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Ken Loach

Directing Born Jun 17, 1936 Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, UK 146 credits

Biography

Kenneth Charles Loach is a retired British film director, screenwriter and producer. Born on 17 June 1936 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, he attended King Edward VI Grammar School and later read law at St Peter's College, Oxford, graduating with a third-class degree. Loach served in the Royal Air Force at the age of 19. He is known for directing films that address social issues such as poverty and labour rights. Loach has a career spanning multiple films, with 129 known credits.

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Career

Career overview

Kenneth Charles Loach is a retired British film director, screenwriter, and producer. Born on 17 June 1936 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, he attended King Edward VI Grammar School and later served in the Royal Air Force at the age of 19. Loach then read law at St Peter's College, Oxford, graduating with a third-class degree.

Loach's film career is marked by his humanist values and socialist political views, which are evident in his treatment of social issues. He has directed films that address poverty, homelessness, and labour rights. His known credits include films such as Poor Cow, Cathy Come Home, Riff-Raff, and The Navigators. Loach's work often focuses on the struggles of everyday people, reflecting his commitment to social justice.

Loach has a long and prolific career, with 129 known credits. His directing style and commitment to social issues have made him a notable figure in British cinema. Loach's work continues to be recognized for its thought-provoking portrayal of social issues, and he remains a respected figure in the film industry.

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Career timeline

Forgotten Spaceman · Executive Producer
Jane Austen: Rise of a GeniusPalestine 36 · ThanksThe Legend of the Palme d’Or Continues
Loach vs Corbyn: The Bad PatriotsCensoring PalestineUomini in MarciaThe Bad Patriots
Faut Voir - L'Hebdo cinémaThe Old Oak · DirectorCannes UncutI Get Knocked DownOh Jeremy Corbyn - The Big Lie
Reel BritanniaThatcher's Not DeadFilm: The Living Record of Our MemoryC'era una volta in Italia - Giacarta sta arrivando
Once upon a time... "I, Daniel Blake"A Bolsa ou a Vida
Victoria Wood: The Secret ListDrama Out of a Crisis: A Celebration of Play for Today
Sorry We Missed You · DirectorThe Great NHS HeistGreg Davies: Looking for Kes
Who Killed British Cinema?The Dream Palace: A People's History of Tyneside CinemaCzechMate: In Search of Jiří Menzel
Water and Sugar – Carlo Di Palma: The Colours of Life
John Bishop: In Conversation with...I, Daniel Blake · DirectorTo Make a Comedy Is No FunVersus: The Life and Films of Ken LoachIn Conversation With Jeremy Corbyn · Director
Il était une fois... « Rosetta »About Cinema
We Are ManyJimmy's Hall · DirectorIdyll · Writer
The Spirit of '45 · DirectorThe Spirit of '45 · Writer
SquareA Special DayThe Angels' Share · DirectorJordi Dauder, la revolució pendentCatastroika
The Story of Film: An OdysseyRoute Irish · Director
Making Kes
Looking for Eric · DirectorGreat DirectorsWhat Do You Know About MeVittorio D.Celuloide colectivo: el cine en guerra
40 x 15: The Forty Years of the Directors' Fortnight
British Film ForeverTo Each His Own Cinema · DirectorIt's a Free World... · DirectorIt's a Free World... · Producer
The Wind That Shakes the Barley · DirectorCarry On KenCarry On Ken
Tickets · DirectorMcLibel · Director
Ae Fond Kiss... · Director
Sweet Sixteen · DirectorSeptember 11 · DirectorSeptember 11 · Writer
The Navigators · DirectorKen and Rosa
Bread and Roses · Director
The Limey · Thanks
My Name Is Joe · DirectorAnother City: A Week in the Life of Bath's Football Club · Director
Citizen Ken Loach
Carla's Song · DirectorThe Flickering Flame · DirectorThe Flickering Flame · Screenplay

