Dreamscape | The Toyah Willcox Fansite

Christmas 2019, Invasion Planet Earth – in which Toyah had/has a starring lead role and also performs the end credits title song, Step Into The New World, released as a digital single simultaneously as the film premiered – was screening in numerous cinemas around the UK.

With the tagline: They’re coming, and reviews boasting “British sci-fi at its best” and “A British classic… War Of The World meets Independence Day“, the film was being compared to enduring sci fi movie blockbusters, and is now considered a cult film.

Invasion Planet Earth – originally titled Kaleidoscope Man – had been an enduring, mammoth, film project and a labour of love for its creator, Simon Cox, for many years.

• See much more info on Invasion Planet Earth, here and here. The film is available on DVD and in digital format. NB. A few months after the original release of Step Into The New World, the song was also released on the Planetary Invasion Mix.

Isle of Wight film starring Toyah wins film festival award

A short film, shot on the Isle of Wight and starring Toyah Willcox, has won an award at the New Renaissance Film Festival (NRFF) in London.

Weightless was produced by Ventnor’s Rowena Amos, through 9 of Cups Productions.

It was made on the Island in 2022 and Toyah was spotted filming on beaches here, in Freshwater and Ventnor.

The project also featured a host of well-known Isle of Wight names, including photographer Gianpaolo Mario Giancovich, and musicians JC Grimshaw and Angelina Grimshaw – the latter working with the crew on costumes.

This week, Weightless picked up the NRFF’s prize for Best Female-led Short.

The film was directed by Lois Norman and the music was by King Crimson, Toyah’s husband, Robert Fripp.

A trailer was released in May.

• Continue reading at the Isle Of Wight County Press. See also Yahoo! News.

Weightless has been nominated for Best Female Led Short and Best Experimental Drama at New Renaissance Film Festival London.

Quadrophenia: BBC2: Saturday 22nd July: 10.50pm
The Who wrote and produced this energetic story of a young man disillusioned with his life in 1960s London. Phil Daniels excels as the alienated anti-hero Jimmy Cooper. Director: Franc Roddam. Starring: Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Toyah Willcox, Philip Davis, Mark Wingett, Sting, and Ray Winstone.

Weightless has been awarded Runner Up for Best Film at Brighton International Film Festival. At the same awards Weightless won Best Director for Lois Norman and Best Cinematography.

Watch the trailer for the short film Weightless starring Toyah Willcox as Maureen. Written by Louise Monaghan and directed by Lois Norman.

On a deserted East Sussex beach, a sixty-two year old woman struggles to face down her inner demons as she makes her way into the water.

Isle of Wight film starring Toyah Willcox has trailer released

The trailer for a short film shot on the Isle of Wight, and starring Toyah Willcox, has been released.

Weightless is produced by Ventnor resident Rowena Amos and her film company 9 of Cups Productions.

It was recorded on the Island last year, with Toyah spotted filming on beaches in Freshwater and Ventnor. The film has a host of well-known Isle of Wight names attached to it, including stills photographer Gianpaolo Mario Giancovich, musician JC Grimshaw, and Angelina Grimshaw working with the crew on costumes.

• Continue reading at the Isle Of Wight County Press. See more of Dreamscape’s post on Weightless here.

Quadrophenia Reunited – 40 Years On: Sky Arts: Saturday 27th May: 1.50am
Celebrity fans and cast members come together to shed light on the making of Quadrophenia and explore the legacy that the cult film has left behind, 40 years after its release. (Photo © Sky Arts)

Quadrophenia Reunited – Our Generation: Sky Arts: Saturday 27th May: 00.50am
Lauren Laverne hosts a one-off special bringing the stars of Quadrophenia together. Featuring reminiscing, interviews, a table-read of the script and plenty of surprises. (Photo © Sky Arts)

A UK short film, starring Toyah Willcox, written by Louise Monaghan, directed by Lois Norman, produced by Rowena Amos and 9 of Cups Productions ltd in 2023. Music by Robert Fripp. The story of Maureen, a woman alone on a beach facing down her demons as she enters the water.

Film Give Them Wings shot in Darlington and Bishop Auckland

An independent feature film shot in Darlington and Bishop Auckland, and starring Toyah Willcox, has secured international distribution.

