Successful 27th International Short Film Festival Berlin

With an audience record of 16,000, the 27th International Short Film Festival Berlin came to a euphoric close on Sunday. 500 films from 68 countries were shown in 50 programmes during a successful festival week. More than 500 accredited guestsattended this year’s festival, 220 international and german filmmakers and 100 industry professionals,. Prizes amounting to € 36,000 were awarded in six competition categories.

A particular highlight of this year‘s interfilm Festival were the foreign focuses onSwitzerland and Southeast Asia as well as the thematic spotlight on environment.

Ambitious events and new programme formats also triumphed: At Sound & Visionwe turned down the sound on 8 short films and invited 8 music acts and sound artists to create live soundtracks. The sold out show at the Volksbuehne’s main stage was an impressive aural and visual feat. The first-ever Film+Fertig was such an entertaining success that it looks as though the competition is here to stay: 5 film crews made 5 films featuring 5 criteria in 5 days. The winner was announced at the lively Film+Fertig awards ceremony. Further festival events included the cinematic guessing-game at interfilm Quiz Night, a film project exchange at Pitch me! as well as Film Salons and out-of-the-ordinary programming such as Bike Shorts (literally that), Critically Short (film critics’ favourite films), Decibel (short films about musicians and music), music videos and various parties. Once again interfilm celebrated the seemingly infinite diversity of filmmaking in highly original and unforgettable ways!

We called in the digital revolution and ended up with brilliant image quality: this year we decided to take the leap and screen festival films using a hard disk player. We were blown away by the system’s stability! The audience were treated to a stunning visual feast! Just 10 % of this year’s films were sent on 35mm while the rest, after uploading, instead of being shown in a Beta MP4 format, could be projected onto the screen in HD.

KUKI – the 4th International Short Film Festival for Children and Youth Berlindrew 4,100 young (and not-so-young) cinema buffs to the movie theatres at Filmtheater am Friedrichshain, 3,000 of which were pupils who attended the diverse school programmes. The most popular KUKI programme proved to be the Spanish Foreign Language programme, “Que Onda?” which attracted approximately 650 cinema goers. In addition to the opening matinee event with a 320-strong audience, the kindergarten programme was literally bursting with 600 squealing and giggling young children!

GUESS Party, London

GUESS are pleased to announce an exclusive party event at the GUESS Regent Street store to celebrate the launch of their holiday party and Christmas collections. The in-store extravaganza will go on for three days and will take place on Friday 25^th through Sunday 27^th November 2011 from 10am-5pm each day.

Come in store for fabulous hairstyling tips from Cloud Nine, nail treats, indulgent delights from Hotel Chocolat, fabulous Cosmopolitan cocktails supplied by Chase Marmalade Vodka and much more.

DJs will be spinning tracks and top fashion will also be on hand to advise how to wear the up-to-the-minute styles and trends and how to jazz up your party outfit with must have accessories.

So put on your finest and join the GUESS party! Exclusively at the Regent Street GUESS store located at 162-168 Regent Street, London.

GUESS Regent Street store will also offer 30% off purchases when you join their mailing list – 25/26/27 November only.

They arrived, they planned, they unleashed, they return…

V- The Complete Second Season

Available on Blu-ray™ and DVD on 24^th October 2011 or download it from iTunes™

Prepare for the final showdown between The Fifth Column and The Visitors when V Season 2 arrives on 24^th October on Blu-ray and DVD.  With the planet on the brink of war and humans beginning to revolt against The Visitors, Queen Anna struggles to hide her real intentions; will her true plan be discovered in time?

Featuring Lost's Elizabeth Mitchell (Erica Evans) as the leader of The Resistance Movement (The Fifth Column) and Firefly's Morena Baccarin as the ruthless Queen Anna, Season 2 charts the on-going battle between these two women as they fight for the future of the planet. Alongside Erica, are Father Jack (Joel Gretsch), a priest who was hesitant to believe in the righteousness of the V's from the start; Ryan Nichols (Morris Chestnut), a Visitor himself who has switched sides and knows first-hand just what the V's are capable of and Kyle Hobbes (Charles Mesure) –a former mercenary and fugitive but an invaluable asset to the team.

Season 2 is jam -packed with 10 episodes of suspense filled sci-fi storylines; from Erica’s mission to find out the truth about Red Sky which leads to the discovery of a horrifying secret, to Tyler (Logan Huffman)and Lisa’s (Laura Vandervoort) blossoming relationship which is being carefully monitored and manipulated by The V’s, to Ryan’s risky battle to save his daughter from the evil clutches of Queen Anna and Lisa finding the courage to form an unlikely allegiance with Erica – this is a shocking second season finale not to be missed! 

