Hunger

Production

Producers: Blast! Films

Type: feature film

Genre: biopic, drama

Synopsis: Hunger follows life in the Maze Prison and interprets the events of the 1981 IRA hunger strike.

Web site: www.hungerthemovie.co.uk

Investment

Amount: 7% of total budget

Partners: Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, Channel Four, Northern Ireland Screen

Executives: Bethan Bannister, Bethan Cousins

Why we invested

Hunger had the majority of its budget already in place when its producers first approached Finance Wales.

The project was highly commercial and was committed to using Wales-based post-production house Dragon DI.

Investment outcome

Hunger has gained international recognition; winning 27 awards including a BAFTA and prizes at the Cannes, Sydney and Toronto film festivals.

The Wales Creative IP Fund took a share of the film’s intellectual property and will reinvest any returns received into other creative projects in Wales.

Testimonials

"The unsung heroes of films like Hunger are the financiers who take the risk and back such ambitious and challenging films. Alongside the other partners, the film benefited from the financial backing and creative support of the Wales Creative IP Fund. Without such funds it would be near impossible to finance an unconventional film like Hunger that not only has received critical acclaim but has also found a significant audience in the UK and internationally." Laura Hastings-Smith, producer, Hunger.

"We’re proud to be associated with Hunger. It’s performing well on the international stage and has had a positive impact on the economy in Wales." Bethan Bannister, investment executive, Finance Wales.