The Last Resort

A documentary film about the decline of Portsmouth as a traditional seaside resort has won first prize for three student film-makers who graduate this week.

The University of Portsmouth students won the award for 'best documentary' at the Inspire Film Festival for their graduate film'The Last Resort' which received critical acclaim from the judging panel including legendary film critic, Barry Norman. The film explores the decline of the Southsea as a traditional seaside resort told from the perspective of an elderly sea-swimmers group, a sea-front cafe manager and the owner of a model village.

The 16 minute film made by Russell Oastler, David Kinnaird and Lucas Way has since been picked up by the Sunday Times Short Film Community, an online showcase for the work of new film-makers which goes live in August.

Russell, 28, who directed the film was born and bred in Portsmouth and said he selected the location and the characters after taking photographs of the sea-front and noting how much it had changed since he enjoyed happy times there as a child with his family.

He said: "I remembered my childhood in Southsea as the golden age of the bucket and spade but when I saw it again with fresh eyes everything looked rather tired.  I decided to make a film which explored the decline of through the eyes of some of the locals who have seen it change over the years."

The film explores the declining fortunes of The Big Wheel Cafe at Clarence Pier and Southsea's model village, run by Mike Armet, who owns the attraction on Southsea Esplanade.

The film also introduces a group of Southsea die-hard swimmers who take a dip in the Solent's chilly water 365 days a year. Some have been swimming there for over 30 years and even swim on Christmas Day. Sadly one of their group, 86 year old Dorothy Browning, passed away during the making of the documentary and the film has been dedicated to her memory.

Russell, who has just returned from work-experience on a professional short film, said it was never his plan to be a documentary film-maker but enjoys the unplanned nature of the medium.

"I like the idea that you don¿t really know what might happen in a documentary - it could be something totally unexpected," he said.

The students' tutor, Ben Thompson from Creative Technologies, said that the film has a great deal of substance and showed level of maturity which deserved to the recognition.

He said: "A documentary director needs the ability to get the most from the people taking part in the film - it's a special skill which you just can't teach, it's intuitive. It's a superb film and all three have what it takes for a career in film-making."

The three students, who collected their award this week, graduate from their course in BA Hons Television and Film Production today when they will also receive the Creative Technologies departmental prize for Best Short Documentary.

David Kinnaird also collects the prize for Best Digital Cinematography for which he receives a digital video camera from a representative from industry specialists, JVC, who sponsored the award.

The film can be seen at: http://vimeo.com/12377469

London Indian Film Festival

UK Welcomes first ever Film Festival celebrating Alternative Indian Cinema

  

Celebrating the burgeoning movement of alternative Indian cinema, the first ever annual London INDIAN Film Festival launched from 15^th – 20^th July in London, showcasing a repertoire of cutting edge films from some of India’s hottest independent talents. Going way beyond Bollywood, these are films that challenge, push the boundaries, activate debate and present a more realistic view of India today in all its colour and diversity. 

Showcasing the work of India’s new wave of avant-garde filmmakers, London INDIAN Film Festival’s programme of films will be screened across London, opening in West End at Cineworld, Haymarket then continuing at Barbican, Nehru Centre, Watermans and Genesis cinemas. The Festival covers a wide range of themes and issues from family dramas, coming-of age tales to twisted urban romance. What pervades many of these films is a new more assured Indian cool, experimenting with cinematic styles, new technology and influenced by themes both East and West, which has helped them win favour with the young in-crowd in super cities like Mumbai, as well as with connoisseurs of world cinema across the globe.

India is the largest film producing country in the world producing up to 1,000 films a year and out stripping Hollywood. But apart from mainstream Bollywood, very few of these films are seen in the UK. Cary Rajinder Sawhney, Festival Director explains, “Apart from just showing great movies, we also aim to help get these films talked about and screened more broadly in cinemas in the UK, in the same way that Iraniain cinema has been. London of course has a huge Asian audience for these movies, but many Brits would also like to see what’s going on in the 1.2 billion strong India today and cinema is a great way to do this”.

