Revolver in tune with Plan B’s ill Manors

UK distributor Revolver has secured rights to ill Manors, the directorial debut of singer and actor Ben Drew, aka Plan B.

ill Manors, the sixth film produced through the Microwave scheme, the successful micro-budget feature film fund from Film London and BBC Films, stars stars Riz Ahmed (Four Lions, Shifty) and Natalie Press (Red Road, My Summer of Love, 50 Dead Men Walking).

The film, currently in post-production, charts the fight for respect on the streets of East London and offers an insight into the contemporary London hip-hop and grime culture.

ill Manors has been developed with Microwave since Drew and his producer Atif Ghani at Aimimage were greenlit through the scheme in 2009.

Revolver CEO Justin Marciano commented on the acquisition: “We first sat down with Ben and Atif to discuss this project three years ago and it was clear to us then that Ben was an exceptional talent. We’re looking forward to showing the world exactly what we saw then, that not only is Ben one of the most exciting music artists working today, he is also one of the most dynamic directors too.”

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London said: “This is the fourth Microwave film to secure distribution in the UK and is yet more proof that, with Ben and ill Manors, we have backed another team and project with commercial value which the industry wants to invest in. Film London has been working with Ben for almost two years now and backed ill Manors before he had a hit album or we’d seen Harry Brown.”

“We pride ourselves in discovering raw talent, so it has been fantastic to see his career – across film and music – take off in such a remarkable way. I am also delighted to be working with Revolver again, their track record for helping guide films to their audience in the most efficient way possible is very encouraging and we look forward to working with them on ill Manors to ensure the film reaches its potential,” Wootton contined.

Drew is best known for his music career thanks to award-winning number one album The Defamation of Strickland Banks, and has also appeared in Adulthood, 4.3.2.1, Harry Brown and the forthcoming The Sweeney.