LEXUS IF (INSIDE FILM) AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT
Gettin’ Square and Japanese Story, the people’s choice in Australian film
Winners for the 2003 Lexus IF (Inside Film) Awards were announced in Sydney earlier this month, at a prestigious event staged at Wharf 8 in Pyrmont. Hosted by Deborah Mailman, the live broadcast was followed by a celebratory party presented by Autore South Sea Pearls. Gettin' Square and Japanese Story earned the highest accolades on the night. Japanese Story collected four IF awards including Best Film, Best Direction, Best Actress and Best Cinematography. Gettin' Square won five IF awards including Best Actor, Best Script, Best Music, Best Sound and Best Editing.
This year's star studded awards event was attended by luminaries of the Australian film industry and supported by high profile identities from fashion, art and music. Guests included Toni Collette, Deborah Mailman, Geoffrey Rush, Stephen Fry, Bryan Brown, Rachel Ward, Claudia Karvan, Rose Byrne, Rachael Blake, Barry Otto, Helen Buday, Kick Gurry, Leona Edmiston, Sigrid Thornton, Jill Bilcock, Robert Connolly, Akira Isogawa, Sophie Lee, Peter Morrissey, The Hon. Bob Carr MP, Sarah Jane Clarke, Heidi Middleton, Peta Wilson, Gillian Armstrong, Sam Worthington and Jan Chapman.
The winner of the SHOWTIME IF Award for Best Feature Film is Japanese Story (Prod: Sue Maslin)
Sue Brooks was awarded the Animal Logic IF Award for Best Direction for Japanese Story.
Gettin' Square's Chris Nyst won the Mushroom Pictures IF Award for Best Script.
The winner for the Kodak IF Award for Best Cinematography was Ian Baker for Japanese Story.
The Autore South Sea Pearls IF Award for Best Actor was awarded to David Wenham for his unforgettable performance in Gettin' Square.
Toni Collette's powerful performance in Japanese Story earned her the Instyle IF Award for Best Actress.
The winner of the Gray & Perkins Lawyers IF Award for Best Short Film was Roy Höllsdotter Live (Prod: Trevor Blainey and Dir: Matthew Saville).
The winner of the Rising Sun Pictures IF Award for Best Animation went to Ward 13 (Prod / Dir: Peter Cornwell).
The Odyssey Channel IF Award for Best Short Documentary was awarded to Painting With Light in a Dark World (Prod: Renata Shuman and Dir: Sascha Ettinger).
Wildness (Prod: Michael McMahon and Dir: Scott Millwood) was awarded the Discovery Channel IF Award for Best Documentary.
The Yalumba Independent Spirit Award was awarded to Khoa Do for his powerful debut feature The Finished People.
The winner of the Ztudio What IF? Award for Best Unproduced Screenplay was Rie Natalenko for Heloise.
The BMG IF Award for Best Music went to Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab and 3K Short from Machine Gun Fellatio for Gettin' Square.
The winners of the Tracks IF Award for Best Sound were John Schiefelbein, Antony Gray and Ian McLoughlin for Gettin' Square.
The LaB sydney IF Award for Best Production Design was awarded to Steven Jones-Evans for Ned Kelly.
The Frameworks IF Award for Best Editing went to Ken Sallows ASE for Gettin' Square.
Jill Bilcock was recognised for her outstanding contribution to the Australian film industry as an editor, as the recipient of the Freixenet Living Legend IF Award.
Australian comedy, Crackerjack, was awarded the Film Finance Corporation Australia IF Award for Box Office Achievement.
Matthew Saville was awarded the Lexus IF Award for Rising Talent for his comic writing and directing talent shown in his short film Roy Höllsdotter Live. His short feature was screened this year at the Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide film festivals and on SBS. In June 2003, the film won the Dendy Award for Best Short Film (over 15mins) at the Sydney Film Festival and Best Original Script for Television at the 2003 Australian Writers' Guild Awards, and has been nominated for two AFI awards.
The Inside Film Magazine IF Award for Film Festival of the Year was awarded to Popcorn Taxi.
Lexus IF Awards 2003, started by Inside Film (IF) magazine and now in their fifth year, are the people's choice awards for Australian film and are recognised as a major event on the entertainment industry calendar. Deborah Mailman hosted the prestigious awards ceremony held on Wednesday November 12th at Wharf 8, Sydney.
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
TROY
Troy is inspired by Homer's The Iliad, it stars Brad Pitt as unconquerable hero Achilles. Director Wolfgang Petersen commented: "Brad has both the talent and the magnetism to make Achilles believable as a tremendous warrior and charismatic leader without sacrificing his humanity in the process". The film's outstanding cast boasts both rising talent and illustrious veterans.
