FROM PUB ROOTS TO THE PIT LANE
CALLIE COOKE
On a unusually hot June day in London, Callie Cooke arrives for our interview fresh off a long-haul flight, still buzzing from the world premiere of her latest project, F1: The Movie. Despite the jet lag, her energy is light, airy and brimming with excitement. Perhaps best known for her performances in British comedies, Callie is now shifting gears, quite literally, as she takes on the high-octane world of Formula 1 in her newest role.
We sat down to talk about everything from her comedic instincts and her time in the Doctor Who universe, to how she carves out space for play amidst a packed schedule. And yes, she had stories to tell about filming on live race tracks, psyching herself up for a scene alongside Brad Pitt, and the thrill of stepping into one of the most adrenaline-fueled roles of her career.
Working with partners across the city and the world to build on the MIF legacy, the wide-ranging, multi-artform programme of groundbreaking world premieres will inspire fresh perspectives, challenge conventional thought and invite audiences to ‘dream differently’ - envision new possibilities, brighter futures and utopian spaces. Presenting some of the most exciting creative minds of our generation, the programme champions indigenous artists and creators from the Global South, expanding the Festival’s renowned international impact as well as fostering deep connections with local artists and communities in the North West of England.
Creative Director at Factory International, Low Kee Hong says: “It has been an incredible journey building the MIF25 programme with such a diverse range of artists from around the world whose voices are ever more critical in these challenging times. They encourage us to lean into visions of other possible futures, encounter cosmologies unfamiliar to our own, and enter into worlds that propose a re-enchantment of dreaming to rediscover our ability for joy, hope and belief in each other and our communities to build these tomorrows we want to be part of.”
Blackhaine, Eric Cantona, Edgar Davids, Juliet Ellis, FAFSWAG, Andy Field and Becky Darlington, Ryan Gander, John Grant, Shilpa Gupta, Germaine Kruip, Juan Mata, Amir Nizar Nuabi, Ntombizodwa Nyoni, Orchestral Qawwali Project, Paul Pfieffer Keiken, The Royal Ballet, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Rosabel Tan, Ella Toone, Venture Arts, Jonathan Watkins, Ed Watson, Josh Willdigg and Santiago Yahuarcani are just some of the names who will be contributing to this extraordinary bi-annual celebration of creativity in 2025.
The Festival celebrates Manchester as a global hub of creative innovation, presenting work throughout the city and surrounding areas. MIF25 is a celebration of homegrown artists returning to the region with many of the artists programmed originally coming from the North West. As well as welcoming artists from all over the world to venues across Greater Manchester, the Festival is venturing further out than ever before with new work being presented in Rochdale and Wigan.
See the full MIF25 program here.
Photo Credits:
Festival Square - Photo by Mark Waugh
Football City, Art United - Photo by Stefano Boeri Architetti
An Inheritance - Photo by Greta van der Star