History of The Angels' Share in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 4, 2026

The Angels' Share, a 2012 Ken Loach film set in Glasgow, follows Robbie, a young offender seeking to change his life. After a community payback visit to a whisky distillery, he discovers a potential path to a better future through the world of fine whisky. Inspired, Robbie and his friends hatch a plan involving rare and valuable whisky. The film's title refers to the 'angels' share,' the whisky lost to evaporation during aging, symbolizing the themes of loss, redemption, and opportunity.

April 2011: Filming Started

In April 2011, filming for The Angels' Share commenced in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

September 2012: Blu-ray and DVD Release

In September 2012, Entertainment One released The Angels' Share on Blu-ray Disc and DVD in the United Kingdom.

2012: Cannes Film Festival

In 2012, The Angels' Share competed for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, where Ken Loach won the Jury Prize. Entertainment One also acquired the distribution rights for the United Kingdom and Ireland, where the film was released on June 1st.

2012: Critical Acclaim and Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival

In 2012, The Angels' Share received critical acclaim, with an 89% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 66 on Metacritic. The film also won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

2012: Comedy-drama film

In 2012, The Angels' Share, a comedy-drama film directed by Ken Loach and starring Paul Brannigan, John Henshaw, and William Ruane, was released. The film is set in Glasgow, Scotland, and tells the story of a young father who avoids a prison sentence and discovers a new path in life during a visit to a whisky distillery.