'' Fish Tank '' is a 2009 British drama film written and directed by Andrea Arnold . The film is about Mia Williams , a volatile and socially isolated 15-year-old who lives with her single mother , Joanne . The mother 's new boyfriend , Conor , becomes a person of intrigue to Mia , which results in an illicit affair , as well as the heartbreaking revelation that Conor is not entirely what he seems . '' Fish Tank '' was well-received and won the Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival . It also won the 2010 BAFTA for Best British Film . It was filmed in the Mardyke Estate in Havering , the town of Rainham , and the A13 , and funded by BBC Films and the UK Film Council . The film was theatrically released on 11 September 2009 by Curzon Artificial Eye . '' Fish Tank '' featured on BBC 's The 21st Century 's 100 greatest films , ranking 65th on the list
2009 Cannes Film Festival
2009 Cannes Film Festival
Fish Tank (film)