Prince Hector is played by Eric Bana, star of Ang Lee's Hulk. Orlando Bloom, who first received widespread acclaim for his work in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, plays the recklessly charming Prince Paris. Diane Kruger is Helen, the queen whose beauty launched a thousand ships, and Brendan Gleeson plays Menelaus, the king she left behind. The avaricious King Agamemnon is played by distinguished actor Brian Cox. Also joining the cast as Achilles' mother Thetis and King Priam of Troy are cinematic luminaries Julie Christie, winner of the Best Actress Oscar for her starring role in Darling, and Peter O'Toole, himself a seven-time Academy Award nominee and the recipient of an honorary Oscar for his contributions to cinema history. Petersen is grateful to have a cast of the highest calibre. "We're fortunate to have a blend of very talented new actors who are on the verge of becoming major stars, in the company of widely renowned established actors," says the director.
Troy will be released in the UK early Summer 2004
Troy is inspired by Homer's The Iliad, it stars Brad Pitt as unconquerable hero Achilles. Director Wolfgang Petersen commented: "Brad has both the talent and the magnetism to make Achilles believable as a tremendous warrior and charismatic leader without sacrificing his humanity in the process". The film's outstanding cast boasts both rising talent and illustrious veterans.
Prince Hector is played by Eric Bana, star of Ang Lee's Hulk. Orlando Bloom, who first received widespread acclaim for his work in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, plays the recklessly charming Prince Paris. Diane Kruger is Helen, the queen whose beauty launched a thousand ships, and Brendan Gleeson plays Menelaus, the king she left behind. The avaricious King Agamemnon is played by distinguished actor Brian Cox. Also joining the cast as Achilles' mother Thetis and King Priam of Troy are cinematic luminaries Julie Christie, winner of the Best Actress Oscar for her starring role in Darling, and Peter O'Toole, himself a seven-time Academy Award nominee and the recipient of an honorary Oscar for his contributions to cinema history. Petersen is grateful to have a cast of the highest calibre. "We're fortunate to have a blend of very talented new actors who are on the verge of becoming major stars, in the company of widely renowned established actors," says the director.
Troy will be released in the UK early Summer 2004
Filmmaking School
November 29 to 30, 2003, Raindance welcomes Dov S-S Simens – internationally recognised as the world’s leading independent filmmaking instructor – back to London for his acclaimed Two-Day Hollywood Film School™.
Quentin Tarantino, Baz Luhrman, Guy Ritchie, Chris Nolan, Phillipa Braithwaite and Robert Rodriguez are just a few names from a long list of phenomenally successful directors who launched their filmmaking careers after participating in Dov S-S Simens’ intensive filmmaking course. Other high-profile attendees have included Michael Jackson, Queen Latifah and Will Smith.
Over one weekend Dov will teach budding filmmakers everything they need to know about how to make a movie - from producing, directing and shooting to marketing, financing and distributing it.
Dov S-S Simens is an award-winning filmmaker with over fifteen years of hands-on experience in the independent film industry. He has taught thousands of filmmakers across the world in his trademark no-nonsense, straight-talking style - with recent graduates of the workshop going on to produce or distribute films such as Blair Witch Project, Memento, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Barbershop.
For details tel: 0207 7387 3833
Visit: www.raindance.co.uk
November 29 to 30, 2003, Raindance welcomes Dov S-S Simens – internationally recognised as the world’s leading independent filmmaking instructor – back to London for his acclaimed Two-Day Hollywood Film School™.
Quentin Tarantino, Baz Luhrman, Guy Ritchie, Chris Nolan, Phillipa Braithwaite and Robert Rodriguez are just a few names from a long list of phenomenally successful directors who launched their filmmaking careers after participating in Dov S-S Simens’ intensive filmmaking course. Other high-profile attendees have included Michael Jackson, Queen Latifah and Will Smith.
Over one weekend Dov will teach budding filmmakers everything they need to know about how to make a movie - from producing, directing and shooting to marketing, financing and distributing it.
Dov S-S Simens is an award-winning filmmaker with over fifteen years of hands-on experience in the independent film industry. He has taught thousands of filmmakers across the world in his trademark no-nonsense, straight-talking style - with recent graduates of the workshop going on to produce or distribute films such as Blair Witch Project, Memento, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Barbershop.
