FACCIA A FACCIA (Face to Face)

 FACCIA A FACCIA, a film by Sergio SOLLIMA is released in the UK on DVD & Blu-ray on 15 November 2010

 

SYNOPSIS:

One of the best films from Italian genre master Sergio Sollima (The Big Gundown), Faccia a Faccia (Face to Face ) is a gangbusting western saga and a gripping parable of the rise of fascism. Upstanding history professor Brad Fletcher (played by the incomparable Gian Maria Volonte) is forced into retirement by his poor health and moves west for the warmer climate. Almost as soon as he arrives, however, he is taken hostage by famed bandit Solomon Bennett (the great Tomas Milian) in an accidental confrontation, and by necessity is forced to take up with his cohorts. But the learned man's growing identification with the gang encourages him to stage a takeover from Bennett, and a new crueller system of leadership is put into place.

Produced by Sergio Leone's longtime partner Alberto Grimaldi, featuring stunning Techniscope cinematography, and a pounding score by il maestro Ennio Morricone, this long-requested Italian western makes its first appearance on Blu-ray anywhere in the world from a beautiful high-definition master, with both English and Italian soundtracks. 

Faccia a Faccia (Face to Face ) is released on DVD & Blu-ray in the UK on 15 November 2010.

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SPECIAL FEATURES:

- Beautiful 1080p high-definition presentation

- Original English dubbed audio

- Optional subtitles (SDH),
- Original Italian audio with newly translated English subtitle

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DETAILS:

Label: Eureka!

DVD Catalogue No: EKA40324

DVD Barcode: 5060000403244

DVD RRP: £15.99

Blu-ray Catalogue No: EKA70020

Blu-ray Barcode: 5060000700206

Blu-ray RRP: £19.99

Release Date: 15 November 2010

Certificate: TBC

Run Time: 92 min

Format:  2.35:1 OAR/ Colour

Genre: Spaghetti Western

Director: Sergio SOLLIMA

Year: 1967

Country:  Italy/Spain

Language: Italian OR English

Subtitles: English SDH (Optional)

Done in 60 Seconds 2011

Top film industry names star in the Jameson Empire Done in 60 Seconds Film Academy

Entry is open for this year’s Done in 60 Seconds category of the 2011 Jameson Empire Awards 

Jameson is once again calling all wannabe Steven Spielbergs to enter the annual amateur filmmaker competition Done in 60 Seconds, which forms a cornerstone of the star-studded Jameson Empire Awards ceremony, taking place in London in March 2011.

To enter the Done in 60 Seconds competition, budding directors are asked to remake their favourite movie of any genre into a mere minute of screen time. Film fans from all over the world have the opportunity to produce their own 60 second movie and upload it at www.empireonline.com/awards2011/donein60seconds. The ultimate winner, judged by a panel of established filmmakers and Empire magazine editor Mark Dinning, will be unveiled at the glitzy ceremony in London, rubbing shoulders with Hollywood greats.

This year, Jameson have come together with Empire once again to create the Jameson Empire Done In 60 Seconds Film Academy, created from video footage of some of the leading names in the industry providing exclusive hints, tips and advice on how to make blockbuster movies. Previous Done in 60 Seconds supporter, British actor Jason Isaacs, offers a feature on ‘How to Make a Winner’, supported by an impressive range of talent that has contributed to the Academy: Kenneth Branagh, Simon Pegg, Ben Barnes James Purefoy and many more.

The Jameson Empire Done In 60 Seconds Film Academy was created to enable any film fan to go out and make their own 60 seconds movie. Directors, actors and screenwriters have all recorded special hints, tips and insights on the fun business of film-making – some offering sage advice, others more flippant words of wisdom. By watching the video interviews with the stars, all entrants to the Done in 60 Seconds competition will give themselves the best chance of winning the top prize.

Last year, the competition went international for the first time with over four hundred entries from seven different countries across the world including Ireland, Russia, Holland, Sweden and South Africa. This year Jameson and Empire are hoping to increase the level of international participation, inviting countries from all over the world to enter.

The filmmaker from each country that produces a winning entry will be whisked off to London for a weekend of film awards entertainment.  All international finalists will gather for their very own Done in 60 Seconds Award ceremony where five shortlisted entries will be judged and announced, winning an invitation to attend the Jameson Empire Awards two days later. There, in front of a room of top movie talent, one winner will be crowned victorious. As well as attending the big event, each of the five finalists will also win an exclusive 3D camcorder to take their movie-making to the next level.

