London, Monday 28 October: The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and Culture Company 2013 are pleased to announce that BAFTA- and Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle and BAFTA-nominated screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce will discuss their work, including their collaboration on the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, at a special event in Derry-Londonderry, UK City of Culture, on Saturday 23 November.

‘An Evening with Danny Boyle and Frank Cottrell Boyce’, which takes place at the city’s St Columb’s Hall, will also see the two friends revisit some of their most acclaimed films, and discuss the books, music and films that have inspired them.

The event is presented by Culture Company and the Nerve Centre, in association with BAFTA, as part of the Foyle Film Festival and Cinema City. It forms part of BAFTA’s UK-wide learning and events programme, which gives audiences across the country access behind the screens of the film, television and games industries.

Tim Hunter, Head of Learning and Events at BAFTA, said: “BAFTA is really pleased to be supporting the City of Culture 2013. Frank Cottrell Boyce and Danny Boyle are such creative forces within the film industry, and we are delighted that they will be giving us an insight into their cultural inspirations and their fruitful collaboration.”

Martin Melarkey, Senior Programmer with Culture Company 2013, added: “To have two cultural giants like Danny Boyle and Frank Cottrell Boyce discussing their creative collaborations and the books, music and films that have inspired them will make for a fascinating evening.”

Danny Boyle and Frank Cottrell Boyce are two of the most significant figures in contemporary British film culture.

Double BAFTA- and Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle began his career in theatre before moving into film and television. He was BAFTA-nominated for the television drama serial Mr Wroe’s Virgins in 1994, and the following year received the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film of the Year for his debut feature film, Shallow Grave, in 1995. Boyle has received further BAFTA nominations for films including Trainspotting, which also won the British Academy Scotland Award for Best Feature Film in 1997, and 127 Hours, which was additionally nominated for two Oscars. In 2009, Boyle gained his second BAFTA, and an Oscar, for Slumdog Millionaire. Having returned to the stage to direct the National Theatre’s Frankenstein, Boyle was named the Artistic Director for the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, entitled Isles of Wonder, which was BAFTA-nominated this year, and for which he won an Emmy.

Screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce was nominated for a British Academy Film Award in 1999 for Hilary and Jackie. He has collaborated with director Michael Winterbottom on several films, including Welcome to Sarajevo, A Cock and Bull Story and 24 Hour Party People. Cottrell Boyce worked with Danny Boyle on the film Millions and wrote the BAFTA-nominated and Emmy Award-winning Isles of Wonder for the for London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. Cottrell Boyce is also an award-winning children’s author.

Public tickets for ‘An Evening with Danny Boyle and Frank Cottrell Boyce’ are on sale now. To book tickets, go to City of Culture 2013 or visit BAFTA What’s On.

Event details:
‘An Evening with Danny Boyle and Frank Cottrell Boyce’,
7.30pm, Saturday 23 November 2013 at St Columb’s Hall, Derry-Londonderry.
Presented by Culture Company and the Nerve Centre, in association with BAFTA, as part of the Foyle Film Festival and Cinema City.

For further information, please contact:
Hollie Rendall at Kindred Agency
Tel: 020 7010 0829
Email: Hollie Rendall

About BAFTA
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round Learning & Events programme that offers unique access to some of the world’s most inspiring talent through workshops, masterclasses, lectures, scholarships and mentoring schemes, connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds across the UK, Los Angeles and New York. BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work. For further information, visit BAFTA and BAFTA Guru.

About the UK City of Culture
Derry~Londonderry 2013 is delivering a cultural feast of music, dance, theatre, art and much more on the banks of the River Foyle. The city has welcomed thousands of visitors for landmark events Sons and Daughters, The Return of Colmcille, Music City! Radio One’s Big Weekend, Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann and the Walled City Tattoo.

The UK City of Culture initiative was announced by the UK Government in 2009, building on Liverpool’s success as European Capital of Culture in 2008, inviting cities to compete for the first UK City of Culture title in 2013. Derry~Londonderry is the winner of the title for 2013. The other shortlisted cities were Birmingham, Norwich and Sheffield.

Derry~Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 is funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure of the Northern Ireland Executive, with core funding from Derry City Council, and capital infrastructure delivered by Ilex, Urban Regeneration Company. The cultural programme is also funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council of England, the British Council and others.

With the support of Principal Partner, BT.

Media partners: BBC, UTV, Derry Journal, Londonderry Sentinel, The Nerve Centre

Partners: Diageo, NIE, JTI, Tesco, Great Wall Motors, Coca-Cola, Foyleside, Firstsource Solutions, Eventserv, Derry Credit Union Limited, Seagate, Translink, Crown Paints, Etihad Airways, Loughs Agency, Eirgrid, Pol Roger, Culture Northern Ireland.

Web address: www.cityofculture2013.com

About the Nerve Centre
The Nerve Centre is Northern Ireland’s leading creative media arts centre, providing a comprehensive annual programme of cultural cinema and film education. This includes the Foyle Film Festival, Intercultural & Anti-racism Festival, after schools FILMCLUB, and creative learning centres in Derry and Belfast. The Nerve Centre also played a critical role in developing the A-Level and GCSE Moving Image Arts qualifications, now available in more than 100 schools. The centre has garnered Oscar and BAFTA nominations for its film and animation output, and is a major producer of online arts and cultural content through platforms such as Culture Northern Ireland.

Web address: www.nervecentre.org