The London INDIAN Film Festival opens at Cineworld, Haymarket on 15^th July with the UK Premiere of the groundbreaking‘Love, Sex Aur Dhokha’, (‘Love, Sex and Betrayal’) by director, Dibakar Banerjee. Through three intertwined tales, this controversial film explores sexuality, voyeurism, love and betrayal in modern India. The film features a cast of unknowns, but it’s radical revision, challenging the romantic Indian fairy-tale romance, was a big Box Office hit when it was released in India in March. Featuring India’s first ever on-screen sex scene, the Premiere will screen the uncensored, international version of the film, rather than the censored India version. The Opening Night screening will be attended by an array of international celebrities and VIP’s.

Other highlights of the festival include the high-impact ‘City of Gold’ by maverick director, Mahesh Manjrekar, on the forgotten history of mill workers of Mumbai whose livelihoods were crushed when the mills were converted into a development of glitzy shopping malls and five star hotels.  Meanwhile, ‘Last Chance Mumbai’ is a sophisticated multi-strand ensemble exploring the connective lives of the city’s inhabitants over a 24-hour period by acclaimed director, Saeed Akhtar Mirza.

‘Road to Sangam’ directed by Amit Rai, explores ideas of Nation India and sometimes conflicting religious identity.  It tells the story of one Muslim man’s desire to help take Mahatma Gandhi’s remaining ashes to the holy river and explores the experiences of Muslims living in India 60 years after Independence. The Closing Night Film is the UK Premiere ‘Vihir’ (‘The Well’) by award winning director Umesh Kulkarni (World Premiered at Berlin Film Festival), which is stunningly filmed against the grandeur of the rolling Indian plains, as two adolescent friends inspire each other’s journey to manhood.

London INDIAN Film Festival partners from across the industry are supporting the Festival. The Satyajit Ray Foundation’s Short Film Competition has joined the Festival with the winning filmmaker receiving a £1,000 Award on 20^th July at Cineworld, Haymarket.

For more information and bookings please visit www.londonindianfilmfestival.co.uk

101 WAYS TO LEAVE A GAMESHOW

Episode Two Broadcasting on Saturday 17^th July on BBC One

 

Time again for eight more would-be daredevils to join Steve Jones and co–host Nemone on the mighty tower of steel in the ultimate battle of wits, nerves and general knowledge.

 

In this game getting a question wrong involves more than just an embarrassing early exit - it means the contestants face being dropped, flung or pushed off the studio, quite literally. In order to bag the £10,000 cash prize the players answer questions in a series of rounds that whittle the field down from eight to one.

 

Tonight’s show includes a children’s’ entertainer and a beautician doing battle to stay in, and more importantly on, the world’s most terrifying multiple-choice test. As always staying in the game is a double edged sword – the contestants are one step closer to the prize whilst the exits get more and more horrific.

 

This week theatre nurse, Sabrina tries to over come her fear of heights whilst taking on the shopping trolley dash from hell in Exit 19 ‘Supermarket Smash’. IT consultant Barry tussles with HR manager Katy over an answer that might stop one of them leaving the show on Exit 36 - a slow tipping board over a sheer 80 foot drop aptly named ‘Rip Off’.

 

Meanwhile IT analyst Sudhir likens himself to all action hero Keanu Reeves   - something he will try and avoid proving during Exit 52 which Nemone reveals as ‘Armchair Armageddon’ – a chance for the contestants to put their feet up on a comfy chair, only for one unlucky player to be back flipped into oblivion.

 

With the field trimmed down to just four, Exit 97 could prove to be their worst nightmare with the contestant with the wrong answer being dropped out of the game by being plunged into a deep pool tied to a concrete block.

 

As night falls the last three contestants face the grand final, Exit 101 itself - ‘The Trap Door’. Here, only one contestant will be left standing over the quick release trap doors by choosing the only correct answer and, in doing so, get to take the stairs down and home with the £10,000 cash prize.

“Digital Revolutions” short film competition with cash prizes

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT - teams up with Sheffield Doc/Fest and Crossover to deliver competition -

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, today announced the launch of the “Digital Revolutions” short film competition, with Sheffield Doc/Fest, the biggest documentary film festival in the UK and Crossover, an international digital media and content programme. The Institute has put up £10,000 for the top prize in the public category, with everyone over 18 encouraged to have a go.

To enter, participants must submit films of up to three minutes that show how they see the world they live in, and how information and information technology impacts it. The aim is to build a unique snap shot of how people view the information society that we live in today. However, creativity and skill alone won’t be enough. The competition is taking a unique approach and will also look at how entrants use social media to get their films noticed. Building a fan base for your film will be as challenging as creating the film itself.

