BORDERPOINT FILMS PRESENTS

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1 BORDERPOINT FILMS PRESENTS A WORLD WITHOUT ANTIBIOTICS. A PARENT S WORST NIGHTMARE. Press: Ashley Johnson johnson.ashleymichelle@gmail.com UK Tel: Production Company: Borderpoint Films hello@borderpointfilms.com UK Tel: / 14

2 PROJECT OVERVIEW CATCH is a short drama film about a father and daughter quarantined in their home in a post-antibiotic near future. The film was written and directed by Paul Cooke and Dominic Rees-Roberts, two 2012 winners of the Wellcome Trust s Emerging Talent programme for science communicators, who now work in science television. The film has been written about in the Lancet and the Longitude Prize Blog, and was highly commended at the Antibiotic Guardian Awards CATCH will be released for free from the start of World Antibiotic Awareness Week, on 13th November 2017, at Made with the backing of leading scientists in the field, the CATCH project (including the short film, website, and interviews with scientific advisors) aims to generate awareness of, emotional connection to, and conversation about antibiotic resistance. CATCH has screened at 18 festivals on 5 continents including the BAFTA-accredited Aesthetica Short Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, and Rapidlion International Film Festival in Johannesburg. 2 / 14

3 WEBSITE TRAILER Genre: Fiction Running time: 16 mins Country of origin: UK Completed: 2016 INFORMATION TAG LINE A world without antibiotics. A parent s worst nightmare. FILM POSTER Formats Portrait A4/A3/A1 Landscape 40 x30 BORDERPOINT FILMS PRESENTS A WORLD WITHOUT ANTIBIOTICS. A PARENT S WORST NIGHTMARE. BORDERPOINT FILMS CATCH HENRY DOUTHWAITE LOLLIE MCKENZIE gpiers LEIGH fjo MANSER ÆKATHARINE SHAW cruth CHAN ealex REES xandrew BAILEY & RICHARD BURKE-WARD jpaul COOKE DOMINIC REES-ROBERTS & STEPHEN OVERS halexa WAUGH kpaul COOKE & DOMINIC REES-ROBERTS 3 / 14

4 ONE SENTENCE SYNOPSIS In a world without antibiotics, a young girl becomes sick and her father faces a terrible choice. SHORT SYNOPSIS In a near future where all antibiotics have failed, a father, Tom, and his young daughter, Amy, are quarantined in their house during a lethal pandemic. When Amy gets sick, Tom must make an impossible decision: give her up to the authorities or risk infection himself. Created with the help and backing of leading scientists in the field, CATCH takes a global health crisis happening now and brings the issue home, portraying a terrifying scenario that is closer than you think. The film was written and directed by science television directors Paul Cooke and Dominic Rees- Roberts. Both are recent winners of The Wellcome Trust s Emerging Talent programme for science communicators. 4 / 14

5 LONG SYNOPSIS In a near future where all antibiotics have failed, a father, Tom, and his young daughter, Amy, are quarantined in their house during a lethal pandemic. When Amy gets sick, Tom must make an impossible decision: give her up to the authorities or risk infection himself. Created with the help and backing of leading scientists in the field, CATCH portrays a grim scenario which is closer than you think. Antibiotics resistance is a global medical emergency happening now, and CATCH brings the issue home. Antibiotics are the drugs we use to fight bacterial infections. Through misuse and overuse, they are losing their effectiveness at an alarming rate, making antibiotics resistance one of the most significant emerging public health threats today. the future, it is happening right now in every region of the world and has the potential to affect anyone, of any age, in any country. The subject matter behind CATCH is chilling, but this hard-hitting emotional story is told with humanity and heart The film was written and directed by science television directors Paul Cooke and Dominic Rees- Roberts. Both are recent winners of The Wellcome Trust s Emerging Talent programme for science communicators. In 2014, the World Health Organization warned that antibiotics resistance is no longer a prediction for 5 / 14

