A Bunch of Amateurs

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A Bunch of Amateurs

Original title: A Bunch of Amateurs

Directed by: Kim Hopkins

Produced by: Margareta Szabo (Labor of Love Films, United Kingdom); Kim Hopkins (Labor of Love Films, United Kingdom)

Country of production: United Kingdom

Runtime: 105', 89', possibly: 2x50'

Expected release: late 2021, early 2022

Production stage: Rough Cut

Budget: $575,000 (48% in place)

Looking for: festivals, sales agents, distributors, buyers, financiers, gap financing

Synopsis:

Growing old amid flickering memories and teetering on the brink of survival, BRADFORD MOVIE MAKERS, Britain’s oldest amateur film-making club, pulls out all the stops to save their ancient clubhouse from its final reckoning in this quietly hilarious, profoundly moving portrait of shared artistic folly that speaks to the delusional dreamer in us all.

Director’s profile:

Kim is a graduate of the NFTS. In 1999 she directed feature doc MAN IN THE SAND for BBC2, recounting the story of singer-songwriter Billy Bragg’s search for Woody Guthrie. In 2002 Kim directed WANTED, a feature doc funded by the UK Film Council, WDR & Soros Foundation. WANTED premiered at Locarno, London BFI & Viennale. Kim then spent a decade making television, before co-founding Labor of Love Films. In 2012, Kim directed feature doc HOTEL FOLLY (BBC Storyville) HOTEL FOLLY premiered at IDFA. In 2018, Kim directed feature doc VOICES OF THE SEA. VOICES premiered at True/False FF and went onto play in many festivals across the world. VOICES won best doc award at the HBO New York Latino FF, best doc at the Boston Latino FF, and best doc at DOCUDAYS, UA. The film aired on PBS (POV), ARTE and the WHY STORIES. VOICES had a UK theatrical run. Kim is currently working on A BUNCH OF AMATEURS.

Producer’s profile:

Margareta grew up in Budapest, Hungary. She is a documentary producer and actor. Margareta is a graduate of the University of Theatre and Film Arts, Budapest. In 2012 Margareta moved to England where she co-founded Labor of Love Films. Margareta’s produced feature documentary HOTEL FOLLY. HOTEL FOLLY premiered at IDFA, and aired on BBC Storyville. In 2016 Margareta was selected for Berlinale Talents. In 2016 She won a place at the Future Producer School, a mentoring scheme for emerging documentary producers run by Sheffield Doc/Fest. In 2018, Margareta produced VOICES OF THE SEA (ITVS, POV/PBS) a feature documentary set in rural Cuba. VOICES premiered at True/False FF and went onto play in many screenings across the world. VOICES won best documentary awards at the HBO New York Latino FF, Boston Latino FF, and at DOCUDAYS, UA. VOICES aired on PBS (POV), ARTE, and BBC Storyville Global.