HOW I LIVE NOW
Currently in post production, How I Live Now is Kevin Macdonald's big screen adaptation of Meg Rosoff’s award winning young adult novel of the same name.
Daisy (Saoirse Ronan), a teenage New Yorker, is sent to England one summer to stay with cousins she has never met before. Immersed in a dreamy pastoral idyll she soon falls madly in love with her cousin Eddie (George Mackay). Their summer is blown apart by the sudden outbreak of a 21st century World War when, along with Eddie's younger siblings Isaac (Tom Holland) and Piper (Harley Bird), they are forced to fend for themselves. Eventually separated, Daisy is forced on a terrifying journey to be reunited with the boy she loves. Eddie is never far from Daisy’s mind but as her journey to find him gets more desperate, the idea of what she may or may not find begins to consume and haunt her.
Produced by Cowboy Films and Passion Pictures the film has been developed in association with Film 4. Financed by the BFI and Film 4, Momentum Alliance are set to distribute in the UK in 2013 and Protagonist Pictures are selling internationally.
MARLEY
is the new cinema documentary by Kevin MacDonald, released theatrically by Universal in Spring 2012. This is the definitive film about the extraordinary life of Bob Marley and includes never before seen footage, unreleased tracks, and interviews with those close to him that have never been seen before. The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and is produced together with Steve Bing.
THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
stars Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy and is based on events surrounding the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's regime, as seen by his personal physician during the 1970s. The film was directed by Kevin MacDonald and won numerous awards, including a BAFTA for Best British Film and an Oscar for Best Actor. The film was released worldwide by Fox Searchlight and produced with Lisa Bryer and Andrea Calderwood.
FIRE IN BABYLON
tells the story of the great West Indies cricket team of the 1970's/80's - exploring their achievement against the social, political and cultural backdrop of the period. This cinema documentary was directed by Stevan Riley, and produced together with John Battsek. The film premiered at the London Film Festival in 2010, was nominated for a BIFA and won a Grierson Award. Released theatrically in UK by Revolver Entertainment.
Previous Cowboy feature films also include
Nick Love's debut film GOODBYE CHARLIE BRIGHT, THE HOLE, a psychological thriller directed by Nick Hamm and the Anglo-Italian co-production THE SOUL KEEPER directed by Roberto Faenza and staring Emilia Fox.
SHORT FILMS
Cowboy has produced a number of short films including Andrea Arnold's Oscar winning WASP and Martina Amati's critically acclaimed short dramas A'MARE (winner of the BAFTA/LA certificate of excellence), I DO AIR (winner of the BAFTA for Best Short Film) and CHALK (nominated for the BAFTA and winner of Best British Short Film at the British Independent Film Award 2011).
TOP BOY (2011)
Written and co-produced by Ronan Bennett and directed by Yann Demange, Top Boy is a 4-part drama that premiered on Channel 4 in Autumn 2011. A mix of visceral thriller and intimate, heartfelt drama, Top Boy stars Ashley Walters and Kierston Wareing and features a host of first time talent including Kane Robinson. Described as “a beautiful, honest and gripping rendition on inner-city drug and gang culture” the series received huge critical acclaim following transmission. Top Boy won the 2011 RTS award for Best Drama Serial and the 2013 Broadcast award for Best Drama Series/Serial.
Following the huge success of Top Boy, Channel 4 has commissioned Cowboy Films to produce series 2, set for TX in 2013.
PRISONER A26188: HENIA BRYER (2013)
Henia Bryer tells the story of a young Polish girl from a
middle class Jewish family who lost her father, brother and sister during
the German occupation, who survived four concentration camps, and went on to
bear witness to the creation of Israel in 1948. This is her story of survival, and a
legacy to her family and other survivors of genocide.
Produced and directed by Lisa Bryer, the producer of the multi-award winning
film The Last King of Scotland.
