Warp Films

Warp Films is responsible for creating some of the most new, different and exhilarating pieces of British film since being set up in 2002. Warp Films has won numerous plaudits and awards (including three BAFTAs) in the last 5 years.

'My Wrongs 8245-8249 and 117', directed by Chris Morris, was Warp’s first short film and won the BAFTA in 2003 and for its television premiere on Channel 4. More than one million viewers tuned in to watch it, and 22000 DVDs were sold after its premiere, making it the first DVD single in the UK market.

Shane Meadows’ 'Dead Man's Shoes' was Warp's debut feature, and received a record eight British Independent Film Award nominations, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Achievement in Production. ‘’Dead Man’s Shoes’’ was also nominated for a BAFTA and won the Southbank Award for Best Film.

Warp’s next film, directed by Chris Cunningham, was ‘Rubber Jonny’, an experimental 42-page book that shocked and amazed audiences. Warp’s next venture was ‘Grow Your Own’. This film written by Frank Cottrell Boyce received critical success, and tackled the subject of immigration. 2006 saw Warp Films creating their most successful film to date: Shane Meadows’ ‘This is England’. The film received rave reviews and has won numerous international festival awards as well as winning Best Film at the British Independent Film Awards and Best British Film at the BAFTAs.

Arctic Monkeys are also connected with Warp Films as they have produced two music videos for the band, and collaborating on the short film ‘Scummy Man’, which one an NME award for best music video. A feature length live film of the Arctic Monkeys has recently been directed by Richard Ayoade.

Warp Films currently have projects with directors Shane Meadows, Chris Morris, Chris Cunningham, Richard Ayoade, David Slade and Lynne Ramsay. One of their aims is to seek out new voices; which is reflected in their latest projects of promo making and their new venture, Warp X, a digital studio fuelled by imagination, innovation and a digital business model that rewards everyone involved in all aspects of the creation of the films. Their financiers have agreed that creative talent should share in the gross revenue of any film once the commission and expenses of distributors and sales agents have been deducted. Warp X intends to build and improve on Warp Film’s excellent reputation for combining originality with success.

Chris Cunningham started working with Warp Records in 1995 and has directed multiple unique, innovative videos for the likes of Squarepusher, Bjork, Madonna, Portishead and Aphex Twin. With Warp Films, Cunningham has created several films, including 'Rubber Johnny'. Cunningham’s music video, 'Africa Shox' is extremely shocking in its portrayal of America and how white Americans treated Black African/Americans. The camera follows a black man walking through the streets, gradually getting more and more broken at the fault of the white characters, whilst noone, apart from one white man in a heaving urban city, even attempts to help him. There are many examples of similarities between the music video and Meadows' 'This is England'. Firstly, we see in each white characters ignoring the problems and racism that ethnic minorities face. Both of the films are also set in urban lower class areas, and try to show the reality and make it alot more hard-hitting for the audience. Overall, both are extremely successful in engaging their audience and spreading their messages to the public.

(basic information collected from www.warpfilms.com)