Don’t miss V- Season 2 out on Blu-Ray and DVD from 24^th October and also available to download on iTunes.

Blu-ray Special Features Include:

-          The Arc of Story: Mining the Human Emotion - Featurette

-          Blooper Reel

-          A Visual Masterpiece for the Small Screen – Featurette

-          Deleted Scenes

DVD Special Features include:

-          Deleted Scenes

PASSION AND COMPASSION FOR URBAN SINS – THE WINNERS OF THE 1. INTERNATIONAL SINCITY FILM AWARD

A German and a British filmmaker from South Korea win the Jury Award of the 1. International SinCity Film Award. 

A young Italian contributor wins the Audience Award.

Berlin, 22 November 2011. SinCity, the hauntingly intense song by the young German singersongwriter SCHMIDT from Berlin, was the basis for filmic interpretations of the 21st century’s temptations. 85 filmmakers from 27 countries have sent in their music videos and shortfilms for the 1..International SinCity Film Award and presented astonishing works of passion and compassion, perils and pleasu¬res, visions and imaginations. The prizes, chosen by an acclaimed international jury and the audience, have an overall value of 20 000 Euro.

Overall Jury Prize (Euro 5.000)

The music video from South Korea was chosen by the jury as outstanding: filmmakers NILS CLAUSS and STUART HOWE were awar¬ded first place. Clauss, a German from Berlin, and Howe, an Englishman from Norwich, have been working and living in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, for several years now. The film plays on the transition between city and countryside in such an original way that even a fish finds himself in pure astonishment.

Jury Runners-up (each Euro 1.000)

Four more jury prizes go to SIMON ROGOWSKI / Inspiria from Germany, to ZOLTÄN BOGDÄN from Hungary, to CHRISTIAN MATSU¬MUTO and LAIA MIRET / We hate Sundays from Spain and to ZSUZSA KOHAN from England.

The Audience Award (Euro 5.000)

Determined by the means of worldwide facebook-likes, this prize goes to the contribution of SILVIA BORDIN, a young Italian photogra¬pher and filmmaker from Bologna. SCHMIDT on the film: That’s SinCity Italian style, right on the point – bravissimo!

Special Award for Best Cinematography
The contribution of MICHELE CASTELLUCCI from London / United Kingdom, is awarded with the prize for Best Cinematography; director of photography JOSEPH FORTEBRACCIO wins a trip to the International Film Festival Berlin in February 2012.

The Jury

Guy Chambers (music producer), Rita Fluegge-Timm, Warner Music Germany (director artist department), Florian Gallenberger (direc¬tor and Academy Award winner) Thekla Reuten (actress), Volker Schloendorff (director, producer, and Academy Award winner), Philipp Stoelzl (director), Eike Wolff, Studio Babelsberg (head of communication), Rolf Zehetbauer (set designer and Academy Award winner)
To Guy Chambers, who produced the debut album of SCHMIDT, the competition represents “a true innovation in the music industry”. 

SCHMIDT

With her EP ‚Above SinCity‘ in stores now, SCHMIDT will be playing shows as special guest of british singer Mel C. on her tour in No¬vember and December. The debut album by SCHMIDT will be released in March 2012. http://www.femmeschmidt.com

All winning films on: http://genero.tv , http://www.sincityfilmaward.com und http://www.femmeschmidt.com

The Turkish Film Festival

The Turkish Film Festival is back again in London this year, and will be running from 24th November to 8th December and has moved from a familiar three day event to a full scale two week festival with some brilliant films on show and some wonderful attendees.

Claudia Cardinale stars in the opening night gala film, Being Italian with Signora Enrica, the debut feature from Ali Ilhan - a delightful film about an elderly Italian woman who takes in a young Turkish exchange student.  Cardinale is famous for her work with Fellini, Visconti and most famously in Sergio Leone's Once Upon A Time in the West.  Ms.Cardinale will be in attendance for the Opening Night.

Other highlights include Tayfun Pirslimoglu's Hair which won Best Turkish Film and Best Director at the 2011 Istanbul Film Festival; the debut feature from acclaimed photographer Cemil Agacikoglu, September; Do Not Forget Me Istanbul, a portrait of Istanbul as seen through the eyes of six young International directors and Home, the first feature from actor Muzatffer Ozdemir, best known for his role in Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Distant, for which he won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival.

These fresh offerings from younger voices go hand in hand with the established directors who are on show here, Ceylan himself with Once Upon a Time in Anatolia, Dervis Zaim's Shadows and Faces and Sedat Yilmaz's Press.

