Shooting Stars 2004

EUROPEAN FILM PROMOTION PRESENTS
TOMORROW’S STARS TODAY

6 FEBRUARY - 8 FEBRUARY 2004
AT THE BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Prepare to be dazzled - the next generation of European movie stars are stepping into the spotlight…

Shooting Stars - the initiative run by the European Film Promotion, which is mainly financed by the MEDIA programme of the EU - will spotlight the hottest new acting talent in Europe at the 2004 Berlin International Film Festival.

A series of special events will take place at the opening weekend of the festival to focus the attention of the film industry on tomorrow’s young acting stars, today. The Shooting Stars are those actors and actresses nominated by EFP member organisations who have demonstrated considerable talent and presence in their projects to date - and are now tipped to
become international stars of the future.

The talent of the Shooting Stars will be recognised by the industry with the presentation of the Studio Hamburg Shooting Stars Award, handed out by the Berlin International Film Festival Director Dieter Kosslick on stage of the Berlinale Palast.

German Shooting Star 2003 and European Film Award Winner 2003 (Best Actor & Public Award for best acting), Daniel Brûhl (Good Bye, Lenin!), says “Shooting Stars really helped me to gain the first step on the international platform. It put me, so to speak, in the right place at the right time.”

Shooting Stars 2004 is supported by Volkswagen, the main partner of the Berlin International Film Festival. As well as supporting the project financially, Volkswagen will also be providing cars for the Shooting Stars.

PRESENTING THE 2004 SHOOTING STARS

AUSTRIA - GEORG FRIEDRICH
Nominated by: Austrian Film Commission
Key Films: Dog Days (2001), The Piano Teacher (2000)
BELGIUM - LUBNA AZABAL
Nominated by: Wallonie Bruxelles Images
Key Films: Exils (2003), Viva Laldjérie (2002)
CZECH REPUBLIC - ANA GEISLEROVÁ
Nominated by: Czech Film Center
Key Films: Supertex (2003), England (2000)
DENMARK - SONJA RICHTER
Nominated by: Danish Film Institute
Key Films: Open Hearts (2004), In Your Hands (2003)
FINLAND - IRINA BJÖRKLUND
Nominated by: Finnish Film Foundation
Key Films: Honey Baby (2004), Land of Love (2003)
FRANCE - ZOÉ FÉLIX
Nominated by: Unifrance
Key Films: La Beuze (2003), French Men (2002)
GERMANY - MARIA SIMON
Nominated by: Export-Union of German Cinema
Key films: Goodbye, Lenin! (2003), Lichter (2003)
GREECE - ALEXANDRA AIDINI
Nominated by: Greek Film Centre
Key Films: The Weeping Meadow (2003), Wrong Century (2000)
HUNGARY - ESZTER ÓNODI
Nominated by: Magyar Filmunió
Key Films: Hukkle (2001), A Kind of America (2001)
ICELAND - TOMAS LEMARQUIS
Nominated by: Icelandic Film Centre
Key Films: Noi the Albino (2003), Dramarama (2001)
IRELAND - ANDREW SCOTT
Nominated by: Irish Film Board
Key Films: Dead Bodies (2003), Saving Private Ryan (1998)
ITALY - FILIPPO NIGRO
Nominated by: Filmitalia
Key Films: A Luci Spente (2003), Facing Window (2002)
LATVIA - KRISTINE NEVARAUSKA
Nominated by: Baltic Films
Key Films: You’re Sexy When You’re Sad (2004), Handful of Bullets (2002)
LUXEMBOURG - TOM LEICK
Nominated by: Film Fund Luxembourg
Key Films: The Merchant of Venice (2004), The Emperor’s Wife (2002)
NORWAY - AKSEL HENNIE
Nominated by: Norwegian Film Institute
Key Films: Wolf Summer (2003), Buddy (2003)
PORTUGAL - ÂNGELO TORRES
Nominated by: Instituto do Cinema Audiovisual e Multimédia (ICAM)
Key Films: Fado Blues (2003), Preto e Branco (2002)
SPAIN - ELENA ANAYA
Nominated by: Instituto de la Cinematografia y de Las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA)
Key Films: Talk to Her (2002), Sex and Lucia (2001)
SWEDEN - ANDREAS WILSON
Nominated by: Swedish Film Institute
Key Films: Evil (2003)
SWITZERLAND - MICHAEL KOCH
Nominated by: Swiss Films
Key Films: Ready, Steady, Charlie! (2003)
THE NETHERLANDS - THEKLA REUTEN
Nominated by: Holland Film
Key Films: Rosenstraße (2003), Twin Sisters (2002)
UNITED KINGDOM - EVA BIRTHISTLE
Nominated by: British Council
Key Films: Ae Fond Kiss (2004), Timbuktu (2003)

For more details visit: www.efp-online.com

Alex Cox/Hurricane Films BBC Schools film

BBC Children’s Education recently commissioned award-winning production company, Hurricane Films, to make a 30-minute drama from feature director Alex Cox, (best known for Repo Man and more recently Revenger’s Tragedy).

The film, I’m a Juvenile Delinquent - Jail Me! was transmitted on 15th January 2004.

The film throws the spotlight on reality television, using it as a model to help young people think about how they take control of their own lives. For broadcast in the BBC Schools overnight Learning Zone slot, the drama focuses on a group of fifteen year-olds who are manipulated into committing crimes for a TV audience hungry for more and more outrage on screen, the ultimate in bad reality television. Aimed at 14-16 year olds, it is to be viewed with guidance from a teacher who can lead a debate on the issues raised.

BBC Schools Commissioner, Karen Johnson, says: This modern morality play continues BBC education’s strong support for Citizenship issues, in the same vein as the BAFTA award-winning Offside. We look at a world in which questions about empowerment, control and manipulation are addressed, allowing teachers and pupils to debate where power lies in an apparently free society. Set in the frothy/lightweight context of teen life, the drama offers different views of free choice and determinism, to inform and enrich classroom debate about our own rights and responsibilities - and ramifications of the choices we make on behalf of other people, as well as ourselves.”

Producer Sol Papadopoulos, whose last drama for the department - Dead Drunk - won an RTS Education Award in June 2003, commented: “Jail me! is a powerful spoof about social responsibility and the impact of reality TV on a young audience. The film will undoubtedly generate lengthy discussion and I’m sure young people will appreciate Alex’s take on the world.”

JAMES BOND: THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN

By Ian Fleming, James Lawrence & Yaroslav Horak

BOND IS BACK — FROM THE DEAD!

Bond is back! After 10 years out of print, Titan Books is proud to present the return of the world’s greatest secret agent, in a classic adventure!

James Bond is dead! Or so his employers at MI5 believe... until he attempts to assassinate his boss, M — because he’s been brainwashed by the KGB! With his conditioning removed, M sends Bond on a deadly mission: to track down the sadistic killer Francisco Scaramanga — ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’!

This collection also includes The Living Daylights, which finds a melancholy Bond facing another sharpshooter – a KGB sniper. Set across the jagged scar of the Berlin Wall, Bond’s finger is on the trigger… and into his sights walks a beautiful blonde musician!

€ The first collection in an all-new Titan series of deluxe James Bond collectors’ paperback library editions. This collection also includes an introduction by Ian Fleming’s niece, Lucy Fleming.

€ James Bond is one of the most successful characters in movie history, with 20 smash-hit movies to date. Die Another Day, the most recent James Bond film, took over £30 million in its opening weekend — the best ever for a Bond movie!

€ The James Bond newspaper strips will appeal to fans of 007 and comics historians alike.

TITAN BOOKS – PAPERBACK – 27 FEBRUARY 2004 - £10.99

JVC announces what's on display at Video Forum 2004

JVC Professional Europe will demonstrate the latest in digital image technology at this year's Video Forum 2004. Showcasing Professional DV and HD camcorders, Professional DV VTRs as well as high resolution LCD and plasma monitors. These products will address every aspect of professional requirements, from acquisition and production, to display and presentation for the broadcast, professional and industrial markets.

The popular JVC DR-DV5000E, removable hard disk video recorder will also be at this years show. This dockable / stand-alone portable unit easily integrates with the GY-DV5001E Professional DV camcorder for over 4 ½ hours of recording time. Other professional JVC camcorders on display at this year's Video Forum include the GY-DV5000 and GY-DV550.

The new professional HD camcorder, the JY-HD10, offering seamless transition from SD to HD, will be at the show. The JY-HD10 is the new HD camera from JVC that is set to expand the boundaries of digital cinematography and broaden creative opportunities in the broadcast, film, news, streaming, commercials and business communities. A JY-HD10 will be on offer as a prize for a lucky visitor to this year's Video Forum 2004.

To complete the product line-up at Video Forum, JVC has extended even further its monitor line-up with the introduction of two new high-resolution 50-inch and 42-inch plasma screens and new flat 15" and 17" LCD monitors.

JVC products can be seen on stand VF450 at Video Forum 2004.

Visit: www.jvcproeurope.com

Best & Worst Film Critics of 2003

While the nation’s film critics have completed their best and worst movie lists for 2003, Herb Kane’s Criticdoctor.com website (a site specializing in reviewing film critics) is releasing his first annual list rating the critics themselves called “Critic Doctor’s Top 10 Best & Worst Film Critics of 2003.”

Film critic Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) was beat out by Nell Minow (The Movie Mom / Yahoo! Movies) for the #1 best critic position. Kane picked Minow primarily for her favorable review of “Bringing Down the House” (Touchstone). “The movie’s racial comedy made it the most misunderstood film of 2003,” said Kane. “Minow defended the movie perfectly. She understood the movie debunked racism by making fun of racists.”

Earl Dittman (Wireless Magazine) took honors for the #1 spot on the worst list while film critic Leonard Maltin ranked #10. Kane said he bases the list on his “Critic Doctor Is In!” column and analyzing some critic Top 10 lists. “It’s all in good fun,” said Kane, “and I don’t take myself too seriously.” He even included his own website critic, Peter Sobczynski (a member of Chicago Film Critics Association), on the worst list. “It takes just one very good or bad review to land on a list if it has a lasting impression on me. Most of the critics on both lists are talented writers.”

