Billy Elliot marks the first feature for Tiger Aspect Pictures and Working Title with additional funding from BBC Films and the Arts Council of England. The film is written by Lee Hall, directed by Stephen Daldry, and produced by Tiger Aspect Pictures' Greg Brenman and Working Title's Jon Finn.

Billy Elliot stars Julie Walters of Educating Rita, Personal Services, Buster, Titanic Town fame and 13 year old newcomer Jamie Bell. A schoolboy in Teeside, Jamie has been dancing since the age of six and was discovered after a search in which over two thousand children were auditioned.

Set against the backdrop of the turbulent miners' strike of 1984, a talented young boy is torn between his unexpected love of dance and the disintegration of his family. A way out is offered when the local dancing teacher offers him a chance to train and even audition for the Royal Ballet School.

Billy Elliot marks the directorial debut for Stephen Daldry in feature films. He was Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre until recently and remains Director of their redevelopment.

Lee Hall is a prolific writer, having written not only for film, but theatre, television and radio. He is currently Pearson Writer in Residence for the Royal Shakespeare Company and wrote Spoonface Steinberg staged at the National Theatre. Lee was the toast of the 1999 Edinburgh Festival with Live Theatre's production of Cooking with Elvis which opened in the West End earlier this year starring Frank Skinner.