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Lottery funding for award-winning director's second feature
 Paul Andrew Williams, one of the UK's hottest new directors, is to receive Lottery funding for his new film The Cottage, the UK Film Council has announced.
The Cottage is a black comedy horror, set in a remote part of the countryside, about two brothers who manage to bungle the kidnapping of the reviling daughter of an underworld boss, and then stumble upon a dark rural secret. The UK Film Council's Premiere Fund has awarded £770,000 to the film. The film was supported at script stage by the UK Film Council's Development Fund.
The film will star Andy Serkis (The Lord of the Rings, King Kong, Stormbreaker) heading up a cast that includes Reece Shearsmith (The League of Gentleman), Jennifer Ellison (The Phantom of the Opera, Brookside) and Steve O'Donnell (Shakespeare in Love, A Knight's Tale, TV's The Comic Strip and Shameless).
 Paul Andrew Williams has written the script with Ken Marshall producing for Steel Mill Pictures and Martin Pope of Magic Light Pictures is executive producing. Finance partners on the film include Isle of Man Film, Screen Yorkshire and Pathé. Pathé Distribution will distribute the film in the UK with Pathé Pictures International handling worldwide sales excluding North America, which is being handled by Cinetic Media.
London to Brighton, Paul Andrew Williams's feature film debut as a writer/director was one of the most critically acclaimed British films of 2006, BAFTA-nominated and gaining many more awards and nominations, including a BIFA for Best Achievement in Production, Dinard's Golden Hitchcock, Edinburgh's Skillset New Director Award and the Raindance Jury Prize and the Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Newcomer. The UK Film Council supported Williams and the producers to get the film finished and into the marketplace, awarding completion funding through the New Cinema Fund and Prints and Advertising funding for the film's UK release.
Sally Caplan, Head of the Premiere Fund says, "Paul Andrew Williams is a fresh British talent with a unique voice and vision. Being able to support this exciting new filmmaker in making his next project reflects our commitment to new talent."
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