The Best of 2003:

#1 Nell Minow (Yahoo! Movies), #2 Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times), #3 Neil Cavuto (foxnews.com), #4 James Berardinelli (reelviews.net), #5 Holly McClure crosswalk.com), #6 Mark Ramsey (moviejuice.com), #7 Rob Blackwelder (splicedwire.com), #8 Mark Sells (filmthreat.com), #9 Nick Digilio (WGN Radio 720), #10 Scott Weinberg (efilmcritic.com).

The Worst of 2003:

#1 Earl Dittman (Wireless Magazine), #2 David Poland (thehotbutton.com), #3 Matthew Ross (indiwire.com), #4 John Waters (artforum.com), #5 Erik Childress (Hollywood bitchslap.com), #6 Peter Sobczynski (criticdoctor.com), #7 Lou Lumineck (nypost.com), #8 Harry Knowles (Ain’t It Cool News), #9 Steven Rea (Philadelphia Enquirer), #10 Leonard Maltin (Hot Ticket TV).

Click below for full details on why each critic was picked:

http://www.criticdoctor.com/toptenlists/2003.html

About Critic Doctor.com

Criticdoctor.com (http://www.criticdoctor.com) was founded in 1998 by Herb Kane. The site was inspired by an online debate between Kane and Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert over the movie “Patch Adams.” Kane wrote a review Ebert’s scathing review and the famed critic wrote back with a positive and respectful response. Kane later launched his weekly syndicated “Critic Doctor Is In!” column - specializing in reviewing film critics which also appears on Chris Gore's Film Threat site. Critic Doctor was featured in a Tech-TV column and was chosen as a “Hot Site” by USA Today and “Top 100 Film Sites on the Web” by Fade In Magazine.

The Lowdown

by Emma Dixon

FRIDAY 16 January, 2004...

Friends prepare for final farewell

The cast members of hit TV show Friends are preparing to film their final scenes at the Warner Bros set in Burbank, California next week. After ten years, the producers of Friends have promised Monica, Ross, Rachel, Joey, Chandler and Phoebe a fitting swansong that won't depart too radically from a typical episode and in order to keep the sextet' s final secrets under wraps, key scenes in the last ever episode are being filmed on a closed set.

Describing how they all felt about filming the inevitable final scene- Jennifer Anniston who plays Rachel said "we're all like china, very fragile...speeding toward a brick wall". But there is one ray of hope; this isn't the last we have seen of Joey- he's getting his own spin-off show.

David Schwimmer wasn't giving too much away when he hinted this week that his long-suffering alter ego Ross would live happily ever after with his final storyline being "exactly what I had hoped for". What we do know is that fans are guaranteed at least one wedding this season- At the end of season nine Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) was reunited with hunky boyfriend Mike (Paul Rudd), and as pictures published in Heat magazine this week reveal the pair tie the knot in true Friends style (after a whole heap of confusion and with Joey performing the ceremony). But the cast, crew and producers are keeping annoyingly mum about the one thing we all want to know- will Rachel pick Joey or Ross?

Hit-maker leaves label

Antonio 'LA' Reid, one of the most influential players in modern R&B music stepped down from his post as Chief Executive and President of Arista Records this week. Reid who launched the careers of amongst others, TLC and OutKast and produced hits for Whitney Houston and Boyz II Men in a career spanning twenty-five years, leaves amid reports that Arista's parent company Bertelsmann's BMG felt that a change was needed after the label lost in excess of $100m in the past two years.

Reid began his career in the early 1980's, teaming up with Kenneth 'BabyFace' Edmonds to form a hit songwriting and producing partnership. The duo went on to launch their own label, LaFace in 1989. Reid succeeded Clive Davis to the post at Arista in 2000.

Current artists in the Arista stable include Avril Lavigne, Pink, Dido and Usher.

Kilroy caught up in controversy

He's more used to being the mediator in other peoples fights and arguments, but talk show host and former Labor MP Robert Kilroy-Silk is this week caught up at the center of an escalating row with his bosses at the BBC over an article he wrote for the Sunday Express Newspaper last April that was mistakenly reprinted before Christmas.

In the article Mr Kilroy-Silk called Arabs "suicide bombers, limb amputators, woman repressors" , the BBC took his show off air this week whilst it investigated claims that his comments may ' impact on his on-air role' . Mr Kilroy-Silk says he wasn't referring to Arab people in general, but alluding to the fact that there are Arab regimes that are evil and tyrannical and dictatorial. The Commission for Racial Equality says he is guilty of inciting racial hatred and whilst critics have accused the BBC of gagging Mr Kilroy-Silk, they maintain the corporation must be 'seen to be impartial when dealing with topical and controversial issues' and that the job of a BBC presenter carries with it responsibilities about what is written and said publicly.

In a television interview this week, Mr Kilroy-Silk said he understood the BBC's problem regarding his impartiality, but commented that he was disappointed over their lack of support, especially as no one had complained when the article was originally published.

Amid the revelation earlier this week that eleven MP's including Glenda Jackson and Keith Vaz have signed a Commons motion deploring his comments as 'racist and abhorrent', Mr Kilroy-Silk received the support of one of his presenting peers. Richard Madeley (co-host of Richard & Judy) called for Kilroy to be put back on air immediately and blamed a hidden agenda for the suspension, telling BBC News 24 that "anyone whose worked in television as long as Judy (Finnigan, Madeley's wife and co-host) and I have can tell you that when there is a hidden agenda going on it stinks like a fish and I can smell lots of fish at the moment"

However, this isn't the first time Mr Kilroy-Silk's tongue landed him in hot water, a few years ago the former Labour MP had to apologise after accusing Irish people of being, 'peasants, priests and pixies'.

Bad Week/Good Week

Good Week for Bernardo Bertolucci. The Italian director's latest film has been spared from suffering the wrath of the film censor's scissors. Bertolucci has been told that he won't have to cut scenes from The Dreamers in order to secure a US release, instead the film- an erotic drama set during the 1968 riots in Paris- will be given a rare NC-17 certification which bans anyone under the age of seventeen from attending.

Bad week for Internet music pirates. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has warned that it will consider suing those who illegally swap songs over the net in an effort to encourage new, legitimate services. A spokesman for the BPI said "the music industry will defend its rights under the law whether it is against traders selling illegally copied CDs on market stalls, or people uploading illegally copied CDs over the Internet".

Passages

Arne Naess, the Norwegian billionaire and former husband of singer Diana Ross fell to his death this week while mountaineering in South Africa. Mr Naess, 66 who was divorced from Ross in 2000 after thirteen years of marriage died as he tried to abseil down a cliff in the Franschoek Mountains near Cape Town. He leaves seven children, including two with Ross and two with partner Camilla Astrup.

Meanwhile...

Talks are underway this week to solve a dispute over filming scenes at a historical Spanish Cathedral for Sir Ridley Scott's £54m epic Kingdom of Heaven. Scott wanted to film the scenes for his new movie about a young blacksmith who leads the people of Jerusalem in defence against the 12th Century Crusaders. The Spanish Catholic Church has thrown a spanner in the works, saying filming inside the Mezquita in Cordoba would be too disruptive and is reportedly unhappy that the Cathedral- which for centuries has been a site of sensitivity amongst Muslims and Christians- would become a 'fictional' place of worship in the move, rather than 'playing itself'. The film is set for release next year and stars Orlando Bloom and Liam Neeson.

The search continues for the writer and author Spalding Gray who disappeared last weekend. Kathy Russo reported her husband missing after he disappeared after returning home from the movies with their two young children. Gray who had suffered depression since a car accident left him with head injuries two years ago has attempted suicide on two previous occasions (the most recent being last September).

Finally, all good things must come to an end, and along with Friends it 's the turn of Frasier Crane to bid a final farewell. The hit comedy series, Frasier, which was first broadcast in 1993 as a spin-off from Cheers will end this year after an eleven year run- Is anybody else wondering what on earth they are going to do on a Friday night now?

Screentime- this weeks new releases

This is Spinal Tap meets folk music in A Mighty Wind.

Newcomer Scarlett Johannson plays the unlikely artists muse in the adaptation of Tracy Chevalier's novel, Girl With a Peal Earring.

Ben Affleck is a man after his Paycheck, in the latest offering from director John Woo.

Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman bring another John Grisham novel to the big screen, in Runaway Jury.

JVC to Hold the 26th Tokyo Video Festival "TVF 2004", International Celebration of Video Art in Feb.

100 works chosen for “Excellence Award” and “Selected Work”

Works selected for the "Excellence Award" will be available on the JVC web site from Jan. 16, and viewers are asked to select the "People Awards" (3 videos)

Screening week of the selected works (Shimbashi, Tokyo) from Feb. 7 thru 12 … Enlarge viewing opportunities such
as screenings and net distributions.

"Video Grand Prize" and "JVC Grand Prize" to be announced at Awards Ceremony on Saturday, February 14, 2004.

Victor Company of Japan, Limited (JVC) is pleased to announce the selection of 100 prizewinning works for the 26th Tokyo Video Festival (TVF). TVF is an international video contest sponsored by
JVC. This year the judges reviewed 2,881 submissions from 36 countries and regions (938 from Japan, 1,943 from other countries), a new record (up 21% from the year before.

The "Tokyo Video Festival" started in 1978 and is the longest-running international, public-participation video festival in the world. TVF is open to professionals and amateurs alike, and has achieved a reputation as a "forum for cultural and human exchange in the video medium."

In the 26th TVF, the winning entries were split between a new trend towards video journalism and extensions of the use of video as a personal medium. Examples of the former include "war and
terrorism," "protecting the natural environment" and other works focusing on social and life-style issues. In the latter category were "passing down traditional ceremonies and local cultures" and
"community learning and volunteer activities" that capitalized on the personal nature of the video medium.

The 100 winning entries will be shown at JVC's Shimbashi (Tokyo) Building during the "Tokyo Video Festival 2004" (February 7-14). They will also be available for viewing from the JVC web site.

The final day of the festival (Saturday, February 14) will have an Awards Ceremony (Ebisu, Tokyo) to announce the winners of the "Video Grand Prize," "JVC Grand Prize" and the new
"High-definition Digital Video Camera Prize," and to honour other exemplary entries. The hall will have free viewing corners to allow video lovers and the general public alike to view entries at their
leisure.

All 30 works selected for the "Excellence Award" will be available for viewing on the JVC web site beginning Friday, January 16. Viewers from the general public are asked to complete a web
survey form that will be used to select the "People Awards" (3 videos) from among the 30 works awarded the "Excellence Award."