For details tel: 0207 7387 3833
Visit: www.raindance.co.uk
The Third Harry Potter
Warner Bros. Pictures is pleased is announce the summer release of the feature film of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third in the series of films based on J.K. Rowling's hugely popular novels. Academy Award nominee Alfonso Cuarón (Y Tu Mamá También) takes the helm as director with David Heyman, Chris Columbus and Mark Radcliffe as producers. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione return as teenagers to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner who poses a dangerous threat to the young wizard.
The story reunites Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in this third film as Harry, Ron and Hermione. The cast is joined by Gary Oldman, who plays the ominous figure of Sirius Black, Michael Gambon who takes on the role of Hogwart's revered Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Julie Christie who plays the role of the big-hearted Three Broomsticks pub barmaid Madam Rosmerta and Emma Thompson as the eccentric Professor of Divination, Sibyll Trelawney.
Release date : June 2004
Warner Bros. Pictures is pleased is announce the summer release of the feature film of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third in the series of films based on J.K. Rowling's hugely popular novels. Academy Award nominee Alfonso Cuarón (Y Tu Mamá También) takes the helm as director with David Heyman, Chris Columbus and Mark Radcliffe as producers. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione return as teenagers to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner who poses a dangerous threat to the young wizard.
The story reunites Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in this third film as Harry, Ron and Hermione. The cast is joined by Gary Oldman, who plays the ominous figure of Sirius Black, Michael Gambon who takes on the role of Hogwart's revered Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Julie Christie who plays the role of the big-hearted Three Broomsticks pub barmaid Madam Rosmerta and Emma Thompson as the eccentric Professor of Divination, Sibyll Trelawney.
Release date : June 2004
LOVE, SEX AND DEATH
Actor Ian Hart (Harry Potter), Ricky Tomlinson (Royale Family) and Singer Jarvis Cocker star in eight award winning short films due to be aired on Granada TV later this month.
Chris Bisson (former Coronation Street and East is East star) presents the series of short films about love, sex and death. The eight films, which were recently screened in New York as part of the Transatlantic Express, are the winning entries in the first round of digital shorts from visionary writers, directors and producers from the North West of England.
North West Vision funded the films, in association with the Film Councils New Cinema Fund. Each film was shot on location in the region using professional cast and crew, receiving support from many of our first class facilities and film friendly locations.
Alice Morrison, Chief Executive of North West Vision:
“ The digital shorts scheme is designed to encourage new, fresh, innovative and inventive ways of telling stories utilising digital technology. These eight films do exactly that and we are pleased that Granada TV is giving our North West film makers a platform for their work”.
The films will be shown on Granada TV on Friday the 14th, 21st and 28th November 2003 at 11.30pm.
Actor Ian Hart (Harry Potter), Ricky Tomlinson (Royale Family) and Singer Jarvis Cocker star in eight award winning short films due to be aired on Granada TV later this month.
Chris Bisson (former Coronation Street and East is East star) presents the series of short films about love, sex and death. The eight films, which were recently screened in New York as part of the Transatlantic Express, are the winning entries in the first round of digital shorts from visionary writers, directors and producers from the North West of England.
North West Vision funded the films, in association with the Film Councils New Cinema Fund. Each film was shot on location in the region using professional cast and crew, receiving support from many of our first class facilities and film friendly locations.
Alice Morrison, Chief Executive of North West Vision:
“ The digital shorts scheme is designed to encourage new, fresh, innovative and inventive ways of telling stories utilising digital technology. These eight films do exactly that and we are pleased that Granada TV is giving our North West film makers a platform for their work”.
The films will be shown on Granada TV on Friday the 14th, 21st and 28th November 2003 at 11.30pm.
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
Morgan Creek
Morgan Creek has just signed a 3-year-long distribution deal with Universal and is making radical changes in the boardroom. We got the opportunity to speak to their newly appointed President of Production, Brad Luff, about these developments. See the feature at:
http://www.talkingpix.co.uk/ArticleMorganCreek.html
Reviews
Remember every week we are adding new (and old) reviews to our Reviews page (that sounds logical even to me). This week we've added Martyn Bamber's review of Cabin Fever and Alan Pavelin's review of The Life of Oharu. We have also added Martyn's review of the latest Matrix movie to Howard Schumann's reviews of the full trilogy. Nearly every week Howard Schumann contributes 3 or more reviews, and they are always worth looking out for.
Whether you are an amateur or professional writer we always welcome your contributions to Talking Pictures.
