Andrew Gower, who had originally been announced as a guest on 21 December 2019, was able to attend the convention on Saturday, 20 November 2021 to meet his fans, sign autographs and take pictures with them.
You can find some pictures from the event in our Gallery.
Did you have the chance to meet him? At a convention, at the stage door or another event? Let us know! We’d love to hear your stories and see your pictures!
We have an update for you about the first UK screening of Running Naked in front of a live audience!
It will now take place on Thursday, 21 October 2021 at 7:00pm at the MitchellArts Centre in Stoke-on-Trent (UK). The screening will be followed by a Q&A with producers Andy Paton and Michael Knowles.
The “feel good buddy dramedy” about cancer survivors Ben (Andrew Gower) and Mark (Matthew McNulty) is also available on iTunes (UK, USA & Canada), Amazon Prime (UK & USA), Sky (UK) and several other streaming platforms in the USA.
Sadly, Running Naked Film on Facebook had to announce the following this morning:
“Due to unforeseen circumstances the screening of Running Naked has been postponed. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused. When the new dates for the festival are released we will let everyone know. We are all looking forward to seeing you all at the public screening and hope to see you all soon.”
“Due to unforeseen circumstances the screening of Running Naked has been postponed. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused. The new date for the screening is 4th October. We are all looking forward to seeing you all at the new date. Thanks for your patience.”
The film, which launches the Stoked Film Festival at the Mitchell Arts Centre on Monday 23 August 2021 at 7:00pm, was made in conjunction with the MA in Feature Film Production at Staffordshire University and successfully brought together a crew of industry professionals who mentored students throughout the shoot.
It rejoins Mark and Ben twenty years after their friendship develops. After receiving a dramatic piece of news, the film charts the friends as they embark on an adventure that will change both their lives.
Course Leaders Andy Paton and Mike Knowles produced the film which is directed by Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Victor Buhler. Written by Victor with Mike and his wife Jennifer Knowles, the heartfelt story draws on Jennifer’s personal experience as a cancer survivor.
Andy Paton, Senior Lecturer in Film Production, explained: “We believe that it is incredibly important for students to get hands-on experience working on a professional film shoot.
“We wanted to make an independent British film with a heart and hope that Running Naked brings a positive and hopeful message to anyone whose life has been touched by the cancer.
“The project is an amazing example of how the University’s resources can be used to create a professional feature film which is now being distributed across the world – something that is invaluable to our students as they forge their careers in the industry.”
Funding came from private equity and more than 60 postgraduate and undergraduate students worked on Running Naked which was shot over 20 days in summer 2018. However, the film’s release was delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Head of Department of Media and Performance Dr Rob Marsden said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Mitchell Arts Centre on Stoked Film Festival which we hope will become an annual event in our cultural calendar and an opportunity to screen both the professional and graduate work coming out of the city.”
“It’s a big night for Running Naked as it’s the first time is has screened out of lockdown and shows off the talent we have here at Staffordshire University as well as showcasing our city as a fabulous location for contemporary film. We hope people will feel confident to come out and celebrate the return of cinema to our city.”
Tickets for Running Naked (15) are £7 which includes a free drink and a free screening of Student Short Films will also be taking place on Wednesday 25 August 2021 at the earlier time of 6pm. For full programme and booking visit Stoked Film Festival.
Interested in studying a course in Film? Find out if you are eligible for an offer through Clearing by using our offer calculator, have a ‘live chat’ with Clearing experts at http://www.staffs.ac.uk/clearing/ or call our Clearing hotline on 0800 590 830.
Running Naked will finally be screened in front of a live audience and it is very appropropriate that it happens in Stoke-On-Trent at the Stoked Film Festival, where large parts of the “feel good buddy dramedy” were filmed in 2018.
Stoked Film Festival, which runs from 23 – 26 August 2021 at the Mitchell Arts Centre and is described as a “season of work that promotes the theme of hope, as well as promoting a healthy and sustainable city post-Covid”, will open on Monday at 7:00pm with the film about cancer survivors Ben (Andrew Gower) and Mark (Matthew McNulty).
Tickets for Running Naked (15) are £7 which includes a free drink and a Q&A with the “directors and actors”. Andrew’s attendance is not confirmed but we will let you know as soon and if we find out.
“It’s a big night for Running Naked as it’s the first time is has screened out of lockdown and shows off the talent we have here at Staffordshire University as well as showcasing our city as a fabulous location for contemporary film. We hope people will feel confident to come out and celebrate the return of cinema to our city.”
