
Directing
Penny Woolcock
Born 1950-01-01 · Buenos Aires, Argentina
Acting credits
NRPeer into the world of contemporary composer John Adams with this documentary that blends performance footage with insightful interviews and commentary from his collaborators and the master himself. Highlights include performances of Adams's Grammy Award-winning operas “Nixon in China” and “El Niño” and excerpts from Penny Woolcock’s film adaptation of “The Death of Klinghoffer”. Works by Steve Reich and Conlon Nancarrow are also performed by the Ensemble InterContemporain at the Théâtre Musical de Paris-Châtelet.
John Adams: A Portrait and A Concert of Modern American Music
2000
NRIn 2006, Antony Gormley was commissioned to make a large figure out of wooden rubbish using volunteers in Margate for the Penny Woolcock film Exodus. Once complete the figure would be burnt to the ground for the film. This documentary short follows the construction and demolition of Gormley's figure.
Waste Man
2006
Behind the camera
4.5Crippled by his writer's block, Paul enters into a new, exciting relationship with risk-taking Billy and super-sexy Juliette. As it becomes increasingly tangled, however, he must choose one of them over the other.
The Principles of Lust
2003
4.5Crippled by his writer's block, Paul enters into a new, exciting relationship with risk-taking Billy and super-sexy Juliette. As it becomes increasingly tangled, however, he must choose one of them over the other.
The Principles of Lust
2003
5.1This searing British thriller follows Flash (Dylan Duffus), who's safeguarding his buddy Angel's (Yohance Watson) cash until his release from prison. Now Angel is out -- and Flash is 100 pounds short. He turns to a lowlife named Evil (Tobias Duncan) for help, the first in a series of mistakes. Now, Flash has more than just Angel hunting him down. Directed by Penny Woolcock (Mischief Night), the film co-stars Ohran Whyte and Chris Wilson
1 Day
2009
5.3It centers on the affable London youngster Daz, who views drug dealing as a way to get quick money to support his needy family.
Trapping
2023
5.3It centers on the affable London youngster Daz, who views drug dealing as a way to get quick money to support his needy family.
Trapping
2023
7.0The first film in the Tina trilogy, using the actual inhabitants of a tough Leeds council estate in the leading roles. Tina is a single mum who steals to order for her own `shopping' business, her drug-addict boyfriend Aaron is planning the theft of a cow so he can sell the meat, and Tina's father, Don, is the mobster in control of the local drugs trade.
Tina Goes Shopping
1999
7.0The first film in the Tina trilogy, using the actual inhabitants of a tough Leeds council estate in the leading roles. Tina is a single mum who steals to order for her own `shopping' business, her drug-addict boyfriend Aaron is planning the theft of a cow so he can sell the meat, and Tina's father, Don, is the mobster in control of the local drugs trade.
Tina Goes Shopping
1999
5.7Everyone has Halloween, but in Yorkshire, they have Mischief Night, where madness and mayhem rule. In the course of one night, the barriers that separate two families—one white, one Asian—come tumbling down in a blaze of crime, clubbing, love and fireworks—changing all their lives forever.
Mischief Night
2006
5.7Everyone has Halloween, but in Yorkshire, they have Mischief Night, where madness and mayhem rule. In the course of one night, the barriers that separate two families—one white, one Asian—come tumbling down in a blaze of crime, clubbing, love and fireworks—changing all their lives forever.
Mischief Night
2006
8.7A modern version of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.
Macbeth on the Estate
1997
“Film questions whether the encouragement of very low paid jobs and schemes - both in general and specifically how they function in the area affected by the closure of the Consett steelworks in 1980 - is a sufficiently visionary response to the question of survival in post-industrial Britain. Local people talk about their experiences, an escapologist performs and a drag act sings. Plus drama sequence in which Bill tells Rose that making a fortune is easy.” - BFI.
When the Dog Bites
1988
5.8The story of Exodus is relocated to the seaside town Margate. Moses lives in the Promised Lands with his adoptive parents, until he finds his mother in the shanty town, Dreamland, where she’s been ghettoised with other ‘undesirables’. He takes on his father, Pharaoh, and leads a radical campaign to liberate the people of Dreamland.
Exodus
2007
5.8The story of Exodus is relocated to the seaside town Margate. Moses lives in the Promised Lands with his adoptive parents, until he finds his mother in the shanty town, Dreamland, where she’s been ghettoised with other ‘undesirables’. He takes on his father, Pharaoh, and leads a radical campaign to liberate the people of Dreamland.
