Showing posts with label Film Festival. Show all posts

An EIFF special presentation of The Talented Mr. Ripley

Brand Thumbnail EIFF announces a special presentation of The Talented Mr. Ripley

Recently I received a heads up that this years Edinburgh International Film Festival, the world’s oldest continually running film festival is putting on a special screening of one of my favourite films - The Talented Mr. Ripley, well it's more than a film it's part of Patricia Highsmith's legacy of intricate and compelling crime works, part of a long running thread of work interpreted by incredibly talented artists, Anthony Minghella's version is a tour de force of talent, set dressing, locations and story telling and has become quiet inseparable from the nostalgia of the time I first saw it. I can't believe how young the cast look in the trailer. Minghella's Ripley is not the only outstanding piece being presented and there are a number of interesting special events and screenings this year.

The EIFF's 2026 programme running from Thursday 13 to Wednesday 19 August will include talks from acclaimed documentary maker Ken Burns, actors Bruce Dern, Ewan McGregor, Sir Kenneth Branagh and Producer Christine Vachon.

As well as include a number of premieres such as; Paul Wright's Mission reuniting him with the George MacKay, Simon Ryninks's Out There with Alice Lowe, Aneurin Barnard, Iwan Rheon and Michael Sheen, Lindsey Ryan's Capsized with Lily Rabe, Rhys Ifans and Sarah Catherine Hook, Carlos Conceição's Bodyhackers, Chee Keong Cheung's Bad Day at the Office with John Hannah, Radha Mitchell and Tamer Hassan, Louis Paxton's The Incomer with Domhnall Gleeson, Gayle Rankin and John Hannah. Lance Hammer's Queen at Sea with Juliette Binoche Jake Kuhn, Noah Stratton-Twine's The Peril At Pincer Point and Nicolas Winding Refn's Her Private Hell with Sophie Thatcher and Dougray Scott.

Classic screenings will include the aforementioned The Talented Mr. Ripley, Jonathan Glazer's absolutely outstanding heist masterpiece Sexy Beast with Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, Amanda Redman, Julianne White, Ian McShane and James Fox. The unofficial 6th film in Daniel Craig's James Bond series Michael Bay's The Rock starring Sir Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, David Morse, William Forsythe and Michael Biehn. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting there will be both a regular and Special Live Event screening of Trainspotting. The Special Live Event will have cast and crew sharing their commentary on the making of Trainspotting live and will be followed by a club night with DJ sets from author Irvine Welsh and DJ Darren Emerson (Underworld).

Anthony Minghella's son Max will introduce the screening. Which hopefully means he is in the UK working on the next season of Industry.

French Film Festival UK 2022 starts next week across the UK

French Film Festival UK 2022 starts next week across the UK
 French Film Festival UK 2022 starts next week across the UK

The 30th-anniversary edition of the pioneering French Film Festival UK launches next week from 2 November to 15 December in 40 venues UK-wide and at home in partnership with Curzon. With 62 films screening from Edinburgh to London, this is the only French and francophone film festival in the UK.

With a strong focus on female filmmakers special guests include: Charlotte Gainsbourg and Blandine Lenoir. Veteran director Patrice Leconte will also be attending.

It looks like there are some terrific mix of new and classic films on show at the festival including: Full Time / À Plein Temps, The Passengers of the Night, The Best Years of a Life / Les Plus Belles Années d'une Vie, Maigret, Jane by Charlotte, Rodeo, Madame Bovary, Paris 13th District / Les Olympiades, Paris 13e, Between Two Worlds / Ouistreham, Everything Went Fine / Tout s'est bien passé, Both Sides of the Blade / Avec amour et acharnement.
Maigret - Gérard Depardieu is Jules Maigret

    Maigret - Gérard Depardieu is Jules Maigret


As well as some fantastic talent being represented like: Laure Calamy, Jean Louis Trintignant, Claude Lelouche, Finnegan Oldfield, Romain Duris, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin, Lola Quivoron, Claude Chabrol, Isabelle Huppert, Jacques Audiard, Juliette Binoche, François Ozon, Sophie Marceau, Claire Denis, Vincent Lindon,Gérard Depardieu, Tahar Rahim.

