The Phantom of the Open, a screen dramatisation of Maurice Flitcroft’s attempts to qualify for The Open Championship during the 1970s, is to have its world premiere at the London Film Festival on October 12.
The Phantom of The Open tells the remarkable true story of Maurice Flitcroft, a crane operator and optimistic dreamer from Barrow-in-Furness who, with the support of his family and friends, managed to gain entry to the 1976 British Open qualifying, despite never playing a round of golf before.
With pluckiness and unwavering self-belief, Maurice pulls off a series of stunning, hilarious and heartwarming attempts to compete at the highest level of professional golf, drawing the ire of the golfing elite but becoming a British folk hero in the process.
The film is directed by filmmaker and BAFTA Cymru award-winning actor Craig Roberts, from a screenplay by BAFTA winning writer, Simon Farnaby, Farnaby adapted the script from his own book The Phantom of the Open: Maurice Flitcroft, The World’s Worst Golfer, co-written by Scott Murray. The fim stars Academy Award winner Mark Rylance as Maurice, Academy Award Nominee Sally Hawkins as his wife Jean, and BAFTA nominee Rhys Ifans as his nemesis Mackenzie.
After its Premiere on October 12th. the film will be on general release throughout the UK & Ireland later this autumn.
The film was developed by the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery, and BBC Film. Funding came from the BFI, BBC Film and Ingenious Media.
