Academy Awards, 2011

Nominated:  Best Writing, Original Screenplay – Mike Leigh

 

Amanda Awards, Norway, 2011

Won:  Best Foreign Feature Film – Mike Leigh

 

BAFTA Awards, 2011

Nominated:  Outstanding British Film

Nominated:  Best Supporting Actress – Lesley Manville

 

British Independent Film Awards, 2010

Nominated:  Best Director – Mike Leigh

Nominated:  Best Actress – Ruth Sheen

Nominated:  Best Actor – Jim Broadbent

Nominated:  Best Supporting Actress – Lesley Manville

 

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, 2011

Nominated:  Best Screenplay, Original – Mike Leigh

 

Cannes Film Festival, 2010

Won:  Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – Special Mention – Mike Leigh

Nominated:  Palme d’Or – Mike Leigh

 

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards, 2010

Nominated:  Best Actress – Lesley Manville

 

David di Donatello Awards, 2011

Nominated:  Best European Union Film – Mike Leigh

 

European Film Awards, 2010

Nominated:  Best Actress – Lesley Manville

Nominated:  Best Composer – Gary Yershon

 

Evening Standard British Film Awards, 2011

Nominated:  Best Actress – Ruth Sheen,

Nominated:  Best Actor – Jim Broadbent

Nominated:  Best Film – Mike Leigh

Nominated:  Best Technical/Artistic Achievement – Dick Pope

 

Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists, 2011

Nominated:  Silver Ribbon – Best European Director – Mike Leigh

 

London Critics Circle Film Awards, 2011

Won:  British Actress of the Year – Lesley Manville

Nominated:  British Film of the Year

Nominated:  British Actor of the Year – Jim Broadbent

Nominated:  British Supporting Actor of the Year – David Bradley

Nominated:  British Supporting Actor of the Year – Peter Wight

Nominated:  British Director of the Year – Mike Leigh

Nominated:  British Actress of the Year – Ruth Sheen

 

National Board of Review, USA, 2010

Won:  Best Actress – Lesley Manville

 

National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA, 2011

Won:  3rd place, Best Actress – Lesley Manville

 

San Diego Film Critics Society Awards, 2010

Won:  Best Supporting Actress – Lesley Manville

Nominated:  Best Ensemble Performance – Ruth Sheen, Lesley Manville, Jim Broadbent

 

Santa Barbara International Film Festival, 2011

Won:  Lesley Manville

 

Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards, 2010

Nominated:  Best Original Screenplay – Mike Leigh

 

 

Academy Awards, 2009

Nominated:  Best Writing, Original Screenplay – Mike Leigh

 

Berlin International Film Festival, 2008

Won:  Silver Berlin Bear for Best Actress – Sally Hawkins

Nominated: Golden Berlin Bear – Mike Leigh

 

Boston Society of Film Critics Awards 2008

Won: BSFC Award for Best Actress – Sally Hawkins

 

British Independent Film Awards 2008

Won:  British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actor – Eddie Marsan

Won:  British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actress – Alexis Zegerman

Nominated:  British Independent Film Award for Best Actress – Sally Hawkins

 

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2008

Nominated:  CFCA Award, Best Actress – Sally Hawkins

 

Chlotrudis Awards 2009

Won:  Chlotrudis Award, Best Supporting Actor – Eddie Marsan

Won:  Chlotrudis Award, Best Director – Mike Leigh

Nominated:  Chlotrudis Award, Best Actress – Sally Hawkins

Nominated:  Chlotrudis Award, Best Movie

Nominated:  Chlotrudis Award, Best Original Screenplay – Mike Leigh

 

Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards, 2008

Nominated:  DFWFCA Award, Best Picture

Nominated:  DFWFCA Award, Best Actress – Sally Hawkins

Nominated:  DFWFCA Award, Best Supporting Actor – Eddie Marsan

 

Empire Awards, 2009

Nominated:  Empire Award, Best Actress – Sally Hawkins

 

