Streetdance 3D - the biggest ever opening weekend for a Lottery-funded film
UK Film Council-financed Streetdance 3D not only claimed number one spot in cinemas nationwide this weekend, but it also "popped and locked" its way into the history books to score the biggest ever opening weekend performance for any film backed by the UK Film Council in its 10 year history - bigger than even Bend it like Beckham and St Trinian's.
LONDON – Monday 24 May 2010
UK Film Council-financed Streetdance 3D not only claimed number one spot in cinemas nationwide this weekend, but it also "popped and locked" its way into the history books to score the biggest ever opening weekend performance for any film backed by the UK Film Council in its 10 year history – bigger than even Bend it like Beckham and St Trinian's.
Streetdance 3D is the UK's first 3D feature film, and it was released on the highest ever number of 3D screens (345). In a highly-anticipated battle of the blockbusters, the independent British film beat Robin Hood and Prince of Persia to claim - by a clear margin - the number one spot across the weekend, increasing its performance by a massive 30% on Saturday compared to the opening night on Friday.
Commenting on Streetdance 3D's massive success, John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer of the UK Film Council said:
"The UK Film Council can take credit for co-financing and championing Streetdance 3D. It is the UK's first ever 3D feature film and signals to the rest of the world that the British film industry is well placed right at the heart of the 3D film revolution, it's jampacked with upcoming British talent both behind and in front of the camera, and it's already proven to be a massive hit with the British public as well as international buyers who have snapped it up in almost 30 territories worldwide. It's another shining example of how Lottery funding can make all the difference in discovering and nurturing new creative talent in the UK."
For more information, please contact:
Oliver Foster, Head of Corporate Affairs
T: 020 7861 7508
M: 07920 560509
E: oliver.foster@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
Notes to editors
Produced and financed by Vertigo Films with co-financing by the UK Film Council , BBC Films, Ingenious and Little Gaddesden Productions, StreetDance 3D is being distributed by Vertigo Films in the UK with international sales handled by Protagonist Pictures.
UK FILM COUNCIL (www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk)
- The UK Film Council is the Government-backed lead agency for film in the UK, supporting the UK film industry, celebrating UK film culture and nurturing UK film talent at home and abroad.
- Since its creation in 2000 the UK Film Council has backed more than 900 films, shorts and features, which have won over 300 awards and entertained more than 200 million people around the world. The UK Film Council generates £5 for every £1 of Lottery money it invests.
- Its support develops new filmmakers, funds exciting new British films and gets a wider choice of films to audiences throughout the UK. It also invests in training British talent, promoting Britain as an international filmmaking location and raising the profile of British films abroad. In addition, it funds the British Film Institute.
- Films backed by the UK Film Council include Bend it like Beckham, Bright Star, The Constant Gardener, Fish Tank, Gosford Park, Happy-Go-Lucky, In the Loop, The Last King of Scotland, Man on Wire, Nowhere Boy, Red Road, St Trinian's, This is England, Touching the Void, Vera Drake and The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
- Current UK Film Council funding initiatives include:
- the world's first Digital Screen Network, which has invested in 240 digital screens in cinemas across the country, increasing film choice, bringing the 3D experience to a wider audience, and ensuring the UK has more digital screens than any other European country;
- over 200 film societies and independent regional film venues;
- UK film festivals, including the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival and the Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival;
- working with Skillset, the UK skills and training industry body for the creative industries, to enable almost 7000 people to further their filmmaking careers;
- giving over 20,000 young people the opportunity to get involved in filmmaking through First Light and Mediabox;
- sponsoring the pilot and now the current rollout of FILMCLUB to thousands of schools, introducing new generations of children to the best of British and international cinema.