Whilst other specialist film festivals are struggling to stay afloat, the unfortunate news a few weeks ago that there will be no Birds Eye Film Festival in 2012 came as a shock to many in the London film community, as it was a festival with a unique identity.

London has a whole host of film festivals with a specific genre or nationalistic strain (Korean, Jewish, Russian, even Kazakhstan) - the Turkish festival however, has been running for some years now and is now established as a vital platform for new emerging Turkish film-makers working both at home and abroad.  It also has a prestigious award - The Golden Wings Digiturk Digital Distribution Award - which offers a £30,000 prize enabling the winning film to be released theatrically in the UK and Ireland.
     Thanks to this prize a film like Bal (Honey) would never have received the great acclaim it did upon its release in April of this year.
     There is also a Golden Wings People's Choice Award presented to the most popular film as selected by audiences throughout the festival.

Turkish cinema is in a period of rude health at the moment, thanks in part to the auteuristic pedigree of Ceylan whose new film Anatolia received its world premiere at Cannes in the Grand Prix selection and was up for the Palme D'Or, and also selected as Turkey's entrant for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.  Bal won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and the much celebrated Men on the Bridge did some good box office and garnered critical attention when released also.

This year's festival will run at the following venues: Odeon West End, Apollo Piccadilly, Rio Dalston and Cine Lumiere.

For more information go to the festival website: www.ltff.org.uk for details of the schedule and screenings.

PAIR OF TEENAGERS WIN £5000 COMPETITION TO MAKE NEXT GREENPEACE CAMPAIGN FILM

Two teenage German students have won an international film competition organised by Greenpeace. 

The contest to make a short film attacking the Volkswagen brand was won by 18-year-old Andreas Borlinghaus and Johannes Laidler, 19, from Lake Constance, Germany. The result was announced last night at a ceremony at the Curzon Soho cinema in London. Andreas and Johannes will now be given a budget of £5000 to make Greenpeace’s next campaign film. Previous films have been seen by millions online and won a clutch of awards. 

Eighty film-makers from across the world entered the competition. A shortlist of 12 was selected by online voting before a judging panel, including directors Clio Barnard, Michael Geoghegan and Jack Price, and Nick Darken of advertising agency Albion, chose the winner. 

An estimated four million people have already watched Greenpeace’s own online film attacking Volkswagen’s record on climate change, while 450,000 people have signed up to join the campaign against the car-maker. The film has won a prestigious Gold Lovie award and is nominated for the viral video award at the 27th Berlin International Short Film Festival (it can be seen at www.vwdarkside.com). Now Andreas and Johannes will make its sequel. 

The competition was run across the UK, Germany, France and Belgium. All 12 shortlisted films – many of which subvert some of VW’s most famous adverts – were screened at the Curzon last night before the winner was named. 

Andreas Borlinghaus said: 

“We’re so excited to have won, because we think it’s really important, as film makers, to use cinema to raise public awareness of environmental issues. This competition was a great opportunity, giving us a chance to showcase our skills to a really wide audience.” 

Clio Barnard said: 

“What I loved about Pretending was how angry it made me. It exposed Volkswagen’s duplicity in such a simple but powerfully executed manner.” 

Another judge, Greenpeace executive director John Sauven, said: 

“We were stunned by the quality of the entries. This experiment in crowd-sourcing a brand attack has been a startling success with a large number of films I think agencies would have been proud to produce. VW has some of the most expensive creatives in the business working for them, but our online crew has come up with a great response to the company’s green-washing. We can’t wait to see what Andreas and Johannes make for us with the prize money.” 

Volkswagen has a reputation for producing some of the most memorable television adverts in history. Most recently its one minute film of a mini-Darth Vader – premiered in the ad break during this year’s Superbowl – became the most viewed online ad in history. With YouTube movies increasingly forming the cornerstone of global campaigns against corporate targets, the competition represented an opportunity for anyone with a camera and laptop to dictate the direction of the Greenpeace campaign in major media markets. 

VW markets itself as a green car company. But in reality it lobbies against key climate change laws and only fits the most fuel efficient technology to a small proportion of its vehicles. 

Plantronics Boosts Performance of PC Gamers at this years DreamHack

Plantronics GameCom 777 will be the headset of choice for global pro-gaming team 4Kings who will be taking part in Plantronics' Quake Dual Live Championship at this year's DreamHack Winter. This one on one duel will see 16 players from across the globe compete at the world's largest digital festival, which takes place in Jonkoping, Sweden from 24th - 27th November. First prize: 55,000 SEK (approx. 6,000 euros).