European Film Awards, 2008

Nominated:  European Film Award, Best Film

Nominated:  European Film Award, Best Actress – Sally Hawkins

 

Evening Standard British Film Awards, 2009

Won:  Peter Sellers Award for Comedy -Sally Hawkins

Nominated:  Peter Sellers Award for Comedy – Eddie Marsan

 

Gaudí Awards, 2009

Nominated:  Gaudí Award, Best European Film (Millor Pel.lícula Europea)

 

Golden Globes, 2009

Won:  Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) – Sally Hawkins

Nominated:  Golden Globe, Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical)

 

London Critics Circle Film Awards, 2009

Won:  ALFS Award, British Supporting Actor of the Year – Eddie Marsan

Nominated:  ALFS Award, British Film of the Year – Mike Leigh

Nominated:  ALFS Award, British Actress of the Year – Sally Hawkins

Nominated:  ALFS Award, British Supporting Actress of the Year – Alexis Zegerman

Nominated:  ALFS Award, British Director of the Year – Mike Leigh

 

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, 2008

Won:  LAFCA Award, Best Actress – Sally Hawkins

Won:  LAFCA Award, Best Screenplay – Mike Leigh

Won: 2nd place, LAFCA Award, Best Supporting Actor – Eddie Marsan

 

National Society of Film Critics Awards, 2009

Won:  NSFC Award, Best Actress – Sally Hawkins

Won:  NSFC Award, Best Supporting Actor – Eddie Marsan

Won:  NSFC Award, Best Director – Mike Leigh

Won:  NSFC Award, Best Screenplay – Mike Leigh

Won:  2nd place, NSFC Award, Best Film

 

New York Film Critics Circle Awards, 2008

Won:  NYFCC Award, Best Actress – Sally Hawkins

Won:  NYFCC Award, Best Director – Mike Leigh

 

Norwegian International Film Festival, 2008

Won:  Most Enjoyable Film (Theatre Owners) – Mike Leigh

 

Online Film Critics Society Awards, 2009

Nominated:  OFCS Award, Best Actress – Sally Hawkins

Nominated:  OFCS Award, Best Supporting Actor – Eddie Marsan

 

Pula Film Festival, 2008

Won:  Golden Arena, International Competition: Best Director – Mike Leigh

 

 

San Francisco Film Critics Circle, 2008

Won:  SFFCC Award, Best Actress – Sally Hawkins

 

Satellite Awards, 2008

Won:  Satellite Award, Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical

Won:  Satellite Award, Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical – Sally Hawkins

 

Fiaf Awards 2005

Premio Fiaf – Mike Leigh

Gotham Awards 2004

Lifetime Achievement Award – Mike Leigh

Taormina International Film Festival 2002

Taormina Arte Award – Mike Leigh

London Critics Circle Film Awards 2000

Dilys Powell Award – Mike Leigh

Camerimage 1999

Special Award Best Duo: Director – Cinematographer Mike Leigh / Dick Pope

BAFTA 1996

Michael Balcon Award – Mike Leigh

Empire Awards 1996

Lifetime Achievement Award – Mike Leigh

Mike Leigh and Simon Channing Williams first met back in 1980, when Simon was First Assistant Director on Mike’s BBC film Grown-Ups, starring Brenda Blethyn.  They worked together again a few years later when Simon co-produced The Short and Curlies (1987) and High Hopes (1988), both for Portman Productions.

Having forged a close personal and working relationship, it seemed natural for them to form their own company.  Thin Man Films – affectionately named for their respectively generous figures – was born.

With Simon at the helm, Thin Man produced the next eight of Mike’s feature films; Life is Sweet (1990), Naked (1993), Secrets & Lies (1996), Career Girls (1997), Topsy-Turvy (1999), All Or Nothing (2002), Vera Drake (2004) and Happy-Go-Lucky (2008).

In 2008, Thin Man put together its own our celebration of Mike’s work: the ten-disc DVD ‘Mike Leigh Box Set’, which comprises seven of the Thin Man features, plus Bleak Moments (1971), Meantime, (1984) High Hopes (1988) and the short film written by and starring Jim Broadbent, A Sense of History (1992).