* Live broadcasts of the 26th awards ceremony, scheduled from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2004, will be viewable on the internet at http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/english/tvf/

Judges: Nobuhiko Obayashi, Film Director; Hakudo Kobayashi, Video Artist and Professor of Seian University of Art and Design; Hiroaki Sato, Video Artist and a teacher at Nippon Engineering College; Makoto Shiina, Novelist;Susumu Hani, Film Director; and Mr. Masanori Kitami, General Manager, Camcorder Category Div., Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC).
JVC web site: http://www.jvc-victor.co.jp/tvf/

DRIVER 3 - "Run the Gauntlet - Atari film"

First Trailer launched on Official Driv3r website

To coincide with the March launch of videogame Driver 3, a unique live action short film " Run the Gauntlet" debuts today online.

The plotline of this breath-taking three minute short film is being closely guarded, but producers' Ridley Scott Associates, in collaboration with Atari, is producing a series of 30 second vignettes as preview trailers for each one-minute episode of the film. The first of these trailers promoting Episode I debuts on www.DRIV3R.com from today.

The second trailer will debut on January 19th 2004, building to the exclusive release of Episode I on the site on January 23rd 2004. This film is closely inspired by and links to the story, characters and action of Driver 3. Never before have the motoring, games and film industries worked this close with such high production values.

Stay tuned for more information on Episodes II and III, and their corresponding trailers. These will be released exclusively to www.DRIV3R.com over the coming months, leading to the launch of the game itself.

Atari has also signed a blockbuster Hollywood cast to lend voices to this greatly anticipated videogame: Michael Madsen, Ving Rhames, Mickey Rourke and Michelle Rodriguez will play the lead roles of the third instalment of the crime-fighting driving game series, one of the most successful video game franchises of all time.

Developed by Reflections Interactive (an Atari videogame development studio), the masterminds behind DRIVER and DRIVER 2 – which have sold more than 12 million copies worldwide – Driver 3 is an action-packed driving adventure game that stays true to its roots, incorporating the cinematic gameplay and gritty street crime of its predecessors with ground-breaking graphics and three mammoth, wide-open city environments: Miami, Florida; Nice, France; and Istanbul, Turkey. Driver 3 is slated for release in March 2004 for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft.

FACTs About DVD and Video Pirates

Organised crime and terrorism rings funded to the tune of millions by film industry pirates - 2003 saw an increase in over 400% in the seizure of counterfeit goods -

Figures announced by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) highlight a massive increase of over 400% in the seizure of pirated films in 2003. The organisation has proved a direct link between the money raised from the sale of counterfeit goods and the funding of organised crime and terrorism rings.

Director of Operations Jim Angell said: "Evidence that organised crime is funded by intellectual property fraud has been collated over the last two years from cases that have come before the courts. The significant increase of seized goods in 2003 indicates that piracy is a booming trade. However, our figures only represent a small proportion of the counterfeit products entering the country. FACT can only make a difference if the entertainment industry unites in our fight to put these criminals out of business.

"There is a simple message for the general public: don't waste your money on substandard counterfeit goods. Not only will you be stifling the developing and expanding British film industry, but you will also be supporting the unsavoury and, quite frankly, terrifying activities of criminal gangs."

This message lies at the heart of a new hard hitting media campaign launched by FACT and is designed to educate members of the entertainment industry and the general public to help stamp out film piracy in the UK.

Jim Angell continues: "It is important that people realise the extent of intellectual property theft and the negative impact it has both on the industry and far beyond. We can only make a difference if industry members join us in our efforts to rid the UK of this hugely damaging black market."

The release of Lord Of The Rings - Return Of The King before Christmas ensured the end of last year was a busy time for FACT as the organisation tried to combat illegal trading of advanced copies. The most popular titles seized by FACT in 2003 were Finding Nemo, Master and Commander, Pirates of The Caribbean, Kill Bill, Brother Bear, Calendar Girls and Love Actually.

Figures for 2003 seizures by FACT are as follows:
VCD 120,722
VHS 86,501
DVDR 167,447
DVD Comp 2,515
DVDR Comp 10,250
DVD 1,568,997

TV FOR THE BLIND
New audio description tool changes TV experience

The UK's first Freeview set-top box that enhances blind and visually impaired people's experience of television is being launched today.

A version of the Netgem i-Player with an audio description function that helps the visually impaired understand what's going on is now available. During TV programmes, the new tool gives spoken details of key visual elements, such as a change in location, movements, interaction, and even clothes people are wearing. This gives blind people the context and helps them to set the scene and recreate the drama, suspense or comedy when watching TV.

The tailored i-Player, which is endorsed by the RNIB and the BBC, is now available for a one-off payment of £119. The audio description function is available on such programmes as: Eastenders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Office, Friends, Fimbles and The Hoobs.

In addition to the audio description function, the i-Player is the only set-top box which gives users access to Freeview TV and radio, and also to the Internet.

Clive Miller, digital broadcasting development officer at the RNIB said:

"This is a very exciting time, as the i-Player is the first and only Freeview set-top box that makes audio description available to the general public. The service is massively important for blind people, because many TV programmes are hard to follow just by listening. With audio description, blind people know what's happening, without having to guess or ask someone, and that means they relax and enjoy it, just like everyone else. It also enables them to talk about programmes on an equal basis. We think the i-Player is fantastic - it offers a very friendly approach and even tells people what channel they are watching!"

The BBC today welcomed Netgem's announcement that the i-Player is now
available which will offer audio description to blind and partially
sighted viewers.

Welcoming this new development Greg Dyke, the BBC's Director General,
said:
"This development follows many years of research involving the BBC's engineers at Kingswood Warren and the RNIB. We are delighted that Netgem are now the first manufacturers to integrate this system into their boxes, and very much hope that manufacturers of all set top boxes and iDTVs will also enable blind and partially sighted users to receive audio description in this way in the near future. The technology is now available for blind and partially sighted people to enjoy audio description in the best way possible, and to suit their needs."

Netgem is also working with the RNIB to improve blind people's enjoyment of television further by adding an audio channel guide, delivered over the internet, which will provide a spoken TV Guide. This is due to be launched later this year.

To order, call the freephone number 0800 015 30 92 or visit www.netgem.com.

Rocliffe New Film Forum in association with BAFTA in support of Medicinema

Wednesday 25th February - 6.15 pm start

Rocliffe and Bafta again play host on 25 February 2004 to the Rocliffe New Film Forum - the most comprehensive short film forums for filmmakers giving an in depth insight into the often unconventional and varied ways short films are produced in the UK.

Comprising a rehearsed reading of the earliest draft of three acclaimed, award-winning short films, followed by a screening of the films, and a discussion with the writers/directors and producers of each film before an audience of BAFTA members and emerging filmmakers.

For the event, BAFTA London will be transformed into a mini-trade show for the audience where film service providers and organisations can promote their services, with the proceeds from the events going towards a screening at Medicinema.

Proceeds from the profits will benefit Medicinema. Medicinema is a unique charity bringing the magic of the silver screen to patients by building state of the art cinemas in hospitals. www.medicinema.org.uk

All tickets are £5.00 - Booking by email - events@bafta.org For more information email info@rocliffe.com or call 020 7221 7669 www.rocliffe.com

Some Comments About Previous Forums...

"The Rocliffe Forums are doing our job for us - it is great for me to be patron of an organisation which supports the industry in finding new writing and talent, as well as a creating a friendly environment in which to network and develop"
Nik Powell, Producer

"Rocliffe is an exciting and energetic organisation, of which we are proud to be Patrons. Nurturing talent is the most important job in our industry today"
Alan Plater & Shirley Rubinstein, Bafta & Emmy Winning Writer

"New Film Forum is a fantastic way for film-makers to share their knowledge and experience. I wish it had been around when I started making shorts"
Alex Lewis, Producer, Whatever Pictures

"The Rocliffe Forums are a superb resource in which to improve writing and directing skills and network with some of the best new UK filmmaking talent"
Dan Clark, Emerging Filmmakers Manager, Kodak UK

"It was great to be able to network and share information with such a varied group of emerging and existing"
Alasdair MacCuish, Senior Producer, LipSync Post

"UK talent, the New Film Forum is a commendable initiative that should be seen as a valuable industry resource"
Lloyd Billing, Sound-Effects-Library.com

ASOLOARTFILMFESTIVAL

International Festival of Films on Art and the Lives of Artists
Cinema - TV – Video – Videoart – Computer art – Productions of film schools

The 2004 edition of the AsoloArtFilmFestival will be held in Asolo (Treviso), Italy, from 20 to 26 September 2004. The Festival is part of the cultural tradition and a continuation of the “Festival Internazionale del Film sull’Arte e di Biografie di Artisti”, which was set up in 1973 by the Treviso Provincial Council under the direction of Flavia Paulon and had achieved great international success over the years finally closing at the end of the nineties. Thirty years later and in the light of advances in visual languages, the Festival is now being relaunched under the name “AsoloArtFilmFestival”: an international showcase, and competition with prizes, of film production dedicated to the visual arts in all the variety of their expression and to the music.

The festival is subdivided into four sections:

· FILMS ON ART for works on the visual arts and music

· ARTISTS’ LIVES for works of historical reconstruction and critical interpretation of people from the world of art and music

· VIDEOART and COMPUTER ART for works using electronic or computer technologies as a means of direct artistic expression

· PRODUCTIONS made by recognised film schools, specialist secondary schools and universities, regarding the fields of visual arts and music.

Anna Maria Cerrato is the artistic director of the Festival, which is conceived and organized by the cultural association AsoloInternationalArtFestival (A.I.A.F), a cultural non-profit association with legal personality (D.G.R. del Veneto del 18/04/03 N° 59741.03), presided over by Lionello Puppi.

Info: AsoloArtFilmFestival – Foresto Vecchio 8 – 31011 Asolo (TV) Italia

Tel: 0423 520455 Fax: 0423 951320

E-mail: info@asolofilmfestival.it - www.asolofilmfestival.it

Independent Film Internet Awards for 2003 Announced

Norfilms announces the awards for the best web sites promoting the work of independent film producers around the world through the Webcinema network. These awards are given to independent film-makers to acknowledge their efforts to promote independent film productions through their internet sites.

