London-based Big Picture Film Club (BPFC) on Monday unveiled a strategic pivot into U.K. and Ireland theatrical distribution with the acquisition of two new titles, The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively reveal.
The events, media publishing and marketing consultancy has acquired sports documentary Fighters and environmental doc 50 Hours Underwater, both slated for a third-quarter release.
Fighters, from Ben & Jack Studios and brokered by BPFC’s co-founder, Presh Williams, charts the journey of Matt Edwards, a lower-limb amputee boxer determined to overcome systemic barriers and champion inclusivity in sport.
50 Hours Underwater, acquired from Lifton Media GmbH and again brokered by Williams, follows professional diver Shafraz (Shaff) Naeem as he embarks on a record‑breaking 50‑hour dive in the Maldives. “The audacious endeavor, set against the pressing backdrop of environmental degradation, serves as a stirring call to action for marine conservation and a celebration of the resilience inherent in both community and nature,” a synopsis reads.
In the year of its 10th anniversary, BPFC is known for its nationwide collaboration with Odeon Cinemas, curating their Diverse Cinema programming for five years and supporting 24 titles across the U.K.
Urvisha Patel, co-founder, Big Picture Film Club, said: “We’ve spent 10 years building communities through the films we have supported, so transitioning into distribution feels like the natural next step. We get to be hands-on in supporting great films whilst elevating talented filmmakers, and I’m excited to bring new stories with fresh perspectives to our audiences.”
Williams added: “Particularly through our U.K. wide programming partnership with Odeon Cinemas over the last five years, we’ve seen first-hand how the theatrical component to a film’s distribution is increasingly more important in the age of VODs. We’re excited for this new chapter of Big Picture Film Club.”
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