In 2009, Georgina Lowe, Simon’s long-time co-producer, debuted as Producer on Another Year (2010).  A new partner for Mike in Thin Man Films, Georgina has since produced Mike’s forthcoming short film, A Running Jump (2011), commissioned as part of the London 2012 festival.

Writer-director Mike Leigh was born in 1943 in Salford.  He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Camberwell and Central Art Schools in London, and at the London Film School, of which he is now the Chairman.

His first feature film was Bleak Moments (1971); this was followed by the full-length television films, Hard Labour (1973), Nuts in May (1975), The Kiss of Death (1976), Who’s Who (1978), Grown-Ups (1980), Home Sweet Home (1982), Meantime (1983), and Four Days In July (1984).

Other feature films are High Hopes (1988), Life Is Sweet (1990), Naked (1993) (Cannes: Best Director and Best Actor), Secrets and Lies (1996) (Cannes: Palme d’Or and Best Actress; 4 Oscar nominations), Career Girls (1997), Topsy-Turvy (1999) (two Oscar Awards, 5 nominations), All Or Nothing (2002), Vera Drake (2004) (Venice: Golden Lion & Best Actress; 6 BIFA’s, 3 BAFTA’s including Best Director, 3 Oscar nominations) Happy-Go-Lucky (2008) (one Oscar nomination) and Another Year (2010) (one Oscar nomination).

He has written and directed over twenty stage plays, including Babies Grow Old (1974), Abigail’s Party (1977), Ecstasy (1979), Goose-Pimples (1981), Smelling A Rat (1988) and – commissioned by the National Theatre - Two Thousand Years (2005) and, most-recently, Grief (2011).

Producer Simon Channing Williams’ career started at the BBC where he worked with many directors, including Stephen Frears, James MacTaggart, Mike Newell, Michael Apted and Mike Leigh.

Outside his relationship with Mike Leigh and Thin Man Films, Simon Channing Williams produced a number of other films, including Puccini for director Tony Palmer, When the Whales Came directed by Clive Rees, Jack and Sarah, directed by Tim Sullivan, which was an enormous hit at the UK box-office, as well as Nick Love’s debut feature Goodbye Charlie Bright.

In 2000 he formed the independent production company Potboiler Productions with Gail Egan. Together they produced seven feature films including an adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby directed by Douglas McGrath, the rock epic Brothers of the Head directed by Keith Fulton & Lou Pepe, the Oscar-winning The Constant Gardener directed by Fernando Meirelles, and were joint executive producers on Fernando Meirelles’ follow-up, Blindness.

After the filming of The Constant Gardener, Simon was instrumental in setting up The Constant Gardener Trust, which has built a secondary school in the desert town of Loiyangalani, some 600 km north of Nairobi. The Trust has also provided showers and lavatories in the Nairobi slum of Kibera as well as installing 10,000 litre water towers.  For further information on the continuing work of the Trust, and how your donation could help, please visit the website: www.constantgardenertrust.org.

In 2007, Simon was honoured to be made an elder of Loiyangalani and awarded one of Kenya’s highest accolades – the Order of the Grand Warrior – in recognition of his work with both The Constant Gardener film and The Constant Gardener Trust.

Despite a cancer diagnosis in 2004, Simon continued to work with his characteristic determination and good humour for the next five years.

In 2009, Simon’s health began to deteriorate and he very sadly passed away on 11th April.

 Another Year bears a dedication to Simon, who is missed by all those who knew him.  He was a consummate gentleman – generous, larger-than-life and infinitely charming.  Just as we all enjoyed the company of this extraordinary bon viveur when he was here, we have raised – and will continue to raise – very many glasses to his memory since.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/apr/15/obituary-simon-channing-williams

Gail Egan is a qualified barrister and practised commercial law at Lincoln’s Inn before joining Price Waterhouse Corporate Finance.

She then worked for the International Media Group Carlton Communications.  In 2000 she formed the independent production company Potboiler Productions  with Simon Channing Williams.

