BFI resurrects previously unseen Ken Loach documentary

The BFI is to screen a previously unseen Ken Loach documentary this September as part of a major retrospective of the British director’s career and craft.

The 55-minute untitled film commissioned by children’s charity Save The Children was originally due to air on London Weekend Television in 1969 but was blocked from release by the charity which felt the film subverted its aims.

The BFI describes the film, produced by Kes and Family Life producer Tony Garnett and DOP’d by two-time Oscar winner Chris Menges, as an exploration of ‘the politics of race, class and charity in capitalist society.’

The season, which coincides with Loach’s 75th brithday, will open with the Save The Children documentary on September 1, 2011, and includes close to 30 films and documentaries as well as Q and As, lectures and an educational strand. Loach will present and discuss at least two of his films.

The acclaimed director has also donated to the BFI National Archive his entire archive of working papers including production papers, casting lists, budgets, shooting schedules, annotated scripts, on-location photographs and e-mails as well as much of his correspondence with collaborators such as writer Jim Allen (Hidden Agenda, Land And Freedom).

The items will be catalogued and some displayed at the BFI. Others will be viewable digitally on the BFI website. All the films in the series will be viewable at the BFI Mediatheque.

Loach collaborators including Rebecca O’Brien, Jonathan Morris, Paul Laverty and producer Tony Garnett will be taking part in arrange of events and screenings.

The educational strand includes teacher materials relating to Loach’s films, on-line guides, competitions and nationwide free school screenings of Route Irish.

The season is supported by a donation of £200,000 from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

Meanwhile, Loach is currently in post-production on comedy-drama The Angel’s Share, written by Paul Laverty and starring Roger Allam.