SADDLE UP WITH UNIVERSAL’S GREAT NEW
JAMES STEWART WESTERNS COLLECTION

RIDE HIGH this autumn with some of the finest Westerns ever made! While not strictly a cowboy actor, legendary star Jimmy Stewart played in some of the finest westerns ever made. Now Universal Pictures is delighted to round up seven of the best in this fabulous new collection.

The James Stewart Westerns Collection will be available this autumn exclusively through HMV at a retail price of just 39.99.

SHENANDOAH (1965, 101 minutes)
James Stewart stars as a peace-loving Southern farmer who tries to stay neutral during the American Civil War. But when his youngest son is kidnapped by the Union soldiers, the landsman is finally pulled into the bloody conflict. With Doug McClure, Katharine Ross and George Kennedy.

NIGHT PASSAGE (1957, 89 minutes)
When the local railroad becomes the constant target of a band of desperadoes led by Whitey Harbin (Dan Duryea), officials recruit Grant McLaine (Stewart) to guard the payroll from further robberies. The trouble is, the gang's most skilled and lethal gunslinger, the Utica Kid (Audie Murphy), just happens to be Grant's kid brother.

THE FAR COUNTRY (1954, 93 minutes)
Set in 1896 at the start of the Klondike Gold Rush, James Stewart and Walter Brennan play a loner and his sidekick who figure to get rich by selling a herd of cattle at a fancy price. However, they are soon caught up in a conflict with the local lawman (John McIntire) and his henchmen.

BEND OF THE RIVER (1952, 89 minutes)
Man-with-a-past Stewart guides a band of pioneers from Missouri over the Oregon Trail to a new life in the Columbia River basin. When the settlers are cheated out of their supplies and cattle, Stewart crosses rivers, climbs mountains, and out-guns greedy hijackers to ensure their survival through the first winter. With Arthur Kennedy and Rock Hudson.

DESTRY RIDES AGAIN (1939, 94 minutes)
James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich star in this hilarious western send-up. As Thomas Jefferson 'Tom' Destry Jr, a mild-mannered deputy who doesn't like guns, Stewart is called to restore order in the hopelessly corrupt frontier town of Bottle Neck. He soon meets alluring saloon girl Frenchy (Dietrich), who belts out 'The Boys in the Back Room' while winning the hero’s heart.

WINCHESTER ’73 (1950, 89 minutes)
Frontiersman Lin McAdam (Stewart) is attempting to track down both his father’s murderer and his one-of-a-kind rifle, the Winchester ’73. This leads to a rousing series of adventures for McAdam, as the weapon passes through the hands of such desperate characters as a crazed highwayman (Dan Duryea), an immoral gunrunner (John McIntire), a savage young Indian chief (Rock Hudson) and McAdam’s own murderous brother (Stephen McNally).

THE RARE BREED (1965, 93 minutes)
In the 1880s, widowed Englishwoman Martha Price (Maureen O’Hara) and her daughter Hilary (Juliet Mills) come to introduce the Hereford cattle into the American West. The women hire Sam "Bulldog" Burnett (James Stewart) to help them transport their lone bull to a breeder in Texas. But the trail is fraught with danger…..

Film Night at the Amersham

29 Oct. 2005 : Amersham Arms, 388 New Cross Rd (opposite. New Cross station), SE14 - 8pm-2am.

Essentially, a night of fresh filmmaking talent with an emphasis on the music featured - some are promos, others are about bands and some use the medium of sound as an integral device that brings the most out of the visual element.

The directors are music fans and individuals whose passion is cinematography and they are trying to forge a career with their exceptional talents - and it is only a matter of time before they are commercially recognised.

The established names of Radiohead and Patrick Jones are juxtaposed with the so-called 'unknowns' - the next generation of movers, shakers and big industry players to form an intimate night of honest expression, creativity and entertainment all glued together with exceptional VJ talents.

Doors open at 7pm

BLAZE TO RELEASE PSP XPLODER MOVIE PLAYER AND MEDIA CENTRE FOR SONY PSP
MANAGE YOUR MEDIA

Fire International today announce the release of their new PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre PC software and USB cable for the new Sony® PSP console.

PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre is a movie conversion, media management and game enhancement kit available for anyone with a PSP console, connecting your PC to the PSP and giving you full control.