To enter, films must be submitted to the Digital Revolutions channel on YouTube and an entry form on the Digital Revolutions home page must be completed. [http://sheffdocfest.com/view/DigitalRevolutions]

Elizabeth Sparrow, President, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, said:

“We want people in the UK to tell us how their lives have been changed by information and information technology and what this might mean for their communities in the future. We think this will be the biggest ever information competition to unlock the public’s creativity and we’ve teamed up with Sheffield Doc/Fest and Crossover to deliver that”.

Heather Croall, Director, Sheffield Doc/Fest said:

“This unique competition will explore the effects of the digital revolution on the lives of people in the UK. We want people to use their creativity to show how information and information technology has affected every aspect of their lives, including in the areas of safety, health, citizenship, communication, culture, the environment, commerce and work. We’ll also be looking at how social media has been used to promote the films. While it’s never been easier to produce and share content, getting it seen and building up some momentum behind it is a challenge when so much material is out there.”

Entrants will also have the chance to speak to experts and get advice on producing and marketing their films before entering at regional workshops run by Crossover.

Frank Boyd, Director, Crossover said:

“Crossover will be hosting a series of regional workshops where potential entrants are encouraged to take the opportunity to have their questions answered and get expert advice first hand. We will be focused on helping people develop their material and unlock their creative potential so that they can express their ideas in the best possible way. We’ll also be sharing advice on how digital content is best marketed and distributed online to ensure that the films are seen by the widest possible audience.”

Further details of the workshops will follow shortly, as well as a full list of judges.

The winning entries will be decided by a panel of five judges including Frank Boyd, Heather Croall, Elizabeth Sparrow, President of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. A further two high-profile judges will be announced soon.

Entries will open today and close on Friday 15 October 2010. The winners will be announced on 5 November 2010 at an event at Sheffield Doc/Fest that winners will be invited to attend.

More information is available on [http://sheffdocfest.com/view/DigitalRevolutions]

WeeFT at the Ulster Hall

Appalachian tap dancers, Icelandic ‘fishbillies’ and an early work from the director of Star Wars are just some of cinematic treats on offer at the WeeFT, a joint project between QFT and the trans Festival.

From Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 July, the Ulster Hall Group Space will be transformed into a bespoke micro-cinema, showing a range of cult classics, new avant-garde productions and adaptations. There will be regular lunchtime and evening screenings and tickets are just £3 per film, or £10 for a WeeFT pass. 

Susan Picken, Head of QFT said:

“QFT aims to encourage people to watch new and classic film in innovative ways so we are delighted to be working with trans on the WeeFT.  It offers a great way for new audiences to enjoy what QFT does and with one our most eclectic line-ups ever, film fans are sure to find something they’ll enjoy.”

A silent, non-narrative work from 1943, Meshes of the Afternoon is one of the most influential works in American experimental cinema. It has been identified as a key example of the trance film, in which a protagonist appears in a dreamlike state, and the camera conveys his or her subjective focus.

Described by director Charles Laughton as a “nightmarish Mother Goose”, The Night of the Hunteris a profoundly disturbing psychodrama. Driven by a performance by Robert Mitchum that goes a long way to defining on-screen evil, this is a strange, tense and at times dream-like film that still sends a shiver down the spine.

We Call it Skwee explores a new electronic sound which came out of Scandinavia in 2005. Skwee quickly built up an international cult following with an interest in fun and fresh electronic music revitalised by the funky lo-fi squeaks and bleeps coming from the cold reaches of Finland and Sweden. 

Star Wars fans won’t want to miss THX 1138 – Vers:on, a special screening of one of George Lucas’ earliest writing and directorial projects.  Experienced DJ/VJ team Pete Donaldson and Ed Hughes have rebuilt THX 1138 with contemporary audio and video tools and are performing the cult sci-fi hit live, retaining the atmosphere and loose narrative of the original.

In Daft Punk’s Electroma, the titular band members play two robots who journey on a quest to become human. Their odyssey takes them across a hauntingly beautiful dystopian American landscape from endless highways to deserted towns in a surreal moving painting.