‘We are delighted to be both continuing and building on our partnership with Jameson, delivering the best movie awards show on the planet, as well as inviting budding filmmakers the world over to become part of it’, commented Mark Dinning, Editor of Empire Magazine. ‘This year, the addition of the Jameson Empire Done In 60 Seconds Film Academy will help our movie makers produce even better films and open doors for new talent into the industry.’

Last year’s winner, Mark Wong from Cambridge, England, impressed the judges with his intelligent and humorous take on 1986 classic Top Gun. Having entered the competition twice before with different films, accountant Wong was finally crowned the Done in 60 Seconds overall winner in 2010, sharing a stage with Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law.

The Jameson Empire Awards celebrate the film industry’s success stories of the year with Empire Magazine readers voting for the winners. The awards ceremony is deemed by many in the industry as the most fun awards in the British movie calendar, making it the perfect match for Jameson.

Commenting on the awards Tara O’Connor, Jameson Head of Sponsorship, PR and Events said, ‘As ever, we are very proud to be title sponsor of the Jameson Empire Awards.  We love Empire’s fun-loving and humorous perspective on film and are excited to help launch theJameson Empire Done In 60 Seconds Film Academy to really help award-entrants in this year’s Done in 60 Seconds competition.’

To log-on to the Jameson Empire Done In 60 Seconds Film Academy and to learn from the stars, visit:www.jamesonwhiskey.com/DISS

Co-operative Film Festival October 2010

THE CO-OPERATIVE WELCOMES AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR TO YORKSHIRE FILM FESTIVAL

The Co-operative is inviting film fans and budding movie makers to attend a prestigious film festival in Yorkshire, where they can meet one of the UK’s top up-and-coming directors, David Whitney.

The annual Co-operative Film Festival returns to the National Media Museum in Bradford, on Thursday 7 and Friday 8, October, 2010.

Youngsters are being urged to book early for the many different workshops, including a question and answer session with the Bolton-based filmmaker, who won “Best Film” for Kandahar Break at the Philadelphia Film Festival.

During the two-day event festival-goers will get the chance to attend free screenings which will showcase more than 100 films on the big screen made by young people aged under 19, including drama, documentary, animation and comedy,

Aspiring Danny Boyles and Steven Spielbergs can also take part in more than 20 workshops hosted by film and TV experts. Highlights include “Animation Unearthed” where youngsters can learn all about animation from David Bunting, who trained with Aardman Animations and worked on Shaun the Sheep, Disney’s The Tigger Movie andThunderbirds.

Other workshops include “Special Effects Make-up” and “Film Making for Beginners”, as well as “Editing Masterclass” with industry professional Chris Hazel, and “Create a Movie Soundtrack”.

This year’s festival attracted more than 247 productions from young film-makers, schools, colleges, youth and art groups from across the UK, and also Europe.

Festival organiser Richard Mason said: “We are delighted to welcome David Whitney to officially launch this year’s Festival and we are sure there will be many young film-makers who will be keen on asking him questions. Any young people who are interested in making movies or want to find out more about the television and film business should come along and take part in some of the fantastic workshops.

“Over the years The Co-operative Film Festival has helped showcase the talents of thousands of youngsters and inspired many to go on and work in the film industry, including Festival Patron Edgar Wright, the award-winning director of smash hits Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Scott Pilgrim vs The World, and I am sure some of the young film-makers at this year’s festival have the potential to become big screen directors of tomorrow.”

The Co-operative Film Festival, formerly known as the Co-operative Young Film Makers Festival, was launched in 1966 and is organised by The Co-operative Group, the world’s largest consumer-owned co-operative, in partnership with the National Media Museum.

Screenings are free, although advanced booking is essential, and some workshops have a small ticket price. To book tickets contact the National Media Museum on 0844 856 3799.

For further information about the Festival go to: www.co-operative.coop/filmfestival

AVATAR 3D (James Cameron, US, 2009)

Jamie Garwood writes:


I go through phases of movie-going, I try to see as much as possible, I try to see a variety of films running the gamut of emotions from laughing to crying, black and white to technicolour, silent to subtitled.