Give Them Wings, is written by Paul Hodgson and produced by GTW Productions Ltd and directed by Sean Cronin.

Phoenix Worldwide, the sales agent to the film, has closed deals for Latin America (Distributer Encripta), Scandinavia, Australia/New Zealand (Distributer Bulldog) and North America (Distributer Stadium Media).

The film celebrates the life of disabled Darlington F.C. fan Paul Hodgson based on an adaptation of his 2000 bestselling autobiography Flipper’s Side.

• Continue reading at The Northern Echo.

Special edition of sci-fi cult classic to be screened in Nuneaton

It is the handiwork of a movie maker who has his eyes on his next blockbuster

A Nuneaton movie maker is to host the first screening of a special edition of his sci-fi cult classic to help fund his next blockbuster. Simon Cox has turned to innovative ways to help raise funds for his next film – ‘Of Infinite Worlds’ – including trying to sell 20,000 mugs.

Now he is hosting a number of local screenings of his previous hit, ‘Invasion Planet Earth’, and this Thursday (March 9) there will be a special screening in his hometown.

It is being held at Nuneaton Christian Fellowship and will give people the chance to see a special version of the feature film, which was sold across the world.

“This sci-fi movie was shot in Nuneaton, Coventry and Birmingham and was a true passion project that took nearly 10 years to make,” he said. “It was inspired by classic 1970’s science fiction and features 80’s pop icon, Toyah Willcox. It has sold all around the world and is becoming a bit of a cult classic.”

• Continue reading at Coventry Live.

Iconic movie Jubilee is showing as part of Queer Time, Queer Space at Indiana University Cinema next month.

QUEER TIME, QUEER SPACE: JUBILEE + NEW QUEER SHORTS
Fri, Feb 24, 7 pm; $5

Derek Jarman | 1978 | United Kingdom | Not rated | DCP
Queen Elizabeth I travels 400 years into the future to witness a dystopian London overrun by a vicious gang of punk guerrilla girls led by the new Monarch of Punk. Preceded by three shorts from up-and-coming queer filmmakers.

About Queer Time, Queer Space: Jubilee + New Queer Shorts
Queen Elizabeth I asks her court alchemist to show her England in the future and she’s transported 400 years to a postapocalyptic wasteland of roving girl gangs, an all-powerful media mogul, fascistic police, scattered filth, and twisted sex. Legendary British filmmaker Derek Jarman channels political dissent and creative daring into a revolutionary blend of history, fantasy, cinematic experimentation, satire, anger, fashion, and philosophy. Starring cultural icons Jordan, Toyah Willcox, Little Nell, Jayne County, Adam Ant, and Brian Eno. 100% on Rotten Tomatoes! [106 mins; drama, fantasy; English]

“Ahead of its time and often frighteningly accurate in its predictions, [Jubilee] is a fascinating historical document and a gorgeous work of film art.” — The Criterion Collection

“Jarman’s sophomore film is a Molotov cocktail of celluloid—a film that practically dares you to watch it.” — Film Threat

“One of the most original, bold, and exciting features to have come out of Britain in the 1970s.” — Variety

• Continue reading for further details and ticket link at Indiana University’s website.

Darlington’s Give Them Wings to be screened at Theatre Hullabaloo

A feature film filmed in Darlington and County Durham is to be screened at a local theatre in the new year. Give Them Wings is the story of a young man from Darlington who overcame unimaginable hurdles in life, all while becoming a huge fan of Darlington FC.

• Continue reading at The Northern Echo. See our Give Them Wings news archive.

Toyah Willcox to star “in way you’ve never seen her before” in short film written by Lewes resident

Actress Toyah Willcox has just finished filming a new short film written by a Lewes resident.

The punk icon stars in Louise Monaghan’s ‘Weightless’, telling the story of Maureen, a woman alone on a beach, facing her inner demons and battle with her body. The film is Louise’s debut and was shot on the Isle of Wight by director Lois Norman, known for her award-winning art-house work and stories from female perspectives.

• Continue reading at Sussex World. See more on Weightless at toyahwillcox.com.

