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I Am Weekender & Weekender on BFI Blu-ray and digital in June

16 May 2023

Initially banned from mainstream British TV in 1992 for its provocative depiction of drug taking and the euphoric escape from the banal realities of life, Weekender – the film by WIZ for Flowered Up’s 13-minute epic single – is hailed as one of the most innovative music films ever made. A cultural artefact, it has gained genuine cult status and influenced a network of creators across 30 years. Now this pioneering meditation on the British rave experience is celebrated in I Am Weekender (2022, Heavenly Films), Chloé Raunet’s new documentary about the film’s making, impact and legacy.

The BFI is releasing both films together on Blu-ray on 19 June 2023, with Weekender newly restored in 2K from the original negative. The presentation contains numerous special features including a new audio commentary. The first pressing is strictly limited to 2,000 copies featuring a slipcase, postcard and a 36-page illustrated booklet with new essays by Miranda Sawyer, Adelle Stripe, Des Penney and WIZ.

A lockdown project, Chloé Raunet's I Am Weekender relied solely on Zoom interviews and WIZ's personal archive to highlight more diverse voices and lesser-known aspects of Acid House culture. As well as comments from lead actor Lee Whitlock there is co-star Anna Haigh’s first hand female perspective. Quaff Records’ founder Roy ‘The Roach’ Marsh describes the black experience of the early scene. Twenty-seven interviewees include Irvine Welsh, Jeremy Deller, Lynne Ramsay, Bobby Gillespie, Clive Langer, Mark Moore, Róisín Murphy, Annie Nightingale, Shaun Ryder and David Holmes.

Ahead of the Blu-ray release, BFI Southbank’s Sonic Cinema strand will host a screening of both films in NFT1 followed by a Q&A with special guests + DJ set on Thursday 15 June at 8.30pm. The screening sold out as soon as tickets went on sale. Further UK cinema screenings are to be announced.

(I Am) Weekender Blu-ray cover art

Weekender & I Am Weekender will be released by the BFI on Limited Edition Blu-ray, iTunes and Amazon Prime release on 19 June 2023 at the RRP of £19.99.

BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:

  • Weekender (1992, 19 mins): the film itself, remastered from the original camera negative and presented in a new 2K restoration
  • New audio commentary by director WIZ, recorded and produced by Adam Dunlop
  • Rushes Revisited (Adam Dunlop, 2023, 9 mins): four sketches made from unseen rushes featuring previously unheard isolated tracks from the original recordings
  • Take It (1991, 4 mins): Flowered Up promotional video directed by WIZ
  • Phobia (1990, 4 mins): Flowered Up promotional video directed by Paul Cannell
  • It’s On (1990, 4 mins): Flowered Up promotional video directed by Pinko
  • Raise (1990, 4 mins): Bocca Juniors promotional video directed by WIZ and featuring Anna Haigh
  • Nish (1990, 4 mins): a short film about early acid house culture by WIZ
  • Turn It Up! (2023, 27 mins): Chloé Raunet discusses the making of her documentary
  • Strictly limited to 2,000 copies featuring a slipcase, postcard and a 36-page illustrated booklet with newly commissioned essays by Miranda Sawyer, Adelle Stripe, Des Penney and WIZ


Pre-order from the BFI Shop: https://shop.bfi.org.uk/i-am-weekender-blu-ray.html