But I always have this ability to miss the boat on must-see movies, I think it started with Titanic. I didnt want to waste 3 1/2 hours of my life waiting to see a boat sink, even though that was the best bit.  The same with the Dark Knight, I refused to be cowed into seeing a film that everyone wanted to see - this might be me maintaining my individual streak, or maybe I really liked Batman Begins (which is increasingly underrated) and did not want my expectations ruined. With all due respect, I felt the untimely death of Heath Ledger led to the film being raised onto a platform ages before the correct justification, especially his performance as the Joker, which yes is mind blowing and unbelievable. When i eventually watched Dark Knight, it was on my own in a dark bedroom on a small screen (I think if i had seen it on a huge screen my reaction would have been different), and i was drawn more to Aaron Eckhart's portryal as Harvey Dent, if Ledger had lived it would have been interesting if they would have had a two horse race, because naturally Warner Bros. threw their weight behind a campaign for Ledger to be awarded posthumously for only the 2nd time at the Oscars in terms of acting awards.
 
And so we come to Avatar, watching the many trailers and tidbits and behind the scenes footage before the film was finally released, I felt like I had watched the film so many times.  My first reaction to the trailer was Ferngully meets Dances with Wolves - not an original film but the idea of a cod Disney film mixed with a half decent Western just did not seem to appeal to me.
 
But after all the adulation, the billions of dollars have gone into it, and after missing out on the Oscars (correctly), James Cameron has returned with a re-release of Avatar with 9 minutes of additional footage making it just that little bit longer.
 
The film is an amazing spectacle to look at, it paints Pandora as something to yearn for. The forest you will never play in, a wonderment of nature.  Whilst the film does smack of parables of imperialism, colonialism, anti-Americanism, pro-Native American/Amazon; once you get past the oblique political subtext the film is a joyride of action adventure. It works as a film to admire, as you can sympathise with the hero immediately, he has lost a loved one (who involved in war has not), he is disabled though no-one uses that word as they are more likely to use paralysed, though i think paralysed means unable to do anything. The hero goes into the Avatar, a construction of the Pandorian race and in a covert op aims to infiltrate the tribe and get them to move on, so the American industry can obtain the rich resource in their forest - replace the coal slash diamond matter for oil and you get the anti-Bush administration feeling here.
 
Whilst the film is a great action adventure it is the special effects that is the star of the show - why do you think he picked Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana as his leads, do you think established stars would want to play second fiddle to the FX.  There are moments of great beauty, and choosing to watch it on the biggest screen in the UK, the South Bank IMAX does the film the justice it deserves.
 
So maybe you should sometimes be patient, and if you do not have time to see the film on the big screen initially seek it out on one. Much like I did when I saw 'The Magnificent Seven' on the bfi screen in June. A sight and wonder to behold for certain.

West Is West

RECEIVES WORLD PREMIERE AT THE TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL – 12 SEPTEMBER 2010 

THE SEQUEL TO THE SMASH HIT FILM

EAST IS EAST 

REUNITING ORIGINAL CAST MEMBERS OM PURI, LINDA BASSETT, JIMI MISTRY, LESLEY NICOL, EMIL MARWA & INTRODUNCING AQUIB KHAN 

THE UK PREMIERE AT THE

LONDON FILM FESTIVAL 19 OCTOBER 

Manchester, England, 1976. The now much diminished, but still claustrophobic and dysfunctional, Khan family continues to struggle for survival. Sajid, the youngest Khan, the runt of the litter, is deep in pubescent crisis under heavy assault both from his father's tyrannical insistence on Pakistani tradition, and from the fierce bullies in the schoolyard. So in a last attempt to ‘sort him out’, his father decides to pack him off to Mrs Khan No 1 and family in the Punjab, the wife and daughters he had abandoned 30 years earlier. It is not long before Ella Khan [Mrs Khan No 2], with a small entourage from Salford, England, swiftly follows to sort out the mess, past and present.

Directed by Andy De Emmony (Fantabulosa), written by Ayub Khan-Din (East is East) and produced by Leslee Udwin (East is East). Starring Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Lesley Nicol, Emil Marwa, Jimi Mistry, Ila Arun, Nadim Sawalha, Vijay Raaz, Raj Bhansali and Aquib Khan.


