Jon Ivay

Jon Ivay (born 1966) is an English writer, director, actor, and producer.

Ivay was born on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England, and grew up near the town of Blandford Forum. He studied at the Oxford School of Drama and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Early in his career, Ivay formed a theatrical production company (ITF Productions Ltd) with two friends. Over a nine-year period they produced over thirty-five national touring productions working with some of Britain's best known theatres and promising directors. Whilst with ITF, he wrote the stage plays Inside the Firm (Edinburgh Festival and the Queens theatre Hornchurch) which told the story of Tony Lambrianou's involvement with the Kray Twins and Freebird (Bristol Old Vic, Cockpit London, Pleasance - Edinburgh Festival and tour) a motorcycle based comedy.

After leaving ITF, Ivay adapted and directed the screen version of Freebird. Working with the producers and production team from the British movies Layer Cake and Kick-Ass. Freebird was shot in London, Hay-on- Wye, Brecon Wales and Los Angeles. The film starred Phil Daniels, Gary Stretch and Geoff Bell. Supporting cast included Peter Bowles, Arthur Brown (The Crazy World of Arthur Brown), Laila Rouass and Caroline Hunnisett. The film was released in cinemas across the UK in spring 2008. The film's London premiere was at the Empire, Leicester Square. Freebird's American premiere was at the Sunset 5 Movie Theater on Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles on the 27th of October 2008.

The film was an entry at the 2009 Academy Awards. In 2009 Freebird was screened at the Berlin and Cannes film festivals. The film was re-released on DVD in 2011 by Anchor Bay Entertainment as a Triple Bill along with Withnail and I and The Long Good Friday under the heading - The Brit Collection. The original soundtrack for the film was produced by Youth who also produced Urban Hymns by The Verve amongst many other notable British and world artists including Embrace, The Prodigy, Paul McCartney, Primal Scream, JAMES and The Cult. The soundtrack from the film was released in Spring 2010.

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