More info - http://www.dreamhack.se/dhw11/2011/11/11/16-players-ready-to-fight

The GameCom 777 gives 4Kings pro-gaming team a 360-degree spectrum of sound. Integrated with Dolby technology for a realistic surround sound expereince, they will be one step ahead as they are able to pinpoint their enemies even before they appear on screen. Comfortable and lightweight, with a noise-cancelling mic they will be able to quickly and clearly communicate with their team to push their strategy to the next level. Plus, the open ear design means they'll be able to hear what is happening outside the game. Good Luck 4Kings!

Plantronics GameCom supports the gaming community at all levels, and is proud to be a sponsor of 4Kings.

Online video revenues will triple in 2011

Consumption of legitimate free and paid for online video is on track to exceed 770 billion views across the USA, UK, France and Germany this year, according to a new report from Futuresource Consulting. Improvements in accessibility and ease of use are among the growth triggers that have seen the rise from around 640 billion views last year, with the USA dominating the market.

"Total online video views are on track to grow by 20% and paid-for online video revenues will reach in excess of $3bn this year," says Mai Hoang, Senior Analyst at Futuresource Consulting. "Online purchase and rental transactions are playing a part, but the majority of this revenue is coming out of the USA, predominantly through streaming subscription service Netflix. By 2015, paid-for online video spend is forecast to hit close to $7 billion across the four countries."

Although paid-for online is growing, it still remains negligible in many markets when compared with free, and is up against stiff competition from other forms of viewing, notably pay TV, free movies and television content.

Moving forward, Futuresource expects the paid-for segment in Europe to be boosted by the launch of a handful of key regional streaming subscription services, similar to Netflix in the USA. It is anticipated that these services will be led by existing online players including YouTube, Apple and Netflix, rather than new entrants.

The potential for future online video revenue extends beyond online purchase and rental and the expansion of subscription services across all major markets, with contributions from ad-funded services having a key role to play.

"Brands have only recently started to harness the full potential of online video," says Hoang, "with ad-funded revenues expected to grow by 50% in 2011 as advertisers continue to develop and refine content specifically for the online environment, rather than repurposing content originally destined for television. At the same time, consumers become more receptive as ads are effectively targeted."

YouTube in particular has recognised the potential of online advertising, as it continues to introduce initiatives to increase consumer engagement on ad-funded videos, even allowing viewers to stop ads that do not appeal to them. This is then reflected in advertising rates, with more popular ads attracting preferential rates, thus encouraging an upsurge of enjoyable, targeted ad content and an enhanced experience for the consumer.

"The growing range of mobile devices is playing an increasingly significant part in the online video market," says Hoang. "Sales of smartphones are expected to exceed 450 million units worldwide this year, fuelled predominantly by the growing influence of Android-based handsets. This groundswell is building to a significant content distribution platform, largely driven by growth in the development and consumption of apps and rapidly becoming an essential part of service providers' multi-platform strategies.

"With tablets showing even more impressive growth and evolution, content holders, broadcasters and hardware manufacturers are increasingly interested in the relatively untapped growth potential in the online video market for these devices."

The Futuresource Online Video Market Report is over 60 pages long and provides highly detailed analysis and forecasting, including 42 detailed charts and graphs. The report is available for immediate purchase, for more information visit the webpage http://www.futuresource-consulting.com/report_OnlineVideo.html.

Futuresource Consulting is a specialist research and knowledge-based consulting company, providing organisations with insight into consumer electronics, digital imaging, entertainment media, broadcast, storage media, education technology and IT. With a heritage stretching back to the 1980s, the company delivers in-depth analysis and forecasts on a global scale, advising on strategic positioning, market trends, competitive forces and technological developments.

www.futuresource-consulting.com.

25th Leeds International Film Festival announces award winners

The 25^th Leeds International Film Festival has announced its Audience Award winners and three prestigious Jury prizes. The 25^th edition of the Film Festival attracted its largest ever audience of over 35,000, including a record audience for a single screening with 1000 people attending Closing Gala Shame.

The Golden Owl award in Official Selection, and the Silver Méliès award in Fanomenon, the genre cinema section of the Film Festival, have been announced alongside the Film Festival’s four short film Jury awards (the Augustin Awards) in the categories of Animation, International, British and Yorkshire Shorts. The announcements come as Leeds receives confirmation that it has been accepted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to become part of the Academy Awards^® process in the categories of Live Action Short Film and Animated Short Film for the 2013 Oscars^®.