Full filmography

  • Forgotten Spaceman (2026) Executive Producer
  • Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius (2025) as Self
  • Palestine 36 (2025) Thanks
  • The Legend of the Palme d’Or Continues (2025) as Self
  • Loach vs Corbyn: The Bad Patriots (2024) as HIMSELF
  • Censoring Palestine (2024) as Self
  • Uomini in Marcia (2024)
  • The Bad Patriots (2024)
  • Faut Voir - L'Hebdo cinéma (2023) as Self - Guest
  • The Old Oak (2023) Director
  • Cannes Uncut (2023) as Self
  • I Get Knocked Down (2023) as Self
  • Oh Jeremy Corbyn - The Big Lie (2023) as (himself)
  • Ken Loach, le vent de la révolte (2023) as Self
  • Reel Britannia (2022) as Self
  • Thatcher's Not Dead (2022) as Self
  • Film: The Living Record of Our Memory (2022) as Self
  • C'era una volta in Italia - Giacarta sta arrivando (2022) as Sé stesso
  • Once upon a time... "I, Daniel Blake" (2021) as himself
  • A Bolsa ou a Vida (2021) as Self
  • Victoria Wood: The Secret List (2020) as Self
  • Drama Out of a Crisis: A Celebration of Play for Today (2020) as Self – Director
  • Sorry We Missed You (2019) Director
  • The Great NHS Heist (2019) as Himself
  • Greg Davies: Looking for Kes (2019) as Self
  • Who Killed British Cinema? (2018) as Self
  • The Dream Palace: A People's History of Tyneside Cinema (2018)
  • CzechMate: In Search of Jiří Menzel (2018) as Self
  • Water and Sugar – Carlo Di Palma: The Colours of Life (2017) as Self
  • John Bishop: In Conversation with... (2016) as Self
  • I, Daniel Blake (2016) Director
  • To Make a Comedy Is No Fun (2016) as Self
  • Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach (2016) as Self - Film Director
  • In Conversation With Jeremy Corbyn (2016) Director
  • In Conversation With Jeremy Corbyn (2016) Writer
  • In Conversation With Jeremy Corbyn (2016) Producer
  • How to Make a Ken Loach Film (2016) as self
  • Il était une fois... « Rosetta » (2015) as Self
  • About Cinema (2015) as Self
  • We Are Many (2014) as Self
  • Jimmy's Hall (2014) Director
  • Idyll (2014) Writer
  • The Spirit of '45 (2013) Director
  • The Spirit of '45 (2013) Writer
  • Square (2012) as Self
  • A Special Day (2012) as Self
  • The Angels' Share (2012) Director
  • Jordi Dauder, la revolució pendent (2012) as Himself
  • Catastroika (2012) as Self
  • The Story of Film: An Odyssey (2011) as Self
  • Route Irish (2011) Director
  • Making Kes (2010) as Self
  • Looking for Eric (2009) Director
  • Great Directors (2009) as Self
  • What Do You Know About Me (2009) as Self
  • Vittorio D. (2009) as Self
  • Celuloide colectivo: el cine en guerra (2009) as Himself
  • 40 x 15: The Forty Years of the Directors' Fortnight (2008) as Self
  • British Film Forever (2007)
  • To Each His Own Cinema (2007) Director
  • It's a Free World... (2007) Director
  • It's a Free World... (2007) Producer
  • The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) Director
  • Carry On Ken (2006)
  • Carry On Ken (2006)
  • Tickets (2005) Director
  • McLibel (2005) Director
  • Ae Fond Kiss... (2004) Director
  • Sweet Sixteen (2002) Director
  • September 11 (2002) Director
  • September 11 (2002) Writer
  • The Navigators (2001) Director
  • Ken and Rosa (2001) as Himself
  • Bread and Roses (2000) Director
  • The Limey (1999) Thanks
  • My Name Is Joe (1998) Director
  • Another City: A Week in the Life of Bath's Football Club (1998) Director
  • Citizen Ken Loach (1997) as Self
  • Carla's Song (1996) Director
  • The Flickering Flame (1996) Director
  • The Flickering Flame (1996) Screenplay
  • Modern Times (1995) Director
  • Land and Freedom (1995) Director
  • A Contemporary Case for Common Ownership (1995) Director
  • Ladybird Ladybird (1994) Director
  • Raining Stones (1993) Director
  • Riff-Raff (1991) Director
  • The Arthur Legend (1991) Director
  • Hidden Agenda (1990) Director
  • The Making of 'Hidden Agenda' (1990) as Self
  • The View from the Woodpile (1989) Director
  • The View from the Woodpile (1989) Producer
  • Time to Go (1989) Director
  • Dispatches (1987) Director
  • Split Screen (1986) Director
  • Fatherland (1986) Director
  • A Turnip Head's Guide To The British Cinema (1986) as Self
  • Television (1985)
  • Shooting from the Heart: Chris Menges, Cameraman (1985) as Self
  • Which Side Are You On? (1985) Director
  • Which Side Are You On? (1985) Producer
  • End of the Battle... Not the End of the War (1985) Director
  • The Red and the Blue (1983) Director
  • A Question of Leadership (1981) Producer
  • A Question of Leadership (1981) Director
  • Looks and Smiles (1981) Director
  • Auditions (1980) Producer
  • Auditions (1980) Director
  • The Gamekeeper (1980) Director
  • The Gamekeeper (1980) Writer
  • Question Time (1979) as Self - Panellist
  • Black Jack (1979) Director
  • Black Jack (1979) Writer
  • The Price of Coal, Part 1: Meet the People (1977) Director
  • The Price of Coal, Part 2: Back to Reality (1977) Director
  • Days of Hope (1975) Director
  • Full House (1972) Director
  • Full House (1972) Writer
  • Right to Work March (1972)
  • Film '72 (1971) as Self
  • Family Life (1971) Director
  • Talk About Work (1971) Director
  • The Rank and File (1971) Director
  • The Save the Children Fund Film (1971) Director
  • Play for Today (1970) Director
  • Kes (1970) Director
  • Kes (1970) Screenplay
  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969) Director
  • The Big Flame (1969) Director
  • The Golden Vision (1968) Director
  • Poor Cow (1967) Director
  • Poor Cow (1967) Screenplay
  • In Two Minds (1967) Director
  • Cathy Come Home (1966) Director
  • Cathy Come Home (1966) Screenplay
  • A Tap on the Shoulder (1965) Director
  • Up the Junction (1965) Director
  • The End of Arthur's Marriage (1965) Director
  • Three Clear Sundays (1965) Director
  • The Coming Out Party (1965) Director
  • Wear a Very Big Hat (1965) Director
  • The Wednesday Play (1964) Director
  • The Wednesday Play (1964) Writer
  • Diary of a Young Man (1964) Director
  • Teletale (1963) Director
  • Z-Cars (1962) Director