Showcase to distribute Brian Clough documentary 'I Believe In Miracles'

A new film about football manager Brian Clough’s glory years at Nottingham Forest is to be distributed across the UK by Showcase Cinemas, following its world premiere at the club’s City Ground next month.

I Believe In Miracles tells the story of the five-year period in the 1970s when Clough took Nottingham Forest from a run-down second division club to two European Cups, producing one of the best domestic football teams in the history of the game.

It includes interviews with all of the 1979 European Cup winners involved the families of Clough and his managerial partner Peter Taylor.

I Believe In Miracles was written and directed by Jonny Owen, who also produced alongside Baby Cow Productions (Philomena) and Spool Films/Post.

The documentary will receive its world premiere at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on Oct 11 before previews in UK cinemas on Oct 13.

National Amusements-owned Showcase Cinemas has boarded the film as both exhibitor and distributor, with deals already confirmed with Vue, Cineworld and Empire. Negotiations are ongoing with Odeon and Picturehouse as well as a number of independents.

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Content Group will release the film on DVD and Blu-ray on Nov 16.

James Dobbin, director of event cinema for UK and international at National Amusements, said: “The strategy with this film is to first have this an amazing event at the City Ground, as Nottingham is where the heart of the film lies.

“We’ll then pick out the best cinemas in the best cities around the country. We hope to have good pre-sales and then expand from there.”

Showcase first began distributing beyond its cinemas in June with double-bills of Laurel & Hardy to mark the 125th anniversary of Stan Laurel’s birth. It has since employed the same strategy with kids film Thomas & Friends: Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure and Manga animation Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’.

“It gives us the ability to secure content for our circuit but also gives us the ability to make additional revenue from other cinemas,” added Dobbin.

Speaking about making the film, Owen said: “I’ve been on I Believe in Miracles for the best part of two years, and I’ve managed to speak to all the players involved and unearth footage of them and Brian Clough that hasn’t been seen in three decades.

“There were literally tins of film sitting in warehouses across the UK that I searched through for hours. It’s been a joy to do and it really is a remarkable story that is, without doubt, a sporting miracle.”

The previous attempt to tell Clough’s story on the big screen was the film version of the book The Damned United, which starred Michael Sheen.