PRESS RELEASE: 17 July 2008: Pete Postlethwaite's new climate movie screens in Parliament

As the UK Government's Climate Bill reaches its final stages, Pete Postlethwaite presents his new feature documentary, "The Age of Stupid", to the All-Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group on July 21st

Details: Monday 21st July, 4pm. Wilson Room, Portcullis House. Followed by debate with Pete Postlethwaite (actor), Franny Armstrong (director) & Mark Lynas (climate writer). Info & reservations: catherine.martin@carbonneutral.com or 020 7833 6035. Press passes available from Lizzie Gillett, Spanner Films 07789 862 011 - lizzie@spannerfilms.net

The Age Of Stupid is the new movie from 'McLibel' Director Franny Armstrong and the Producer of the Oscar-winning 'One Day In September', John Battsek. It will be released in cinemas in the Autumn and has already won two prestigious prizes at the "Sunny Side of the Doc" film market, its first industry screening. Feedback from early viewers has been incredible - see comments below or short film here: http://www.oneclimate.net/2008/05/25/two-days-to-the-age-of-stupid/
Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite (In The Name of the Father, Brassed Off, Usual Suspects) stars as an old man living in the devastated world of 2055. He watches 'archive' footage from 2008 and asks: Why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?

The UK Government is in the final stages of preparing the new Climate Bill. Director Franny said, “Our aim in making the film is to be part of the public uprising which forces the world's Governments to make an international law strong enough to prevent runaway climate change and keep our planet habitable. This screening in the UK Parliament is a brilliant first step. I hope we can help persuade the politicians to make the new Climate Bill as strong as the science says it needs to be.”

Parliament flyer - click to enlargePete, who recently received planning permission to install a home turbine on his own property, and has spoken out about the ever-increasing dangers of climate change, said: “The stakes are very, very high. They’re through the roof. So when I looked at the subject and what the film is trying to do, there was no option really. I had to do it.” He added, “This film’s not quite as big as Jurassic Park, but it’s lovely to be on a set where people really want to be there and are committed to what they’re doing.”

The Age of Stupid is “crowd-funded”: 280 investors gave between 50 and 5000 pounds and each own a percentage of the film. This gives the filmmakers complete editorial freedom, plus control of the distribution. All profits will be shared between the investors and crew, who worked for massively reduced rates.

FIRST VIEWERS’ FEEDBACK

“Like a kick in the balls with a hug” - “It really, really got me, deep inside” - “I was overwhelmed for several days” - “Seriously brilliant” - “Consumingly stimulating” - “Stunning stunning stunning” - “Made me laugh, made me cry and, most importantly, made me think” - “I was blubbering all through” - “Two days later, I’m still reeling” - “I’m telling everyone I know to see it” - “Had a very profound experience and can’t convey the impact the film had” - “I’m blown away” - “So powerful, so moving, so ingenious” - “I was completely overwhelmed and had to go and cry for ten minutes” - “I thought it’d be good, but it was absolutely awesome”

PRESS PACK & MAIN WEBSITE

Age of Stupid press pack:
http://www.spannerfilms.net/downloadfiles/ageofstupid/AOSpresspack10.pdf
Age of Stupid website:
http://www.ageofstupid.net

FIRST PRESS

Channel 4 news feature about Pete's involvement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPIY7SrKdsg
Guardian article about the funding:
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2287367,00.html
Moviescope magazine feature article:
http://crudemovie.net/sites/local-crude/files/images/MovieScope%20Franny...
Red Pepper magazine feature article:
http://www.simstim.freeserve.co.uk/red_pepper.pdf

PHOTOS & RESOURCES FOR JOURNALISTS

http://crudemovie.net/page/press_page