Skinned with a stylish intuitive interface, PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre gives you access to a full suite of functions that are easy to use and allow you to:

Manage media files and PSP Game saves.
Import CD collection to MP3 for playback on PSP
Automatic naming of Artist, Album and Tracks of your imported CD
Convert your PC movie files (MPEG 1 & 2, AVI, MOV etc) for playback on PSP
Copy, Delete, Download and Upload saves and media files between PC, Memory Stick and Online database.
Drag and drop MP3’s from iTunes straight into PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre
Catalogue your MP3’s by artist or genre on PC, and then simply copy to your PSP
Copy, delete and backup your PSP compatible movie files.
Backup important files to PC, and save storage space on your Memory Stick.
Included Cheat saves allow you to Unlock Levels, Access New Characters, Tracks and more.
Uses proprietary PSP save format- .gsp.
Arrange your JPG’s running order and copy to PSP
Rename .JPEG extension files to JPG for PSP compatibility
Displays Game name and save name- No need to decipher the PSP game save name system (Save folders for Ridge Racer for example are called “ULJS00001100”)
Drag and Drop files for ease of use.
Rename, add or edit game save descriptions.
Capacity bar to show available free space on Memory Stick.

PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre online capabilities help keep you updated with the latest XSaves and the freshest media content:

Download latest XSaves for new releases- get ahead in your new games instantly
Download new Media and gamesave content for playback on PSP.
RSS Feed keeps you constantly updated letting you know the latest XSaves and media files available for download
Unique Internet login system helps prevents piracy
Comprehensive search function across online database

Managing Director of Fire International, Jason Cooper said “PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre is the most comprehensive media management and game enhancement tool available for PSP owners, and is a must for anyone with a PC and PSP.“

PSP Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre will be available at the end of Q2 and will cost £19.99.

It is released it to coincide with the release of the new Sony PSP, we have recently launched our Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre for the PSP. This software allows you to manage all your movies, music, photo and GameSaves on your PC and just drag and drop to your PSP. Functionally, just imagine iTunes for PSP. Any movies you drag to your PSP are automatically converted to the required format, and the Media Centre will also manage all your MP3’s and iTunes music files – you can even import your own music CD’s and the online database query automatically completes the Artist, Album and track names.

You can manage your photos and images and also, download the latest game and cheat saves from www.xploder.net for the latest games.

A USB 2.0 Hi-speed data transfer cable is also included which also doubles as a USB charger, so the PSP is charging while it downloads the relevant content. It all comes packaged in limited edition metal packaging. Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre is already receiving good reviews in the specialist gaming press as the ultimate media management solution for your PSP.

Xploder Movie Player and Media Centre is very easy to use. All your movie and media files are stored in the PC Window and the simple drag and drop interface makes it a simple operation to get your movies, music and media onto your PSP Memory Stick.

They are also primary distributors for the range of Lexar Branded PSP Memory sticks; these are 1GB (512 MB and 256 MB They have an exclusive arrangement whereby Xploder Media Centre Lite software (RRP £9.99) is included with every Lexar Memory Stick. They offer a total solution for any one that wants to download any kind of media to a PSP.

Although the products are available from PSP stockists, hese products are available directly from their website (one of the most popular gaming websites in the UK by the way…!) at: www.xploder.net

Black World Autumn Season

bfi (British Film Institute) Black World, the six-month initiative highlighting black creativity talent in film and television, represents just the first step in an ongoing commitment by the bfi to reach out to new audiences across the country.

Black World enters its fifth month with a new line-up of projects with a particular focus on providing creative learning opportunities for young people and professionals and new opportunities to see classic films as well as latest releases.

To mark Black History season (October and November) bfi Black World have joined forces with Film London to present Pioneer Pictures, a tour of landmark feature films by the first generation of black film talent. The three films provide historical reflections of black London and the directors and cast of the films will be on hand to discuss the makings of the films. Pressure, directed by Horace Ove, (1975) deals with the realities faced by Britain?s first Caribbean generation and is popularly regarded as the first black British feature ever made. Black Joy (1975) directed by Antony Simmons, is a wry comedy following the adventures of a naïve Guyanese man new to London and Burning an Illusion (1981), directed by Menelik Shabazz, is a sensitive and entertaining love story which traces a young black couple?s growing political awareness. Pioneer Pictures will also be touring to key cities around the UK

Burning An Illusion has been released on DVD as part of bfi Black World. The DVD release of Pressure will follow on 24 October. Black Joy is also available on DVD released by Fremantle Home Entertainment. Online student notes have been produced for Burning an Illusion and Pressure by bfi Education and are available from www.bfi.org.uk/education/teaching/blackworld.