Return of the Outsider: Mike Hodges Retrospective & Special Screening at The BFI

Return of the Outsider: The Films of Mike Hodges Retrospective at The BFI & Special Screening of All at Sea
Return of the Outsider: The Films of Mike Hodges Retrospective at The BFI & Special Screening of All at Sea

I have a particular fascination with the films of Mike Hodges. Below I discuss my relationship with some of his films - in no great depth as I fully intend to re-watch his film and hopefully do deep dives on them here including the ones I don't mention.

I first saw his 1971 Get Carter in the late 80s and really didn’t like its stifling, dark and subversive tone or its eerily haunting soundtrack. Get Carter is based on a novel by British author Ted Lewis called Jack's Return Home and if you are a fan you may be interested in the two follow up novels Lewis wrote featuring Jack Carter - Jack Carter's Law and Jack Carter and the Mafia Pigeon.

I did however like his 1980 Flash Gordon which I managed to catch on the big screen at a Grindhouse repertory cinema. Initially lured in by Richard Amsel’s phenomenal poster art (which eventually ended up in my collection), and despite some dodgy special FX (state of the art for the time) I was swept away by it’s boldness, Queen’s loud thumping soundtrack and the thrilling science fantasy adventure as it rolled out, all while not taking its self too seriously.

Furthermore I could also appreciate Flash Gordon and the references to its comic & serial film history and how the film bridged its origins in a post Star Wars world. It was the “Marvel Superhero” film of it’s day and Flash Gordon’s vast output, still in regular print inspired many of the popular tropes we see in Science fiction and film today.

Sci-Fi-London Film Festival announce its 2022 Programme 19th May – 22nd May

Sci-Fi-London Film Festival announces its 22nd Annual Programme - 19th May – 22nd May
Sci-Fi-London Film Festival announces its 22nd Annual Programme - 19th May – 22nd May

It's that time of year were there is a buzz in the air and all the good stuff starts happening like Mondays's announcement from SCI-FI-LONDON about its upcoming 2022 programme which kicks off in less than 2 weeks and includes a classic and favourite of mine - the one and only SOYLENT GREEN as well as 3 World Premieres, 3 UK Premieres, 14 World Short Film Premieres and 13 UK Short Film Premieres.

That will be a jam-packed 4 days of Science fiction goodness running from Thursday 19th May until Sunday 22nd May 2022.

Some highlights are listed below but there is always a lot more on their full schedule.

London Short Film Festival announced! #LSFF2015 continues to challenge & entertain in its 12th year. 9-18th January - SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

London Short Film Festival 2015 The London Short Film Festival - "the best short film festival in the world.” according to The Guardian is back for its 12th year and it seems more determined than ever to challenge and entertain - on its quest to prove that the UK is a hotbed of film creativity.

The London Short Film Festival 2015 is set to take place from 9-18th January 2015 at various venues around London including: the ICA, Hackney Picturehouse and Oval Space. Over the 9 days of The London Short Film Festival 2015 they will be hosting a number of events and screenings, too many for me to to list but I have included the official press release further below or visit : http://shortfilms.org.uk/lsff12/events to browse the full The London Short Film Festival 2015 programme.

LSFF still prides itself on being the biggest showcase of UK short film. Away from the mainstream, UK film culture is alive with incredible artistes and original voices which will be showcased at this year’s Festival. The core programme of selected shorts will screen across Hackney Picturehouse and the ICA.

With 34 programmes of predominantly new UK work across all venues, this is a real snapshot of 21st century Britain: love stories, horror stories, comedy, documentary, music and lo-budget gems.

Our themed programmes include perennial favourites such as Fucked Up Love, Lo-Budget Mayhem, Night of the Living Docs, Surreal Worlds, Teenage Girls Go Crazy! and Funny Shit, to new kids on the block such as Tales of the Unexpected, WTF: Outside the Box, Gothic! and A Musical Box. Plus a chance to see longer work in Long[er] Docs and Short Longes.

