Tom Hughes, Ophelia Lovibond star in Eight Minutes Idle

Tom Hughes and Ophelia Lovibond are heading up the cast of Eight Minutes Idle, the second film to be made through South West Screen’s microbudget scheme iFeatures.

Shooting has already started at Bristol’s new studio, The Bottle Yard, on the urban comedy about life in a Bristol call centre, which is being directed by first time feature director Mark Simon Hewis, who was previously a BBC New Filmmaker finalist.

It is based on the award winning novel by Matt Thorne, who has also developed the screenplay alongside novelist Nicholas Blincoe.

Sarah Cox, of production company ArthurCox is producing the film, which stars a crop of rising Brit actors including Montserrat Lombard, Divian Ladwa, Jack Ashton and Antonia Thomas.Tamara Drewe actress Pippa Haywood and The Infidel actor Paul Kaye also have cameos.

The project is being backed by South West Screen through its iFeatures scheme, along with the UK Film Council, BBC Films Matador Pictures and the Bristol City Council. The BBC has acquired UK TV rights and Content Film is handling worldwide sales.

Shooting will take place for four weeks at The Bottle Yard and on location around Bristol.

The first iFeatures project, In The Dark Half, completed shooting in January this year, whilst the third film, Kasia Klimkiewicz’s Flying Blind will go into production later this year.