A number of top British filmmakers, including Palme D’Or and Golden Lion winner Mike Leigh, look set to participate in the cultural events being staged across Britain in 2012 to celebrate London’s hosting of the Olympic Games.

In a profile of actor Eddie Marsan, The New York Times reported earlier this month that Leigh had been making a short film commissioned as part of the 2012 Olympics. (Marsan acts in the short.)

Leigh’s production company Thin Man Films declined to provide any further details about the project. However, a spokesperson for The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games confirmed that film will form a part of the UK-wide “London 2012 Festival.”

“Basically, what we are looking for is a series of film commissions as we will be having commissions across art forms for the festival,” the spokesperson commented. The spokesperson added that no contracts had yet been signed for the film projects for the Festival. Full details are expected to be announced later this year.

The Festival will last from Midsummer Day in June 2012 until the end of the Paralympic Games on Sept 9. There will also be some cultural events (potentially including film screenings) prior to the start of the Festival.

Earlier this summer, it was confirmed that Danny Boyle will be artistic director of the opening ceremony for London 2012 while Stephen Daldry will be one of the four executive producers of the opening and closing ceremonies..

Meanwhile, Film Nation: Shorts, a short film competition for 14 to 25 year olds, is offering young filmmakers the chance to have their work showcased at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.


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