Funding
Like most websites we are always looking for grants or funding. If you know of any possibilities in this direction let us know. Contact us at: valis23a@aol.com
Morgan Creek has just signed a 3-year-long distribution deal with Universal and is making radical changes in the boardroom. We got the opportunity to speak to their newly appointed President of Production, Brad Luff, about these developments. See the feature at:
http://www.talkingpix.co.uk/ArticleMorganCreek.html
Reviews
Remember every week we are adding new (and old) reviews to our Reviews page (that sounds logical even to me). This week we've added Martyn Bamber's review of Cabin Fever and Alan Pavelin's review of The Life of Oharu. We have also added Martyn's review of the latest Matrix movie to Howard Schumann's reviews of the full trilogy. Nearly every week Howard Schumann contributes 3 or more reviews, and they are always worth looking out for.
Whether you are an amateur or professional writer we always welcome your contributions to Talking Pictures.
Funding
Like most websites we are always looking for grants or funding. If you know of any possibilities in this direction let us know. Contact us at: valis23a@aol.com
Friday, November 14, 2003
NORTH WEST CELEBRITIES VISIT HOUSE OF COMMONS
A host of North West celebrities will be uniting at the House of Commons next week (19/11/03) to -help raise the profile of the media industry in England’s North West.
Jonny Vegas (Comedian), Sue Johnston (Royale Family) and William Roache (Ken Barlow, Coronation Street) are just some of the well-known names that will be showing their support at the event organised by North West Vision and the North West Development agency.
The aim of the event, which will be hosted by Phil Woolas MP, is to showcase the North West’s Media industry to MP’s and influential decision makers from the world of media.
England’s North West already has a thriving media industry and has been home to an array of fantastic productions and produced a host of talented performers. The industry is the largest outside London with 11% of all network programming being produced in the Northwest, including Hollyoaks, Cold Feet, The Forsyte Saga and Coronation Street. Just recently Manchester and Liverpool were home to the remake of Alfie, starring Brit actor Jude Law. Both cities doubled up as New York for a two week shooting period and £1.5 million was ploughed into the local economy as a result.
Contributing hundreds of millions of pounds to the regional economy, the future of the Film and TV industry is both vital to, and a great opportunity for, the Northwest. Growing confidence in the region’s productions and new investment in skills training is creating a strong base for a new generation of visionary entrepreneurs.
Steve Morrison, Chair of North West Vision and owner of Chrysalis TV said:
"We are delighted that the TV and Film industry in the Northwest has such support and generates such interest amongst our local MPS. It is a great sign of the strength of the industry that some of the best-loved names in TV will be there to help North West Vision explain its plans for growing the talent and businesses in the region."
Gaining the support of top decision makers at this event is vital to maintaining a strong and healthy media industry in England’s North West.
A host of North West celebrities will be uniting at the House of Commons next week (19/11/03) to -help raise the profile of the media industry in England’s North West.
Jonny Vegas (Comedian), Sue Johnston (Royale Family) and William Roache (Ken Barlow, Coronation Street) are just some of the well-known names that will be showing their support at the event organised by North West Vision and the North West Development agency.
The aim of the event, which will be hosted by Phil Woolas MP, is to showcase the North West’s Media industry to MP’s and influential decision makers from the world of media.
England’s North West already has a thriving media industry and has been home to an array of fantastic productions and produced a host of talented performers. The industry is the largest outside London with 11% of all network programming being produced in the Northwest, including Hollyoaks, Cold Feet, The Forsyte Saga and Coronation Street. Just recently Manchester and Liverpool were home to the remake of Alfie, starring Brit actor Jude Law. Both cities doubled up as New York for a two week shooting period and £1.5 million was ploughed into the local economy as a result.
Contributing hundreds of millions of pounds to the regional economy, the future of the Film and TV industry is both vital to, and a great opportunity for, the Northwest. Growing confidence in the region’s productions and new investment in skills training is creating a strong base for a new generation of visionary entrepreneurs.
Steve Morrison, Chair of North West Vision and owner of Chrysalis TV said:
"We are delighted that the TV and Film industry in the Northwest has such support and generates such interest amongst our local MPS. It is a great sign of the strength of the industry that some of the best-loved names in TV will be there to help North West Vision explain its plans for growing the talent and businesses in the region."
Gaining the support of top decision makers at this event is vital to maintaining a strong and healthy media industry in England’s North West.
The Lowdown
New On Talking Pictures
We are pleased to present Emma Dixon's new weekly column 'The Lowdown' on Talking Pictures. It covers film, TV, music, literature and anything else happening in the world of arts and entertainment. View it at:
http://www.talkingpix.co.uk/ColumnLowdown1.html
First Animators in Residence Announced for Bradford
The National Museum of Photography, Film & Television have announced the four animators chosen for this year's Animator in Residence scheme.