Exodus
2007
8.0Bizet’s rarely heard opera returned to the Met for the first time in a century on New Year’s Eve 2015, in Penny Woolcock’s acclaimed new production. Star soprano Diana Damrau sings Leïla, the virgin priestess at the center of the story. Matthew Polenzani and Mariusz Kwiecien are Nadir and Zurga, rivals for Leïla’s love who have sworn to renounce her to protect their friendship—and who get to sing one of opera’s most celebrated duets, “Au fond du temple saint.” Nicolas Testé is the high priest Nourabad and Gianandrea Noseda conducts Bizet’s supremely romantic score.
Bizet: The Pearl Fishers
2016
9.0Second in the Tina trilogy of films (Tina Goes Shopping, Mischief Night) set on a tough Leeds housing estate and starring the residents who actually live there in real life. This time Tina is in prison and life on the estate is viewed through her children's eyes.
Tina Takes a Break
2001
9.0Second in the Tina trilogy of films (Tina Goes Shopping, Mischief Night) set on a tough Leeds housing estate and starring the residents who actually live there in real life. This time Tina is in prison and life on the estate is viewed through her children's eyes.
Tina Takes a Break
2001
9.0Second in the Tina trilogy of films (Tina Goes Shopping, Mischief Night) set on a tough Leeds housing estate and starring the residents who actually live there in real life. This time Tina is in prison and life on the estate is viewed through her children's eyes.
Tina Takes a Break
2001
8.0A documentary team investigates the day-to-day operation and lives of the residents at a wet house, a hostel for the homeless which allows those living there to continue drinking.
The Wet House
2002
8.0A documentary team investigates the day-to-day operation and lives of the residents at a wet house, a hostel for the homeless which allows those living there to continue drinking.
The Wet House
2002
Celia, an Argentinian expatriate, arrives in Newcastle to marry her fiancé, George. Instead of meeting her at the airport, George sends his chauffeur, who drops her off at a local hotel. There she meets up with a standup comedienne and her daughter who provide her with wild diversions whilst she waits for her man. But then Celia learns from them that George has a rather dubious past.
Women in Tropical Places
1990
Celia, an Argentinian expatriate, arrives in Newcastle to marry her fiancé, George. Instead of meeting her at the airport, George sends his chauffeur, who drops her off at a local hotel. There she meets up with a standup comedienne and her daughter who provide her with wild diversions whilst she waits for her man. But then Celia learns from them that George has a rather dubious past.
Women in Tropical Places
1990
7.0A documentary crew investigates the stagnating life of the unemployed in a former mining town in Wales.
Mad Passionate Dreams
1995
6.2An adaptation from the controversial John Adams opera about the true life incident that took place in the mid 80s. The liner "Achille Lauro" is on a 12-day cruise in the Mediterranean. While the ship is docked in Alexandria, a maid discovers that four of the passengers are actually members of the Palestine Liberation Organization traveling incognito. Startled by their discovery, the PLO cadre is forced to act. They take the passengers on board hostage and demand the release of 50 Palestinian activists held in Israeli jails. As Egyptian, American, Italian, and Palestinian authorities bicker over the best way to handle the situation (and who would negotiate with the terrorists), the kidnappers find themselves dealing with rebellion among their captives, and an argument between the four PLO members and Leon Klinghoffer, a Jewish-American confined to a wheelchair, eventually escalates into violence.
The Death of Klinghoffer
2003
6.2An adaptation from the controversial John Adams opera about the true life incident that took place in the mid 80s. The liner "Achille Lauro" is on a 12-day cruise in the Mediterranean. While the ship is docked in Alexandria, a maid discovers that four of the passengers are actually members of the Palestine Liberation Organization traveling incognito. Startled by their discovery, the PLO cadre is forced to act. They take the passengers on board hostage and demand the release of 50 Palestinian activists held in Israeli jails. As Egyptian, American, Italian, and Palestinian authorities bicker over the best way to handle the situation (and who would negotiate with the terrorists), the kidnappers find themselves dealing with rebellion among their captives, and an argument between the four PLO members and Leon Klinghoffer, a Jewish-American confined to a wheelchair, eventually escalates into violence.
The Death of Klinghoffer
2003
