BBC Films Launch Their New Movie Slate Ahead Of Cannes

BBC Films have launched some of their new roster of films at a promotional event ahead of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival today. 

Among the new titles is What We Did On Our Holiday, starring David Tennant, Billy Connolly, Rosamund Pike and Ben Miller. The comedy feature, written and directed by Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton, the creators of TV series Outnumbered, follows a dysfunctional family on a chaotic trip to Scotland for a big family birthday, and employs similar techniques of semi-improvisation as the TV show. Attendees at today's event were shown a clip from the film featuring David Tennant and his three onscreen children played by Bobby Smalldridge, Emilia Jones and Harriet Turnbull. Next week international distributors will be treated to special screenings of the movie at Cannes. What We Did On Our Holiday is scheduled for theatrical release in the UK on the 26th September.

Other BBC Films titles on the way include:

• London Road - a musical based on a real life murder case starring Olivia Colman, Anita Dobson and Tom Hardy
• Bill - a comedic look at the life of William Shakespeare starring the cast of TV's Horrible Histories
• Mrs. Brown's Boys D'Movie - Brendan O'Carroll stars in the movie spin-off from the TV comedy series
• Testament Of Youth - the World War I feature starring Kit Harington
• Pride - a comedy drama led by Imelda Staunton and Bill Nighy about a group of gay and lesbian activists supporting the striking miners of 1984.

BBC Films also announced today a production of Alan Bennett's play The Lady In The Van to be created by the team behind The History Boys. 

The 2014 Cannes Film Festival runs from Friday 14th - 25th May. What We Did on Our Holiday will be screened three times for international buyers over the opening weekend.