Also in partnership with Film London, bfi Black World will launch New Horizons, a professional development project for emerging and mid-level black producers. Supported by Middlesex University and the Times bfi London Film Festival, New Horizons aims to address some of the issues raised in recent research that shows inequalities within the industry. New Horizons Newcomers will be held at Middlesex University on October 8th and 9th 2005. The programme will comprise of practical discussions centred on the role of the producer including developing fiction and factual projects, raising finance for shorts & features, marketing and distribution. Guests include representatives from a variety of funding agencies, independent producers and directors. New Horizons Masters is aimed at mid-level producers and will take place during the Times bfi London Film Festival. Participants will take part in an international masterclass with award-winning producer Effie T Brown (Executive Producer of Jane Campion?s In the Cut) and receive an Associate Delegates Pass to the festival.

Also during the Times bfi London Film Festival, the David Lachappelle's knockout documentary Rize has been branded a bfi Black World gala. An intimate, extraordinarily fresh portrayal of the LA dance phenomenon, ?krumping?, Rize shows dancers moving at what seems like impossible speed, busting frantic, aggressive moves to booming hip hop, mixing eclectic dance styles, from ballet to African and sporting distinctive make up and costumes. Rize is as striking and brilliant as Lachappelle?s fashion photography. A series of festival education events also fall under the bfi Black World banner including an educational screening of the Sundance Festival winner Hustle and Flow (Dir: Craig Brewer) and the South African adaptation A Boy Called Twist (Dir: Time Greene). Both screenings will be accompanied by introductions by guest speakers. The Focus on South African Cinema panel will provide an opportunity for young audiences to engage with this region?s developing industry.

In 1959 Black Orpheus introduced the world to the music, sensuality and colour of Rio de Janeiro?s Carnival and gave jazz hipsters a new, infectious style ? the bossa nova. Based on a Brazilian play and inspired by the legendary Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Marcel Camus? dazzling second feature won both the 1959 Palme d?Or at Cannes and the Oscar for best foreign language film in 1960.

This enduring classic will be seen at its best in the new print to be released on 4 November by bfi Distribution.

Black Music on TV, a season of in-depth documentaries and rare performance footage covering various genres of black music, looks back at some of the greatest artists in blues throughout October. I Hear the Blues was one of the earliest UK programmes to showcase American Blues artists. Memphis Slim introduces a terrific line-up including Lonnie Johnson, Muddy Waters and Otis Spann. Tempo: The Blues Came Walkin', documents the 3rd American Folk/Blues Festival with performances from Sonny Boy Williamson, Lightnin? Hopkins, Howlin? Wolf and more. Blues and Gospel Train hosts outstanding performances from Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee and Cousin Joe Pleasants and Nothin' but the Blues joins blues legends in the studio with performances from Big Joe Turner, Mississippi Wallace, Little Brother Montgomery and Junior Wells.
Lastly, The Blues Keep Comin?, shows BBC clips from the 60s to the 80s, including John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Etta James, BB King and Taj Mahal.

To support the Black World TV season, broadcast journalist and critic Jacqueline Springer will present four illustrated talks on the cultural impact of cinema on modern black music. Contemporary Black Culture: How Soundtracks Saved the Day will look at how reggae's cinematic reputation evolved, discover the growing importance of the movie soundtrack and why the rise of the rapper-actor has taken so many by surprise. Also as part of the bfi?s ongoing educational programme, Floella Benjamin presents Coming to England, a stunning film adaptation of her autobiographical account of her journey from Trinidad to Britain in the 1960s. A question and answer session will follow.
A new youth project pioneered by bfi Black World is Nu-Visions, a web micro-site created for young people (16-24 year olds), by young people. Featuring articles, reviews of events, films and DVD?s, information on how to get into the industry, and diaries from key industry players, the micro-site will launch in October. Housed on the bfi Black World main site, Nu-Visions will provide a space for young creatives to further develop their interest in film, television and the related arts.