Norfilms are a British company who support the mutual networking of film and television producers, directors, artists through the Webcinema internet network site listing which is hosted at their web site www.norfilms.com. This network brings together film-makers from around the world for mutual support, exchange of advice, news, etc., and provides a support system to the independent production sector away from the mainstream film and TV industries.

This year's awards were made from a list of 53 independent companies around the world reviewed by Norfilms and submitted to them by the from the Webcinema membership. They represent a wide range of skills and professional standards, from one-man home-built sites through to work from professional designers using state-of-the-art techniques.

In all four producers' work was highlighted in this year's awards:
Runners-up were

(1) Wicked Witches Productions
(http://www.members.tripod.com/wickedwitches), a Los Angeles company;

(2) Automatic Films (http://www.automatic.biz/) a Danish web site that, although written entirely in Danish, showed how easy it is to present a small site attractively.

The main runner-up and Flash Award Winner was a
Russian site by Andrey Stankevich (http://www.andreystankevich.com/) who showed how to present information in a simple, attractive fashion and made the effort to provide both English and Russian translations.

The overall winner of this year's awards was a US independent
company Nimble Productions (http://www.nimble-productions.com/).

Although they were a small site they showed that it is possible to
create a site that is both informative, attractive and effective in
presenting information to the public.

The awards have been made on the basis of ease of use, in
navigation, design, technical requirements for a browser, functionality and overall style. Surprises in the review included that fact that some of the more professional site failed to meet all the requirements, being either too elaborate or over-designed for a given function - using elaborate techniques and technology where a simple one would be better.

Full details of the awards and the work of Norfilms are available on
their web site at: http://www.norfilms.com.

screenselect.co.uk acquires In Movies Ltd

Online DVD rental company screenselect.co.uk today announced that it has acquired the business of In Movies Ltd, the longest established industry player, resulting in the creation of the industry market leader.

Screenselect.co.uk launched in September 2003 with a mission to
"amazon" high street video rental. Backed by Simon Murdoch, the founder of amazon.co.uk, and with a number of the original amazon.co.uk launch team on board, screenselect.co.uk now offers the ‘largest DVD library on the planet’ with over 16,000 unique titles (over 10x more than the average video rental store).

In Movies was founded in 1999 by Laurence Penn and became the first UK business to offer an online DVD subscription service. With immediate effect, Laurence Penn is joining the screenselect.co.uk board. Screenselect.co.uk will also own In Movie’s exclusive editorial content, which has been built up over the past four years.

"The success of Netflix in the United States demonstrates that online rental has the potential to transform the way consumers watch, rent and own DVDs," says Laurence Penn. "Screenselect.co.uk has the funding and the know-how to be as successful in the UK and this deal allows all of us at In Movies to be part of the UK market leader."

"This is an important milestone for Screenselect.co.uk,” says managing director William Reeve. “First of all we can benefit from the invaluable expertise of Laurence and the In Movies team. Secondly, we're able to bulk up our customer and stock numbers much faster than we can do organically. And finally, this deal secures our market leadership in the UK - it makes us the biggest player, allowing us to benefit from economies of scale by deploying our sophisticated proprietary fulfillment technology across a larger operation."

Screenselect.co.uk offers 24/7 online ordering, free delivery and
returns and no late fines - ever. With Screenselect.co.uk’s £14.99 monthly fee, subscribers keep a revolving library of three DVDs at a time, which they can exchange as often as they like. Screenselect.co.uk offers not only the largest selection of titles but also the best value available in the UK.

After signing up, subscribers to screenselect.co.uk build a list of
titles that they wish to see from the 16,000+ titles on offer and
prioritise which they want to see first. Screenselect.co.uk sends out 3 immediately and once a subscriber has finished with a disc, they simply mail it back in a pre-paid envelope and the next title from the customer’s wish-list is sent out first class in the post.

As subscribers watch and rate DVDs they also benefit from
Screenselect.co.uk’s unique personalisation technology which recommends other titles for them.

With the aim of further accelerating its growth, screenselect.co.uk has embarked on an aggressive marketing campaign that has seen inserts placed in several hundred thousand DVD player boxes to be sold in the run up to Christmas. Screenselect.co.uk is also currently offering anyone who signs up a free, no obligation trial to the service.

I have been using this service in the last few weeks and it has worked very well. Their website makes selecting the movie you want very easy, and they email you when they send out a new DVD.

From Bradford With Love...

James Bond 007 film producer and screenwriter Michael Wilson was amongst leading figures from the worlds of arts, fundraising and film to receive Honorary Degrees from the University of Bradford recently.

The University also honoured Bill Huntley, Peter Layton and Blake Morrison.

Director of the British Film Institute Amanda Nevill, who gave Mr Wilson’s oration, said: “I am delighted that Michael Wilson has been recognised by the University of Bradford, both for his contribution to the British film industry through the iconic James Bond Films and also for his influential guidance and support to the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television.”

Michael Wilson completed his undergraduate work in Electrical Engineering at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, USA, and received a law degree from Stanford University in 1966.

He practised at a New York firm where he specialised in international taxation, before joining Eon Productions Limited where he became the assistant to the producer on a film about a fictional British spy called James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me.

Mr Wilson went on to executive produce Moonraker and the next two Bond movies. Alongside veteran screenwriter Dick Maibaum he co-wrote For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill. He co-produced A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill with his stepfather, the late Albert “Cubby” Broccoli.

When Bond returned to the screen six years later, Mr Wilson joined his sister Barbara Broccoli to produce GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day, which coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Bond series.

Mr Wilson is also a leading expert on 19th-century photography, which he began collecting in the late 1970s. In 1998 he formed the Wilson Centre for Photography which hosts an archive to preserve early photographs and provides study and research facilities for students and researchers.

Mr Wilson is recognised for his contributions to the film industry through his development of the globally recognised and enjoyed Bond franchise. He is also recognised for his key role in the development of Bradford’s National Museum of Photography, Film and Television and its educational and curatorial agendas.

Professor Chris Taylor, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: “We are pleased to be able to recognise the achievements of someone who has contributed so much to the film industry through the magnificent James Bond franchise. We are delighted to welcome Michael Wilson as an Honorary Graduate of the University.”

Is It Hobbit Forming?

Major International Lord of the Rings research project launches today

It’s Christmas, precioussss… and it’s the season for Hobbits, Elves and Dark Lords. Amidst all the movie hype an international team of academics is on a quest to find out what on Middle Earth people actually get from viewing Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Academic researchers across 20 countries and five continents want audiences around the world to tell them about their experiences of the film.

Led by the UK team at The University of Wales, Aberystwyth, today (December 17th) will see the launch of a multi-lingual (13 languages) web questionnaire expecting to attract over 100,000 responses world wide. (www.lordoftheringsresearch.net ).

Their research is part of a major international research project using the release of the third film to investigate, for the very first time, the ways in which film fantasy plays a part in people’s lives. Each research group is monitoring the media coverage and marketing strategies that accompany the film’s release, watching the build-up of expectations in each country. Later, in-depth interviews will be carried out, to give a rich picture of why the film matters to different people.

The project’s director is Professor Martin Barker. This is the latest in a series of studies by Professor Barker, many of which have focused on audiences responses to films. Amongst them are Judge Dredd (1995), Crash (1997) and the 1999 comedy Being John Malkovich. He is currently researching responses to A Clockwork Orange and Straw Dogs, two notorious films from 1971 that recently have been re-released.

Other principal researchers, Ernest Mathijs and Janet Jones, have just completed international research into audience response to the hit reality TV show Big Brother.

According to Professor Barker, central to the work will be questions about how the Lord of the Rings, which is essentially a fantasy, connects with people’s lives.

“The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers have been enormous international box office successes, yet they pose some interesting questions. The story’s background and mythology are undeniably English, yet the film is set in New Zealand with financial backing from Hollywood. It has unquestionably become a celebration of New Zealand’s rugged terrain.”

“We will be asking questions about how audiences respond the mixing of English modern myth, American cultural imperialism and New Zealand’s striking physical presence. Where in all this is Middle Earth, and what does it signify to people?

And as New Line Cinema, the film’s producers, said in their promotional programme on the film, “Now The Lord of the Rings trilogy belongs to the audience.”

The project ‘Launch and Reception of Lord of the Rings III, the functions of film fantasy’, is being funded by a £40,000 grant from the Economic and Social Research Council.

THE LOS ANGELES FILM SCHOOL INVITES THE PUBLIC TO SHORT FILM EVENT TONIGHT: 12 December 2003

One of the World's Best Equipped Film Schools Continues to Celebrate its Commitment to Spotlighting Independent Filmmaking at Monthly Event.

Come see LA's Hottest Shorts. The Los Angeles Film School has opened its doors since November 16, 2002 to the world's newest
filmmakers providing a 350 seat state-of-the-art screening arena.

This Friday Night Shorts will feature

Pings Ben Hope
Seafood Heaven Angela Lane Stablein
Deadbeat Deavid Rolland
7th Bottle Gustavo Camelot
Hide and Secrets Joey Velazquez


When: Friday, December 12th, 2003
What time: 7:00pm
Where: The Los Angeles Film School R Theater
6363 Sunset Blvd. (One block east of Cahuenga)
Entrance on Ivar, adjacent to parking garage.
Cost: $2 admission

*If you would like to submit a film or would like more information on
this event, please contact Iris Green 323.860.0789.

6363 Sunset Blvd. Suite 400
Hollywood, California 90028
www.lafilm.com

Scottish films enjoy success in first year of new scheme

New Found Films, a digital feature scheme launched by Scottish TV & Grampian TV in collaboration with Scottish Screen at the beginning of the year has reaped rich rewards for both the commissioners and the producers.

'Afterlife' and 'Blinded' are the two features developed and produced under New Found Films, which is an evolution of the New Found Land half-hour drama scheme.

Afterlife produced by Gabriel Films, stars Kevin McKidd, Lindsay Duncan, Shirley Henderson and Paula Sage. It premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in August where it won the 'Audience Award'. Since then interest in the film has gathered pace and Afterlife was invited to screen at the London Film Festival. Acclaimed by critics and public alike, the film also attracted interest from America with an invitation from
the American Film Institute International Film Festival in Los Angeles which saw Afterlife premiere in the States last month. Scottish TV can exclusively reveal that following its successful screening in LA, Afterlife has been chosen to appear at the prestigious Palm Springs Film Festival in January, one of the largest festivals of its kind in America.

