Why The Outrun film gets addiction and recovery right
Last month, I had the privilege of attending a private screening of The Outrun, which is celebrating its international release today after being rolled out in the UK last week. The Forward Trust invited special guests to an early-access viewing of the film, which is based on a best-selling memoir by Amy Liptrot, a previous Forward client.
As a Trustee of The Forward Trust, I was delighted to attend this event with colleagues from the organisation. It was a great opportunity to reinforce our mission which is reflected so beautifully in the film: we want to celebrate recovery and destigmatise addiction. CEO Mike Trace brilliantly pointed out that:
“Amy is an inspiring example of how recovery from addiction can produce life-changing transformation and insightful lessons – and in her case, a best-selling book and now a film!”
Being able to celebrate the work of someone who has been through one of our services felt like a real achievement.
This evening felt extra special to me for another reason. I began my career in films in the 1980s after dealing with my addiction to drugs and alcohol (I am now 42 years clean and sober). I set up my own company, Cowboy Films, in the late 80s and from there went on to produce music videos and films, most notably The Last King of Scotland, which won an Academy Award and several BAFTAs. I know all about the transformative power of storytelling and how films like The Outrun can help break down barriers for those with real-life struggles. Combining my passion for film and the work I do at Forward for an evening was a real reward for me.
This film is a heartfelt portrayal of addiction, weaving a narrative of courage, despair, and ultimately, hope. It was a real honour to be amongst the first to watch this stunning adaptation, which stars Saoirse Ronan and Paapa Essiedu.
Before the screening, I was delighted to host a Q&A with both Amy and the film’s Director, Nora Fingscheidt. As somebody who has worked in the film industry for years, it was wonderful to get an insight into how Nora worked to incorporate the reality of Amy’s recovery journey in a way that was honest but also cathartic. It felt like an enriching experience for myself, as well as the audience, to hear first-hand about how addiction had impacted Amy’s life and how hard she had to work to get to where she is today. It was lovely to hear that writing her story down and sharing it with others had played a part in that journey of recovery.
My thanks have to go to Studiocanal for setting up this wonderful event for us at The Forward Trust, Charlotte Street Hotel for being our hosts for the evening, and Amy and Nora for giving us their time.
It was a pleasure to attend such a wonderful evening to not only promote an exceptional film but to also raise awareness of addiction and the joy that recovery can bring. As we look ahead to the future at Forward, particularly towards events such as Addiction Awareness Week 2024, we can only hope to replicate the same message – recovery is possible.