6 WORLD PREMIERE - Vancouver International Film Festival, Canada UK FILM FESTIVAL PREMIERE - Aesthetica Short Film Festival, York, UK US PREMIERE - Other Worlds Austin, TX, USA SOUTH AMERICA PREMIERE - Cine a la Calle, Barranquilla, Colombia AFRICAN PREMIERE - RapidLion International Film Festival, Johannesburg, South Africa FESTIVAL SCREENINGS International Film Festival of Wales, Cardiff, UK Birmingham Film Festival, UK Lollie McKenzie nominated for Best Young Actor Crystal Palace International Film Festival, London, UK Norfolk Film Festival, Tuddeham, UK Okotoks Film Festival, Alberta, Canada Henry Douthwaite nominated for Best Actor Euregion Film Festival, Herleen, Netherlands Goethe Science Film Festival, The Philippines & Malaysia Oxford International Film Festival, UK Sunderland Shorts Film Festival, UK Eindhoven Film Festival, The Netherlands The Hidden Film Festival, London, UK Crossing the Screen International Film Festival, Eastbourne, UK Highly Commended Short Film Impact Film Festival on Lung Health, Liverpool, UK 6 / 14

7 SELECTED PRESS The Lancet Infectious Disease An intimate family story in a world without antibiotics PIIS (17) /fulltext The Longitude Prize Blog CATCH, the award-winning short film about antibiotic resistance Producer Steve Overs talks about CATCH on Vancouver s Roundhouse Radio 98.3FM, ahead of the world premiere at VIFF / 14

8 FORMAT INFORMATION QT x :9 2.39:1 (Hard masked) 2:4:4 stereo and 5.1 channels DCP x :9 2.39:1 (Hard masked) 2:4:4 stereo and 5.1 channels HDCAM x :9 2.39:1 (Hard masked) 2:4:4 stereo and 5.1 channels DVD - 16:9 2.39:1 (Hard masked) 2:4:4 stereo and 5.1 channels Blu-ray x :9 2.39:1 (Hard masked) 2:4:4 stereo and 5.1 channels CAST & CREW BIOS PLAYING AMY LOLLIE MCKENZIE CATCH stars Lollie McKenzie in her film debut, who played Matilda in the awardwinning West End musical of the same name from September 2013 to September 2014 and was 11 at the time of filming. PLAYING TOM HENRY DOUTHWAITE Henry trained at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art and has performed with the National Theatre and on the West End stage. On screen, he has appeared in feature films and programmes for the BBC, ITV and Channel 5. WRITERS/DIRECTORS PAUL COOKE AND DOMINIC REES-ROBERTS Dom and Paul are science telecition directors. Both received degrees in scientific fields before meeting at Imperial College London s MSc programme for Science Media Production. They have each worked on some of the most popular science programmes on television today, including Hawking, Channel 4 s Experimental and Man Made Planet, Discovery s Outrageous Acts of Science, and BBC Horizon. They established Borderpoint Films in LINE PRODUCER ALEXA WAUGH Alexa is a freelance production manager working with leading independent production companies in the UK on TV series and feature films, and has experience both in front of and behind the camera. PRODUCER STEPHEN OVERS Stephen is a producer at one of the most prestigious production companies in the UK, working on commercials, short films and music videos with the likes of Biffy Clyro and Britney Spears. DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY PIERS LEIGH Piers talent with the camera has seen him travel the world capturing extraordinary footage for primetime TV, commercials and film. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER RICHARD BURKE-WARD Richard is an Emmy and RTS award-winning script editor, screenwriter and novelist. 8 / 14

9 Contact for high-resolution images. PUBLICITY STILLS Tom holds a bottle of ineffective antibiotic pills Without electricity Amy and Tom must live by candle light Tom takes precautions to avoid infection Tom despairs at the heartbreaking decision confronting him Amy suffering a lethal contagious disease Amy s innocent family picture hides a terrible tragedy Tom comforts Amy Tom embraces Amy 9 / 14