The second New Found Film, Blinded, starring Peter Mullan, Jodhi May, Anders Berthelsen, Samantha Bond and Phyllida Law is produced by Oscar Films. Recently completed, Blinded has successfully undergone a small number of test screenings where reaction from the audience has been extremely positive. It is expected that Blinded will enjoy festival and cinema success in 2004.

Imation To Sponsor 'MTV at the Movies'

Imation Europe B.V. has concluded an exciting new contract with MTV Networks Europe to sponsor 'MTV at The Movies'. The pan-European package is part of its strategy to broaden the reach of the Imation brand within the digital consumer market.

The sponsorship will comprise on-air sponsorship billboards attached to MTV Movie Specials, MTV Making the Movie and MTV Movie Awards programming and dedicated advertising spots across all MTV Networks. On-line integration across MTV's nine European web sites will include banner ads, reciprocal links to regional Imation websites, E-newsletters, and competitions. An integrated presence at both the MTV party at the world famous Cannes Film Festival and the MTV Film Awards in Hollywood is also included.

Moving Conversations - Poetry in Motion

Lively panel discussion about poetry with some of Scotland’s leading arts and cultural figures, followed by cult 1995 film Il Postino

Venue: The Filmhouse, Lothian Road, Edinburgh
Date: Friday 12 December, 2003
Time: 8pm

Tickets: £6.50 per ticket (£5.50 Concessions) call 0131 228 2688 to book.

Edinburgh based Futurist Cinema Company is running another of its popular Moving Conversations on 12 December. This time the venue is Edinburgh’s Filmhouse and the subject for a lively panel discussion is poetry, arranged in conjunction with The Scottish Poetry Library. The panellists, who will each identify their essential poetic movie will be acclaimed Scottish poet,
Donny O’Rourke; former SNP culture spokesman, Mike Russell; journalist and cultural commentator, Brian Morton and director of The Scottish Poetry Library, Robyn Marsack. The discussion will be followed by a showing of the art-house hit Il Postino.

The event fits well with the Scottish Poetry Library’s continued mission to take poetry out into the wider Scottish community. Il Postino, which was a hit film in 1995 celebrates the life of exiled Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. It is fitting therefore that the event takes place on the cusp of Neruda’s centenary celebrations in 2004.

Robyn Marsack, Director of the Poetry Library is excited by the prospect of Moving Conversations: “When Mike brought the idea to us, we jumped at the chance to reach a wide and different audience for poets and poetry. I am very pleased to be amongst such distinguished company on the panel and look forward to hearing about their choices of film.”

To widen awareness about the work of the Scottish Poetry Library and Moving Conversations, the multimedia poem Twenty Blessings will be shown on the video screens in the Filmhouse bar throughout November. Also, on the night itself, a Scottish Poetry Library bookshop will be open in the cinema foyer selling some of Scotland’s leading contemporary verse publications.

Moving Conversations starts at 8pm on Friday 12 December. Tickets cost £6.50 (£5.50) concession and can be obtained from the Filmhouse box office (Tel: 0131 228 2688).

As the old saying goes, “Robert Burns….doesn’t he.”

What's on at the Science Museum, London, UK: December 2003 and January 2004

The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition
To 11 January 04

To celebrate the UK premiere of The Return of the King, the Science Museum is offering half price entry to The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition to anyone who dresses up as character from the trilogy. The special offer will apply on Thursday 11 December, the day the film's real stars gather in London for the premiere at the Odeon in Leicester Square.

To qualify for half price entry, visitors must convince staff that
they resemble a character from the famous films. Visitors in fancy dress can also take a free photo of themselves shrunk to the size of a hobbit on Gandalf's famous cart.

Hundreds of props from the movies including models, armoury and
costumes are on display alongside interactive computer demonstrations of the cutting-edge technology used to bring the story to life.

The family exhibition has opened before the final instalment of the
film trilogy and the Science Museum will be its only European venue.

Visitors also have a chance to see the first two films of the trilogy at the Science Museum's cinema.

The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition has
already sold more advance tickets than any previous exhibition at the Science Museum. We have extended the weekend opening hours of the exhibition and, although some Tickets will be available at the door, advanced booking is the only way to guarantee entry.

The fascinating exhibition includes:

* Demonstrations of special effects, including the combining of 'real' and 'digital' action and CGI (computer-generated-image technology).
* A scaling interactive explaining one way that the films managed to make characters seem different heights, and which allows visitors to become Hobbit sized in a scene from The Fellowship of the Ring - and then buy a print of themselves.
* A display on the prosthetics which transformed actors, including Hobbit hands and feet.
* Weapons belonging to Arwen, Gandalf, Frodo, and Aragorn.
* Outfits including Arwen's riding costume, Galadriel's stunning dress and Gandalf's robes.

The exhibition culminates with a face-to-face encounter with the central icon from the films - The One Ring.

Tickets can be pre-booked on 0870 906 3890 24 hours (booking fee applies) or at www.sciencemuseum.org.uk


Films showing at the Science Museum IMAX Cinema

Santa vs. the Snowman (U) until 16 January 2004.
He's a busy man but Santa has made an entry in his diary to make a special return visit to the Science Museum IMAX cinema this Christmas. That's right, Santa is back in glorious 3D with his old arch enemy the Snowman and his snow minions to battle for the rights to Christmas. If you didn't see Santa vs. the Snowman last Christmas you must get yourself down to the Science Museum this year for the festivities. Santa vs. the Snowman is a perfect family film with humour for all ages and 3D digital technology that brings Christmas to life. So get yourself to the Science Museum and you could be ducking snowballs, jet-propelled reindeer and hot
chocolate squirt-guns all without leaving your seat!

Bugs! 3D (U)
Join Heirodula and Papilio, a praying mantis and a caterpillar, for a
rainforest adventure like no other and discover the ups and downs of being an insect. Delve into their miniature life enlarged on the giant IMAX screen and see the world through their eyes where grass towers like skyscrapers and raindrops are the size of cannon balls. You may find that creepy crawlies are not as creepy as you think!

Ghosts of the Abyss (U)
Join Hollywood actor Bill Paxton and a crew of diving experts as they embark on a journey to one of the most famous shipwrecks of all time - the Titanic.
Directed by James Cameron, Ghosts of the Abyss captures the awe and wonder of the crew as they see the Titanic for the first time and follows their story as they attempt to get closer to the wreck using the latest technology. With a digital surround sound system and 3D imagery, you will feel that you are actually accompanying them in their underwater voyage.

Everest (U)
Everest is the true story of a team of climbers who found hope in the wake of tragedy. Their successful ascent of Mount Everest just days after fellow mountaineers died there, is a compelling story about the human spirit and a mountain they love, respect and sometimes fear.

Everest takes audiences across creaking icefalls, gaping chasms and up towering cliffs, through a harrowing rescue, and into the danger zone of oxygen-thin altitude.

Find out more at www.everestfilm.com

Space Station 3D (U)
Prepare for the launch of the first ever 3D IMAX movie to be filmed in Space and experience life onboard the new International Space Station. Float alongside the first men and women to inhabit the new station and see how the astronauts shower, shave and keep fit without gravity to help them. Film sponsored by Lockheed Martin and filmed in association with NASA.

T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous (U)
Join Ally, the daughter of a museum curator, as she attempts to carry out her own research into dinosaurs with a science experiment that goes disastrously wrong. When Ally finds herself transported into the Cretaceous period she discovers what dinosaurs were really like and learns more than her father could ever imagine. With state-of-the-art 3D technology you can
be there too experiencing the roar of a T-Rex and the tremors of its footsteps. If you missed this amazing 3D adventure last time, don't make the same mistake again!

SOS Planet 3D (U)
From the ocean floor to the heart of the rainforest, experience the plight of our fragile planet and its changing environments in this 3D animated extravaganza. Join polar bears, pandas, turtles and monkeys in this thought-provoking journey that highlights the most pressing environmental issues of our time!

Imax Booking Line 0870 870 4771
More info: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/imax
Prices: £7.10 adults and £5.95 children/concessions

------------------------------------------------
Events

Science Museum visitors can discover the secrets of camera trickery and filmmaking at a special series of adult and children's events linked to The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition

Christmas Holidays 27 December - 4 January

27 - 29 December, 2 - 4 January
Inventing the Image (demonstration)
Enter a giant camera obscura, handle objects from the museum's collections and join in with this action packed investigation of how the movies come to life.
11.30 - 12.15
13.30 - 14.15
15.15 - 16.00

28 - 31 December, 3 - 4 January
Top of the props! (workshop)
There are only two days left until filming begins and the Props
Department have forgotten to make helmets for the actors. Pass your young prop makers exam, and you can make your own helmet then use a simple special effect to add a touch of magic.
11.00 - 11.30
13.00 - 13.30
14.30 - 15.00

30-31 December, 2-4 January
Lights, Camera, Action (drama)
Do you know how a film is put together? Spectrum Film Productions
don't! Their latest film is going badly wrong. Join them as they attempt to fix it and watch the end results.
12.30 - 13.00
14.30 - 15.00
15.45 - 16.15

NB: Events cannot be pre-booked and entry is on a first come first
served basis. Admission to the Science Museum is free for all visitors. A charge applies to the Science Museum IMAX® Cinema, simulator rides and The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition.

Tickets can be pre-booked on 0870 906 3890 24 hours (booking fee applies) or at www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

LEXUS IF (INSIDE FILM) AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT

Gettin’ Square and Japanese Story, the people’s choice in Australian film

Winners for the 2003 Lexus IF (Inside Film) Awards were announced in Sydney earlier this month, at a prestigious event staged at Wharf 8 in Pyrmont. Hosted by Deborah Mailman, the live broadcast was followed by a celebratory party presented by Autore South Sea Pearls. Gettin' Square and Japanese Story earned the highest accolades on the night. Japanese Story collected four IF awards including Best Film, Best Direction, Best Actress and Best Cinematography. Gettin' Square won five IF awards including Best Actor, Best Script, Best Music, Best Sound and Best Editing.

This year's star studded awards event was attended by luminaries of the Australian film industry and supported by high profile identities from fashion, art and music. Guests included Toni Collette, Deborah Mailman, Geoffrey Rush, Stephen Fry, Bryan Brown, Rachel Ward, Claudia Karvan, Rose Byrne, Rachael Blake, Barry Otto, Helen Buday, Kick Gurry, Leona Edmiston, Sigrid Thornton, Jill Bilcock, Robert Connolly, Akira Isogawa, Sophie Lee, Peter Morrissey, The Hon. Bob Carr MP, Sarah Jane Clarke, Heidi Middleton, Peta Wilson, Gillian Armstrong, Sam Worthington and Jan Chapman.

