Ken Loach will be back in Newcastle this October for the premiere of his latest film Sorry We Missed You.
The award-winning filmmaker will be attending a special screening at Tyneside Cinema which gives Geordies a chance to be among the first to see the drama which he shot in and around the city
Loach will be accompanied by the core team behind the film, included its writer Paul Laverty, and also will be taking part in a question and answer session which is to shown live via satellite link in other cinemas nationwide.
Sorry We Missed You is the second film to be made in the North East by Loach following the enormous success of the Bafta-winning I, Daniel Blake - another tale by Laverty - which they made here in 2015 and which also was given a premiere in the region.
It has already had a recent showing in Glasgow, Laverty's home town, in the wake of a preview screening in the summer at Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the coveted Palme d’Or award which I, Daniel Blake managed to win on its 2016 outing.
With critics there heaping praise upon another realistic and powerful drama from the Loach team, those in the North East have been eager to see it for themselves.
Where I, Daniel Blake - with its central character caught up in benefits red tap - sparked debate about the state of the welfare system, the new story promises to be an equally moving look at one man's struggles, this time in the world of work, after the 2008 financial crash has plunged him into debt.
And it seems set to strike a similar chord with audiences; having something real to say to real people.
Filmed around Newcastle last autumn, and produced by Rebecca O'Brien, it sees Kris Hitchen, from Manchester, star as the main character, Ricky Turner, who takes up a franchise as a self-employed delivery driver.
His wife and children are played by North East unknowns Debbie Honeywood, Rhys Stone and Katie Proctor.
Both Loach and O'Brien have previously spoken to The Chronicle about how ideal they found the regional locations for their purposes, with O'Brien saying: "The scale of the city is very amenable to the work that we do.
"It's very compact and it has such a strong character - and the accent is lovely.
"It's easy to get around and also it has really cinematic qualities, with its bridges and Georgian centre."
And Laverty has said of the latest result: "Newcastle came up trumps for us again."
News of the special screening at Tyneside Cinema on October 23 has been warmly welcomed in the city and the 7.30pm screening has been an instant sell-out.
There also will be a special programme, Zero Hour, inspired by the film, as well as an exhibition of paintings by North East talent Aidan Doyle who as an artist-in-residence.
The Q&A with Loach, Laverty and cast and crew, which will take place afterwards from 9.10pm, will have a wider audience as it set to be beamed live on the night to other cinemas across the UK.
Sorry We Missed You then will go on general release around the country in November.
