Latvian Ambassador to open University film and culture event

Latvian film and culture will be celebrated at a special two-day academic and film event at The University of Northampton’s Avenue Campus over 9-10 September, 2011.

The event will be opened by the Latvian Ambassador to the UK, Eduards Stiprais, and is called ‘Laižam’. The occasion will celebrate Northamptonshire's ethnic diversity while also marking the 20^th anniversary of the re-established Latvian state.

The films to be shown have never been screened before in the UK, and include a new community film about Latvians living in Northamptonshire.

Ted Sullivan, Event co-ordinator and Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Media Studies, said: "This exciting event will look back at 20 years of Latvian culture to 1991, when changes within the former Soviet Union produced an awakening of national identity throughout Eastern Europe.

"Latvia is one of the three Baltic republics which regained sovereignty following the break up of the Soviet Union during the late 1980s and early ‘90s. The events of that time were documented by legendary Latvian filmmaker Juris Podnieks in his film 'Homeland', which we will also be screening.

"We are privileged to have the current director of Juris Podnieks’ studio, Antra Cilinska, at the conference to present an insider's view of that time and of Podnieks' film legacy."

‘Laižam’ will feature recent examples of Latvian cinema, courtesy of the National Film Centre in Riga, as well as an exhibition of photographs, 'A Day in the Life of Latvia'.

Additionally, Ivars Ijabs, a noted academic and historian from the University of Latvia will give a critical overview of the events of 20 years ago and will explore how cultural and political life in Latvia is likely to develop over the next two decades.

One of the event highlights will be the premier of a community film which tells the story of Latvians who have come to live in Northamptonshire and the East Midlands since the Second World War. The film has been produced by two first time filmmakers, Corby businessman Agris Krumins and his daughter Sarma, a former Fine Art foundation student at The University of Northampton. They want to give an inside view of the three generations of Latvians who have lived in the UK and how they feel about their homeland today.

Although neither have had any formal film training they have been able to undertake this project with the help of the staff and facilities at the University’s School of The Art's Film, Media and Communication division.

"This film has been something I’ve wanted to do for some time," explained Agris Krumins, who grew up in Corby. "I am pleased that we have been able to undertake this project while also showcasing the talents of Latvian film makers who have emerged over the past 20 years."

‘Laižam’ will include a special seminar on Latvian media in the 21st century presented by Datsa Gaile, a current business student at The University of Northampton and owner of Anglo Baltic News, a monthly Latvian language newspaper based in Northampton.

Datsa added: "‘Laižam’ is providing a cultural focal point for our readers and will help build a broader understanding between the generations who often have contrasting views of Latvia."

For details go to:

http://www.northampton.ac.uk/laizam

RED5’s appWheel iPhone Wheel puts you in the driving seat

...Take a pit stop and upgrade your iPhone or iPod touch to the ultimate driving accessory...

London, Friday 12th August – RED5.co.uk, the ultimate gadget shop, is launching another ingenious app fuelled accessory.   Designed to make mobile racing more authentic, the appWheel iPhone Wheel uses your iPhone or iPod touch to give you the most realistic driving experience you can get with your Apple device.  Available for £9.95 from www.RED5.co.uk, this nifty steering wheel fits seamlessly around your device, providing realistic steering simulation and bringing app powered racing to life.

Suitable for iPod touch (4^th Generation), iPhone 3, 3GS and 4, the appWheel iPhone Wheel will maximise your racing experience whilst allowing precise in-game control.  The wheel been made to take full advantage of the phone’s in-built accelerometer creating a realistic driving set-up.  And if that wasn’t enough, its ergonomic design still allows users full access to the touch screen as well as the main device control button, so using the appWheel doesn’t deprive access to your beloved iDevice. Most importantly, it is compatible with every accelerometer driving app available for iOS, making this is an app accessory every gaming driver should put on their Most Wanted list.

So, grab the appWheel iPhone Wheel and become the ultimate app racer; turning even the most mundane of locations into the most exhilarating of racetracks.  Just try not to damage anything, or anyone, on your way to grand prix glory.