The winner of the SHOWTIME IF Award for Best Feature Film is Japanese Story (Prod: Sue Maslin)

Sue Brooks was awarded the Animal Logic IF Award for Best Direction for Japanese Story.

Gettin' Square's Chris Nyst won the Mushroom Pictures IF Award for Best Script.

The winner for the Kodak IF Award for Best Cinematography was Ian Baker for Japanese Story.

The Autore South Sea Pearls IF Award for Best Actor was awarded to David Wenham for his unforgettable performance in Gettin' Square.

Toni Collette's powerful performance in Japanese Story earned her the Instyle IF Award for Best Actress.

The winner of the Gray & Perkins Lawyers IF Award for Best Short Film was Roy Höllsdotter Live (Prod: Trevor Blainey and Dir: Matthew Saville).

The winner of the Rising Sun Pictures IF Award for Best Animation went to Ward 13 (Prod / Dir: Peter Cornwell).

The Odyssey Channel IF Award for Best Short Documentary was awarded to Painting With Light in a Dark World (Prod: Renata Shuman and Dir: Sascha Ettinger).

Wildness (Prod: Michael McMahon and Dir: Scott Millwood) was awarded the Discovery Channel IF Award for Best Documentary.

The Yalumba Independent Spirit Award was awarded to Khoa Do for his powerful debut feature The Finished People.

The winner of the Ztudio What IF? Award for Best Unproduced Screenplay was Rie Natalenko for Heloise.

The BMG IF Award for Best Music went to Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab and 3K Short from Machine Gun Fellatio for Gettin' Square.

The winners of the Tracks IF Award for Best Sound were John Schiefelbein, Antony Gray and Ian McLoughlin for Gettin' Square.

The LaB sydney IF Award for Best Production Design was awarded to Steven Jones-Evans for Ned Kelly.

The Frameworks IF Award for Best Editing went to Ken Sallows ASE for Gettin' Square.

Jill Bilcock was recognised for her outstanding contribution to the Australian film industry as an editor, as the recipient of the Freixenet Living Legend IF Award.

Australian comedy, Crackerjack, was awarded the Film Finance Corporation Australia IF Award for Box Office Achievement.

Matthew Saville was awarded the Lexus IF Award for Rising Talent for his comic writing and directing talent shown in his short film Roy Höllsdotter Live. His short feature was screened this year at the Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide film festivals and on SBS. In June 2003, the film won the Dendy Award for Best Short Film (over 15mins) at the Sydney Film Festival and Best Original Script for Television at the 2003 Australian Writers' Guild Awards, and has been nominated for two AFI awards.

The Inside Film Magazine IF Award for Film Festival of the Year was awarded to Popcorn Taxi.

Lexus IF Awards 2003, started by Inside Film (IF) magazine and now in their fifth year, are the people's choice awards for Australian film and are recognised as a major event on the entertainment industry calendar. Deborah Mailman hosted the prestigious awards ceremony held on Wednesday November 12th at Wharf 8, Sydney.

TROY

Troy is inspired by Homer's The Iliad, it stars Brad Pitt as unconquerable hero Achilles. Director Wolfgang Petersen commented: "Brad has both the talent and the magnetism to make Achilles believable as a tremendous warrior and charismatic leader without sacrificing his humanity in the process". The film's outstanding cast boasts both rising talent and illustrious veterans.

Prince Hector is played by Eric Bana, star of Ang Lee's Hulk. Orlando Bloom, who first received widespread acclaim for his work in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, plays the recklessly charming Prince Paris. Diane Kruger is Helen, the queen whose beauty launched a thousand ships, and Brendan Gleeson plays Menelaus, the king she left behind. The avaricious King Agamemnon is played by distinguished actor Brian Cox. Also joining the cast as Achilles' mother Thetis and King Priam of Troy are cinematic luminaries Julie Christie, winner of the Best Actress Oscar for her starring role in Darling, and Peter O'Toole, himself a seven-time Academy Award nominee and the recipient of an honorary Oscar for his contributions to cinema history. Petersen is grateful to have a cast of the highest calibre. "We're fortunate to have a blend of very talented new actors who are on the verge of becoming major stars, in the company of widely renowned established actors," says the director.

Troy will be released in the UK early Summer 2004

Filmmaking School

November 29 to 30, 2003, Raindance welcomes Dov S-S Simens – internationally recognised as the world’s leading independent filmmaking instructor – back to London for his acclaimed Two-Day Hollywood Film School™.

Quentin Tarantino, Baz Luhrman, Guy Ritchie, Chris Nolan, Phillipa Braithwaite and Robert Rodriguez are just a few names from a long list of phenomenally successful directors who launched their filmmaking careers after participating in Dov S-S Simens’ intensive filmmaking course. Other high-profile attendees have included Michael Jackson, Queen Latifah and Will Smith.

Over one weekend Dov will teach budding filmmakers everything they need to know about how to make a movie - from producing, directing and shooting to marketing, financing and distributing it.

Dov S-S Simens is an award-winning filmmaker with over fifteen years of hands-on experience in the independent film industry. He has taught thousands of filmmakers across the world in his trademark no-nonsense, straight-talking style - with recent graduates of the workshop going on to produce or distribute films such as Blair Witch Project, Memento, My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Barbershop.

For details tel: 0207 7387 3833
Visit: www.raindance.co.uk

The Third Harry Potter

Warner Bros. Pictures is pleased is announce the summer release of the feature film of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third in the series of films based on J.K. Rowling's hugely popular novels. Academy Award nominee Alfonso Cuarón (Y Tu Mamá También) takes the helm as director with David Heyman, Chris Columbus and Mark Radcliffe as producers. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione return as teenagers to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for their third year of study, where they delve into the mystery surrounding an escaped prisoner who poses a dangerous threat to the young wizard.

The story reunites Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in this third film as Harry, Ron and Hermione. The cast is joined by Gary Oldman, who plays the ominous figure of Sirius Black, Michael Gambon who takes on the role of Hogwart's revered Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Julie Christie who plays the role of the big-hearted Three Broomsticks pub barmaid Madam Rosmerta and Emma Thompson as the eccentric Professor of Divination, Sibyll Trelawney.

Release date : June 2004

LOVE, SEX AND DEATH

Actor Ian Hart (Harry Potter), Ricky Tomlinson (Royale Family) and Singer Jarvis Cocker star in eight award winning short films due to be aired on Granada TV later this month.

Chris Bisson (former Coronation Street and East is East star) presents the series of short films about love, sex and death. The eight films, which were recently screened in New York as part of the Transatlantic Express, are the winning entries in the first round of digital shorts from visionary writers, directors and producers from the North West of England.

North West Vision funded the films, in association with the Film Councils New Cinema Fund. Each film was shot on location in the region using professional cast and crew, receiving support from many of our first class facilities and film friendly locations.

Alice Morrison, Chief Executive of North West Vision:

“ The digital shorts scheme is designed to encourage new, fresh, innovative and inventive ways of telling stories utilising digital technology. These eight films do exactly that and we are pleased that Granada TV is giving our North West film makers a platform for their work”.

The films will be shown on Granada TV on Friday the 14th, 21st and 28th November 2003 at 11.30pm.

Morgan Creek

Morgan Creek has just signed a 3-year-long distribution deal with Universal and is making radical changes in the boardroom. We got the opportunity to speak to their newly appointed President of Production, Brad Luff, about these developments. See the feature at:

http://www.talkingpix.co.uk/ArticleMorganCreek.html

Reviews

Remember every week we are adding new (and old) reviews to our Reviews page (that sounds logical even to me). This week we've added Martyn Bamber's review of Cabin Fever and Alan Pavelin's review of The Life of Oharu. We have also added Martyn's review of the latest Matrix movie to Howard Schumann's reviews of the full trilogy. Nearly every week Howard Schumann contributes 3 or more reviews, and they are always worth looking out for.

Whether you are an amateur or professional writer we always welcome your contributions to Talking Pictures.

Funding

Like most websites we are always looking for grants or funding. If you know of any possibilities in this direction let us know. Contact us at: valis23a@aol.com

NORTH WEST CELEBRITIES VISIT HOUSE OF COMMONS

A host of North West celebrities will be uniting at the House of Commons next week (19/11/03) to -help raise the profile of the media industry in England’s North West.

Jonny Vegas (Comedian), Sue Johnston (Royale Family) and William Roache (Ken Barlow, Coronation Street) are just some of the well-known names that will be showing their support at the event organised by North West Vision and the North West Development agency.

The aim of the event, which will be hosted by Phil Woolas MP, is to showcase the North West’s Media industry to MP’s and influential decision makers from the world of media.

England’s North West already has a thriving media industry and has been home to an array of fantastic productions and produced a host of talented performers. The industry is the largest outside London with 11% of all network programming being produced in the Northwest, including Hollyoaks, Cold Feet, The Forsyte Saga and Coronation Street. Just recently Manchester and Liverpool were home to the remake of Alfie, starring Brit actor Jude Law. Both cities doubled up as New York for a two week shooting period and £1.5 million was ploughed into the local economy as a result.

Contributing hundreds of millions of pounds to the regional economy, the future of the Film and TV industry is both vital to, and a great opportunity for, the Northwest. Growing confidence in the region’s productions and new investment in skills training is creating a strong base for a new generation of visionary entrepreneurs.

Steve Morrison, Chair of North West Vision and owner of Chrysalis TV said:

"We are delighted that the TV and Film industry in the Northwest has such support and generates such interest amongst our local MPS. It is a great sign of the strength of the industry that some of the best-loved names in TV will be there to help North West Vision explain its plans for growing the talent and businesses in the region."

Gaining the support of top decision makers at this event is vital to maintaining a strong and healthy media industry in England’s North West.

The Lowdown

New On Talking Pictures

We are pleased to present Emma Dixon's new weekly column 'The Lowdown' on Talking Pictures. It covers film, TV, music, literature and anything else happening in the world of arts and entertainment. View it at:

http://www.talkingpix.co.uk/ColumnLowdown1.html


First Animators in Residence Announced for Bradford

The National Museum of Photography, Film & Television have announced the four animators chosen for this year's Animator in Residence scheme.