Produced by Arts Council England Visual Arts department and decibel, Necessary Journeys explores the ways in which art connects with film and the moving image. Artists working across a variety of art forms embark on a series of journeys - historical, physical and creative. Fernando Arias? search for a non geographical home takes him to the most remote tip of South America, while Ralph Hoyte travels across Japan and Oreet Ashery returns to Israel to examine the Palestinian Right to Return. Through the artists in residence programme, national and regional film and photography archives open up their collections to poet Jackie Kay, digital artist Keith Piper and artist, writer and researcher susan pui san lok. Each artist has the opportunity to excavate, recreate and re-imagine the past, present and future, in their chosen medium. Necessary Journeys will be brought to life as a book in November with new writing by Bernardine Evaristo, Kitty Hauser, Sukhdev Sandhu and Sarah Wood. The book will be illustrated by original artwork and visual documentation created by the artists involved throughout the project. All artists will discuss and present their work at a major international symposium at the Tate Modern on the 11th and 12th of November which includes guest speaker Caryl Phillips.

Finally, the Black Screen Icons on-line project, led by Every Generation Media, will soft launch at the end of the initial Black World project phase in November. Launching next year, Black Screen Icons will provide a public opportunity to vote for the nation?s favourite black film and TV director, actor and composer with special focus on British screen talent. Headed up by a campaign led by British talent such as June Sarpong and Ashley Walters, Black Screen Icons will provide a unique learning opportunity with wide appeal.

For full details and screenings visit www.bfi.org.uk/blackworld
Full details of bfi Black World programme, tickets and prices can be found at www.bfi.org.uk/blackworld.

BLACK WORLD
bfi Black World, a major national initiative from the British Film Institute celebrating black creativity in film, television and the moving image, launched in June 2005. The Black World programme includes over 50 national and regional events including cinema tours, DVD releases, educational events, film screenings and TV seasons at the bfi National Film Theatre (NFT), VJ performances, club nights and on-stage interviews and debates. Highlights so far have included a five-city preview of Mario Van Peebles? film Baadasssss!, an onstage interview with legendary director Ousmane Sembene, a Barbican Film season dedicated to pioneering director Horace Ové and a five-month NFT focus on the representation of black music on television. bfi Black World is part of a longer-term initiative to diversify audiences and content for the British Film Institute. A legacy will be formed out of this stage of the initiative to consolidate and build for future years.

PIONEER PICTURES
London Dates and Events. All events are free. Please check below for booking details

