It's all eyes on the Ken Loach - and the North East - yet again as the award-winning director prepares to showcase his new film at Cannes Film Festival.
The Old Oak, made in the region, is the last the famed filmmaker intends to make and completes a local trilogy which was not initially planned when he shot I, Daniel Blake here in 2015. Now, like both that and 2019's Sorry We Missed You, it too has been selected for screening at the international film festival where it will be in competition for the coveted Palme d'Or - a prize which I, Daniel Blake won in 2016, followed by its BAFTA for Outstanding British Film.
While having all three films make the official selection is remarkable enough, this year's glittering event will mark Loach's 15th appearance at Cannes: more - by far - than any other director. The big date, May 27, will see the North East - County Durham this time - back in the spotlight in an affecting drama which centres around a run-down pub in a community which is thrown into conflict by the arrival of some Syrian refugees.