10 Contact for high-resolution images. PUBLICITY STILLS Amy wonders if she ll ever get better Tom tries to reassure Amy Tom encourages Amy to eat some soup Tom struggles to hold back the emotion of the situation Cast and crew film a scene on location Lollie McKenzie and Henry Douthwaite filming on location Co-director Dominic Rees-Roberts checks a shot on location Make-up artist Katherine Shaw prepares Henry Douthwaite for his next scene 10 / 14

11 CREDITS WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Paul Cooke and Dominic Rees-Roberts CAST Tom - Henry Douthwaite Amy - Lollie McKenzie DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Piers Leigh PRODUCERS Paul Cooke Dominic Rees-Roberts Steve Overs EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Richard Burke-Ward Andrew Bailey LINE PRODUCER Alexa Waugh PRODUCTION DESIGNER Jo Manser FILM EDITOR Alex Rees ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS Keith Johnson Donna Johnson Melanie Rees-Roberts Lynden Rees-Roberts Gareth Rees-Roberts SCRIPT EDITOR Reg Noyes MUSIC COMPOSER Ruth Chan GAFFER Nick Green FIRST CAMERA ASSISTANT Carl Noble SECOND CAMERA ASSISTANT Jack Blanch SOUND MIXER Simon Farmer BOOM OPERATOR Craig Cassie MAKE UP ARTIST Katharine Shaw ART ASSISTANT Fabio Cerveira PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS Ali Gibb Gemima Brettell POST-PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Cherry Dorrett COLOURIST Thomas Urbye ONLINE EDITOR Tom Boyle SOUND DESIGN Andrej Bako CATERERS Julie Cooke Richard Cooke Carol Overs PRESS AND PR Ashley Johnson GRAPHIC DESIGN Lizzie Reid Olivia Charlesworth SCIENTIFIC ADVISORS Dr Ruth McNerney Professor Laura Piddock Professor Tim McHugh Dr Nick Brown 11 / 14

12 For immediate release: For World Antibiotics Awareness Week, globally-recognised, expertbacked film released free online CATCH, a short drama film backed by the Royal College of Pathologists and leading scientists from the UCL Centre for Clinical Microbiology, the University of Cape Town, and the University of Birmingham, is set to be released to the public on 13th November to mark World Antibiotics Awareness Week. Professor Colin Garner, Chief Executive, Antibiotic Research UK said: What is shown in the film is something that is happening with real people now. Antibiotic resistance has the potential to affect us all and CATCH portrays this at a human level. We need more films and dramas about resistance to highlight the issue since, without effective antibiotics, modern medicine is threatened. CATCH is set in a possible near future where antibiotics can no longer treat infections; a postantibiotic future that The World Health Organization has already warned may be fast approaching. Already, an estimated 50,000 people die in Europe and the United States each year as a result of infections resistant to antibiotic drugs. A festival hit, CATCH has screened at 18 film festivals on five continents over the last year, including the BAFTA-accredited Aesthetica Short Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, and Rapidlion International Film Festival in Johannesburg. It was also recognised by the scientific community at the Antibiotic Guardian Awards. CATCH will now be made available to view free online via where viewers can also learn more about antibiotic resistance, watch interviews with leading scientists and understand how they can help prevent resistance from spreading. CATCH stars Lollie McKenzie in her film debut, who played Matilda in the award-winning West End musical of the same name from September 2013 to September 2014 and was 11 at the time of filming. Lollie appears as Amy, an eight-year-old girl quarantined with her father in their home. The father is played by experienced stage and screen actor Henry Douthwaite. The film was written and directed by Paul Cooke and Dominic Rees-Roberts, two 2012 winners of the Wellcome Trust s Emerging Talent programme for science communicators, who now work in science television. The film was executive produced by Emmy award winning screenwriter Richard Burke-Ward. Antibiotics resistance largely due to misuse or overuse of the drugs is an urgent and increasing public health concern. The lack of new drugs capable of fighting virulent bacteria has been described by the World Health Organization as one of the most significant global risks facing modern medicine. PRESS RELEASE Experts share their thoughts on CATCH: Professor Timothy McHugh, Director of the UCL Centre for Clinical Microbiology said: The battle of the organisms is being lost by us and we are very rapidly approaching a period which is more like the 1930s than the 2010s... This project, to share this information, is really important to getting the message out. Professor Laura Piddock, University of Birmingham and Director of Antibiotics Action said: We all take these drugs, and therefore we are all part of the problem; we need to be part of the solution. If we don t get on top of this problem now, then I m really quite concerned about what the future holds for my grandchildren. Dr Nick Brown, member of the Royal College of Pathologists said: We are moving from one antibiotic class to another antibiotic class because resistance is creeping up and soon we won t have anything left. Dr Ruth McNerney, University of Cape Town and formerly of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said: To bring a film forward that is actually going raise awareness in a responsible way that, to me, is great; that s what we need. Filmmakers Paul Cooke and Dominic Rees- Roberts said: We ve grown up taking antibiotics for granted, believing if we get a bacterial infection, modern medicine will be able to cure us. But all around the world, families are already facing the nightmare of antibiotic resistant infections. It s not just exotic diseases. The rise of antimicrobial resistance means even common medical procedures like caesarean sections and dental surgery could be fatal. We wanted to make a film about antibiotic resistance that people could connect to emotionally not just scary facts and figures, but relatable characters. From World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2017, CATCH will be made freely available online as we encourage everyone teachers, medical professionals, policymakers and people everywhere to wake up to an immediate and intensifying global health crisis. For more information, visit / 14

