Ken Loach's I, Daniel Blake, supported by BBC Films, wins prestigious Palme D'or top prize at Cannes Film Festival 2016
I, Daniel Blake by Ken Loach has won the coveted Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival 2016. It is Ken Loach’s second win in the history of the competition and 13th nomination.
Published: 23 May 2016
We're honoured at BBC Films to have backed Ken and heartily congratulate him and his team on this most powerful and moving piece.
Christine Langan, Head of BBC Films says: "The Palme d'Or win for Ken Loach's I, Daniel Blake is a stunning tribute to one of our most humane film makers. We're honoured at BBC Films to have backed Ken and heartily congratulate him and his team on this most powerful and moving piece. I, Daniel Blake is a lesson in cinema connecting with modern life and ordinary people and we're thrilled that it's been recognised in this way."
BBC Films were delighted to bring Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake to the prestigious competition in Cannes this year. Written by Paul Laverty, starring Dave Johns and Hayley Squires and produced by Rebecca O’Brien, the film explores the life of Daniel Blake, who has worked as a joiner most of his life in the North East of England, when following a heart attack and near-fall from a scaffold he needs help from the state for the first time in his life.
As Ken Loach approaches his 80th birthday, BBC Films and BFI present A Sixteen Films Production, a feature documentary entitled Versus: The Life And Films Of Ken Loach, in cinemas on 3 June and airing on BBC Two later this year. The documentary offers a funny, provocative and revealing account of Loach’s life and career as one of Britain’s foremost filmmakers. From award-winning director Louise Osmond, Versus: The Life And Films Of Ken Loach offers a surprisingly candid behind-the-scenes account of Loach’s 50 plus years of filmmaking.
Notes to Editors
BBC Films’ new brochure can be found here
About BBC Films
BBC Films is at the forefront of independent filmmaking in the UK, developing and co-producing around 12 films a year. Headed up by Christine Langan, BBC Films was awarded the Michael Balcon Bafta for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema in 2015.
Recent releases include Stephen Frears’ Florence Foster Jenkins, currently in cinemas, John Crowley’s Bafta and Academy Award-nominated romantic drama Brooklyn and Nicholas Hytner’s Bafta-nominated comedy drama The Lady In The Van.
Twitter @BBCFilms
Pictured: Briana Shann, Hayley Squires, Dave Johns, Dylan Phillip McKiernan
Charlotte Inett, Freuds - harlotte.inett@freuds.com
Hannah Golanski, Freuds - hannah.golanksi@freuds.com