13 Oct, 6.30pm Pressure Stratford Library

15 Oct, 2pm Pressure Rio Cinema. Dalston

Q&A with Director Horace Ové


20 Oct, 6.30pm Black Joy Stratford Library

22 Oct , 3pm Pressure Islington Central Library

Q&A with Director Horace Ové


25 Oct, 7pm Pressure Mayor?s Office, City Hall, Southwark

27 Oct, 6.30pm Burning An Illusion Stratford Library

29 Oct, 6pm Pressure Venture Community Association.

Notting Hill

Q&A with Director Horace Ové


8 Nov, 7pm Black Joy The Deptford Albany. With short films by

local black filmmakers from Lewisham


9 Nov, 7pm Burning An Illusion The Deptford Albany

Q&A with Director Menelik Shabazz

18 Nov, 7pm Burning An Illusion Mayor?s Office, City Hall,

Southwark


23 Nov, 6.30pm Black Joy Mayor?s Office, City Hall, Southwark

Panel Discussion with the directors and cast

from the three films


Venue & Booking Information



The Deptford Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford SE8 4AG

To book call 020 8692 4446. Enquiries digitalinfo@thealbany.org.uk



Islington Central Library, 2 Fieldway Crescent, Islington N5 1PF

Telephone 020 7527 6980. No Booking required. First-come first-seated



Mayor?s Office, City Hall, The Queens Walk SE1 2AA

To Book call 020 8539 7913 Email: info@3ci.co.uk. Booking Essential



Rio Cinema, 107 Kingsland High Street, Dalston E8

Telephone 020 7241 9410. No Booking required. First-come first-seated



Stratford Library, Hopkins Room, 3 The Grove, Stratford, E15 1EL

To Book call 020 8430 6890



Venture Community Association, 103A Wornington Road, London W10 5YB

Telephone 020 8960 3234. No Booking required. First-come first-seated




NEW HORIZONS ? NEWCOMERS ? BREAKING THROUGH

Venue: Middlesex University

Saturday 8th October Sunday 9th October

Start: 10:30am Start: 10:30am

End: 8.45pm End: 5pm


NEW HORIZONS ? MASTERCLASS

Deadline for Applications: Friday 7th October

Effie T Brown Masterclass & Networking Event? October 31st

THE bfi TIMES LONDON FILM FESTIVAL

Festival runs from 19th October ? 3rd November



Rize: Director David Lachapelle (2005)

October 22nd 21.00 Odeon West End

October 30th 14.15 Ritzy, Brixton



For full list of film programme and education events go to www.lff.org.uk



Nft EDUCATION EVENTS


Coming to England

October 12th 10.30am- 12.30pm


Contemporary Black Culture: How Soundtracks Saved the Day

4- 18 October



For more information see www.bfi.org.uk/nft/education



BLACK MUSIC ON TV



I Hear the Blues

Mon 3 Oct 8.50 NFT2; Sat 8 Oct 6.20 NFT2

Nothin? But the Blues

Tue 4 Oct 8.50 NFT2; Sat 15 Oct 6.20 NFT2

The Blues Keep Comin?

Sun 16 Oct 6.20 NFT2; Tue 18 Oct 8.40 NFT2

Get Lost

On October 13, 2005, Titan a publishing a new magazine about the TV series Lost.

UNEARTHED TREASURES
You may think that all of Lost's secrets are buried deep beneath the island's treacherous terrain... but not so. Every issue of Lost Magazine, Writer/Supervising Producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach will provide exclusive teasers about the future that faces the survivors. It's time to dig deep...

16 EMMY NOMINATIONS FOR ABRAMS' SHOWS!
Alias received four nods, and Lost was the most-nominated drama series, receiving 12 nods at the 57th Annual Primetime Awards... Check out Lost Magazine for the very impressive list of nominations from 'Outstanding Drama Series' to 'Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series' and more!

Read more Lost news in issue #1 & every issue of Lost Magazine.

PLUS...

WELCOME TO THE ISLAND
Co-Creators, Executive Producers and Co-Pilots of Lost, J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, invite you to the launch of the show's official magazine...

THE PASSENGERS
The plane itself holds many mysteries. For this first exploration of the doomed flight, we take a closer look at some of the passengers we have come to know.

MATTHEW FOX & EVANGELINE LILLY
The actors take five from playing Jack and Kate to pause and reflect on the tempestuous first 40 days they've been Lost... See below for a sneak preview.

DOMINIC MONAGHAN & EMILIE DE RAVIN
Troubled rock star, Charlie, and new mom Claire, face new fears as they enter season two. We discover what led the actors here...

CREATURE FEATURES
Camera angles, CGI enhancement, and power of sound design - discover how the production team hints at 'The Monster's' identity...

MEET... DAMON LINDELOF
Lost Magazine has its own 'Others'... the puppet-masters of the show, and we're after the secrets they hold...

FIRST LOST FAN EVENT
In true 'flying under the radar' fashion, every issue we will be getting deep under Lost's skin. Were you at the first Lost convention?...

VOICES FROM THE FUSELAGE
Fans feeling Lost from all over the world have sent in their thoughts by Priority Mail, Morse code, email, smoke signal and carrier pigeon...

NEW TRANSMISSIONS
Exclusive news about the very latest developments from Lost's Writers' Office right here, dug up for your analysis...

CALLING ALL BUDDING FILM CRITICS

If you have started to work in film journalism and would like to kick-start your career then the Young Film Journalists Scheme is for you. Designed to help people gain a better understanding of the ins and outs of film writing, the scheme will provide you with the opportunity to review different kinds of films and meet a diverse range of people from within the film industry

As part of the GNER 19th Leeds International Film Festival (taking place Thursday 3 November – Sunday 13 November, 2005) three students will work on the Film Festival’s daily newsletter. Duties will include reviewing films, writing up festival events and interviewing the international array of filmmakers and actors who will be attending as guests of the festival. For more information on the festival go to www.leedsfilm.com.

