Philomena (film)

Philomena
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Stephen Frears
Produced by	Gabrielle Tana Steve Coogan Tracey Seaward
Screenplay by	Steve Coogan Jeff Pope
Based on	The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by Martin Sixsmith
Starring	Judi Dench Steve Coogan
Music by	Alexandre Desplat
Cinematography	Robbie Ryan
Edited by	Valerio Bonelli
Distributed by	Pathé (United Kingdom) The Weinstein Company (United States)
Release date	31 August 2013 (2013-08-31) (Venice) 1 November 2013 (2013-11-01) (United Kingdom)
Running time	98 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$12 million
Box office	$100.1 million

Philomena is a 2013 British drama film directed by Stephen Frears, based on the book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by journalist Martin Sixsmith. Starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, it tells the true story of Philomena Lee's 50-year search for her forcibly adopted son and Sixsmith's efforts to help her find him. The film was co-produced in the United States and the United Kingdom. It gained critical acclaim and received several international film awards. Coogan and Jeff Pope won Best Screenplay at the 70th Venice International Film Festival. It was also awarded the People's Choice Award Runner-Up prize at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.

The film was nominated in four categories at the 86th Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay for Coogan and Pope, Best Actress for Dench, and Best Original Score for Desplat. It was also nominated for four BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.

London based journalist Martin Sixsmith has lost his job as a government adviser. He is approached at a party by the daughter of Philomena Lee. She suggests that he write a story about her mother, who was forced to give up her toddler son Anthony nearly fifty years ago. Though Sixsmith is initially reluctant in writing a human interest story, he meets Philomena and decides to investigate her case.