The winners were announced at the launch event on Thursday 13 November with the guests also having a sneak preview of the new animation gallery where they will be based, sharing the space with Wallace and Gromit, the Wombles and many other icons of British animation.
AIR is Channel 4's Animator in Residence Scheme run in conjunction with the National Museum for Photography Film & Television in Bradford. AIR supports the creative development work of talented animation graduates with a particular focus on the craft of the discipline. 4 animators are chosen to work in an animation booth, situated in the new animation gallery. Here they
develop their own original idea for a short animated film into a proposal for Channel 4 for commission.
This year's winners are:
Reena Kalsi
1 November - 31 January
Benji Davies
1 February - 30 April
Laura Heit
1 May - 31 July
Alys Hawkins
1 August - 31 October
Ben Turner, Creative director at Cosgrove Hall Films, one of this year's judges, said 'This year saw a fascinating diversity of original ideas, styles and techniques from all over Britain. The artists and animators selected will put on a great show of creativity in Bradford. Do go and see them...get inspired!'
The night's announcements were followed by screenings of all the completed films from Year 12 (2001 - 02) and the development pieces from Year 13 (2002 - 03) of the scheme. All of the year 12 completed AIR scheme films have been commissioned by Channel Four and will be screened in the in the 7.55pm slot (press week 48) as follows:
Monday 24th November 2003
AIR: New Balls Please
Contract No: 36030
Director: Richard James Producer: Jayne Bevitt, Sherbet Productions
Temperatures rise on Centre Court as a new talent turns up the heat.
Tuesday 25th November 2003
AIR: Big Feet
Director: Clare Harford Producer: Phil Davies, Creative Film Productions
A teenage girl longs for big feet and decides to have a foot enlargement
operation.
Wednesday 26th November 2003
AIR: Moo(n)
Director: Leigh Hodgkinson. Producer: Maria Manton, Slinky Pictures
Relief for the common cold
Thursday 27th November 2003
AIR: The Girl and the Horse
Director: Rebecca Manley. Producer: Chris Shepherd, Slinky Pictures
The friendship between a girl and a horse grows and fills the void.
Bill Lawrence, Head of Film at the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, said: 'King Kong, Gromit, Micky Mouse and Popeye - 4 of the greatest stars of the 20th Century. But all arose from the mind of the animator. NMPFT is proud and delighted to be part of a new beginning in animation, seeking the great talents for the 21st Century, the creators of the global stars of the next 50 years. Our thanks to Channel Four for sharing this development with us and to animators for baring their imaginations to visitors to the Museum."
New On Talking Pictures
We are pleased to present Emma Dixon's new weekly column 'The Lowdown' on Talking Pictures. It covers film, TV, music, literature and anything else happening in the world of arts and entertainment. View it at:
http://www.talkingpix.co.uk/ColumnLowdown1.html
First Animators in Residence Announced for Bradford
The National Museum of Photography, Film & Television have announced the four animators chosen for this year's Animator in Residence scheme.
The winners were announced at the launch event on Thursday 13 November with the guests also having a sneak preview of the new animation gallery where they will be based, sharing the space with Wallace and Gromit, the Wombles and many other icons of British animation.
AIR is Channel 4's Animator in Residence Scheme run in conjunction with the National Museum for Photography Film & Television in Bradford. AIR supports the creative development work of talented animation graduates with a particular focus on the craft of the discipline. 4 animators are chosen to work in an animation booth, situated in the new animation gallery. Here they
develop their own original idea for a short animated film into a proposal for Channel 4 for commission.
This year's winners are:
Reena Kalsi
1 November - 31 January
Benji Davies
1 February - 30 April
Laura Heit
1 May - 31 July
Alys Hawkins
1 August - 31 October
Ben Turner, Creative director at Cosgrove Hall Films, one of this year's judges, said 'This year saw a fascinating diversity of original ideas, styles and techniques from all over Britain. The artists and animators selected will put on a great show of creativity in Bradford. Do go and see them...get inspired!'
The night's announcements were followed by screenings of all the completed films from Year 12 (2001 - 02) and the development pieces from Year 13 (2002 - 03) of the scheme. All of the year 12 completed AIR scheme films have been commissioned by Channel Four and will be screened in the in the 7.55pm slot (press week 48) as follows:
Monday 24th November 2003
AIR: New Balls Please
Contract No: 36030
Director: Richard James Producer: Jayne Bevitt, Sherbet Productions
Temperatures rise on Centre Court as a new talent turns up the heat.
