director Caradog James, has been sold internationally by Content and was released in the UK by Red and Black Distribution and Content during spring 2017 - the film generated almost $4m at the international box office. The Party, written and directed by Sally Potter stars Cillian Murphy,

Timothy Spall, Kristen Scott Thomas and a range of other established talent - it won the guild prize at Berlin 2017, a BIFA for Patricia Clarkson and has grossed almost $4m theatrically winning Evening Standard Awards for best screenplay and leading actress in Feb 2018. Obey, starring Sophie Kennedy Clark, was selected to world premier at Tribeca 2018 winning the prize for Best Cinematography.

John has won the BBC talent Award and been honoured as a Breakthrough Brit and a Future Leader by Screen International. He sits on the board of Film Cymru Wales and graduated from the international business initiative, Inside Pictures 2017.

Red and Black Films is represented by William Morris Endeavour. The company is in development on a varied range of genres in feature film and high end scripted television.

2003 48 Hour Film Challenge Winner In 100 Faces - Best Short Film.
2004 BBC Talent Award Winner Barrie the Barber - Best Short Film.
2006 BAFTA Cymru Nomination Little White Lies - Best Feature Film.
2008 BAFTA Cymru Award Winner Owl Creek Bridge - Best Short Film.
2008 Breakthrough Brit Honouree UK Film Council.
2013 BAFTA Cymru Awards The Machine - Best Feature Film.
2013 Raindance ‘Best UK Feature’ The Machine.
2013 British Independent Film Awards ’The Raindance Award’ The Machine - Winner.
2014 Screen Award for achievement in UK Distribution The Machine - Winner.
2015 Screen International Future Leader honouree.
2017 The Party wins the Guild Prize at Berlin and Best Supporting Actress at BIFA.
2017 Inside Pictures Graduate.

DAN PRINGLE
WRITER / DIRECTOR
After graduating from Bournemouth University, Dan was taken under the wing of award-winning TV and Film writer Jonathan Harvey (GIMME, GIMME, GIMME, BEAUTIFUL THING) as script development officer working on projects for the BBC and ITV.

Fuelled by an insatiable drive to explore his own projects, Dan joined producing partner Adam Merrifield in establishing White Lantern Film as a regional production company dedicated to producing thought-provoking commercial cinema. Alongside Adam, Dan produced the award-winning SILENT THINGS starring Andrew Scott, FLUSHED with Jo Hartley and EMULSION anchored by ‘OUTLANDER’s Sam Heughan. All enjoyed strong festival outings and international sales helping to grow White Lantern into an established British Production outfit.

In 2015, Dan launched his career as a Writer/Director with the indie cult thriller K-SHOP starring Ziad Abaza, Darren Morfitt and Scot Williams. The film enjoyed significant commercial and critical success following its UK theatrical release by Bulldog Film Distribution, with The Times Kate Muir hailing Dan as “a filmmaker to watch out for”. Dan’s contribution as writer / director was acknowledged by BIFA who longlisted him in the debut screenwriter category and K-SHOP went on to win the grand prize of the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation, the prestigious MÉLIÈS D'ARGENT award for Best European Film. Dan has since been approached by Actress/Writer Jess Hynes to direct an action-sci-fi script set to shoot in 2018 following the completion of A PATRIOT.

ADAM J MERRIFIELD
PRODUCER
Following the 2010 BBC broadcast of Adam’s award-winning SILENT THINGS starring Andrew Scott, Adam was awarded Emerging Producer status by Film London and subsequently went on to produce the physiological noir thriller EMULSION starring ‘OUTLANDER’s Sam Heughan with Film London backed Writer/Director Suki Singh.

His follow-up film was the award-winning environmental documentary DRYING FOR FREEDOM, which tackles the issue of American clothesline bans. The movie secured US distribution and was broadcast on PBS to critical acclaim.

After partnering up with Writer/Director Dan Pringle, the pair collaborated closely on the development of K-SHOP, a Sweeney Todd inspired thriller pitching a kebab shop owner against hordes of obnoxious binge drinking punters. The film balance of commerciality and social themes saw it receive numerous awards and acclaim, selling in over 20 territories and landing Adam a longlist nod for Breakthrough Producer at the 2016 BIFAS.

Believing strongly in the need to fully exploit film IP in a turbulent marketplace, Adam received a development support grant from Creative England to transition White Lantern Film into a multi-platform production outfit with VR and gaming development capabilities. Alongside A PATRIOT, Adam is developing movies with A STREET CAT NAMED BOB Writer Tim John and award-winning playwright Scot Williams.

ABOUT UMEDIA
Umedia is a vertically integrated, international film group with 160 staff based in London, Brussels, Paris, Vancouver and Los Angeles. The company is one of Europe’s leading production groups, combining the activities of development, production, financing, visual effects and finishing. Since its inception in 2004, Umedia has invested more than $500 million via its tax shelter, equity and development funds, and has been involved in 350 films including JOHN WICK, GRACE OF MONACO, YVES SAINT LAURENT and multi-Academy Award-winning THE ARTIST. Umedia has three other projects at Cannes this year in addition to MANDY, CHATOUILLES will be featured in the “Un Certain Regard” section, LE GRAND CIRQUE MYSTIQUE will be screened at “Projection Speciale”, and ANOTHER DAY OF LIFE will be shown as a “Special Screening”.