Sparks – dubbed “the best British group ever to come out of America” – have been immortalized in not one, but two movies.

Brothers Ron and Russell Mael formed Sparks in 1967 in Los Angeles. Since then they have pursued a unique creative path which has made them among the most significant figures in left-field pop, influencing artists including Joy Division, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, The Smiths, and Franz Ferdinand.

They feature as the subject of The Sparks Brothers a documentary directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun Of The Dead, Baby Driver) and including fans such as Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which is due to be released this summer.

Meanwhile, it has been announced that Annette, a new movie directed by Leos Carax (Les Amants du Pont Neuf, Holy Motors) and written by Ron and Russell Mael has been selected to open this year’s Cannes Film Festival on July 6.

The story, based on an original story by the Mael brothers, focuses on a provocative stand-up comedian (Adam Driver) and his opera star wife (Marion Cotillard), whose life takes an unexpected turn when their daughter Annette is born.

BMG released the two most recent Sparks albums, Hippopotamus (1917) and A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip (2020) and also acts as the Maels’ music publisher.

Ian Ramage, BMG, VP Repertoire & Marketing UK, said, “In the classic phrase, you wait 50 years for a Sparks movie and two come along at once! Sparks are among the best-loved artists in music. We congratulate them on this new milestone.”