THE WILDEST DREAM: CONQUEST OF EVEREST

UK TELEVISION PREMIERE - BBC TWO – 9pm, WEDNESDAY 17^th AUGUST 2011


Narrated by Liam Neeson


Featuring the voices of Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson, Hugh Dancy and Alan Rickman

Altitude Films presents THE WILDEST DREAM: CONQUEST OF EVEREST. This stunning feature documentary, directed by BAFTA and Emmy^® award-winning filmmaker, Anthony Geffen (released in cinemas in 2010), follows a team of modern climbers as they retrace the footsteps of British explorer George Mallory who disappeared near the top of Everest in 1924. Mallory’s disappearance is one of Britain’s greatest unsolved mysteries: could he have reached the summit of Everest 29 years before Sir Edmund Hillary?

Dressed in gabardine and wearing hobnailed boots, Mallory risked everything in pursuit of his dream.  He was last seen alive just 800 feet below the mountain’s peak, before the clouds closed in and he disappeared into legend. Mallory’s death stunned the world. In 1999, renowned mountaineer Conrad Anker discovered Mallory’s frozen body high in the mountain’s “death zone” and his life became intertwined with Mallory’s story. Remarkably, all Mallory’s belongings were found intact on his body. The only thing missing was a photograph of his wife, Ruth, which Mallory had promised to place on the summit if he succeeded. Haunted by the story, Anker returns to Everest to solve the enduring mystery surrounding the ill-fated expedition and the disappearance of one of the world’s greatest explorers.

THE WILDEST DREAM is a story of obsession and breathtaking adventure, told through the explorer’s poignant and evocative correspondence with his wife and using previously unseen photos and original footage shot on Everest in 1924.  Anker and British rock-climbing prodigy Leo Houlding embark on their own quest to conquer Everest, following the original North East Ridge route taken by Mallory in 1924 to discover whether he and fellow climber Andrew “Sandy” Irvine could have reached the summit. To find out if Mallory could have succeeded, Conrad and Leo must scale the infamous Second Step, which has never been free climbed, a 90 foot sheer rock wall with a 7,000 foot drop, just as Mallory and Irvine would have had to do eight decades earlier.

THE WILDEST DREAM is narrated by Liam Neeson and features the voices of Ralph Fiennes as George Mallory, the late Natasha Richardson as Ruth Mallory, Hugh Dancy as Andrew “Sandy” Irvine and Alan Rickman as Noel Odell, the last person to see Mallory alive.

THE WILDEST DREAM is an award-winning film produced by Altitude Films in association with Atlantic Productions. It is directed by Anthony Geffen, in his first collaboration with executive producer Mike Medavoy, who has been behind seven Best Picture Academy Award-winning films. Produced by Anthony Geffen and Claudia Perkins with Peter Miller as the editor. Directors of photography are Ken Sauls and Chris Openshaw. Joel Douek composed the music.

THE WILDEST DREAM: CONQUEST OF EVEREST will be broadcast on

BBC Two on Wednesday 17^th August at 9pm. Running Time 89 minutes.

Prince Charles Cinema put under 'Quarantine' as zombies attack central London for new film release

The Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square, London, was put under ‘Quarantine’ last night, reams of tape sealed off the cinema as the men in bio-hazard suits swept in to try and contain an unprecedented zombie infection taking over the crowd.

Whilst some members of the public were unlucky enough to be ‘turned’ into the walking dead, zombie stewardesses ushered the rest of their hoard into the cinema for a special, one-off big-screening of ‘Quarantine 2: Terminal’.  The entire audience wore face protection masks to help avoid further infection and muffle the sound of their screams as they sat back to be some of the first people in the UK to see the horror movie.


The deadly virus has escaped the infected building and is now on board a late  night flight.  No one is safe when Quarantine 2: Terminal hits DVD on August 15 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The sequel to the film Quarantine takes up where the previous installment left off and will be available on DVD for £12.99.


Synopsis: 


Earlier tonight, a bizarre disease was unleashed in a run-down Los Angeles tenement ... and no one got  out alive. Yet something escaped. Now, aboard Flight 318, the first symptoms  begin to show. As the  infection begins to takes root, innocent passengers suddenly transform into terrifying, bloodthirsty killers. Forced to land at an isolated terminal, and surrounded by armed government agents, the crew and passengers grow increasingly desperate. The only question now is how far they will go to survive.


Screenplay and directed by John G. Pogue, Quarantine 2: Terminal was produced by Sergio Aguero, Marc Bienstock, Doug Davison, Roy Lee and Sergio Aguero.


Quarantine 2: Terminal has a running time of 83 mins and is rated 15.