TX on BBC One Sunday 27th January 10.25pm
POPPY SHAKESPEARE (2008)
was made as a single drama for Channel 4 directed by Benjamin Ross. A dark and original satire set on the ward of a decaying psychiatric hospital, Poppy Shakespeare stars Naomie Harris and Anna Maxwell Martin – who went on to win the BAFTA for Best Actress for her role. The film was a critical success when transmitted on Channel 4 and went on to receive further acclaim on the international film festival circuit, including Best Independent Feature Film Award at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.
ABOUT
Charles Steel - Producer
Charles trained in film production at the Royal College of Art before producing his first feature AMY FOSTER (distributed worldwide by Columbia Tri-star 1997). He then joined Cowboy Films to produce with Lisa Bryer, original founder of the company. When Lisa stepped back to a non-executive role in 2007, Charles continued with Cowboy Films.
Alasdair Flind - Producer
Alasdair, a former journalist, has a background in film development and script editing and set up Prospect Entertainment to develop his own projects before joining Cowboy as Charles' producing partner in 2007.
Sara Murray - Development Producer
Sara worked in development at C4 drama before joining Cowboy as Development Producer for Television.
David Harwood - Production Secretary
COWBOY FILMS
40 Langham Street
London W1W 7AS
United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0)20 7580 5708
david@cowboyfilms.co.uk
NEWS
31st January
Top Boy won the Best Drama Serial award at last night's Broadcast awards. Congratulations to everyone involved in the show! (photo below from L to R: Sara Murray, Yann Demange, Alasdair Flind, Charles Steel)
23rd January
Prisoner Number A26188: Henia Bryer this Sunday 27th January BBC One at 10.25pmMore...
23rd January
Prisoner Number A26188: Henia Bryer reviewMore...
9th January 2013
Marley has been nominated for Best Documentary at 2013 BAFTAs!More...
21st November
Top Boy has been shortlisted for Best Drama Series or Serial at the 2013 Broadcast Awards.More...
5th November
Marley has been nominated for Best Documentary at the British Independent Film Awards 2012. The awards take place on 9th December.More...
24th September
Home Before Dark, a new 4 part drama written by Abi Morgan and executive produced by Kevin Macdonald has been commissioned by Channel 4.More...
20th August
Marley is out today on DVD and Blu Ray in the UK
18th August
Principal photography has come to an end on How I live Now. A huge thank you to all the cast & crew involved with the film!
8th August
Marley is now available on DVD and Blu Ray in the US - UK release is 20th April.More...
31st July
Marley has been shortlisted for Best Cinema Documentary at the Grierson 2012 British Documentary Awards.More...
25th June
Principal photography for Kevin Macdonald’s big screen adaptation of Meg Rosoff’s award winning novel How I Live Now has begun.More...
10th June
Tino Best sets test record for a number 11 batsman - he says watching Fire In Babylon inspired him.More...
24th April
Top Boy has been nominated for best Mini-Series at the 2012 BAFTA Television awards.More...
23rd April
Marley has enjoyed a great first weekend in cinemas.More...
22nd April
Top Boy has shared the Audience Choice award at the 3rd Series Mania TV Festival.More...
20th April
Marley is out in UK and US cinemas today. Also in the US it is available On Demand and via Facebook Streaming! More...
16th April
Top Boy has been nominated for three BAFTA Television craft awards: Yann Demange (Director: Fiction), Tat Radcliffe (Photography & Lighting) and Brian Eno (Original Music). The awards ceremony takes place on May 13th.
12th April
In the US, Marley will be the first major feature to stream on Facebook simultaneously with its theatrical release. Marley opens in UK and US cinemas on Friday 20th April. More...
11th April
Martina Amati's 'Random Act' Peter for Channel 4 can be viewed online here.
20th March
Top Boy wins the RTS Award for Best Drama Serial. More...
12th Feb
Marley premiered last night at the 2012 Berlin Film Festival. More...
18th Jan
Chalk is nominated for best short film at the 2012 BAFTAs. More...
5th Dec (2011)
Chalk won best short film at last night's British Independent Film Awards!