The new film from acclaimed writer/director Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast, Birth, Under The Skin) surprised viewers on BBC Two on Sunday 27 October, when it appeared on the channel at 10pm.

Inspired by The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters, an etching by Francisco Goya, The Fall is a powerful short film which invites the audience to project their preoccupations and interpretations.

Featuring Glazer’s singular visual style and with an original score from his Under The Skin composer Mica Levi, The Fall is a deeply cinematic example of short form filmmaking by one of the UK’s most renowned directors. Commissioned by BBC Films, it is produced by Academy Films and runs at 06:54.

The Fall had its world premiere on BBC Two at 10pm on Sunday 27 October, 2019 and appeared immediately on BBC iPlayer. In conjunction with its unorthodox transmission on BBC Two, The Fall also appeared unannounced in a number of leading independent cinemas on Sunday evening, surprising theatrical audiences across the UK.

Rose Garnett, Director of BBC Films, who commissioned The Fall, says: "The opportunity to invite a visionary filmmaker like Jonathan Glazer to create a piece that could really demonstrate the power of short-form filmmaking and bring urgent work to audiences in surprising ways was too good to miss. We’re thrilled that the BBC is home to this extraordinary film."

An acclaimed director of feature films and commercials, Jonathan Glazer first found fame for his revolutionary work on Radiohead’s Street Spirit and Jamiroquai’s multi-MTV award winning Virtual Insanity video. His 1999 groundbreaking Guinness advert Surfer picked up two D&AD Black Pencils, a Gold at Cannes, and still tops many lists as one of the best commercials of all time.

In 2000 Jonathan directed Sexy Beast which was nominated for Best British Film by Bafta. This was followed four years later with Birth, staring Nicole Kidman and Lauren Bacall. His 2014 film Under The Skin stars Scarlett Johansson and is an adaptation of Michel Faber's 2000 novel of the same name. Under The Skin received two Bafta nominations and won critical acclaim as a 'landmark in filmmaking', recently coming fourth in The Guardian’s 100 greatest films of the 21st century.

Notes to Editors

The Fall had its world premiere on BBC Two at 10pm on Sunday 27 October. It will TX a further three times on BBC Two in the same week, appearing again on Sunday 27 October, on Wednesday 30 October and on Friday 1 November.

The Fall simultaneously appeared at the following cinemas on Sunday 27 October:

BFI Southbank, London
Broadway, Nottingham
Glasgow Film Theatre
HOME, Manchester
Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle upon Tyne
Watershed, Bristol

Commissioned by Rose Garnett for BBC Films, The Fall is produced by Bugs Hartley and Ash Lockmun for Academy Films. Executive Producers are Simon Cooper, Medb Riordan and James Wilson.