Filming has started this week on The Allotment (working title), a nourishing, magical comedy written by Frank Cottrell Boyce. 

The cast includes Benedict Wong (Sunshine, Dirty Pretty Things), Eddie Marsan (Miami Vice, Vera Drake), Alan Williams (�Touching Evil�) Philip Jackson (�Poirot�), Omid Djalili (Gladiator), Sarah Hadland (Confetti), Roland Manookian (The Business) and newcomers Sophie Lee and Jeffrey Li.

Acclaimed screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce (A Cock and Bull Story, Millions, 24 Hour Party People) has teamed up with filmmaker and friend Carl Hunter to create real life, true love and plump vegetables on a city allotment. A refugee family are given a plot to help rehabilitate their traumatised father.  At first they are met with suspicion by the people who have passionately worked the gardens for years, but eventually they are accepted into a diverse community united by their love of making things grow.

The Allotment is directed by Richard Laxton (Life & Lyrics).  Warp Films and Art in Action are producing.  The financing partners are BBC Films, the UK Film Council�s New Cinema Fund and North West Vision (Film, TV and digital media agency for the Northwest).  The six week shoot is taking place on location in Merseyside.

Producer Barry Ryan from Warp Films comments:  "The Allotment is a universal story with it's roots in Liverpool.  When Frank and Carl planted the seed in our heads nearly two years ago we always hoped it would blossom into the phenomenal production we have today. Warp Films are proud to be producing this film with Art in Action."

Producer Luke Alkin from BBC Films adds:  "The peculiarly British world of allotments is an unlikely setting for a story with such universal appeal. Frank Cottrell Boyce�s wonderful script touches on some really big themes to do with community, immigration and the therapeutic power of gardening whilst being entertaining, moving and very funny.�

Paul Trijbits from the New Cinema Fund says: �This film is bringing exciting talents together in director Richard Laxton, writer Frank Cottrell Boyce and writer director Carl Hunter. In particular  Frank�s screenplays for films such as 24 Hour Party People, Millions, Hilary and Jackie and Revengers Tragedy demonstrate an unerring ability to tap into the joy and pain of relationships.  We are backing Richard in continuing to  show his talent for marrying bold storytelling with quality execution displayed in Life & Lyrics which is premiering at Edinburgh this week.�

The Allotment will be distributed in the UK by Pathe Distribution with Pathe Pictures International handling worldwide sales.