WEST IS WEST will open in cinemas everywhere across the UK February 2011 

Become A Film Tweeter at the London Film Festival

As official hosts of the London Film Festival,
Vue searches for the ultimate film tweeter

To celebrate its official hosting of the 54^th BFI London Film Festival, in partnership with American Express from 13^th – 28^th October, Vue Entertainment today launched a search to find the ultimate film tweeters to review the Festival’s highlights on behalf of Vue cinemas.   

Three lucky winners will have the chance to review some of the Festival’s highlights on behalf of Vue including; Never Let Me Go, starring Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield, as well as Danny Boyle’s new film 127 Hours and the thriller Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman and Winona Ryder. 

The winning tweeters – who will be chosen by Vue’s very own Tweeter and movie expert - will each receive exclusive press passes to the Festival as well as travel and hotel accommodation in London. To be in with a chance of winning this money-can’t-buy opportunity and to be one of the first to see a whole host of fantastic new films, simply visit www.myvue.com/londonfilmfestival, tell us why you should be picked to be Vue’s official London Film Festival reviewer (max 400 words) and write a review of the last film you’ve seen in just 140 characters.  

Vue’s flagship West End cinema on Leicester Square is the home for many of the Festival’s galas and “Film on the Square” events again this year after the Festival relocated to Vue in 2009. Packed full of state-of-the-art digital and 3D technology, Vue West End will give movie-goers the best quality seating and viewing experience from which to enjoy the wealth of premiere festival entertainment on offer. Priority booking for the London Film Festival will be available to those Vue customers on 26^th September who have signed up to the e-newsletter.

Tim Richards, CEO at Vue Entertainment, says, “At Vue, we’re honoured to be the official host of the prestigious BFI London Film Festival for the second year running, and what better way to celebrate this than to share the experience of the Festival with some of our biggest film fanatics. Live Twitter updates from the Festival by film fans, is the perfect way to bring the whole experience to life for people up and down the country.” 

Sandra Hebron, Artistic Director of the 54^th BFI London Film Festival, says, “We’re delighted to be returning to Vue to host many of the exclusive galas and events. Vue is a perfect choice as it has long been one of the flagship cinema venues on the square, and will again provide the festival with a range of modern venues which will be able to cope with the increasing demand from the Festival audiences.”

The 54^th BFI London Film Festival, in partnership with American Express runs from 13-28 October 2010.

HACHI: A DOG’S TALE

Hollywood legend and Golden Globe winner Richard Gere (‘Chicago’; ‘Unfaithful’; ‘An Officer And A Gentleman’) and three-time Oscar nominee Joan Allen (‘The Bourne Ultimatum’; ‘The Notebook’ and ‘Nixon’) head the cast of ‘Hachi: A Dog’s Tale’ which was released by Entertainment In Video on rental and retail DVD and Blu-ray on July 5. 

Based on an enchanting and heartwarming true story about the unbreakable bond between a dog and its master, the film opens with University professor Parker Wilson (Richard Gere) finding a lost puppy (Hachi) at his local train station. 

Not wanting to hand it over to the local dog pound, Parker takes it back home with him despite a ‘no dogs’ ban that has been decreed by his canine-hating wife Cate (Joan Allen).

At first Parker tries to hide Hachi from his wife but not surprisingly his best efforts are in vain and Cate soon finds out. They agree that Hachi can stay with them but only until they find a permanent home for the puppy or they can trace its owner. 
However, nobody comes forward to claim the dog and gradually Parker and Hachi become so inseparable that Cate cannot help but accept the mystery puppy into their family. 

The two of them develop an inexplicably close friendship and every morning Hachi accompanies Parker to the train station and then faithfully returns to greet his master every evening in exactly the same place and at exactly the same time. 
Through his daily trips to the station, Hachi becomes a regular fixture of the neighbourhood and a symbol of love, friendship and unyielding loyalty to everyone who meets him.  His faithful devotion to his master exposes the great power of love and how this simplest of acts can become the grandest gesture of all.

‘Hachi – A Dog’s Tale’ has a run time of approx 89  minutes and a ‘U’  certificate.

Rental DVD  EDR 4218  n/a

Retail  DVD  EDV 9682          £19.99  

Blu-ray  EBR 5167          £24.99 

DVD and Blu-ray bonus features:
- Making of ‘Hachi - A Dog’s Tale’
- Trailer

ARN: The Knight Templar

Simon Callow stars alongside Joakim Natterqvist and Sofia Helin in the medieval fantasy adventure ‘Arn: The Knight Templar’ which is released by High Fliers on rental and retail DVD and retail Blu-ray on 20 September 2010. 

