‘Vampire Academy’ & ‘Persuasion’ Star Among Cast, MK2 Boards Film4 & BFI-Backed Film – Deadline
EXCLUSIVE: The worst person in the world and Portrait of a lady on fire Outfit MK2 has joined the UK feature how to have sexwhich is currently being filmed in Greece.
Directed by emerging British filmmaker Molly Manning Walker (pictured above right) how to have sex follows a group of teenage girls as they navigate early sexual encounters during a clubbing vacation involving initiation rites.
cast includes conviction and Vampire Academy Actress Mia McKenna-Bruce (pictured above left) and Lara Peake (mood) alongside Shaun Thomas (Ali and Ava) and Sam Bottomley (Somewhere boy), with newcomers Enva Lewis and Laura Ambler.
Film4 and the BFI developed the project and are financing the production along with Paris-based MK2 Films, which is handling international distribution and will be showing the project to buyers in the coming months. Film4 retains the UK/Ireland TV and on-demand rights.
Wild Swim Films’ Ivana MacKinnon and Emily Leo are producing alongside Heretic’s Konstantinos Kontrovrakis. Executive Producers are Farhana Bhula and Ben Coren for Film4, Kristin Irving for BFI, Giorgos Karnavas for Heretic, Nathanaël Karmitz and Fionnuala Jamison for mk2, and Phil Hunt and Compton Ross for Head Gear. Release is planned for 2023.
Molly Manning Walker has made a name for herself as a director of photography on a variety of short films and was recently the director of photography on a feature film supported by BBC Film scraper with Harris Dickinson. Her first short film as a director Good thanks, you?, premiered in Cannes. She then won the Next Step prize in Cannes for the how to have sex Script.
“Molly Manning Walker is a huge new talent and we are thrilled to be working with her on her debut film. Her witty, nuanced and ultimately devastating script perfectly encapsulates the intricacies of female friendship and teenage sexuality,” said Fionnuala Jamison, executive director of MK2 Films.
“We are extremely excited to be making this film with an incredible cast and crew led by an immensely talented writer/director with a unique and honest voice,” added Wild Swim Films.
Farhana Bhula of Film4 commented, “We are very proud to continue supporting Molly and producers Ivana and Emily how to have sex. Molly is a very exciting new voice and we can’t wait to see her marry exceptional visual sensibilities with a story that pulses with vitality and urgency.”
Kristin Irving, Senior Production & Development Executive at the BFI Film Fund, said: “We were electrified by Molly’s bold and bright vision for this film and it is a privilege to support her and the extraordinary producers, cast and crew in their debut promises to to be so alive, luminous and vital.”
Manning Walker is represented by Patrick Child at Independent Talent.