As well as guidance from newsletter editor Ian Winterton, guest mentors, including Neil Young (the chairman of the Guild Of Regional Film Writers) and Laurence Boyce,a member of Fipresci who has taken part in a similar scheme in Berlin, will be on hand to lend their expertise and career advice. In addition, students’ writing will be published every day on the website of Fipresci, the International Federation of Film Critics and on the website of the Guild Of Regional Film Writers. The cost of travel and accommodation for successful applicants will be met by the scheme.

Potential students must be:

• Aged 18-26
• UK residents
• Available to stay in Leeds for the duration of the festival

To enter please send film reviews that have already been published to:

YOUNG FILM JOURNALISTS SCHEME
c/o Ian Winterton
31 St Matthew’s Road
Brixton
London
SW2 1NE

Or email: ianwinterton@aol.com

Closing date for all entries is 5pm on Friday 21 October, 2005.

JVC’s GY-HD101E camcorder used to film footage for the “Used Car Roadshow”

Experienced broadcast cameraman selects JVC

London, 03 October 2005 - The JVC GY-HD101E camcorder is been used by lighting and broadcast cameraman Tom Paterson of Forager Films Limited, to shoot programme footage for the “Used Car Roadshow”.

Produced by Daisybeck Productions, based in Leeds, the Used Car Roadshow has been traveling all over the UK meeting buyers and sellers, offering tips and advice. The show is broadcast on Men and Motors, Sky Programme Guide 136 and is scheduled to continue right up until Christmas. It has been running since June 2005 and is broadcast every Monday at 8pm and then repeated on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 1pm.

Tom Paterson has 16 years of cameraman experience in primetime broadcast television and has worked on BBC’s “Ground Force” series. Tom explains how the JVC camera is being used. “Footage is shot using three cameras including the JVC GY-HD101E camera. With each show's links needing to be shot in one 12 hour period at a major car event around the country, it is crucial to be able to inter-cut between the three cameras.”

“The GY-HD101E came into its own with its easy hand-held operation. Working in the confined space of car interiors is made easy by the GY-HD101E's reduced size and simple additions like the lockable recording button on the handgrip and the flip-out LCD screen,” comments Tom Paterson.

The 1/3-inch 3-CCD GY-HD101E camcorder from JVC has HDVTM and DV in & out, and is supplied as standard with a detachable 1/3-inch bayonet mount 16x Fujinon lens. This allows the cameraman to work with a wide variety of professional lenses. The convenient menu operation makes it easy to set time code at the beginning of a tape. The camera is lightweight enabling it to be easily either shoulder mounted or hand held.

“I found the professional lens on the front of the JVC camera very easy to operate. The camera is of a solid construction and the controls and switches are all in established places and within easy reach. The combination of the camera and the new IDX-100E power pack allows up to 4 hours recording time and provides an even balance when the camcorder is positioned on the shoulder. A lightweight Teletest (2.4 GHz) audio and video transmitter is also used.”

“Whilst the camera was not used in 720p mode, (the production was not equipped for HDV editing) it performed extremely well in DV mode and performed favorably compared with other camcorders previously used on this production.”

Ian Scott, Director, Pro Video Operation UK at JVC Professional Europe comments, “The GY-HD101E has been put through its paces on this production and has proved its ease of use, versatility and quality of output. This combined with the low cost of ownership make it an extremely effective tool for television productions.”

FIRST BLACK & ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL IN BRISTOL

(Thu 13 - Sun 16 Oct 2005)

Split Screen, Bristol’s first combined Black & Asian Film Festival, kicks off on Thursday 13 October 2005. Expect a stunning selection of international features, shorts and documentaries from Africa, the Caribbean and the fringes of Bollywood through to local shorts and archive footage from days gone by. The festival is a collaborative city wide effort between Arnolfini, BBC Bristol, British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, Kuumba, South West Screen and Watershed which aims to give greater prominence to black and Asian filmmaking in the South West and inspire local talent.