The film - an epic story of war, treachery, intrigue and love – is based on the three Arn books by top selling Swedish writer Jan Guillou which are known as the Crusader trilogy. 

The son of a high-ranking Swedish nobleman, Arn Magnusson was born in 1150 on a farm in the West Gothia region of Sweden and grows up to become an educated young man and a skilled swordsman. 

He meets Cecilia, the love of his life, but a cruel and jealous world forces them apart after Cecilia becomes pregnant with his baby and he is falsely accused of also sleeping with her sister. 

Cecilia is imprisoned in a Convent and Arn is sent away as a Knight Templar to the Holy Land where war is raging between Christians and Muslims. 

Both Arn and Cecilia have to fight to survive and learn how to confront evil and overcome physical hardship. Their painful separation causes them to question their strong religious beliefs ...  but not their faith in each other and their belief that they will be re-united one day. 

When Arn eventually returns home from the Wars in the Middle East he finds himself with a new fight on his hands to reclaim his love for Cecilia and fulfill his dream to unite Sweden into one kingdom. 

‘Arn’ has a run time of 113 minutes, a 15 certificate and a recommended retail price of £ 12.99.

Company K

 

‘Company K’, a gripping and emotion-charged story of a unit of American marines in World War 1, is being released on retail DVD by Scanbox Entertainment on July 26. 

It is based on the classic novel by William March and his own personal WW1 experiences in the trenches of Frances. March’s book has long been considered one of the greatest war novels by an American author. 

The cast is headed by Ari Fliakos, Steve Cuiffo and Joe Delafield and the film is a stark reminder of the carnage and horrors of war in the First World War trenches.

Sergeant Joseph Delaney (Ari Fliakos) signs on for service with the US Marine Corps and the unit is shipped off to the front line at Verdun, France. On arrival the unit immediately comes under attack firstly from a German biplane bomber and then from the dreaded mustard gas which is thrown at the Americans as they enter the trenches. 

Delaney is ordered to stay on his feet and move forward but when the fighting subsides he’s taken off to spend time at a hospital behind the lines for treatment to his injuries. 

Meanwhile, back in the trenches a new lieutenant arrives who soon senses the men have no respect for him. Brashly he orders one of his sergeants to take some soldiers, advance to a clump of trees and set-up a machine gun nest, despite being warned against it. 

The Germans see the men crawling across No Man’s Land and open fire, realising that the Marines have no chance of retreating back to their own lines. 

The incident subsequently turns many of the men in Company K against their officers and for them the war becomes more and more of a test of sanity and survival which comes to a head when Delaney’s best friend Private Edward Carter (Steve Cuiffo) murders an officer.

When the war ends Delaney has his own burden of guilt to bear -  a German soldier he killed in a forest when he knows he could have taken him prisoner instead. 

Delaney, Carter and their friend Private Emile Ayres (Joe Delafield) must now learn to live the quiet life as civilians but they find its not as easy as they thought it would be to leave the memories of the war behind. 

“I have watched the reactions of many men to pain, hunger and death but all I have learned is that no two men react alike and that no one man comes through the experience unchanged”

                                                                              

‘Company K’ has a run time of 103 minutes, a 12 certificate and a recommended retail price of £12.99

Bonus Features :

• Three trailers
• Five deleted scenes
• William March Documentary
• Audio Commentary with Director Robert Clem
• Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio

Adventures Of A Teenage Dragon Slayer

‘Adventures Of A Teenage Dragon Slayer’ is 90 minutes of action-packed fun for kids of all ages which will be great summer entertainment for them when it is released by High Fliers on retail DVD on August 9. 

It stars Wendie Malick, Lea Thompson, Eric Lutes and Hunter Allan and with the current popularity of dragon movies is set to become one of this summer’s ‘must have’ kids DVDs! 

Branded as a ‘nerd’ and harassed by the school bully, 12-year-old Arthur spends his time playing fantasy games in the underground sewers. 

One day he finds himself rescued from his dismal existence by a magical troll who knows that the boy unwittingly holds the secret to defeat an evil dragon. 