Tuesday 25th November 2003
AIR: Big Feet
Director: Clare Harford Producer: Phil Davies, Creative Film Productions
A teenage girl longs for big feet and decides to have a foot enlargement
operation.
Wednesday 26th November 2003
AIR: Moo(n)
Director: Leigh Hodgkinson. Producer: Maria Manton, Slinky Pictures
Relief for the common cold
Thursday 27th November 2003
AIR: The Girl and the Horse
Director: Rebecca Manley. Producer: Chris Shepherd, Slinky Pictures
The friendship between a girl and a horse grows and fills the void.
Bill Lawrence, Head of Film at the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, said: 'King Kong, Gromit, Micky Mouse and Popeye - 4 of the greatest stars of the 20th Century. But all arose from the mind of the animator. NMPFT is proud and delighted to be part of a new beginning in animation, seeking the great talents for the 21st Century, the creators of the global stars of the next 50 years. Our thanks to Channel Four for sharing this development with us and to animators for baring their imaginations to visitors to the Museum."
Friday, November 07, 2003
11th RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
**Record Breaking Attendances at 11th Raindance Film Festival
The 11th Raindance Film Festival has broken all previous attendance records with screenings averaging 70% audience attendance - a figure which is up 40% from last year.
The quality of films screened at this year's festival has led to audiences commenting that Raindance have this year offered the best selection of films than ever before - over 300 have been screened from all over the world.
**You Saw Them Here First...
Raindance Film Festival is renowned as a place for the discovery of films, often screening titles which go on to become box office hits months after the festival.
After screening at Raindance, Mexican film A Beautiful Secret sparked a bidding war for European distribution rights. The film, which moved some members of Raindance audiences to tears, opens in Mexico next week on an unheard of 450 screens.
Other audience favourites were UK horror picture The Last Horror Movie, Christina Ricci starrer Miranda and French film Malefique.
CLOSING NIGHT RAINDANCE
**Samantha Morton and Sadie Frost attend Jury Prize Awards
Raindance Film Festival will tonight recognise and reward the most outstanding films of this year's festival with the annual Jury Prizes, to be announced before the screening of closing night film 16 Years of Alcohol.
Prizes will be awarded for the best films in the following categories, as voted by the Raindance Jury Panel which this year included Samantha Morton, Trudi Styler, Sadie Frost and Rankin: Official Selection Feature, Official Selection Short, UK Feature, UK Short, Debut Feature and Documentary. The Raindance Audience Award will also be presented to the most popular film amongst Raindance audiences at this year's festival.
**BIFA Winning Director Introduces Closing Night Film
Richard Jobson, who took the Award for Best Directorial Debut at Tuesday's BIFA awards, will introduce closing night film 16 Years of Alcohol, the film on which his talents were recognised.
The film takes the audience on a journey into the violent world of Frankie Mac, and his 16 years of suffering as an alcoholic from boyhood to manhood. It is a painfully real piece of work, with the camerawork and direction beautifully capturing the city of Edinburgh where the film is set.
**Celebrate a Record Breaking Raindance at the Closing Night Gala Party
The Raindance Film Festival has, over the past two weeks, brought over 300 of the best independent films from the UK, Europe and the rest of the world to audiences, in the festival which has seen attendance records broken at many of the screenings and events. To celebrate the closing night of the 11th annual festival Raindance are hosting the Closing Night party at Rouge Nightclub.
**Record Breaking Attendances at 11th Raindance Film Festival
The 11th Raindance Film Festival has broken all previous attendance records with screenings averaging 70% audience attendance - a figure which is up 40% from last year.
The quality of films screened at this year's festival has led to audiences commenting that Raindance have this year offered the best selection of films than ever before - over 300 have been screened from all over the world.
**You Saw Them Here First...
Raindance Film Festival is renowned as a place for the discovery of films, often screening titles which go on to become box office hits months after the festival.
After screening at Raindance, Mexican film A Beautiful Secret sparked a bidding war for European distribution rights. The film, which moved some members of Raindance audiences to tears, opens in Mexico next week on an unheard of 450 screens.
Other audience favourites were UK horror picture The Last Horror Movie, Christina Ricci starrer Miranda and French film Malefique.
CLOSING NIGHT RAINDANCE
**Samantha Morton and Sadie Frost attend Jury Prize Awards
Raindance Film Festival will tonight recognise and reward the most outstanding films of this year's festival with the annual Jury Prizes, to be announced before the screening of closing night film 16 Years of Alcohol.
