Friday, February 23, 2007

Black Women in Cinema

Launch of a Life Time Achievement Award

We are proud to present the third edition of the Images of Black Women Film
Festival (IBW) which will take place at the Tricycle Cinema (London, Kilburn)
from the 2nd to the 4th of March 2007. The festival spans three inspirational days where amazing work by and about Black women will be showcased to increase knowledge of their role in cinema.

The most exciting feature of this year festival is the launch of a Life Time
Achievement Award, which this year is to be presented to Julie Dash, a prominent award-winning US film director. The Life Time Achievement Award includes the screening of the breathtaking “Daughters of the Dust”, Julie Dash’s cult film which has been placed in the National Film Registry by the US Library of Congress. The film is regarded by many as being one of the most important cinematic achievements in Black Cinema in the 20th century.
The ceremony will end with a Q & A’s session with the director.

“Following the success of the festival and from the audience’s feedback of the
first two IBW Film Festival, we have decided to take the 2007 Festival one step further by introducing a symbolic award. It is, the first of such award in the UK film industry, recognising that Black women need special attention in order to overcome many of the barriers that they encounter to enter and sustain a presence in the film industry” said Sylviane Rano, one of the founders of the IBW film festival.

In addition, the IBW 2007 programme has an amazing spread of exciting
innovations including the commemoration of the abolition of the British Slave
Trade Act and a special Caribbean category, with particular focus on the themes of cultural identity. This year’s event promises to be an inspiring celebration of black female talent with an exotic festival after-show party.
Amma Asante, IBW 2005 UK patron said: "IBW is a wonderful organisation
because it seeks to acknowledge, celebrate and inspire! I believe that the entire movie industry benefits when the contributing voices are diverse and rich. It makes sense that black women should be included."

Special events include the Emerging Filmmaker Award showcasing winners of the short film competition; a fantastic line up of animations, story telling and a 3D animated workshop with the Children’s Corner. There is an exclusive selection of UK premieres of both films and documentaries from the Black Diaspora, Q & A’s, seminars and workshops by black women directors.

IMAGES OF BLACK WOMEN FILM FESTIVAL 2007: PROGRAMME
March 2007 will mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the English Slave Trade Act, this subject has been handpicked to open the festival, and features “Daughters of the Dust”, a masterpiece with remarkable scenes that shows the connection between the West African and African-American cultural and spiritual experience. A further commemoration with Remember & Reflect, includes a short film “Legacy” by Inge Blackman (UK), where the effects of slavery on intimate relationships in Black families is carefully explored; followed by a feature “Shared History“ by Felicia Furman (US), here we will witness whether it is possible for a group of African American families (slaves descents) and a white family (slave owner descent) to have an open and honest dialogue on the realities of their relationship forged through slavery. Inge Blackman will take part in a Q & A’s sessions after screenings.

The special Caribbean category, Caribbean Cousins features two cinematic
pieces embracing the traditions, language, lifestyle and culture of two Caribbean islands, Trinidad “Joebell & America” and Martinique “French wedding Caribbean style aka Zouk Mariage et Ouélé”. French Caribbean director Julius Amédé Laou as well as main actress Brigitte Damiens will take part in a Q & A’s. Special Caribbean will close with a French Caribbean Zouk Party organised in partnership with MBMB, a French Caribbean Charity based in London.

UK premieres include “Antonia” the third in a trilogy dedicated to feminine
archetypes by Tata Amaral one of Brazil most awarded filmmaker. Antonia
follows Um Céu de Estrelas (A Sky of Stars) (1997) and Através da Janela
(Through the Window) (2000). Critics elected Um Céu de Estrelas, her first
feature length film, as one of the three most important Brazilian’s films in the
90’s. Further screenings includes the awards winning “Tanayaradzwa” by
Tawanda Gunda Mupengo for Best Cinematography and Best Upcoming Actress at the African Oscars (African Academy Movie Awards). “Tanayaradzwa” is produced by filmmaker Dorothy Meck, the first Zimbabwean feature film in six years.

For the 2nd consecutive year children will have a special place with the Children’s corner, an explosion of short animated films that include “The Spacefish” by Alexandros Konstantaras a juxtaposition of animation and live-action techniques.

The director is one of the co-winners of Images of Black Women Best
International Short Film Award 2006 for “Light in Shadow”. IBW cash prize
contributed to the production of ”The Spacefihs” his latest film. Children will also have a fun 3D animation workshop by award winning director Rachel Wang (Best Romantic Short Film Award at International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival, Phoenix AZ & Best International Short Film Award at Images of Black Women Film Festival for “Heyday”). The Children’s Corner will close with Grace Quanah’s (aka Akuba) African-centred storytelling performance. Julie Dash will present this year’s The Emerging Filmmaker Award, along with several prizes to be made to the short film competition winners.

WORKSHOPS & MASTERCLASSES: TRAINING FOR WOMEN FILMAKERS

The Images of Black Women (IBW) Film Festival will host two seminars conducted by established black women directors. Dami Akinnusi from Darkling TV, director of “Bleach my Skin White”, will share her triumphs and challenges of working behind the camera on Prime TV for ITV. Dami Akinnusi will also give a preview of her next film project to aspiring filmmakers.

There is a chance to join as part of a selected audience with Julie Dash, a
seminar, which will reveal the secret of her creativity.

Short films celebrating Yorkshire perspectives

Applications are now open for GLOBAL STORIES, a project for would-be film makers to help them launch a career in film and television.

GLOBAL STORIES is an Equal and Screen Yorkshire supported scheme run in partnership with the University of Bradford for new and emerging talent from groups currently under-represented in the film, broadcast and digital media industries in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

Sally Joynson, Chief Executive at Screen Yorkshire comments: “Yorkshire has a wealth of unspent talent, often found hidden in communities that struggle to access the opportunities that the film industry can offer. This is a fantastic opportunity for individuals who may have no previous industry experience to break into filmmaking.”

