BFI’s P&A fund backs the programme with £50,000.

Soda Pictures is launching the third year of its New British Cinema Quarterly (NBCQ) initiative, now with backing from the BFI’s P&A Fund.

NBCQ takes a new British film on tour every three months with Q&As from the filmmakers involved, across the UK. That is followed by a box-set release of the four annual films.

With the new BFI support of £50,000 the programme will be able to grow its audiences.

This year’s line-up of films includes Grant Gee’s Patience (after Sebald); Dave McKean’s The Gospel Of Us starring Michael Sheen in a retelling of The Passion; and Screen International Star of Tomorrow director Frances Lea’s Strawberry Fields.

The fourth film will be announced later this year.

Soda Pictures MD Edward Fletcher [pictured] said “It’s really encouraging to launch the third year of NBCQ with this support from the BFI. It recognises the exciting growth of the programme and will provide opportunities to further develop this British cinema brand with our partner exhibitors and crucially with audiences for independent British film.”

BFI Senior Executive for Distribution and Exhibition, Alex Stolz added: “Our goal with the P&A Fund is to help independent British films reach their widest possible audience. Soda’s NBCQ initiative offers an exciting new model for achieving this by creating event-driven screenings and connecting
cinemagoers with the talent behind the films. Its a holistic scheme that we are happy to support.”