Sky today announced the start of production in Wales for new Sky Original film Save The Cinema, which will be available in cinemas and on Sky Cinema towards the end of 2021. The film is co-produced by Sky and FAE Film & Television.

Save The Cinema, a Sky Original features an all-star British cast including Samantha Morton (Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them), Tom Felton (Harry Potter), Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes), Adeel Akhtar (Enola Holmes), Erin Richards (Gotham), Owain Yeoman (Emergence), Susan Wokoma (Enola Holmes), Colm Meaney (Gangs Of London), Rhod Gilbert (Have I Got News For You) and Keith Allen (Kingsman: The Golden Circle). This feel-good story is based on the efforts of one woman bringing together a community to save the local cinema.

Set in the 90’s, Save The Cinema is inspired by the life of Liz Evans, (Samantha Morton), a hairdresser and linchpin to the local community in the small town of Carmarthen in Wales. Her mission is to stop The Lyric Theatre being demolished by bulldozers and turned into a shopping centre. With the threat of demolition becoming ever more likely, Liz and friends barricade themselves in the cinema and with the help of postman turned local councillor Richard (Tom Felton), they come up with a grand plan.

To revitalise the cinema and stop the council taking the heart of the community away, a desperate Liz persuades Richard to write to Hollywood to ask for a helping hand. A phone call later and an influential filmmaker agrees to offer a very special treat for Carmarthen, but does this help save the future of The Lyric?

Sarah Wright, Director of Sky Cinema and Acquisitions at Sky UK & Ireland comments: “I’m thrilled to start production on Save The Cinema. Filmed in Wales and featuring the best of British talent, at its core is an incredible true story – one woman’s seemingly impossible dream to galvanise her community to stand up for local arts and all it represents. I cannot wait to bring this Sky Original film to Sky Cinema in 2021.”

Save The Cinema, a Sky Original is directed by Sara Sugarman (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen), written by Piers Ashworth (Fisherman’s Friends) from a story by Lorraine King, produced by Matt Williams, Piers Tempest and Karl Hall at FAE Film & Television and executive produced by Julia Stuart at Sky.  Sky is majority funding the film in association with Head Gear Films, LipSync and Ffilm Cymru.

Sky Cinema is the home of Sky Original films, with brand new films launching every month alongside an unrivalled range of the latest cinema releases and on demand library.