Cannes Spotlight: ISH at the Cannes Marché
By The ImageApprovals Team ·
As the film world turns its attention to Cannes, we’re delighted to see ISH — a bold and intimate debut feature by Imran Perretta — included among this year’s compelling new voices.
About ISH
This striking coming-of-age drama explores friendship, identity and systemic injustice through the lens of two boys on the edge of adolescence. When a traumatic police stop tears their bond apart, Ish is left to navigate the emotional fallout in a world that doesn’t seem to see him, or those like him, clearly.
Produced by Primal Pictures in association with Home Team and Good Chaos, and supported by BBC Film and the BFI, ISH is as lyrically crafted as it is socially resonant. It marks a powerful transition for Perretta, whose moving image work has been exhibited internationally and acquired by major collections, including the Tate and Arts Council England. His work has been acknowledged through major accolades like the Turner Prize Bursary and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Artist Award.
ISH will feature in the BFI’s “GREAT 8” Showcase — a presentation of new UK feature films from some of the UK’s most exciting first-time and early career filmmakers to international distributors and festival programmers, taking place throughout this year’s Cannes Marché.
A Visual Language Rooted in Truth
Visually rich and emotionally layered, ISH continues Perretta’s practice of exploring marginalised experiences through sound and image. You might recognise his name from The Destructors, a short that toured major UK institutions, and his latest gallery work, A Riot in Three Acts, which is currently touring.
It’s been a privilege to support ISH through our secure image handling and cast approval tools. An often overlooked but vital part of protecting the trust and integrity of film productions, our platform helped ensure that the right images reached the right people — without compromising the creative vision behind them. We’re thrilled to see the film reach international audiences this season.
Photo credit: Zora Küttner
The Photographers and Publicity Team
None of this would be possible without the talented stills photographers — Khuram Mirza, Lara Cornell and Ikram Ahmed — along with the seasoned publicity team at Christelle & Co. PR, all working quietly behind the scenes. They capture and promote fleeting moments that become key to how a production presents itself to the world.
On a project like ISH, where tone and authenticity are everything, their eye is instrumental in building trust with cast and crew, and delivering material that reflects the film’s spirit faithfully. From capturing powerful stills to navigating scenes with care, they are a vital part of the image approval process — and we’re proud to support them to ensure their images move smoothly through approvals without losing their creative intent.
Why Talent Approvals Matter for Festival Films
Festival releases like ISH rely heavily on the quality and integrity of their publicity materials. A single poorly-handled image — one that misrepresents a performance, breaches a cast member’s approval rights, or arrives too late for press deadlines — can undermine months of work.
That’s why productions increasingly rely on a reliable talent approval system to manage these workflows: from the initial delivery of unit stills by the photographer, through to cast review, sign-off, and clearance for publication. Getting this right protects both the production and the performers — and ensures that the images in circulation do justice to the film they represent.
Need unit stills support for your next production? Whether you need help sourcing and scheduling your unit photographer, managing image delivery and talent approvals, or assistance with retouching or captioning, ImageApprovals is your one-stop shop for all things stills. Get in touch with our team today.