Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th marks BBC Films weekend as the filmmaking arm of the British Broadcasting Corporation launches its new television home on BBC Two. The channel will show the network premieres of three of the BBC’s most critically acclaimed films of the last few years – “Is Anybody There”, “The Damned United”, and “Eastern Promises”.

Michael Caine stars as a retired magician in BBC Films’ “Is Anybody There”

The weekend is a showcase of the BBC’s finest feature film work in its new home on BBC Two. The move to showcase BBC films on the channel is part of the network’s recent Strategy Review which, amongst other things, pledged £25m to the production of quality drama.

“BBC Two is committed to showing more quality fiction on the channel, and we’re delighted that BBC Films will be part of this,” said Janice Hadlow, Controller for BBC Two. “It’s wonderful that licence fee payers will be able to see these films for free following their theatrical releases.”

Christine Langan, Creative Director for BBC Films added, “Establishing a permanent home for BBC Films on BBC Two will enable us to create exciting film moments for our audiences throughout the year, reinforcing our commitment to bring original and distinctive British films to the British public.”

BBC Films, which is now state-funded through the UK’s License Fee tax, produces around eight films per year. Since 2000 it has produced many notable and award-winning films such as “Shadow of a Vampire”, “Billy Elliot”, “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers”, “Notes on a Scandal”, “The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas”, “Revolutionary Road”, “An Education”, and the documentary “Man On Wire”. It has also worked with some of finest directors including Woody Allen (“Match Point”), Michael Winterbottom (“A Cock and Bull Story”), and David Cronenberg (“Eastern Promises”).

This weekend showcases three of its recent works. John Crowley’s “Is Anybody There” stars Michael Caine as a bitter magician who forms an unlikely friendship with a young boy at a retirement home. “Eastern Promises” is David Cronenberg’s dark film about a nurse who becomes obsessed with discovering the truth behind a young woman’s death. Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts star. The third film – “The Damned United” – stars Michael Sheen playing another iconic popular figure as he steps into the shoes of Brian Clough during his 44 day stint as Leeds United boss. Read our full review of “The Damned United” here.

The films will be shown over the weekend of July 17th and 18th as follows:

Is Anybody There?
BBC Two Saturday 17th July, 20:00 BST
Eastern Promises
BBC Two Saturday 17th July, 22:00 BST
The Damned United
BBC Two Sunday 18th July, 21:00 BST

For more visit the BBC website here.