Prizes will be awarded for the best films in the following categories, as voted by the Raindance Jury Panel which this year included Samantha Morton, Trudi Styler, Sadie Frost and Rankin: Official Selection Feature, Official Selection Short, UK Feature, UK Short, Debut Feature and Documentary. The Raindance Audience Award will also be presented to the most popular film amongst Raindance audiences at this year's festival.
**BIFA Winning Director Introduces Closing Night Film
Richard Jobson, who took the Award for Best Directorial Debut at Tuesday's BIFA awards, will introduce closing night film 16 Years of Alcohol, the film on which his talents were recognised.
The film takes the audience on a journey into the violent world of Frankie Mac, and his 16 years of suffering as an alcoholic from boyhood to manhood. It is a painfully real piece of work, with the camerawork and direction beautifully capturing the city of Edinburgh where the film is set.
**Celebrate a Record Breaking Raindance at the Closing Night Gala Party
The Raindance Film Festival has, over the past two weeks, brought over 300 of the best independent films from the UK, Europe and the rest of the world to audiences, in the festival which has seen attendance records broken at many of the screenings and events. To celebrate the closing night of the 11th annual festival Raindance are hosting the Closing Night party at Rouge Nightclub.
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
End of Brookside
After 21 years the Liverpool-based soap opera is coming to an end tonight. It has always tackled controversial subjects long before the major soaps (Coronation Street and EastEnders), and it has certainly put most of it's characters through hard times. Sinbad, the window cleaner, nearly lost his legs and was accused of being a child molester. Jimmy Corkhill, lost his son to drugs, his wife left him, and he had a mental breakdown. And, the list goes on. Anyone who came to Brookside would be cursed with ill luck and disaster.
Brookside had it's grim and silly storylines, but it seemed to run out of steam and viewers about a year ago. After being dumped to a Saturday afternoon slot it has ended up on an even worse Tuesday late night slot. It seems that after years of being a flagship for Channel 4 it's being scuppered with little fanfair or dignity.
What are your views about Brookside or the other soaps? Email them to me at valis23a@aol.com
After 21 years the Liverpool-based soap opera is coming to an end tonight. It has always tackled controversial subjects long before the major soaps (Coronation Street and EastEnders), and it has certainly put most of it's characters through hard times. Sinbad, the window cleaner, nearly lost his legs and was accused of being a child molester. Jimmy Corkhill, lost his son to drugs, his wife left him, and he had a mental breakdown. And, the list goes on. Anyone who came to Brookside would be cursed with ill luck and disaster.
Brookside had it's grim and silly storylines, but it seemed to run out of steam and viewers about a year ago. After being dumped to a Saturday afternoon slot it has ended up on an even worse Tuesday late night slot. It seems that after years of being a flagship for Channel 4 it's being scuppered with little fanfair or dignity.
What are your views about Brookside or the other soaps? Email them to me at valis23a@aol.com
New On Talking Pictures...
The Science Museum, London, and Fox TV are collaborating in the production of a Meeting The Aliens project. Meeting Aliens (working title) is designed to reach a worldwide audience across multiple platforms, including an international touring exhibition, a primetime event television mini series, publishing, new media, and extensive licensing and merchandising opportunities.
We also have plenty of related articles in the SF and Horrorsection of our Feature Article menu page.
On the subject of sf, Gerry Anderson's production company is looking for investors to fund his new series of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons.
The Science Museum, London, and Fox TV are collaborating in the production of a Meeting The Aliens project. Meeting Aliens (working title) is designed to reach a worldwide audience across multiple platforms, including an international touring exhibition, a primetime event television mini series, publishing, new media, and extensive licensing and merchandising opportunities.
We also have plenty of related articles in the SF and Horrorsection of our Feature Article menu page.
On the subject of sf, Gerry Anderson's production company is looking for investors to fund his new series of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons.
Monday, November 03, 2003
WEEKEND AT RAINDANCE
**Sell-Out Halloween at Raindance Film Festival
Raindance audiences were queuing up to get the fright of their lives on Friday as The Last Horror Movie and the Horror Shorts Programme saw sell-out audiences once again at Raindance. The Last Horror Movie is a truly frightening film which is nominated for a Raindance Jury Prize, being awarded on Friday. Truly scary cinema is rare these days, so audiences were in for a real treat with the films on offer from Raindance...
More Sell-Outs!
Miranda - a sexy and highly original adult comedy starring Christina Ricci and John Simm had its UK Premiere to a sell-out audience. The film is also nominated for best UK feature. Similarly, the magnificent Infernal Affairs, hotly tipped to be the winner in the foreign language category at next year's Oscars, played out to a sell-out screening.
