Shifty is a British urban thriller, from writer/director Eran Creevy

Eran Creevy

Eran Creevy is a British director most famous for his film Shifty and several music videos.-Biography:After assisting Woody Allen and Matthew Vaughn on feature films such as Layer Cake and Scoop, he began directing music videos for artists such as Asher D and Sway. It wasn't long before he...

. Set on the outskirts of London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, it follows themes of friendship and loyalty over the course of 24 hours in the life of a young drug dealer, the charismatic "Shifty", who is based on the original Shifty from Leicester.

Synopsis

After four years, Chris returns to where he grew up, it seems at first to attend a party, but his real motive is to catch up with his old buddy, Shifty who he left behind. Whilst away, Chris has settled into responsible adult life, with a mortgage and a good job, but he is shocked to discover that Shifty has been dealing cocaine for some time, supplied by the double dealing Glen. Although happy to see him, Shifty has not fully forgiven Chris for leaving in the first place, and it is soon learned that the circumstances under which Chris left are more complicated than they first seemed.

They spend the next 24 hours together, with Chris watching Shifty as he deals to a variety of increasingly desperate customers from the community. Over the course of this day they are forced to confront the ghosts from the past that drove Chris away and the desperate and dangerous present that Shifty finds himself in, whilst re-discovering their friendship. Chris is once again given an opportunity to prove his loyalty to Shifty and to try ultimately and save Shifty from himself.

Based on Eran Creevy's teenage experiences, and boasting convincing performances from a cast of rising stars, as well as veteran actors Jason Flemyng

Jason Flemyng

Jason Iain Flemyng is an English actor. He is known for his film work, which has included roles in British films such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch , both for Guy Ritchie, as well as Hollywood productions such as Rob Roy along with the Alan Moore comic book adaptations From...

 and Francesca Annis

Francesca Annis

Francesca Annis is an English actress, known for her film and television appearances, most recently in the BBC series Wives and Daughters, Cranford, and Deceit.-Early life and education:...

, the film was funded by Film London's Microwave scheme and delivered after a shooting schedule of just 18 days.

Cast

• Riz Ahmed
  Riz Ahmed
  Rizwan Ahmed , also known as Riz Ahmed, the Rizmeister General, or Riz MC, is a British MC, musician and actor. He is noted for his lead performances in The Road to Guantanamo, Shifty, Britz, and Four Lions.-Ethnic background:Ahmed is a British Pakistani...
  
   … Shifty — a local drug dealer who gets torn between street crime and what could be different.
• Daniel Mays
  Daniel Mays
  -Early life:One of four boys, Mays was raised in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, by his electrician father and bank cashier mother. He attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts before going on to win a place at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.-Career:...
  
   … Chris — an old friend of Shifty who spends a day with him, but is forced to face up to why he left his hometown.
• Jason Flemyng
  Jason Flemyng
  Jason Iain Flemyng is an English actor. He is known for his film work, which has included roles in British films such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch , both for Guy Ritchie, as well as Hollywood productions such as Rob Roy along with the Alan Moore comic book adaptations From...
  
   … Glen — the middle man for drug dealers, he supplies for Shifty.
• Nitin Ganatra
  Nitin Ganatra
  Nitin Ganatra is a Kenyan born British actor. He is known internationally as Prince Pondicherry in the Tim Burton film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He also appears in the Gurinder Chada film Bride and Prejudice as Kholi Saab and The Mistress of Spices as Haroun...
  
   … Rez — Shifty's brother, he takes Shifty in when his family kicks him out, but has issues with Shifty's chosen lifestyle.
• Francesca Annis
  Francesca Annis
  Francesca Annis is an English actress, known for her film and television appearances, most recently in the BBC series Wives and Daughters, Cranford, and Deceit.-Early life and education:...
  
   … Valerie
• Jay Simpson
  Jay Simpson
  Jay-Alistaire Frederick "Jay" Simpson is an English footballer who plays for Millwall as a striker or winger, on loan from Hull City. He is a product of the Arsenal Academy.-Arsenal:...
  
