Critically acclaimed documentary receives its regional premiere

A film which documented a year in the life of a North-East farming family has its regional premiere this weekend having received four-star reviews from national media and top film critics.

Addicted to Sheep launched its UK cinema tour this week in London's prestigious West End following sell out screenings this summer at the UK's premier documentary festival, Sheffield Doc/Fest.

It can be seen closer to home at The Forum, Hexham at 7.00pm on Friday 4 September, the Tyneside Cinema at 6.00pm on Saturday 5 September and The Gala in Durham on Thursday 8 October.

Film maker Magali Pettier documented a year in the life of the Hutchinson family in a portrait of the remote, challenging work of sheep-farming in the high Pennines. The feature-length documentary shows the life of Tom and Kay Hutchinson and their three school age children as they carry out the remote, challenging work of sheep farming in Forest in Teesdale, County Durham.

Director/producer Magali teamed up with co-producer Jan Cawood, both former fellows of DigitalCity, based at Teesside University, together raising in excess of £9,000 and attracting more than 180 backers during their crowdfunding campaign to help fund the film, including £3,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund through the Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership, with additional contributions going towards festival submissions, distribution and promotion.

Magali said: 'Addicted to Sheep has been a labour of love for our team and I'm delighted with the recognition of our work. It's a great privilege to be able to present Addicted to Sheep with prestigious partners who really care about indie films.

'Thanks to the Hutchinson family it feels like a real achievement to now be able to share the film with a wide audience to show a world difficult to witness up close, what it’s like to be a tenant farmer, especially given the current headlines about the issues farmers are facing.'

Jan, of Tin Man Films said: 'We've been blown away by the level of interest and positive feedback for Addicted to Sheep. Our film has packed out the cinemas at Sheffield Doc/Fest and we hope it has the same response in cinemas around the country.

'Audiences have described it as 'beautiful, profound and funny' and it touches people in different ways. Gaining critical and audience success means we’re confident there’s a big future for our film.'

The film has already received excellent reviews published in the national press and film magazines, with film-makers in demand for press interviews about their documentary. Respected film critic Mark Kermode describes the documentary as a story told 'with affection but without sentimentality' with life and death unflinchingly intertwined, adding it 'gets under the skin of its subjects and the tough lives they lead.'

The screening at Hexham will be followed by a question and answer session with the Hutchinson family and Magali Pettier.

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More information on Addicted to Sheep and screening venues