LIFF25 AUDIENCE AWARDS

Following audience votes taken for every one of the Film Festival programme’s 150+ feature films, the following winners have been announced:

Official Selection Audience Award: The Artist (dir. Michael Hazanavicius, France, 2011)

Fanomenon Audience Award: Juan of the Dead (dir. Alejandro Brugues, Cuba, 2011)

Cinema Versa Audience Award: Sound It Out (dir. Jeanie Finlay, UK, 2011)

LIFF25 GOLDEN OWL AWARD -  22ND MAY (dir. Koen Mortier, Belgium, 2010).

The Golden Owl Jury, consisting of Laurence Boyce, Renata Clark and Tony Jones, is proud to present the Golden Owl Award to 22nd May (dir. Koen Mortier, Belgium, 2010).

The Golden Owl Jury said:

“The film is a powerful and evocative tale of guilt and redemption told through the eyes of a security guard who blames himself for not preventing a bombing. Blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, Mortier mixes stark realism with pop video aesthetics to create a unique and intense film.

The jury believes that the film - and others in the Golden Owl Award - deserves a chance at UK distribution and would urge distributors to make sure they get to see 22nd May and many of the other challenging and thought provoking films in competition”

THE MÉLIÈS D’ARGENT

Leeds International Film Festival is the UK representative of the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation, and as such holds its Méliès d’Argent competition in the UK for feature and short fantastic films. The Méliès Jury, consisting of Sarah Crowther, Dr. Karen Oughton, and Dr. Rebekah Smith, is proud to announce the following winners:

Méliès d’Argent (feature film Winner): The Divide (dir. Xavier Gens, Germany/USA/Canada, 2011)

Méliès d’Argent (feature film) Special Mention: Masks (dir. Andreas Marschall, Germany, 2011)

Méliès d’Argent (short film) Winner: Decapoda Shock (dir. Javier Chillón, Spain).

Méliès d’Argent (short film) Special Mention: Tommy  (dir. Arnold du Parscau, France, 2011)

The Méliès Jury said:

“Gens’ film delivered a number of factors so often lacking in contemporary horror; intelligent and multi-layered narrative, visually stunning, symbolic imagery and brave, outstanding performances.

The standard of the short films in competition was very high and the jury were divided. However, Decapoda Shock was very creative and achieved a lot in a short space of time – hilarious storytelling, strong pastiche techniques, multi-media visualisation and displayed a passion for the genre.”

Both The Divide and Decapoda Shock will now go forward to compete for the coveted Méliès d’Or at Sitges International Festival of Fantastic Film in Spain in 2012.

THE AUGUSTIN AWARDS (short film)

The Short Film City Jury, comprising of Ian Barrans, David Bunting, and Cheryl Grant announced the following winners in of the Augustin Awards in the Short Film City strand of the Film Festival:

World Animation: The Gloaming (dir. Nicholas Schmerkin, France, 2010)
Louis le Prince International Short Film: Bear (dir. Nash Edgerton, Australia, 2011)
British Shorts: Grandmothers (dir. Afarin Eghbal, UK, 2011)
Yorkshire Short Film – (We are Poets) ‘I Come From…’ (dirs. Alex Ramseyer-Bache, Daniel Lucchesi, UK, 2011).

The announcements come as Leeds received news that it has been accepted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles as qualifying festival in the Academy Awards^®  category of Short Film. Starting with 2012’s 26^th Leeds International Film Festival, the winners of the annual World Animation and Louis Le Prince International Short Film awards at the Film Festival will be considered by the Academy voters in the Academy Awards^® categories of Live Action Short Film and Animated Short Film of the from the 2013 Oscars^® onwards.

Submissions for the 26^th Leeds International Film Festival will open in January 2012.

MINNIE MOUSE GETS HER FIRST VERY OWN TV SERIES

MINNIE'S BOW-TOONS TO PREMIERE EXCLUSIVELY ON DISNEY JUNIOR

Minnie’s Bow-tique is open for business! 

Global icon Minnie Mouse ventures alone for the first time ever to launch her very own TV show, Minnie’s Bow-Toons, on 18^th November at 10.50am on Disney Junior.

Known for her signature polka dot dresses and over-sized hair bows, Minnie Mouse made her first appearance alongside her leading man, Mickey Mouse, in the classic animated short Steamboat Willie, where she played a damsel in distress. Whilst Minnie and Mickey Mouse are forever inseparable, Minnie’s Bow-Toons gives Minnie the chance to embark on her greatest solo adventure yet. 

In the stylish new series of shorts, Minnie demonstrates the fashion flair that has inspired countless imitations, style icons and celebrities. Together with good friend Daisy Duck, Minnie runs Bow-Tique, a specialty shop, which stocks only bows and bow-ties. No matter what the occasion, Minnie has a bow (or bow-tie) for every possible situation. From using a rubber bow to fix some leaky pipes or shredded bows to make pom poms for a cheerleader – she has the answer!

