Luton Council has hailed the release of homegrown feature film Ish as a celebration of the town’s talent, creativity and communities following its hometown premiere.
The coming-of-age drama, which was set, filmed and cast in Luton, was screened at Cineworld Luton this week ahead of its nationwide cinema release tomorrow (July 31).
The premiere brought together the cast, director Imran Perretta, producers and invited guests, including council leader Tahmina Saleem and Deputy Mayor Fatima Begum.
But while the film has already attracted international acclaim ahead of its UK release, the council said its biggest achievement is putting Luton itself in the spotlight.
Councillor Basit Mahmood, portfolio holder for Culture, Arts and Heritage, said: “Ish is a powerful example of what can be achieved when local talent, creativity and community come together. The film not only tells an important story rooted in Luton, but it also showcases our town’s people, places and potential to wider audiences.
“The production brought significant investment into Luton by employing local actors and generating economic activity during filming. With this year marking 150 years of Luton, the film’s release is a timely celebration of the town’s culture, creativity and emerging talent. We are proud to have supported the production and to see Luton represented on the big screen.”
Shot across 26 locations in the town, the film features recognisable landmarks including Bury Park, the Busway, Wardown Park, The Vale Cemetery and Kidney Wood. It also stars Luton teenagers Farhan Hasnat and Yahya Kitana, who landed the lead roles after an open casting call in the town, alongside fellow local newcomers Is’haaq Hasan Haque, Arman Mohammed and Hasnain Shah. The film also features the acting debut of pop star Joy Crookes.
The production was supported by Luton Council’s film office, while Deputy Mayor Fatima Begum also worked with filmmakers as a cultural adviser, helping ensure the authenticity of the film’s Bengali dialogue and Arabic recitation.
The release comes as further investment is made in Luton’s creative sector, including National Lottery-backed funding through the BFI Film Audience Network’s Spotlight programme, which aims to bring more film screenings and cinema opportunities to the town over the next three years.
Ish is will be showing at Cineworld Luton as part of its nationwide release from tomorrow.
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