The project is looking to select 14 individuals as writers, directors, producers, camera operators, sound recordists, editors and production coordinators, who will form two production teams to write, shoot and edit a short film in eight days. Participants will receive on the job training, the support of a professional mentor and guidance throughout the process.

Ali Rashid, Director of Innovation and Enterprise in the University of Bradford’s School of Informatics, who also runs the successful television company Real Life, said: “The scheme is designed to help people who are ready to get a foot on the ladder.

“The training and mentoring will be invaluable to people serious about getting into film or TV. The fact that we push people to start and finish a film in eight days forces people to just get on with it! There is no more waiting for the perfect sunset… you are not a film maker until you have made a film and this scheme gives people that chance.”

The project is specifically for people living in Yorkshire and the Humber region. Filming takes place in Bradford from the 26th May – 2nd June 2007. Participants will receive a training allowance and those from outside Bradford will be offered accommodation for the duration of the project. The two films will be up to five minutes long and will be screened at the National Media Museum in June this year.

The deadline for applications is the 30th of March. Application packs can be downloaded from www.screenyorkshire.co.uk/globalstories

Alternatively, request an application pack in writing to: Ben Pugh, Global Stories, School of Informatics, University of Bradford, Richmond Road, Bradford BD7 1DP.

Bradford International Film Festival

BENNETT, PARKINSON AND LOACH HEADLINE BRADFORD

Amazing Grace to open, This Is England to close

Bradford International Film Festival

9-24 March 2007

National Media Museum

www.bradfordfilmfestival.org.uk

Box Office: 0870 70 10 200

Alan Bennett, Michael Parkinson and Ken Loach have been added to the roster of guests at this year’s Bradford International Film Festival. Alan Bennett (Thursday 22 March) will discuss his screenwriting career and present the prestigious Kraszna-Krausz Book Award for the best book on photography, film and television of 2006. Michael Parkinson (Wednesday 14 March) will give us his recollections of some of the world’s greatest stars while Ken Loach (Monday 19 March) will talk about his career in movies as part of a rare retrospective of his work.

Wilberforce biopic Amazing Grace starring Ioan Gruffud will open on 9 March with Director Michael Apted in attendance while the Festival will close on 24 March with a special screening of Shane Meadow’s latest This Is England.

Other confirmed guests with seasons in the Festival include: Terence Davies (Distant Voices, Still Lives) (Sunday 11 March), Patrick Keiller (Robinson in Space) (Tuesday 13 March), Denis Dercourt (The Pageturner) (Friday 16 March), veteran producer Euan Lloyd (Shalako) (Sunday 18 March), Jamil Dehlavi (Jinnah, Infinite Justice) (Tuesday 20 March) and Godfrey Reggio (Naqoyqatsi, Anima Mundi) (Thursday 22 March)

A new strand for the Festival - Uncharted States of America - brings the radical edge of American independent cinema to the UK, including an ultra rare screening of the near-legendary Dangerous Men, which we hope will be introduced by the mysterious director John S. Rad (Saturday 24 March). Meanwhile, the 3rd Film and Music conference will welcome Bond composer David Arnold (Thursday 15 March). The CineFile strand of documentaries on film includes exclusive screenings of Edge of Outside and Directed by John Ford from TCM and Anger Me in which Kenneth Anger looks back on his life and career.

Widescreen Weekend (15-19 March) returns to make the most of the National Media Museum’s projection capabilities with Burton and Taylor in Cleopatra, Omar Sharif in Mayerling while Goldfinger, 12 Angry Men and South Pacific get their UK premieres as digital prints from Pictureville’s latest projector.

The Boy who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan

New DVD Release –
The Boy who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan

February 2007 – DVD out now: Internationally acclaimed Seventh Art Productions have released the multiple award-winning documentary The Boy who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan. This astonishing emotive documentary ventures into the life and hearts of an Afghan family. Filmed and directed by ground-breaking film director Phil Grabsky, this unique exploration follows eight-year-old refugee Mir Hussain and his family who, due to the violent destruction caused by the Taliban in 2001, are forced to live in the caves that once formed the beautiful ‘Buddhas of Bamiyan’. Powerful and surprising, this production is essential viewing for those with an interest in the political struggles of this mysterious culture or anybody concerned with the impact of war on a community. The DVD is available to buy now on amazon.com and seventh-art.com.

This beautifully shot feature length documentary is an account of the lives of the main character Mir and his family living in the caves of the Buddhas of Bamiyan. Described by Empire as a “poignant documentary…extraordinary”, the intimate access that this resilient family permitted Grabsky, allows us to get a real sense of what Mir’s existence is like. We see the family’s struggles for food, crippling ill health, and their frustrations when searching for work in the barren local economy. However, we also cannot escape Mir’s unstoppable energy, inquisitiveness and innocence as he bounds among his ruined playground and happily crunches apples in the orchard of the local militia.

Originally broadcast on Five, the breathtaking cinematography has meant this latest release from Seventh Art has been received with much acclaim. It has won awards from the Chicago Television Awards, the Valladolid International Film Festival, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Royal Television Society to name but a few. The DVD is available RRP £19.99 at seventh-art.com, amazon.com, moviemail-online.co.uk and theboywhoplaysonthebuddhasofbamiyan.com.

The Boy who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan is a sensitive piece that both highlights the Hussain family’s post-Taliban tribulations, yet extols their strong characters and irrepressible community spirit. In the words of the director “The similarities between people of different nations far exceed the differences. Too often I fear people forget this.