The #LSFF2015 programme has something for everyone but if I may make a personal recommendation it's probably worth catching I FINK U FREEKY: The Cinematic Vision of Roger Ballen & Saskia Vredeveld on Sat 10 Jan 18:00 at the ICA.

I Fink U Freeky - Roger Ballen & Ninja & Yolandi Visser
I Fink U Freeky - Roger Ballen & Ninja & Yolandi Visser
"Roger Ballen is one of the most influential and important photographic artists of the 21st century, spanning over a forty year career in South Africa before his video for Die Antwoord, I FINK U FREEKY, received over 55 million hits on YouTube in 2012."

Saskia Vredeveld is a South African filmmaker who lives in Amsterdam, with over 20 years of documentary experience."

More than likely it will be on the challenging side of the spectrum more than the entertaining but his striking and engaging visuals will certainly make an impact on you in a similar vein to David Lynch or Harmony Korine.

After the screening, they'll be showing a selection of music videos by Die Antwoord, followed by a guest DJ set by post-pitbull maximal house terrorists, Bear Nang in the bar.

We’re not here to entertain you, we’re here to make you feel uncomfortable” - Viv Albertine, after Luis Buñuel)

London Short Film Festival 2015
London Short Film Festival 2015

9 Days till The Greenhorn Short Film Festival 2014 - UPCOMING EVENTS

Greenhorn Short Film Festival 2014 London's pioneering festival for emerging film talent, Greenhorn Short Film Festival, returns in just 9 Days, taking place between 16th - 18th November to showcase and celebrate the creme-de-la-creme of newcomers to the world of film.

Returning for its fourth year Greenhorn Short Film Festival is bigger and better than ever before. Now being held over three days from 16-18 November Greenhorn has moved to the newly opened Arthouse Crouch End, a dynamic cross arts cinema venue. This year’s Festival sees a host of screenings, panel discussions, special live events, workshops and chances for filmmakers and audiences to mingle and meet.
Greenhorn is stimulating, original, healthily anarchic and sharp as a row of needles. In short, a breath of fresh air’ - Greenhorn’s Patron, writer and director Mike Leigh.
Greenhorn Short Film Festival
Greenhorn Short Film Festival

Short Sighted Cinema @ The Ritzy presents: DYSTOPIAN DISTURBIA 18th Nov - UPCOMING EVENTS

Short Sighted Cinema DYSTOPIAN DISTURBIA After a sell-out event at the Hackney Attic last month, Short Sighted Cinema are returning to their home at Upstairs at the Ritzy for an end-of-year showdown. On the 18th of November Short Sighted Cinema will present DYSTOPIAN DISTURBIA, a night of short film from the very vest emerging British filmmakers, mixed with beautifully dark animation, majestic music videos and spine-tingling drama. The evenings proceedings will include a screening of Gergely Wootsch's phenomenal music video for the SAVAGES - Marshal Dear.

SAVAGES - MARSHALL DEAR - Gergly Wootch
SAVAGES - MARSHALL DEAR - Gergly Wootch
Delve into the darkness and join Short Sighted Cinema for a night of stunning films that explore the shades and shadows of the human condition Followed on by drinks and an interrogation of the filmmakers.

Bond writers Neil Purvis and Robert Wade confirm their departure from the James Bond franchise

Neil Purvis Robert Wade leaving BondSadly it looks like the partnership between Neil Purvis and Robert Wade, the writers behind a number of Bond films (Skyfall, Quantum of Solace & Casino Royale as well as Die Another Day, The World Is Not Enough and Johnny English) and James Bond has come to an end.

Granted Die Another Day and The World Is Not Enough may be more about spectacle than story, they have certainly brought Bond back to relevancy and where he belongs with their most recent works. So as mentioned in the official release below bowing out on an all time high with Skyfall smashing the box office and becoming the most successful Bond film in history may be a good time.

DTFF 2012 Masterclass with Neil Purvis and Robert Wade panel
DTFF 2012 - Neil Purvis (L) and Robert Wade (R) at 'Masterclass with Neil Purvis and Robert Wade' panel - Getty (ZOOM)
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