Circus

Director: Rob Walker

Year: 2000

After Quentin Tarantino set the precedent, working in a video store is fast becoming an established alternative route into the film business. David Logan dreamed up the screenplay of darkly comic thriller Circus while he was toiling away behind the counter of his local shop. Director Rob Walker, who shared an agent with Logan, read the script and responded immediately. "The story is such a rich mosaic filled with sharp funny references," enthuses Walker. Producer Alan Latham, who came on board when Walker sent him the script, puts Logan's script squarely in Tarantino territory, describing it as "putting Miami into Brighton, giving it a European/US feel". But when Latham and producing partner James Gibb set out to find backers, they discovered this transatlantic slant was a double-edged sword. "Initially British companies said the story was too convoluted," says Gibb. "But the project soon generated heat with several US studios showing interest. In the end Columbia beat off the opposition." The script's distinctive style also helped bring on board John Hannah to star as the lead Leo, a conman who masterminds one last scam. "When I first read it," says Hannah, "I had no idea what was going on, but it was brilliant." His early commitment to the film helped get it off the ground. Leo's glamorous wife, Lily, is Famke Janssen, whose international career took off with GoldenEye. Other casting decisions were more offbeat, including British entertainer Brian Conley as a vicious gangster and comedian Eddie Izzard at a sadistic loan shark. Circus shot on location in Brighton and around London, and at Shepperton Studios in spring last year. It was released in the UK in May this year.

Director: Kenton Oxley

Year: 2027

Inspired by the true story of Bryony Tyrell, known in the cage as “Killa Bee” - one of Britain’s most unexpected fighters: a nurse on the frontlines during COVID, devoted mother, and a pro MMA fighter. Featured in stories by The Telegraph, The Mirror, The Daily Star, and more, Bryony has captured hearts and media attention with her extraordinary double life... Bry leads a double life — a nurse by day and a ferocious mixed martial arts fighter by night. Driven to the brink as she prepares for a showdown with Molly McCann, she risks it all — family, sanity, everything — for her shot at glory. Just as that chance arrives, the pandemic strikes, pushing her into the trenches of the COVID ICU. When tragedy hits close to home, her world is shaken. But Bry doesn’t back down. Another fight offer reignites her hunger — though this time, her career and home life are both on the ropes. The final match? It’s brutal, raw, and unforgettable. Spotting her family in the stands, Bry makes a soul-shaking decision — choosing the battle that truly matters most. This electrifying film melds high-octane MMA action, heart-stopping drama, and an unbreakable spirit.

Director: Richard Perryman

Year: 2027

When Charlie, a disillusioned 30-year-old, fails to attend his estranged father's funeral, his overachieving sister shows up unannounced to confront him. Their tense reunion forces them to face old wounds, buried resentments, and the messy path toward healing their fractured relationship.