A Grace Jones documentary and a David LaChapelle choreographed film on the ballet star Sergei Polunin are in the pipeline from BBC Films.The two documentaries were announced as part of BBC Films 25th anniversary celebrations.
For Grace Jones – The Musical of My Life, director Sophie Fiennes has gained unprecedented access to the legendary performer for over six years. The film aims to give an insight into how the singer’s upbringing shaped her fierce public persona and will blend personal footage with specially staged musical performances.
Artist and photographer David LaChapelle will choreograph a documentary on Sergei Polunin, the youngest ever star of the Royal Ballet. Tiger Son, directed by Ross MacGibbon will tell the story of the Ukrainian boy who joined the Royal Ballet at 13, became a principal at 20 and dramatically quit in less than two years, saying he was so unhappy ‘the artist in me was dying’. The film will be LaChapelle’s latest foray into dance cinema since the hugely acclaimed Rize in 2005.
Feature films also announced include an adaptation of Julian Barnes’ Man Booker prize winning The Sense of an Ending, a reimagining of children’s classic Swallows and Amazons and a new Armando Iannucci version of the Dickens tale David Copperfield.
Two new projects aimed at supporting new film industry talent were also announced. You can find details at bbc.co.uk/bbcfilms
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Text Colin Crummy