Boel Ferguson, Vice President and General Manager, Disney Channels UK and Ireland, said: “As charming as she is timeless, Minnie Mouse has entertained generations of parents, particularly mothers, around the world. We look forward to building upon Minnie’s legacy of entertainment, laughter and elegance and introduce her to a whole new audience on Disney Junior.”
 

Minne’s Bow-Toons launches on Friday 18^th November on Disney Junior, as part of a month-long celebration of programming dedicated to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Throughout November devotees will be able to see a special featuring Mickey, Minnie and their pals week days at midday. These include Mickey’s Campervan Adventure (Wednesday 9^th November) and Minnie’s Bow-tique Special (Wednesday 2nd November).

BEATLES MANIA HITS BATTERSEA

Amazing opportunity to see Paul McCartney perform on offer at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s Charity Auction

A once in a lifetime opportunity  to experience  VIP access to Paul McCartney’s show at the O2 Arena in London is on auction at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s Collars & Coats Gala Ball this Friday night.

Shelley Lazaar, Founder of Slotix.com, has donated this unbelievable item for two people to see Sir Paul McCartney perform live on Monday 5 December. The package includes front-of-house seats, an exclusive invitation to the sound check and a hospitality reception ahead of the show, tour merchandise and a collectible laminate to take home as a souvenir of  this unforgettable evening

The auction of this item will help raise funds for the leading animal charity at Battersea’s annual fundraising event Collars & Coats which takes place at Evolution in Battersea Park tomorrow night.

Sarah Wilson, Head of Events said: “We’re honoured to have such an amazing item as part of our auction at this year’s Collars & Coats Gala Ball. We hope that it will attract a lot of interest and be amazing experience for the winning bidder.”

“It costs Battersea £14 million every year to care for the thousands of stray, lost and abandoned dogs and cats which come through our doors and, as we receive no Government funding, we rely on kind-hearted members of the public to support us.”

This year’s Collars & Coats Gala Ball boasts an impressive guest list of showbiz and entertainment glitterati, influential business leaders, society and public figures, stars from the world of sport and British Royalty. It will be hosted by Peter Andre and guests gracing the Red Carpet include Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel-Horwood, fashionista Brix Smith Start, television presenter Esther Rantzen and celebrated British actress Prunella Scales. They will be in the presence of charity’s President TRH Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

The exclusive auction includes an array of luxury, bespoke gifts donated by the Home’s supporters. The Ball raises vital funds to ensure that Battersea’s work in rescuing and rehoming unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats continues.

To see the other items which are available at the online action, log onto http://auction.collarsandcoats.org.uk/auction/

WE THE PEOPLES FILM FESTIVAL

AT BFI SOUTHBANK

November 19

What Difference Can A Film Make?

 

We The Peoples Film Festival : Celebrating The Potential Film Has To Make A Difference.

 

The We the Peoples Film Festival returns to BFI Southbank for its sixth season with exciting innovation. Highlights of this year’s festival are set to include two exceptional South African feature films: Otelo Burningand Lucky, Q&A’s with the directors, a short film competition judged by the audience, debates with industry professionals and decision makers, workshops with director David Westhead and Boldface Productions, a live link-up to South Africa, a #tweetapitch competition offering young people the chance to win a £500 film making bursary and professional mentorship, and an Awards Ceremony presented by the festival’s special guests.

 

Since its inception in 2006, the We the Peoples Film Festival has screened more than one hundred films on human rights, development, security and peace. Its creative programming has included important initiatives such as the UK's first peace-themed film season, video-streaming workshops for NGOs and the world's first festival of films on international development by young directors, aged up to 19. 

 

In 2011, the We The Peoples Film Festival will continue to raise important issues associated with the United Nations Three Pillars of Freedom: from want, from fear and the freedom to live in dignity. The flagship Youth event, the Young Film Makers for Development Day will be held at BFI Southbank on Saturday 19th November. It will screen two exceptional South African feature films: Otelo Burning and Lucky, both of which reveal the explosive nature of change during post-apartheid South Africa, through the eyes of young people searching for a taste of their promised freedom.

