28 Years Later director backs 'vital' talent unit

A NEW talent unit being set up by Tyneside Cinema has won Oscar-winning support.

- BARBARA HODGSON

Director Sir Danny Boyle, who held his premiere of 28 Years Later at the city cinema last summer, and Peter Straughan who penned the screenplay for 2025 hit Conclave, are among the big names backing a major new initiative to develop the next generation of filmmakers in the North East - a region which Boyle says has “extraordinary creative potential”.

The Trainspotting director, who won his Oscar for 2008's Slumdog Millionaire, chose the North East as his filming location for zombie virus sequel 28 Years Later and cast a local unknown called Alfie Williams as its young star, as well as handpicking hundreds of other locals as extras to work alongside the main leads.

On the film's premiere at Tyneside Cinema last June, he described the experience of filming here as “magic”, adding that it is a “wonderful place to come to make a movie”.