13 Facebook: /catchfilm2016 Rich media: Teaser trailer, production stills with actors, original concept art and video interviews of expert scientists available upon request. For interviews, contact: Ashley Johnson M: NOTES TO EDITORS BACKGROUND The first discovery of modern antibiotics was made by Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming in The first antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria were isolated in 1946, just six years after they were first used, demonstrating the rapid nature of bacterial evolution. Upon jointly receiving the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945, Fleming gave a speech foreshadowing the dangers of antibiotics misuse: Here is a hypothetical illustration. Mr. X. has a sore throat. He buys some penicillin and gives himself, not enough to kill the streptococci but enough to educate them to resist penicillin. He then infects his wife. Mrs. X gets pneumonia and is treated with penicillin. As the streptococci are now resistant to penicillin the treatment fails. Mrs. X dies. Who is primarily responsible for Mrs. X s death? Why Mr. X whose negligent use of penicillin changed the nature of the microbe. In July 2015, David Cameron commissioned the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance whose first paper predicted that drug-resistant infections will cause 10 million deaths a year by 2050 if we fail to tackle this growing threat at home and abroad. Despite knowing the direct consequences of antibiotics misuse, almost half of British GPs admitted in an August 2014 survey to prescribing antibiotics even though the drugs would not treat the patient s condition. A recent 10million Longitude Prize challenge chosen by the public is focused on creating a cheap, accurate and easy-to-use test for bacterial infections that will allow doctors and nurses to better target antibiotics and prevent over-use. A conservative estimate of 50,000 people die in Europe and the United States each year from infections resistant to antibiotic drugs. In 2012, the WHO s director general Margaret Chan warned that bacteria were starting to become so resistant to common antibiotics that it could bring about the end of modern medicine as we know it. The UK s Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies has said antibiotic resistance was as big a risk as terrorism, and in the summer of 2014, UK Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to put Britain at the forefront of the fight against drug-immune bacteria threatening to send medicine back to the dark ages. The Wellcome Trust committed an initial 500,000 to this effort / 14

14 CONTACT DETAILS Press: Ashley Johnson UK Tel: Production Company: Borderpoint Films UK Tel: / 14