   … Trevor
• Dannielle Brent
  Dannielle Brent
  Dannielle Brent, also known as Danielle Brent is a British actress who played the prisoner Natalie Buxton on the television drama series, Bad Girls.-Biography:Dannielle Brent was accepted into the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts....
  
   … Jasmine
• Kate Groombridge
  Kate Groombridge
  Kate Groombridge is an English fashion model and actress.Born in a small village in Kent, she was advised to submit photos to modelling agencies by a family friend, and she was modelling professionally when she was just 14...
  
   … Loretta
• [ Heronimo Sehmi ]] .. Shifty's Father
• Alice Cutter... Girl in Park

Production

Shifty was filmed predominately in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, home of Elstree Studios.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Molly Nyman

Molly Nyman

Molly Nyman has composed numerous film scores, mostly in collaboration with Harry Escott. She is the elder daughter of composer Michael Nyman, and appeared in Peter Greenaway's The Falls, as did her mother, Aet Nyman....

, Harry Escott

Harry Escott

Harry Escott is a composer living in London. He has composed numerous film scores, mostly in collaboration with Molly Nyman.He studied music at The Royal College of Music and Oxford University....

 and performed by The Samphire Band. It was nominated for Best Technical Achievement at the British Independent Film Awards 2008

British Independent Film Awards 2008

The 11th British Independent Film Awards, held on 30 November 2008 at the Old Billingsgate Market in London, honoured the best British independent films of 2008.-Best British Independent Film:* Slumdog Millionaire* Hunger* In Bruges...

. The score was performed live in Film & Music Arena at the Latitude Festival

Latitude Festival

The Latitude Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, England. It was first held in July 2006....

 in 2009. All tracks performed by The Samphire Band except where stated.

Shifty soundtrack

1. "Shifty Theme"
2. "Busting My Ghaand"
3. "Charming Glen"
4. "Why Am I Running?"
5. "CataclysMic" (performed by DJ Trax & Rich Beggar)
6. "Swings"
7. "Spilling the Various"
8. "Blare's House"
9. "Tough Call"
10. "Good Boy"
11. "Look At You"
12. "Night Watch"
13. "Leave it All Behind"
14. "Play the Tape"
15. "Shifty" (performed by Riz MC, Sway
    Sway DaSafo
    Derek Andrew Safo is a Ghanaian British musician who uses the stage names Sway DaSafo or Sway. He is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik record label and he is also a producer, establishing DCypha Productions.-Childhood:...
    
     & Plan B
    Plan B (rapper)
    Benjamin Paul Ballance-Drew primarily known as Plan B or Ben Drew, is a British rapper, singer-songwriter, actor and film director from Forest Gate, London. Plan B first emerged as a hip hop artist releasing his critically acclaimed debut album Who Needs Actions When You Got Words in 2006...
    
    )^*

Notes:

• ^*"Shifty" not included download format of soundtrack.

Shifty single

The official single for the film was performed by British

British people

The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...

 rappers Riz MC (Riz Ahmed who portrays Shifty in the film), Sway

Sway DaSafo

Derek Andrew Safo is a Ghanaian British musician who uses the stage names Sway DaSafo or Sway. He is signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik record label and he is also a producer, establishing DCypha Productions.-Childhood:...

 and Plan B. Released in 2009 on True Tiger Recordings, the single did not chart. The music video, also directed by Eran Creevy, was filmed in the same locations as the film and features Riz MC, Sway and Plan B each rapping along with footage taken from the film. Riz MC, Sway and Plan B performed the song live on 24 April 2009 at Bar Rumba, London for the film's launch party.

Digital download

1. "Shifty" (film single)
2. "Shifty" (Sukh Knight remix)

12" single

1. "Shifty" (Sukh Knight remix)
2. "Shifty" (Scandalous Unltd. remix)
3. "Shifty"

Award nominations

British Independent Film Award (2008)

• Best Achievement in Production
• Best Actor (Riz Ahmed)
• Best Supporting Actor (Daniel Mays)
• Best Technical Achievement (Harry Escott, Molly Nyman - for music)
• Douglas Hickox Award (Eran Creevy)

Stockholm Film Festival (2009)

• Bronze Horse (Eran Creevy)

External links

• Interview with Daniel Mays and Eran Creevy