 

These incredibly inspiring films are an excellent example of film’s potential to offer a startling insight into the lives of others. There will be a Q&A with Sara Blecher - director of Otelo Burning, which premiered at theDurban International Film Festival earlier this year, and the director of Lucky Avie Luthra, whose other films include Mad ,Sad and Bad and Cross My Heart. There will be the opportunity to take part in workshops with experts in the craft, such as director David Westhead whose company Wilton Pictures runs the enormously successful Wembley to Soweto photography project. This is a project that helps disadvantaged youngsters from the UK and abroad and has received enormous media coverage and acclaim as well as endorsement from celebrities and politicians. A highlight of the festival will be bringing young aspiring film makers into debates with professionals in the film industry and decision makers from the development field. This conversation will be extended internationally through a live link-up to film makers in Johannesburg.

 

The festival’s special guests will announce the winners for its short film competition, voted on by audience members. There will also be an opportunity for young people (aged 15-25) to enter our #tweetapitchcompetition, with the chance to win a film making bursary of £500 and professional mentorship. The resulting documentary will be screened at next year’s festival. The day will end with music, an Awards Ceremony and the opportunity to meet some incredible and inspiring figures from both the film and development world.

FILM MAKERS OF THE FUTURE COMPETE IN 2.8 DAYS FILM CHALLENGE

Winning film to be screened across Everyman cinemas

A new project challenging aspiring filmmakers to write, shoot and finish a film in less than three days launches this week.

Following the demise of the UK Film Council, the key funding source for the UK film industry, opportunities for young film-makers are extremely limited. Land Securities, as part of the pre-launch of Trinity Leeds, the one million sq ft retail and leisure destination opening in Leeds city centre in spring 2013, has stepped in to support undiscovered talent, offering funding and mentoring to make a short film.

Over the course of three days as many as 150 film makers, working in small teams, will take up the challenge to make a short film lasting no longer than two minutes and twenty seconds over a period of 2.8 days. Industry professionals, including Jo Adamson, casting director from Northern Spirit Creative, will lead workshops covering different aspects of the filmmaking process, and will mentor participants as they create a brand new short film. The strict filming time makes the films eligible for next year’s Virgin Media Short Film Competition.

The films will then be judged by industry experts, including Barry Ryan of Warp Films’, the studio behind the critically acclaimed This is England, Dead Man’s Shoes and Four Lions, influential film producer Howard Dawson, formerly of Film Lab North, and Everyman Media Group CEO Andrew Myers. A people’s choice award will also be selected.

This pioneering film initiative is a collaboration between Trinity Leeds, the UK’s only new shopping and leisure destination being developed, Everyman Cinema and film production company Left Eye Blind.  Left Eye Blind co-founder Matt Maude, recent winner of this year’s Kirin First Cut Short Film Competition and a finalist in this year’s Virgin Media Shorts competition, said: “This is adrenaline filmmaking at its best. It’s no secret that the future of funding for British film is uncertain at the moment and this is a great example of how private business can support grass roots, independent filmmaking.

“It’s great to be working with Trinity Leeds and also Everyman Cinema who are supporting us with screenings ahead of major movies, both of whom we see playing a vital role in the development of future film-makers.”

Claire Reynolds, marketing manager, Trinity Leeds, said: “Leeds is the birthplace of film. Louis Le Prince, considered by many film historians to be the true father of motion pictures, made the first short film in 1888 in Leeds, and this project is all about tracking down today’s undiscovered talent.

“Film will play an important role at Trinity Leeds, as it will be home to the first Everyman cinema outside London. Everyman’s chain of boutique cinemas is widely known for screening independent film and world cinema, alongside major releases, and we’re delighted to be working with them and Left Eye Blind on this innovative project.”

The winning film will be showcased at Everyman cinemas across London as a trailer at the start of a major movie. The winners will be announced at a special, public screening event in Leeds during spring 2012.

2.8 Days Later is open to anyone over the age of sixteen, and thanks to support from Trinity Leeds it is totally free to enter. There are 150 places available and registration closes on 15 November, 2011. The competition will take place in Leeds on 18, 19 and 20 November, 2011.

To register, visit the Trinity Leeds page on Facebook www.facebook.com/TrinityLeeds

INDEPENDENCE DAY DIRECTOR ROLAND EMMERICH TALKS ABOUT HIS NEW FILM ANONYMOUS

Hollywood director, Roland Emmerich, took part in a live Twitter interview with Vue Cinemas this week to promote the launch of his new film, Anonymous. The film which features a star-studded British cast including Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave and David Thewlis, is a fascinating historical drama which contests the authorship of Shakespeare’s works. This lavish and intriguing film spins a compelling theory that the true works of Shakespeare were in fact written by Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford.

During the 'Tw-interview', Roland let Vue Cinemas Twitter followers into a few exclusive Hollywood secrets...