The event will now take place from 19 – 21 November 2021 at Olympia London.
Andrew Gower was announced as a guest for the convention in December 2019 for its originally scheduled date in July 2020 before the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic made large gatherings impossible. He was re-confirmed as a guest when the event was moved to a date in November 2020 but not since then.
However, he is still listed on the London Film & Comic Con Official website as a guest, which – according to a previous statement by Showmasters – means he hasn’t cancelled his appearance. Please be aware that he will only be there for one day on Saturday.
Showmasters were able to release a limited amount of entry tickets for Saturday again after they had sold out. Photo op tickets (£20) for Andrew are also available on the website. Autograph tickets (£20) can be purchased at the event itself.
Tickets already purchased will automatically roll over to the new dates. If you can’t make them or have further questions regarding your tickets, please contact Showmasters directly.
Andrew is now a re-confirmed guest and will attend London Film & Comic Con on Saturday, 20 November 2021. This will be your unique chance to wish him a (slightly belated) happy birthday!
Running Naked, the “feel good buddy dramedy” starring Andrew Gower and Matthew McNulty as cancer survivors Ben and Mark, is available to rent or buy digitally or as VOD on several streaming sites in the UK and the USA.
Please consider leaving a positive review if you liked the film to support this micro-budget independent production!
Gesa Power House Theatre released this new poster art for Running Naked, “the feel-good indie movie that’ll restore your faith in just about everything” (Buzz Feed) which they will screen on Friday, 2 April 2021 and Wednesday, 7 April 2021 at 7:00pm. You can buy tickets for each screening, which will be followed by an exclusive pre-recorded interview between Director of Film Programming Warren Etheredge and filmmakers Victor Buhler and Michael Knowles.
Ahead of its American VOD premiere, Running Naked will be screened at the Gesa Power House Theatre in Walla Walla (Washington, USA) on Friday, 2 April 2021 at 7:00pm with an encore screening on Wednesday, 7 April 2021 at 7:00pm. Each screening will be followed by a pre-recorded conversation between Director of Film Programming Warren Etheredge and filmmakers Victor Buhler and Michael Knowles.
General admission seating ($15 Adults, $10 Students) are available online. Seating for each screening is capped at 100 persons, so don’t wait too long to purchase your ticket!
Running Naked tells the story of Ben (Andrew Gower) and Mark (Matthew McNulty), who met at a cancer ward when they were teenagers and became lifelong friends despite all their differences. Mark becomes a successful doctor but the ghosts of his past stop him from retaining a lasting relationship with the woman he loves (Rakhee Thakrar). Ben has turned into a social recluse whose life is a series of obsessive habits. A piece of news forces both of them to reassess their lives and make some changes. Tamzin Merchant (Carnival Row,Ark) and Kira Sonia Sawar (Black Mirror, Humpty Fu*king Dumpty) also star in this a story about friendship and about how, in life, we sometimes need to unbutton our shirt collars, kick off our shoes, and streak through life unabashed.
When you register to buy the ticket, you will be asked to enter a UK post code. We’re still trying to find out if that means you have to be a UK resident to see the screening, or if it will be available worldwide. [see our ETAs below to find out the answer]
The film will be followed by an exclusive Q&A with the cast & crew. We don’t know if this includes Andrew Gower but it seems likely since he and Matthew McNulty play the lead characters.
Running Naked is a British independet micro-budget film about love, friendship and streaking.
The friendship of cancer survivors Ben and Mark is tested when a piece of news forces each character to change their perspective. Old wounds are opened as they discover their true selves.
It’s been confirmed by the social media manager of Running Naked that the digital screening of the film on Thursday, 4 February 2021 will sadly be only accessible for UK residents. However, the film will be released digitally on Monday, 8 February 2021. We will keep you updated as soon as we have the full list of platforms and release dates.
BeenToTheMovies.com also mentions a screening on Thursday, 4 February 2021 at the Film Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent (UK) pending Covid restrictions. According to the Theatre’s website, the venue is currently closed.
We made a further inquiry with Virtual Cinema directly and their answer was that “the platform only allows for UK residents” but added that “it has been known to work if you use a UK postcode on signing up”.
SW1A 1AA is the postcode of Buckingham Palace. Just as an example. Or you could google the London address of your country’s embassy. Always helpful to know! 😉
Andrew Gower Online 