Could Twickenham win a reprieve?

Stars join campaign to save stricken studio.

by Jennie Kermode

Steven Spielberg, Colin Firth and Julie Walters are among the stars lending their support to a campaign to save the threatened Twickenham Studios. And now, two weeks after the deadline for local objections closed, local MP Vince Cable has agreed to press the matter with Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

The government has previously said that it is unable to intervene in the Twickenham case but ongoing pressure, including protests from actors' union Equity and London MEP Mary Honeyball, may yet change that. A petition to save the studio, which produced films like Blade Runner and The Italian Job, has amassed over 4,000 signatures.

"It would be such a tragedy to lose this wonderful studio that has facilitated many wonderful films over the years," said actor Dougray Scott, whilst Michael Palin argued "With demand for studio space in London and UK film-making skills at an all-time high, this seems entirely the wrong time to close Twickenham."

Share this with others on...
News

New eyes on Old Hollywood How images of Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Rita Hayworth inspired Pretty Babies

Lost Boys Wayne Wapeemukwa on drawing on reality for Manhunt while avoiding a true crime approach

Serious about comedy Louis Paxton on grounding the humour of The Incomer in darker elements

That shrinking feeling Shivek Gupta and Syed Shadan on the Mumbai housing market and Chaar Diwaari

A woman who didn't belong Anna Cazenave Cambet on working with Vicky Krieps in Love Me Tender

A dialogue of parchment and celluloid Jean-Jacques Annaud on Umberto Eco and The Name Of The Rose

More news and features

We're bringing you reviews and more from the Locarno Film Festival.



We're looking forward to the Edinburgh International Film Festival and Frightfest.



We've recently brought you coverage of the Fantasia International Film Festival, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the Muslim International Film Festival, Docs Ireland, Sheffield DocFest, ImagineNative, Tribeca and Cannes.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


EIFF Gets back its mojo


Locarno Isabella Rossellini receives Excellence Award


London Jesse Eisenberg's The Debut to close festival


San Sebastian announces José Giovanni retrospective


Dinard Amira Casar to head jury, plus opening film announced