The film festival, forming part of Black History month, will take place at various Bristol venues including Arnolfini, Watershed and Timbuktu Club.

The Split Screen programme at Watershed will include highlights from the bfi's Mama Africa touring programme, which features some of the best of African female talent from Moussa Sene Absa’s acclaimed feminist melodrama Madame Brouette to award-winning shorts such as Jacqueline Kalimunda’s Histoire de tresses (About Braids). Watershed will also play host to a screening of One Love directed by regular collaborators Rick Elgood (Dancehall Queen) and the legendary Don Letts (The Clash: Westway to the World), which started life as a musical stage show in Bristol.

Arnolfini will feature the latest and best films from Asia’s most recent wave of filmmaking talent. Michael Smith and Vishal Rawlley’s Asian Vibes Bombay and Asian Vibes London (India/France) explore the new musical sounds of India in unique documentaries that combine underground video aesthetics, archival Bollywood clips and an exploratory documentary approach. The festival will screen The Rising, the latest film from acclaimed director Ketan Mehta which charts the epic tale of Mangel Padney and India’s historic 1857 military uprising against Imperial rule, with Bollywood star Aamir Khan in the role of the fearless leader of the Indian rebellion.

There'll also be a chance to attend free hands-on film workshops, masterclasses, seminars, and meet the movers and shakers in the business.

The festival will open with Screen Shift - a showing of short films by highly regarded local Afro Caribbean artists, funded by South West Screen and Kuumba. This showcase of vibrant and compelling work is part of a positive drive to promote local artists and nurture their filmmaking talent. A number of BBC productions from BBC Bristol and the BBC Asian Programmes Unit will also be screened showcasing the very best of black and Asian talent within the BBC.

British Empire and Commonwealth Museum, BBC Bristol and Watershed are supporting a unique project called Empire Re-presented. The aim of the project is to work with four local artists to compose a music score and write a piece of poetry for two films to be created using archive footage from India and Africa. This will be shown in the main foyer at Watershed for the duration of the festival.

Carlton Romaine, Forum Officer at Kuumba said, “We have an excellent partnership, which is now supporting a real positive drive to bring black and Asian film work to prominence. I look forwarded to Split Screen becoming a major part of Bristol’s exciting festival & cultural calendar scene”.

Caroline Norbury, Chief Executive at South West Screen said, “Split Screen is a hugely exciting festival and forms part our aim to make diverse, distinctive and dynamic films available for all communities in the South West. We created the Screen Shift part of the festival to enable local Afrikan Caribbean artists the chance to develop films that could be viewed by a large audience.”

Maddy Probst, Exhibition Co-ordinator at Watershed says: “We’re really pleased to be part of this city wide programme of Black & Asian screenings and workshops. We’re particularly excited about showcasing filmmaking talent emerging from the South West alongside international work such as the bfi’s Mama Africa tour which features some of the best of African female talent behind and in front of the camera.”

Maithreyi Nandakumar, Media Education Officer at the British Empire and Commonwealth Musuem said, “This is a brilliant opportunity for local artists to access the Empire museum’s extensive archive of over 800 hours of film footage”.

I’M THE ANGEL OF DEATH
AKA
PUSHER III

UK RELEASE OCTOBER 24TH - BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL

Nicolas Winding Refn’s Pusher trilogy began with his first feature in 1996. This year, he releases two sequels to the original With Blood on My Hands and I’m the Angel of Death.

Set at the very bottom of the Copenhagen underworld, the PUSHER series turns the idea of a trilogies on its head, each instalment more vigorous and complex, the stories takes a minor character and throw the audience into the depths of their psyche.

The third film I’M THE ANGEL OF DEATH AKA PUSHER III focuses on the trilogy’s original villain Milo.

Far from a thuggish brute, Milo first appears, he is now a henpecked, doting father, plagued by a demanding daughter Milena, her idiot fiancé and Milo’s listless henchmen. It doesn’t help when he poisons his flunkies with some poorly cooked samosas.

With no one left to help him, Milo is forced to deal simultaneously with business problems, the party and his Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

A classic black comedy, I’m the Angel of Death seduces its audience with its intense humour.

I’M THE ANGEL OF DEATH a.k.a. PUSHER III will premier at the BFI Times London Film Festival on the 24th October 2005.