The winners were announced at the launch event on Thursday 13 November with the guests also having a sneak preview of the new animation gallery where they will be based, sharing the space with Wallace and Gromit, the Wombles and many other icons of British animation.

AIR is Channel 4's Animator in Residence Scheme run in conjunction with the National Museum for Photography Film & Television in Bradford. AIR supports the creative development work of talented animation graduates with a particular focus on the craft of the discipline. 4 animators are chosen to work in an animation booth, situated in the new animation gallery. Here they
develop their own original idea for a short animated film into a proposal for Channel 4 for commission.

This year's winners are:

Reena Kalsi
1 November - 31 January

Benji Davies
1 February - 30 April

Laura Heit
1 May - 31 July

Alys Hawkins
1 August - 31 October

Ben Turner, Creative director at Cosgrove Hall Films, one of this year's judges, said 'This year saw a fascinating diversity of original ideas, styles and techniques from all over Britain. The artists and animators selected will put on a great show of creativity in Bradford. Do go and see them...get inspired!'

The night's announcements were followed by screenings of all the completed films from Year 12 (2001 - 02) and the development pieces from Year 13 (2002 - 03) of the scheme. All of the year 12 completed AIR scheme films have been commissioned by Channel Four and will be screened in the in the 7.55pm slot (press week 48) as follows:

Monday 24th November 2003
AIR: New Balls Please
Contract No: 36030
Director: Richard James Producer: Jayne Bevitt, Sherbet Productions
Temperatures rise on Centre Court as a new talent turns up the heat.

Tuesday 25th November 2003
AIR: Big Feet
Director: Clare Harford Producer: Phil Davies, Creative Film Productions
A teenage girl longs for big feet and decides to have a foot enlargement
operation.

Wednesday 26th November 2003
AIR: Moo(n)
Director: Leigh Hodgkinson. Producer: Maria Manton, Slinky Pictures
Relief for the common cold

Thursday 27th November 2003
AIR: The Girl and the Horse
Director: Rebecca Manley. Producer: Chris Shepherd, Slinky Pictures
The friendship between a girl and a horse grows and fills the void.


Bill Lawrence, Head of Film at the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television, said: 'King Kong, Gromit, Micky Mouse and Popeye - 4 of the greatest stars of the 20th Century. But all arose from the mind of the animator. NMPFT is proud and delighted to be part of a new beginning in animation, seeking the great talents for the 21st Century, the creators of the global stars of the next 50 years. Our thanks to Channel Four for sharing this development with us and to animators for baring their imaginations to visitors to the Museum."

11th RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

**Record Breaking Attendances at 11th Raindance Film Festival
The 11th Raindance Film Festival has broken all previous attendance records with screenings averaging 70% audience attendance - a figure which is up 40% from last year.

The quality of films screened at this year's festival has led to audiences commenting that Raindance have this year offered the best selection of films than ever before - over 300 have been screened from all over the world.

**You Saw Them Here First...
Raindance Film Festival is renowned as a place for the discovery of films, often screening titles which go on to become box office hits months after the festival.

After screening at Raindance, Mexican film A Beautiful Secret sparked a bidding war for European distribution rights. The film, which moved some members of Raindance audiences to tears, opens in Mexico next week on an unheard of 450 screens.

Other audience favourites were UK horror picture The Last Horror Movie, Christina Ricci starrer Miranda and French film Malefique.

CLOSING NIGHT RAINDANCE
**Samantha Morton and Sadie Frost attend Jury Prize Awards

Raindance Film Festival will tonight recognise and reward the most outstanding films of this year's festival with the annual Jury Prizes, to be announced before the screening of closing night film 16 Years of Alcohol.

Prizes will be awarded for the best films in the following categories, as voted by the Raindance Jury Panel which this year included Samantha Morton, Trudi Styler, Sadie Frost and Rankin: Official Selection Feature, Official Selection Short, UK Feature, UK Short, Debut Feature and Documentary. The Raindance Audience Award will also be presented to the most popular film amongst Raindance audiences at this year's festival.

**BIFA Winning Director Introduces Closing Night Film

Richard Jobson, who took the Award for Best Directorial Debut at Tuesday's BIFA awards, will introduce closing night film 16 Years of Alcohol, the film on which his talents were recognised.

The film takes the audience on a journey into the violent world of Frankie Mac, and his 16 years of suffering as an alcoholic from boyhood to manhood. It is a painfully real piece of work, with the camerawork and direction beautifully capturing the city of Edinburgh where the film is set.

**Celebrate a Record Breaking Raindance at the Closing Night Gala Party

The Raindance Film Festival has, over the past two weeks, brought over 300 of the best independent films from the UK, Europe and the rest of the world to audiences, in the festival which has seen attendance records broken at many of the screenings and events. To celebrate the closing night of the 11th annual festival Raindance are hosting the Closing Night party at Rouge Nightclub.

End of Brookside

After 21 years the Liverpool-based soap opera is coming to an end tonight. It has always tackled controversial subjects long before the major soaps (Coronation Street and EastEnders), and it has certainly put most of it's characters through hard times. Sinbad, the window cleaner, nearly lost his legs and was accused of being a child molester. Jimmy Corkhill, lost his son to drugs, his wife left him, and he had a mental breakdown. And, the list goes on. Anyone who came to Brookside would be cursed with ill luck and disaster.

Brookside had it's grim and silly storylines, but it seemed to run out of steam and viewers about a year ago. After being dumped to a Saturday afternoon slot it has ended up on an even worse Tuesday late night slot. It seems that after years of being a flagship for Channel 4 it's being scuppered with little fanfair or dignity.

What are your views about Brookside or the other soaps? Email them to me at valis23a@aol.com

New On Talking Pictures...

The Science Museum, London, and Fox TV are collaborating in the production of a Meeting The Aliens project. Meeting Aliens (working title) is designed to reach a worldwide audience across multiple platforms, including an international touring exhibition, a primetime event television mini series, publishing, new media, and extensive licensing and merchandising opportunities.

We also have plenty of related articles in the SF and Horrorsection of our Feature Article menu page.

On the subject of sf, Gerry Anderson's production company is looking for investors to fund his new series of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons.

WEEKEND AT RAINDANCE
**Sell-Out Halloween at Raindance Film Festival
Raindance audiences were queuing up to get the fright of their lives on Friday as The Last Horror Movie and the Horror Shorts Programme saw sell-out audiences once again at Raindance. The Last Horror Movie is a truly frightening film which is nominated for a Raindance Jury Prize, being awarded on Friday. Truly scary cinema is rare these days, so audiences were in for a real treat with the films on offer from Raindance...

More Sell-Outs!
Miranda - a sexy and highly original adult comedy starring Christina Ricci and John Simm had its UK Premiere to a sell-out audience. The film is also nominated for best UK feature. Similarly, the magnificent Infernal Affairs, hotly tipped to be the winner in the foreign language category at next year's Oscars, played out to a sell-out screening.

TODAY AT RAINDANCE
**Dazed & Confused Present an Evening at the Edge of Cinema

Style bible Dazed & Confused, media partners at this year's Raindance Film Festival, present an evening of films from filmmakers such as Isaac Julien, Lynne Ramsay and Andrew Kotting, whose work represents a blurring of the boundaries of cinema. In their work, cinema meets the world of other visual arts head on: photography, video, performance and film. The films will be followed by a panel discussion on the interplay between cinema and art.

**MUST SEE: Nine Souls

Japanese director Toshiaki Toyoda, winner of the Best New Director Award from the Japan Director's Guild for his first film Pornostar, shows us modern Japan as we've never seen it before in affable comedy Nine Souls. Toyoda sets his focus on the characters - nine prisoners on the run - and the dynamics between them, as the individual dramas of each of the convicts flare up one by one as they all touch base with their past lives. The result is an even-handed yet undeniably potent blend of comedy, tragedy, pathos, and redemption.

TOMORROW AT RAINDANCE

**MUST SEE: Road Dogs: Contemporary Easy Rider with Unbeatable Soundtrack

In Road Dogs - labelled by Variety as Boyz on the Road - two Afro-American men take to the road in order to leave their violent pasts behind, creating a thoroughly enjoyable Road Movie coined as a contemporary Easy Rider. An incredible soundtrack including tracks from artists as diverse as Snoop Dogg, Korn and Mystic plays compliments the glorious photography of America's beauty spots.

**MUST SEE: Trilogie 1: On The Run

The first part of Lucas Belvaux's trilogy of films showing at Cine Lumiere which work on the principle of cross encounters - the main characters of one film have minor roles in the others and vice versa. Although they share sets, scenes and characters, the films are genetically 'different'. The first is a thriller, the second a comedy and the third a melodrama. The director will be introducing each film (playing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday), and participating in a Q&A after Thursday's showing.

YESTERDAY AT RAINDANCE

**Film Highlight: Suor Sorrisso
Roger Deutsch introduced his film Suor Sorrisso, which is based on the life of the Singing Nun who topped the Beatles. Despite reports of Roger attempting to 'put straight the Hollywood story' with his dark tale, he revealed that he made the film knowing just a few facts about the Singing Nun and built his film around that...

TODAY AT RAINDANCE
**Film Highlight: Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy

UGC Shaftesbury Avenue, London. 11 pm

This entertaining and fascinating comedy looks into the life of pornstar Ron Jeremy, who has enjoyed a career in the adult film industry spanning 25 years. He has appeared in over 1600 motion pictures - including the classics Ally McFeel and Natural Born Thrillers - has made millions of dollars and slept with thousands of beautiful women. So, just how did Ron Jeremy, an unassuming schlub from Long Island, become the hardest working man in show business? Prepare yourself for a penetrating look inside the world of America's most unlikely sex star with Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy.

TOMORROW AT RAINDANCE

**Event Highlight: Live! Ammunition! & Guest Panel Q&A

Sway Nightclub, 61 - 65 Great Queen Street, London. 7 - 8.15 pm

Live!Ammunition! returns - the infamous fast-paced live pitching event brought to you only by Raindance Film Festival...

You have two minutes to pitch your great-idea-for-a-movie to a panel of Industry Professionals without being gonged off! Panel includes: Robert Jones (UK Film Council), Dean Goldberg (Park Caledonia), Michael Cowan (Spice Factory), Richard Elfman (Producer, Writer, Director) Andre Burgess (Consultant to Telecom & Media Industries) …more to follow!