She has produced or executive produced thirteen films including Mike Leigh’s Another Year, Happy-Go-Lucky and Vera Drake; Fernando Meirelles’ The Constant Gardener and Blindness; Man About Dog with Paddy Breathnach and Brothers Of The Head with Keith Fulton and Lou Pepe.

Mike, Georgina and Gail are supported in the Thin Man Films office by Helen Grearson and Joe Fraser.

Academy Awards 2005

Nominated: Best Achievement in Directing – Mike Leigh

Nominated: Best Original Screenplay – Mike Leigh

Nominated: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – Imelda Staunton

Bangkok International Film Festival 2006

Nominated: Golden Kinnaree Award Best Film – Mike Leigh

BAFTA Awards 2005

Won: David Lean Award for Direction – Mike Leigh

Won: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – Imelda Staunton

Won: Best Costume Design – Jacqueline Durran

Nominated: Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film – Mike Leigh / Simon Channing Williams / Alain Sarde

Nominated: Best Film – Simon Channing Williams / Alain Sarde

Nominated: Best Original Screenplay – Mike Leigh

Nominated: Best Production Design – Eve Stewart

Nominated: Best Make Up/Hair – Christine Blundell

British Independent Film Awards 2004

Won: Best British Independent Film

Won: Best Director – Mike Leigh

Won: Best Actress – Imelda Staunton

Won: Best Performance by a Supporting Actor or Actress – Eddie Marsan

Won: Best Performance by an Actor – Phil Davis

Won: Best Performance by an Actress – Imelda Staunton

Won: Best Achievement In Production

Nominated: Best Screenplay – Mike Leigh

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2005

Nominated: Critics Choice Award Best Actress – Imelda Staunton

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2004

Won: CFCA Award Best Actress – Imelda Staunton

Chlotrudis Awards 2005

Won: Best Actress – Imelda Staunton

Nominated: Best Original Screenplay – Mike Leigh

David di Donatello Awards 2005

Nominated: Best European Film (Miglior Film dell’Unione Europea) – Mike Leigh

Directors Guild of Great Britain 2005

Nominated: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in British Film – Mike Leigh

Empire Awards 2005

Nominated: Best British Actress – Imelda Staunton

European Film Awards 2004

Won: Best Actress – Imelda Staunton

Nominated: Best Film – Simon Channing Williams

Evening Standard British Film Awards 2005

Won: Best Film – Mike Leigh

Won: Best Actress – Imelda Staunton

Golden Globes 2005

Nominated: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture Drama – Imelda Staunton

London Critics Circle Film Awards 2005

Won: British Film of the Year

Won: British Director of the Year – Mike Leigh

Won: British Screenwriter of the Year – Mike Leigh

Won: Actress of the Year – Imelda Staunton

Won: British Supporting Actor of the Year – Phil Davis

Robert Festival 2006

Nominated: Best Non-American Film (Årets ikke-amerikanske film) – Mike Leigh

San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2006

Won: Best Picture

Won: Best Original Screenplay – Mike Leigh

Satellite Awards 2005

Nominated: Best Motion Picture, Drama

Venice Film Festival 2004

Won: Golden Lion – Mike Leigh

Won: Volpi Cup Best Actress – Imelda Staunton

British Independent Film Awards 2002

Nominated: Best Actor – Timothy Spall

Cannes Film Festival 2002

In competition for Palme D’Or – Mike Leigh

European Film Awards 2002

Nominated: Audience Award Best Director – Mike Leigh

Nominated: Best Director – Mike Leigh

Nominated: Best Actor – Timothy Spall

Evening Standard British Film Awards 2003

Won: Best Technical/Artistic Achievement – Eve Stewart

London Critics Circle Awards 2003

Won: British Film of the Year

Won: Best Actress – Lesley Manville

Nominated: Best Supporting Actress – Ruth Sheen

Satellite Awards 2003

Nominated: Best Motion Picture Foreign Language

Nominated: Best Original Screenplay – Mike Leigh