MOVIE stars have left Ammanford with filming set to continue across the county as they shoot a Sky Original inspired by the life of a Carmarthenshire woman and her mission to save the Lyric Theatre.
Save The Cinema, which will be available in cinemas and on Sky Cinema towards the end of 2021, features an all-star British cast including Fantastic Beasts and The Walking Dead star Samantha Morton and Harry Potter’s Tom Felton.
Sky have also confirmed the film will star Welsh actors Jonathan Pryce, Rhod Gilbert and Keith Allen, who recently appeared ITV’s The Pembrokeshire Murders.
The feel-good story is based on the efforts of one woman bringing together a community to save the local cinema.
Set in the 90s, Save the Cinema is inspired by the life of Liz Evans – played by Samantha Morton – a hairdresser and linchpin to the local community in Carmarthen.
Her mission is to stop the Lyric Theatre being demolished by bulldozers and turned into a shopping centre. With the threat of demolition becoming ever more likely, Liz and friends barricade themselves in the cinema and with the help of postman turned local councillor Richard (Felton), they come up with the grand plan.
To revitalise the cinema and stop the council taking the heart of the community away, a desperate Liz persuades Richard to write to Hollywood to ask for a helping hand. A phone call later and an influential filmmaker agrees to offer a very special treat for Carmarthen, but does this help save the future of The Lyric?
Sarah Wright, Director of Sky Cinema and Acquisitions at Sky UK & Ireland said: “I’m thrilled to start production on Save The Cinema. Filmed in Wales and featuring the best of British talent, at its core is an incredible true story – one woman’s seemingly impossible dream to galvanise her community to stand up for local arts and all it represents. I cannot wait to bring this Sky Original film to Sky Cinema in 2021.”
The film also stars Adeel Akhtar (Enola Holmes), Erin Richards (Gotham), Owain Yeoman (Emergence), Susan Wokoma (Enola Holmes), Colm Meaney (Gangs Of London).
Filming at Ammanford town hall
Save The Cinema, a Sky Original is directed by Sara Sugarman (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen), written by Piers Ashworth (Fisherman’s Friends) from a story by Lorraine King, produced by Matt Williams, Piers Tempest and Karl Hall at FAE Film & Television and executive produced by Julia Stuart at Sky. Sky is majority funding the film in association with Head Gear Films, LipSync and Ffilm Cymru.
