PRESS RELEASE: 18 Feb 2008 -no embargo

Pete Postlethwaite stars in climate change documentary from the Director of McLibel and the Oscar-winning

Producer of One Day In September

The Age Of Stupid (formerly known as Crude) is the new documentary/drama/animation hybrid from Franny Armstrong (McLibel, Drowned Out), and Oscar-winning Producer John Battsek (One Day In September, Live Forever, In the Shadow of the Moon).

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 2007 and asks: Why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?

Pete, 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.”

Pete’s character lives in The Global Archive – a storage facility built in 2030 to protect humanity’s greatest achievements from the ravages of climate change. He’s surrounded by all the artwork, films, science and so on, but has been alone for fifteen years.

Director Franny said, “It’s such a difficult role that our list of dream actors started and ended with Pete Postlethwaite. We are truly honoured that he said “yes”. The day we filmed him in a carpet warehouse in Willesden will be engraved in my memory forever.”

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 are working for massively reduced rates. There are 13 “shares” left.

After three years filming in six countries (New Orleans, India, Nigeria, France, England and Iraq) the film is now in post-production and will be released this Spring.

VIRTUAL FUNDING EVENT The producers will be selling 13 final £5,000 “shares” live in virtual world Second Life, on Tuesday Feb 26, at 8pm, via www.oneclimate.net

PREVIEW SCREENING Screening for potential investors in London. Monday 25 Feb.

ALL ENQUIRIES Lizzie Gillett: 07789 862 011 - lizzie@spannerfilms.net

WEBSITE www.ageofstupid.net