UK director Shane Meadows has wrapped production on Chork, his first feature film in 12 years.
Written by Meadows and Jack Thorne, Chork is set and shot along the east coast of England, from Kent through Lincolnshire, to Scotland.
The film follows 15-year-old Kit and 11-year-old Ani, two young girls who leave their foster home and trek across the coastline in hopes of a brighter future. With the police in pursuit and a national search underway, Kit must use all her determination and wits to protect Ani and fulfil their mission.
Altitude has boarded international sales and will release Chork in UK-Ireland cinemas in 2026.
Chork is produced by Ben Pugh and Cathy King for 42, Lauren Dark and Amy Jackson for Unified Productions, Meadows’ Big Arty and Thorne’s One Shoe Films. Meadows and Thorne are executive producers.
Frequent Meadows collaborator Shaheen Baig cast the film via open casting calls earlier this year, with lead cast yet to be announced.
Financing comes from BBC Film – which developed the film – BFI, Screen Yorkshire and Hoopsa Films. Executive producers are Eva Yates and Kristin Irving for BBC Film, Louise Ortega for the BFI, Caroline Cooper Charles for Screen Yorkshire, Sonny Gill and Tim Macready for Hoopsa Films and Ali Jazayeri and Keith Kehoe for Three Picture Capital alongside Laura Jackson and Joshua Horsfield.
Meadows’ last feature was 2013 documentary The Stone Roses: Made of Stone, while his last fiction feature was 2009 comedy Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee.
“Our story follows two beyond bright, funny as heck and mischievously ingenious young people on a ‘runaway’ road trip the length of this glorious isle. Safe to say, I’m beyond excited about what we’ve captured on their journey,” said Meadows, while Yates described the film as “an anarchic story of love, redemption and the untapped and profound potential of youth.”
Ortega said the film is “a typically funny, urgent and heartfelt state of the nation piece seen through the lens of two young girls making their way on a messy ride through Britain,” while Clarke added “one of British cinema’s shining lights is back on the big screen.”