Hodgson and Dunleavy join Hoi Polloi

London-based production company Hoi Polloi has signed two new directors - Dan Hodgson [pictured left] and Aaron Dunleavy - to its roster.

24-year-old Dunleavy, who is based in Blackburn, blends casting real people and actors, using unscripted and improvised performances, street casting and often non-professional young actors. His first student short, Throw Me to the Dogs won 10 awards on the festival circuit, was distributed worldwide via MUBI, and awarded a 'Best of the Month' staff pick on Vimeo. His latest film, a short documentary titled T.W.A.T. (Tandem With A Trailer) was picked up by BBC3 while in production, and commissioned to be part of their Give Me A Voice strand. The film launched on the BBC3 Facebook page under the title Alfie, The Odd Job Boy of Clitheroe and received over 5 million views in the first three days of its release this summer.

Hodgson's short Love Is Blind was nominated for a Palme d’Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, a Moet British Independent Award for best British Short Film and was also featured on 'Short of the Week'. He is currently developing his debut feature with producer Lizzie Brown, and with development funding from the BFI.