·        Roland exclusively told Vue Cinemas that he intended to upset historians with his latest controversial film, Anonymous, which is based on the conspiracy theory that Shakespeare’s works were written by Edward de Vere. 

Roland says: “I read up on the subject matter and after I read all of the facts, I felt it was worth doing. If people tell me not to do something, naturally I do the opposite.” 

The premiere of the film sparked a blackout across Shakespeare’s home town with his name being crossed out on road signs in Warwickshire, while a sheet was hung-over the Gower Memorial statue and his eyes covered on pub signs across the country. 

·        Since the blockbuster smash hit Independence Day was released, movie fans across the world have been waiting for news on a sequel. After many years of Hollywood rumours, Roland Emmerich confirmed to Vue Cinemas that “it is in the works” - so watch this space!

Anonymous, starring Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson is in Vue cinemas nationwide now.

Launch of 25th Leeds International Film Festival

3^rd November 2011, Leeds, UK – The stars will be out in Leeds this week as the cast and director of the latest adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights will be special guests at the gala screening which opens the 25th Leeds International Film Festival.

The much-anticipated new version of the classic novel set in Yorkshire and filmed on the North Yorkshire Moors has overtaken The King’s Speech, the Film Festival’s Opening Gala in 2010, as the fastest-selling film in the history of the festival which this year runs from 3-20 November.

And BAFTA award-winning director Andrea Arnold will be joined by Leeds actor James Howson who plays Heathcliff, Shannon Beer (young Cathy) and Solomon Glave (young Heathcliff) in attending the opening gala screening at Leeds Town Hall on Thursday night.

The gala screening signals the start of the UK’s biggest film festival held outside London, which features over 300 films from around the world shown over 18 days. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, a giant 38 metre wide banner featuring duel images from Wuthering Heights and Steve McQueen’s Shame, the Film Festival’s Official Selection Closing Gala film, is now on display covering the front of Leeds Town Hall and will remain in place throughout the festival.

The festival has also secured a late addition to its programme, with an exclusive screening of Oscar-tipped comedy The Artist set in 1920s Hollywood starring Malcolm McDowell and John Goodman as the finale to the event at Hyde Park Picture House on Sunday 20 November.

The festival will also feature an appearance by comedian, writer and television star Paul Merton presenting a night devoted to silent film comedy genius at Leeds Town Hall on Wednesday 9 November, alongside many special guest appearances throughout its 18 day run:

The Other Side of Sleep – Rebecca Daly, Director: Friday 4th November, 8.45pm, Vue 1 and Sunday 6th November, 6.30pm, Vue 1

The Beat is the Law – Fanfare for the Common People with Eve Wood & Pulp’s Candida Doyle – Eve Wood, Director and Candida Doyle, Pulp: Friday 4th November, 9pm, Leeds Town Hall 1

Fuerteventura – Mattias Sandström, Director and Ivica Zubak, Producer: Saturday 5th November, 2pm, Vue 1 and Sunday 6th November, 4.30pm, Vue 1

Little Deaths – Sean Hogan, Co-director and Andrew Parkinson, Co-director: Part of Night of the Dead, Saturday 5th November, midnight, Hyde Park Picture House

Nana – Valérie Masadian, Director: Sunday 6th November, 6.30pm, Hyde Park Picture House

The Crisis of Civilization - Dean Puckett, Director and Dr Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed, Subject: Sunday 6th November, 8.45pm, Town Hall 2

Sound it Out – Jeanie Finlay, Director: Monday 7th November, 9.15pm, Hyde Park Picture House

Inbred – Alex Chandon, Director and various members of the cast and crew, Tuesday 8th November, 9pm, Hyde Park Picture House

Masks – Andreas Marschall, Director: Part of Day of the Dead, Saturday 12th November, from 1pm, City Varieties

Marianne – Filip Tegstedt, Director: Part of Day of the Dead, Saturday 12th November, from 1pm, City Varieties

Juan of the Dead – Alejandro Brugues, Director, and Gervasio Iglesias, Producer: Part of Day of the Dead, Saturday 12^th November, 8.30pm, City Varieties

Sennentuntschi: Curse of the Alps – Michael Seiner, Director: Sunday 13th November, 1pm, Vue 1 and Monday 14th November, 4pm, Vue1

Kill Me Please – Stéphane Malandrin, Producer/Screenwriter: Sunday 13th November, 3.45pm, Hyde Park Picture House 

The full programme of the 25^th Leeds International Film Festival including the complete Official Selection programme, genre cinema strand Fanomenon, documentary strand Cinema Versa, experimental cinema section Cherry Kino, and short film competition programme Short Film City, is now available in full at leedsfilm.com.