The WeeFT will feature two films from ‘Master of Horror’ and ‘Godfather of Gore,’ cult director Dario Argento, whose feverishly violent films exhibit a level of artistry rarely seen in horror cinema.

Considered by many to be Argento’s finest film, Deep Red is the startling tale of a musician who witnesses the brutal murder of a psychic, and sets out to snare her killer.  Opera is often considered as the director’s last great film, and is also his bleakest work – a serial killer becomes infatuated with a young opera singer in this tale of obsession and sadistic desire.

An hilarious exercise in low (almost no) budget film making from director Shane Meadows, Le Donk and Scor-zay-zee is a mockumentary following the day to day life of Le Donk (Paddy Considine), failed father, second-rate roadie, aspiring music mogul and one of the most monstrously funny characters you will ever see on the big screen.

Jaw droppingly bonkers but also kind of great, White Lightnin’ is a wildly grotesque fantastical biography of the Appalachian mountain dancer Jesco White.  Fuelled by moonshine and lighter fuel, Jesco (a wild eyed Edward Hogg) uses tap dancing to keep his demons at bay, as he takes a phantasmagoric tumble into the dark corners of artistic genius.

trans and QFT are proud to present Iceland’s first foray into the exploitation horror genre – Harpoon: Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre!  A motley crew of sightseers and low-lifes set out on a whale watching expedition. When a freak accident occurs and they are stranded at sea things take a turn for the worse; especially when they are rescued by a family of tourist-hating ‘fishbillies’…

The WeeFT will be open at the Ulster Hall Group Space from Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 July.  Each screening costs just £3 or £10 for a WeeFT pass.  For further information and online booking, see

www.transbelfast.com   

Commonwealth Foundation pioneers film festival exchange programme

Two world renowned film festivals are embarking on a pioneering exchange programme to share the best of the Commonwealth’s diverse films and cultures. The exchange, taking place between the Zanzibar International Film Festival, Tanzania, and the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival will see films from one region screened at the other, in the first exchange of its kind to take place. The objective of the twinning, a model initiated and supported by the Commonwealth Foundation, is to maximise on the ability of both partners to promote and distribute African and Caribbean cinema to audiences throughout the Commonwealth, introducing them to new films, creating opportunities for networking and building lasting bridges among key film festivals. In order to achieve these goals, both festival directors will travel to their counterpart festival to learn about new ways of working and take away creative ideas. Directors and filmmakers will also take part in panel discussions and networking events. Seven films chosen by Dr. Bruce Paddington, Director of TTFF, will be shown at the Festival of Festivals programme at ZIFF 2010.

“I am very excited that the Trinidad and Tobago film festival is able to be a part of such an exciting new initiative. We look forward to learning from ZIFF, one of Africa's leading film festivals, and sharing experiences so that TTFF10 can continue to lead the exhibition of film in the English speaking Caribbean".

Dr. Bruce Paddington, Director of TTFF

“We are delighted to support this innovative partnership between two festivals. The Audiences should have access to a wider range of cultural offerings from Commonwealth countries and we have worked with both festivals individually for a number of years now. Making links between them is the next step in giving greater exposure to some of the great films being made today throughout the Commonwealth.”

Dr Mark Collins, Director of the Commonwealth Foundation

The first phase of the exchange will take place at the Zanzibar International Film Festival taking place from 10 to 18 July 2010. About ZIFF ZIFF is East Africa’s largest film, music and arts festival, bringing new talents together from all over the world. Each year, some of the most captivating and cutting-edge cinema from Africa and beyond is screened in venues across the island. From world-premiers to local shorts, we've got it all, with a long history of showcasing the highest quality film from all over the world. Films are submitted based on a yearly theme - this year is 'Hopes in Harmony' - and entered into various categories and competitions. Screenings from the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival will be taking place on 13 July from 14.00 to 17.30 at ZIFF 2010. For other screening times and the full festival schedule please visit http://www.ziff.or.tz/ About TTFFThe Trinidad and Tobago film festival seeks to highlight excellence in filmmaking. TTFF is a cutting-edge Caribbean film festival that continues to evolve and expand in celebrating expression and empowerment through film. With a series of well-organized workshops and events, TTFF is quickly emerging as the premium film festival of the Caribbean. http://www.trinidadandtobagofilmfestival.com