Punk princess and cult actress Toyah on the Isle of Wight filming new short film

Filming took place in Freshwater and Ventnor with women in the top four roles; writer, director, producer and actor

As reported by News OnTheWight back in August, punk princess and cult actress Toyah has been on the Isle of Wight this week, filming in Freshwater Bay and on Ventnor beach.

She stars in a new short film called ‘Weightless’ produced by Ventnor resident Rowena Amos and her film company, 9 of Cups Productions.

It is written by Lewes based playwright Louise Monaghan, previous winner of the coveted Papatango Theatre prize and directed by Lois Norman who is known for her award-winning art-house work and stories from female perspectives.

• Continue reading at On The Wight.

Toyah in Ventnor and Freshwater for new short film Weightless

Punk princess and cult actress Toyah has been visiting the Isle of Wight this week, filming in Freshwater Bay and on Ventnor beach.

She stars in a new short film, Weightless, produced by Ventnor resident Rowena Amos and her film company 9 of Cups Productions.

It is written by Lewes based playwright Louise Monaghan, previous winner of the coveted Papatango Theatre prize, and directed by Lois Norman who is known for her award-winning art-house work and stories from female perspectives.

The film has a host of well-known Isle of Wight names attached to it, stills photographer Gianpaolo Mario Giancovich, musician JC Grimshaw, and Angelina Grimshaw working with the crew on costumes.

• Continue reading at Isle Of Wight County Press.

Toyah Willcox to star in Weightless, a short film being shot on the Isle of Wight

A fantastic coup for Ventnorian Rowena Amos, as Toyah Willcox is confirmed for a new short film being shot on the Isle of Wight next month

Congratulations are in order for the powerhouse Ventnor resident, Rowena Amos, who has just announced that she’s secured the musician, actress and presenter, Toyah Willcox, for her next short film.

Weightless will be filmed on the Isle of Wight in Ventnor and Freshwater at the end of September 2022.

“Legendary punk princess and cult actress”

Rowena is incredibly excited about securing the “legendary punk princess and cult actress”, Toyah for the role.

Toyah’s career in music, acting and presenting spans 40 years, during which she had eight Top 40 singles and a prolific 20 albums. She’s married to the founder and guitarist of the progressive rock group King Crimson, Robert Fripp, who thousands enjoyed watching perform with Toyah during Lockdown via YouTube.

• Continue reading at On The Wight.

Give Them Wings is now available to stream/download. Click below for links.

Give Them Wings review – down but not out in Darlington

Daniel Watson and Toyah Willcox shine as a disabled man and his doughty mam

Give Them Wings is the biopic of Paul Hodgson, who seven months after he was born in 1965 was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis. If that wasn’t bad enough, he survived his precarious childhood to become a devout fan of Durham’s hapless Darlington FC – it’s criminal that this low-budget British indie wasn’t titled Give Them Wingers.

An ex-civil servant and now a screenwriter and producer, Hodgson has spent his life confined to a wheelchair and hampered by a speech impediment. Directed by onetime Bond heavy Sean Cronin (who cast himself as a football thug), the film version of Hodgson’s 2021 memoir isn’t a world-beater, but it is a crowd-pleasing underdog with guts, grit and an admirable streak of unsentimental humour.

Set in the late 1980s, Hodgson’s story of striving unfolds in the drab Northern terrain familiar from early ‘60s realist films, the so-called British New Wave.

• Continue reading at The Arts Desk.

Toyah Willcox film telling disabled Quakers fan’s incredible life story to premiere in Darlington

Give Them Wings is set to premiere at Darlington’s Vue Cinema on July 16 to honour the writer’s hometown and the film’s location

A feature film based on the life story of a disabled Quakers fan will premiere at Darlington Vue Cinema on July 16. Starring Toyah Willcox, Give Them Wings chronicles the journey of Paul Hodgson, who was left disabled after being diagnosed with childhood meningitis.

Darlington born Mr Hodgson was diagnosed with the illness at just 10 months-old and his parents were told he would never move or speak. The now 57-year-old has defied all odds by becoming an award-winning novelist, film producer and screenwriter and Give Them Wings tells the story of his journey.

• Continue reading at Teeside Live.

The London ‘Leicester Square’ premiere for Give Them Wings is happening on Thursday 28th July at 6:30pm. The film will be released on all platforms on August 1st. Click below for more details.