All of the way back in March last year, just prior to the first lockdown, we managed to spend some time on the set of a hugely ambitious new British film. That film was Boiling Point, a one-take affair directed by the supremely talented Philip Barantini (Villain). The news has just hit that the film has now been picked up for worldwide distribution with Vertigo Releasing taking the movie for the UK and Ireland.
The feature stars Stephen Graham as head chef in a swanky city restaurant, the story taking place on one particular, very busy service in the run-up to Christmas. The film is a pressure-cooker of a drama with Graham’s character, Andy Jones, having to contend with jobsworth health and safety inspectors, addiction, personal strife, debt and a troubled life back at home, all over the course of just a couple of hours. It is based on the BIFA-nominated short of the same name, which also starred Graham.
The film was one-take production with its expected shoot schedule halved to two days, in order to complete filming before lockdown commenced. Shooting wrapped just five days before the pandemic forced the government to shut down the film industry. Nearly all of the post was completed remotely during lockdown.
Lining up amongst the cast is a plethora of British talent, including Jason Flemyng (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Snatch), Ray Panthaki (Colette, Marcella), Malachi Kirby (The Devils, BAFTA nominee 2021 for Small Axe) and Vinette Robinson (Sherlock, Black Mirror, Star Wars Ep: IX).
Here’s the official synopsis:
This is ‘Magic Friday’, the last Friday before Christmas and the busiest night of the year. Andy Jones, Head Chef at one of the top restaurants in London, is battling debts, addiction and an imploding personal life. The pressure is already on when health and safety services unexpectedly show up for inspection. Shot in a single take, in and out of a kitchen reaching boiling point.
As well as the UK, Boiling Point has been picked up for distribution in France (UFO), Spain (Filmin), Canada (Mongrel), Portugal (Cinemundo), Lebanon & Gulf (Empire), Australia & New Zealand (Rialto) and Japan (Cetera). A US deal is currently in negotiation.
Boiling Point is an Ascendant Films (Villain) and Burton Fox Films production in association with Matriarch Productions, Bromantics, Alpine Films, Urban Way and Three Little Birds Pictures. The finance was provided by White Hot Productions and Samahoma Media Advisors who negotiated finance from Insight Media Fund.
We’ll have more coverage of the film leading up to release.