TODAY AT RAINDANCE
**Dazed & Confused Present an Evening at the Edge of Cinema
Style bible Dazed & Confused, media partners at this year's Raindance Film Festival, present an evening of films from filmmakers such as Isaac Julien, Lynne Ramsay and Andrew Kotting, whose work represents a blurring of the boundaries of cinema. In their work, cinema meets the world of other visual arts head on: photography, video, performance and film. The films will be followed by a panel discussion on the interplay between cinema and art.
**MUST SEE: Nine Souls
Japanese director Toshiaki Toyoda, winner of the Best New Director Award from the Japan Director's Guild for his first film Pornostar, shows us modern Japan as we've never seen it before in affable comedy Nine Souls. Toyoda sets his focus on the characters - nine prisoners on the run - and the dynamics between them, as the individual dramas of each of the convicts flare up one by one as they all touch base with their past lives. The result is an even-handed yet undeniably potent blend of comedy, tragedy, pathos, and redemption.
TOMORROW AT RAINDANCE
**MUST SEE: Road Dogs: Contemporary Easy Rider with Unbeatable Soundtrack
In Road Dogs - labelled by Variety as Boyz on the Road - two Afro-American men take to the road in order to leave their violent pasts behind, creating a thoroughly enjoyable Road Movie coined as a contemporary Easy Rider. An incredible soundtrack including tracks from artists as diverse as Snoop Dogg, Korn and Mystic plays compliments the glorious photography of America's beauty spots.
**MUST SEE: Trilogie 1: On The Run
The first part of Lucas Belvaux's trilogy of films showing at Cine Lumiere which work on the principle of cross encounters - the main characters of one film have minor roles in the others and vice versa. Although they share sets, scenes and characters, the films are genetically 'different'. The first is a thriller, the second a comedy and the third a melodrama. The director will be introducing each film (playing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday), and participating in a Q&A after Thursday's showing.
**Sell-Out Halloween at Raindance Film Festival
Raindance audiences were queuing up to get the fright of their lives on Friday as The Last Horror Movie and the Horror Shorts Programme saw sell-out audiences once again at Raindance. The Last Horror Movie is a truly frightening film which is nominated for a Raindance Jury Prize, being awarded on Friday. Truly scary cinema is rare these days, so audiences were in for a real treat with the films on offer from Raindance...
More Sell-Outs!
Miranda - a sexy and highly original adult comedy starring Christina Ricci and John Simm had its UK Premiere to a sell-out audience. The film is also nominated for best UK feature. Similarly, the magnificent Infernal Affairs, hotly tipped to be the winner in the foreign language category at next year's Oscars, played out to a sell-out screening.
TODAY AT RAINDANCE
**Dazed & Confused Present an Evening at the Edge of Cinema
Style bible Dazed & Confused, media partners at this year's Raindance Film Festival, present an evening of films from filmmakers such as Isaac Julien, Lynne Ramsay and Andrew Kotting, whose work represents a blurring of the boundaries of cinema. In their work, cinema meets the world of other visual arts head on: photography, video, performance and film. The films will be followed by a panel discussion on the interplay between cinema and art.
**MUST SEE: Nine Souls
Japanese director Toshiaki Toyoda, winner of the Best New Director Award from the Japan Director's Guild for his first film Pornostar, shows us modern Japan as we've never seen it before in affable comedy Nine Souls. Toyoda sets his focus on the characters - nine prisoners on the run - and the dynamics between them, as the individual dramas of each of the convicts flare up one by one as they all touch base with their past lives. The result is an even-handed yet undeniably potent blend of comedy, tragedy, pathos, and redemption.
TOMORROW AT RAINDANCE
**MUST SEE: Road Dogs: Contemporary Easy Rider with Unbeatable Soundtrack
In Road Dogs - labelled by Variety as Boyz on the Road - two Afro-American men take to the road in order to leave their violent pasts behind, creating a thoroughly enjoyable Road Movie coined as a contemporary Easy Rider. An incredible soundtrack including tracks from artists as diverse as Snoop Dogg, Korn and Mystic plays compliments the glorious photography of America's beauty spots.
**MUST SEE: Trilogie 1: On The Run
The first part of Lucas Belvaux's trilogy of films showing at Cine Lumiere which work on the principle of cross encounters - the main characters of one film have minor roles in the others and vice versa. Although they share sets, scenes and characters, the films are genetically 'different'. The first is a thriller, the second a comedy and the third a melodrama. The director will be introducing each film (playing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday), and participating in a Q&A after Thursday's showing.
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