**Film Highlight: Dans Ma Peau
UGC Shaftesbury Avenue, London. 7.30 pm
Esther's life is nearly perfect perfect face, perfect job, perfect man. Then she starts to mutilate herself. This exquisitely grisly piece of cinema inspired such dedication that actors' skin is actually sliced for the cameras' unflinching gaze.

INDUSTRY LUMINARIES SELECT SHORT LIST FOR BEST SHORT FILM OF 2003

TCM CLASSIC SHORTS award ceremony, announcing the best short film of 2003, takes place on 5th November at the National Film Theatre as part of The 47th Times bfi London Film Festival (the festival runs from 22 October - 6 November 2003). Jude Law, Ralph Fiennes and Bernardo Bertolucci are just three of the fifteen judges tasked with finding the top directors of the future.

This year TCM CLASSIC SHORTS received 320 entries, 30% more than in 2002. The six finalists’ films will be shown at the ceremony and the judges will award trophies and cash prizes totalling £10,000 to the top three films.

This year’s six short listed directors whose films have caught the eyes of the judges are (in random order) Amit Kumar, Toby Haynes, Matthew Santiago Whitecross, Alicia Duffy, Michael Baig Clifford and Dominic Santana.

The full panel of judges includes many of the biggest names in the industry; Jude Law, Ralph Fiennes, Bernardo Bertolucci, Richard Eyre, Stephen Frears, Mark Herman, Wendy Ide, Nick James, Richard Jobson, Colin Kennedy, John Madden, Ismail Merchant, Barry Norman, Stephen Woolley and Tina McCann. Many of these actors, directors and producers have lent their support and expertise to the initiative since its inception and have been invaluable in helping nurture new talent.

The British Film institute and the London Film Festival has played host to TCM CLASSIC SHORTS since the competition began in 2000. Among the bright new talent it has discovered and encouraged are, Gerald McMorrow, director of THESPIAN X, Brian Percival, director of About A Girl, which won the Best Short BAFTA and director, Toby MacDonald whose Je T’Aime John Wayne also received a BAFTA Best Short nomination.

There will also be an opportunity to see the films from winners and runners-up when they are shown on TCM as part of a special Classic Shorts Weekend on November 8th and 9th.

Further information is available at: www.tcmonline.co.uk and for further information about The Times bfi London Film Festival, please log onto: www.lff.org.uk

TCM (Turner Classic Movies) a Time Warner Company draws from an extensive library of timeless movies presenting them in a contemporary style reinterpreting their place in history and their relevance to people’s lives today. In the UK, an average of 5.1 M viewers tune in to TCM each month, making TCM the 2nd highest rating movie channel (behind Sky Premiere). TCM is available via cable and satellite and reaches over 9 million households in the UK.

TCM CLASSIC SHORTS 2003 SHORTLIST

THE BYPASS
Directed by Amit Kumar
2003 17 mins
A honeymooning couple in India is attacked and killed by bandits who steal their money and a gold watch. A policeman interrupts the mayhem, finding the watch, and keeping it but not the cash. A cycle of theft and murder ensues as possession of the booty passes between the policeman, the robbers, a cafe owner and some travellers.

LOST AND FOUND
Directed by Toby Haynes
2003 15 mins
An award-winning lost and found property officer deals with all objects (including a handbag full of cash) with honesty and aplomb. However, the contents of a gold and black tin prove too much of a temptation. The officer, rather obsessed with his growing bald patch, wears the wig he has found, but comes unstuck when the owner comes to claim it.

JOB STREET
Directed by Matthew Santiago Whitecross
2003 10 mins
This evocative and stylish short drama examines the exploitation and racism faced by three illegal immigrant workers and the desperation it can lead to. Riveting and moving, it is a simple message eloquently told and gives a different perspective to the continued attacks on Immigrates from a hostile British press.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MAN IN THE WORLD
Directed by Alicia Duffy
2002 6 mins
A girl. A dog. A mother. A topless man. This bewitching snapshot examines an encounter between a young girl and a topless man. As the small girl searches for something to do on a hot day, she aimlessly walks into the path of a stranger. It may be a sexual awakening for the girl or an encounter of a potentially more sinister nature.

BROWN PAPER BAG
Directed by Michael Baig Clifford
2003 13 mins
A bitter-sweet drama about a love-struck alcoholic couple. Following an evening of entertaining pub banter, the woman glasses a barmaid in a drunken jealous rage. The man, looking for his missing girlfriend at an AA meeting, discusses his alcohol problem and the abuse he experienced at the hands of his alcoholic father. His girlfriend is found unconscious and taken into hospital where she dies.

CLAVERDEEK
Directed by Dominic Santana
2003 11 mins
The extraordinary story of one man's obsession with another man's happiness. John Claverdeek is hated by his neighbour who sets about ending his happiness by various viciously cunning means. When all else fails, a dastardly plot to kill him with explosives and a border collie is the final solution.

RAINDANCE OPENING WEEKEND

The 11th Raindance Film Festival opened on Friday night with thought-provoking documentary Capturing the Friedmans - and it was clear to see why this cutting-edge film was awarded the Grand Jury prize at Sundance earlier this year. This powerful film intersperses interviews with members of the Friedman family with video-diary footage taken at the time of the controversial case, inviting the audience to question the guilt or innocence of the accused at every turn. Sitting amongst the audience were Ken Russell, this year's Director in Residence, internationally renowned photographer and Raindance juror Rankin and actor Marc Warren, who stars in short film Perfect, screening at the festival. The screening was followed by an exclusive party at Rouge, which saw directors and audiences mingling and possibly swapping filmmaking tips as they danced the night away.

More familiar faces arrived to enjoy the screenings on Saturday, including In the Cut director Jane Campion, and TV impressionist Alistair McGowan. Director in residence Ken Russell spoke to Mark Kermode about his inspirations and influences as a director, encouraging aspiring filmmakers to pick up a camera and shoot - as he now does in his back garden with family and friends. The audience was treated to a rare screening of Savage Messiah, cited by Russell as the film he is most proud of.

Fuse, one of this year's Raindance Official Selection films, played to a sold out screening to much praise - many heralding the film as one of the best independent features to emerge for years.

TODAY AT RAINDANCE

**Film Highlight: Phone

UGC Shaftesbury Avenue, London. 7.30 pm

In Phone mysterious and threatening phone calls seem to have the power to terrorise, possess, and even kill those who are unfortunate enough to answer. Phone is a terrifying piece of modern technological horror which mirrors the cult Japanese classic The Ring in pace and style, transforming the benign ring of a phone into a frightening sound.



TOMORROW AT RAINDANCE

**Film Highlight: Twilight Samurai

UGC Shaftesbury Avenue, London. 7.10 pm

Twilight Samurai is a tender and compassionate film from acclaimed director Yoji Yamada, which topped this year's box office in Japan and swept the boards at the 2003 Japanese Academy Awards. This is Yamada's 77th film, marking his 41s year as a director.

**Film Highlight: Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy

UGC Shaftesbury Avenue, London. 11 pm

This entertaining and fascinating comedy looks into the life of pornstar Ron Jeremy, who has enjoyed a career in the adult film industry spanning 25 years. He has appeared in over 1600 motion pictures - including the classics Ally McFeel and Natural Born Thrillers - has made millions of dollars and slept with thousands of beautiful women. So, just how did Ron Jeremy, an unassuming schlub from Long Island, become the hardest working man in show business? Prepare yourself for a penetrating look inside the world of America's most unlikely sex star with Porn Star: The Legend of Ron Jeremy.

Casa De Los Screening

Tonight is the Time Out First Night screening at The Times bfi 47th London Film Festival of John Sayles's latest film CASA DE LOS BABYS starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Marcia Gay Harden, Susan Lynch, Mary Steenburgen, Daryl Hannah, Lili Taylor, Rita Moreno and Vanessa Martinez.

The special screening commences at 8.30pm at the Odeon West End cinema, Leicester Square.

Dates of the Festival: 22 October - 6 November, 2003

www.lff.org.uk

Mayor announces plan to increase funding for London Film Festival

As The Times bfi London Film Festival gets underway, Mayor Ken Livingstone has announced that he is working with the London Development Agency to provide extra funding for the festival, now in its 47th year.

The new funding, to begin in 2004, will be channelled through Film London, which provides dedicated support, promotion and development for the film industry in the capital.

The Mayor, who has played a key role in the establishment of Film London, said: 'Film is a key contributor to the economy, generating around £700m each year, with 85 per cent of film production based in the capital and 70 per cent of the workforce in London and the South East. Film in London must be able to thrive as a cultural asset and key creative industry. I am working with the London Development Agency, Film London and the British Film Institute to help the London Film Festival develop its international reputation and to ensure that the capital's film industry continues to grow.

This weekend (Saturday 25 October), as part of his ongoing commitment to The Times bfi London Film Festival, the Mayor will also host the British Gala screening of Roger Michell's new film The Mother, which received support from Film London and was shot and produced in the capital.

The Mayor continued: 'The Times bfi London Film Festival has an unrivalled reputation for bringing inspirational cinema from around the world to the capital and I am delighted to be supporting it for the third year running.

'The British Gala is a particularly important way to celebrate the wealth of talent we have here. This year's British Gala film, The Mother, is a great example of a film produced and shot on location in London and directly assisted by Film London, which has been established to help our film industry grow and to promote London as a filmmaking capital.'

Adrian Wootton, CEO Film London, added: 'Film London exists to promote our city as an accessible, world recognised 'film capital'. The recognition of our role by the Mayor of London marks a major milestone for the agency and we are fortunate in gaining the support of a range of other influential bodies, including the UK Film Council. As our co-sponsorship of this year's British Gala, The Mother, demonstrates, Film London, the Mayor and the LDA appreciate the importance of the Times bfi London Film Festival, not only to the capital’s cultural life, but also a means of showcasing our city to the world’s film industry. Today's announcement means that Film London will now be able to offer even more support to the Festival in years to come.'

Sandra Hebron, Artistic Director for The Times bfi London Film Festival, said: 'This additional funding from the Mayor of London marks a welcome and significant investment in the future of The Times bfi London Film Festival. It ensures that the Festival will continue to develop as a world-class event, which engages with the widest possible audience in the capital.'