Nicola Shindler's UKtelevision drama production outfit Red Production Company is to venture intofeature film production. Red, whose TV credits include Queer as Folk and Clocking Off, will make its big-screen debut with The Mark OfCain, a hard-hitting film aboutBritish soldiers' experiences in the Iraq War. Shooting starts this month inTunisia and the UK.

The film is directed by MarcMunden and is written by BAFTA award-winning writer Tony Marchat. It starsGerard Kearns, Michael McNulty, Leo Gregory and Shaun Dooley.

The Mark of Cain comes billed as "a provocative, graphic andmoving portrayal of a group of young British soldiers in Iraq."

The film follows these youngmen as they experience the extremity of war for the first time, and thepermanent effects of what they have seen and done as they return from theirtour of duty. Rather than heroic stories, all they bring home are tawdry trophyphotos, as well as the secrets of what they really did, until the consequencesof their actions surface to confront them.

The Mark Of Cain will be produced by Red Production Company for FilmFourand will screen in the UK as part of Channel Four's new drama strand, with LucRoeg's Independent Film Sales launching the film at an international filmfestival.

"We are delighted toestablish a relationship with Red on this thought-provoking and controversialfilm; their track record for producing quality drama is second to none,"commented IFS head of international sales, Ana Ayesta.

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