Arthur’s loving mum, struggling to keep her devious ex-husband from gaining custody of Arthur, dismisses her son’s ‘fantasies’ until she realizes the all-too-real immediate danger. 

She joins forces with Arthur, the troll and a dashing but washed –up video game master and together they plot how they hope to conquer the dragon and the wicked vice-principal who between them threaten civilization! 

‘Adventures Of A Dragon Slayer’ has a run time of 90 minutes, a PG certificate and a recommended retail price of £ 12.99

Lebanon

“gripping, visceral, remarkable, extraordinary …”

                                                         London Metro 

“on a par with Kathryn Bigelow’s ‘The Hurt Locker’”

                                                           The Independent 

“powerful, immaculately acted”

                                                     The Observer 

“impressive autobiographical debut from director Samuel Maoz”

                                                     Daily Express                      
 

In June 1982, a 20-year-old Israeli tank gunner called Samuel Maoz killed a man for the first time in his life. It was the start of the first Lebanon War and what was to follow left the young man deeply scarred emotionally long after the war had ended.
Twenty five years later the same Samuel Maoz wrote and then went on to direct ‘Lebanon’, a film based on his horrific experiences inside that tank in 1982.
The result is a compelling and highly personal movie that was acclaimed by the critics when it was released theatrically earlier this year, has won a clutch of awards including the Golden Lion at the 2009 Venice Film Festival and which is to be released on DVD by Metrodome on August 23.

In ‘Lebanon’ the movie, Shmuel is the tank’s gunner, Assi the commander, Herzl the loader and Yigal the driver … four boys aged 20 plus who operate a huge and ferocious killing machine. 
They are dispatched to search a hostile town that has already been bombed by the Israeli Air Force but what seems on the face of it to be a simple and straightforward mission gets gradually out of control, eventually becoming a hellish nightmare as their tank becomes a potential death trap.
These boys are not fighters eager for battle, conquest or self-sacrifice. They’re brave kids losing their innocence in the most brutal way possible while being mentally destroyed. 
A raw basic instinct will push them to the limits as they struggle hard to survive in a situation they cannot contain anymore while at the same time desperately trying not to lose their humanity amid the chaos of war. 
‘Lebanon’ is an intense, explosive, exhilarating and ultimately redemptive film about survival against the most overwhelming odds in which the conflict between their basic instincts to stay alive and their human conscience inevitably claims its victims. 

‘Lebanon’ is out on DVD on 23 August and has a running time of approx 90 minutes, a TBC certificate and an RRP of £15.99

SALES

BONUS FEATURES 

• Commentary from director Samuel Maoz upon whose real life experiences the film is based
• History of the first Lebanon War (text document)
• ‘LEBANON’: the background story to the film (text document)

TV Masterclasss Soap Sessions for the Public

The 35^th annual Media Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival announces two ground-breaking sessions that will give the public the opportunity to engage in a British soap Masterclass for the first time, at Udderbelly.

Based on the MGEITF sessions, The Wonderful Wizards of Weatherfield - 50 Years of Coronation Street: A Masterclass andEastEnders at 25: A Masterclass, they will offer the general public the chance to get under the skin of two of Britain’s biggest television shows.

Attended by key show talent including Katherine Kelly (Becky Macdonald) from Coronation Street, and Charlie Clements (Bradley Branning) and Scott Maslen (Jack Branning) from EastEnders, each interactive Underbelly session will allow the public to get behind the sensational plotlines and heart-pounding cliff-angers that have captured the imaginations of British homes for decades.

From Weatherfield to Walford, the famous faces will be joined by the Producers and Controllers who are responsible for bringing these much-loved institutions of British broadcasting to life, week in, week out.

The unmissable workshops will take place at Udderbelly in the heart of The Edinburgh Festival and are a must for soap fans as MGEITF pays tribute to two of Britain’s best-loved TV programmes.

Tickets are available now at www.underbelly.com

The Wonderful Wizards of Weatherfield - 50 Years of Coronation Street:  A Masterclass

It began with 3 women - all with different temperaments, values, backgrounds and social standing and it instantly captured the hearts of the nation.  Fifty years on, and the audience are still captivated by these ordinary people leading ordinary lives.  Other soaps have evolved but the DNA of Coronation Street remains the same: strong characters, family ties, brilliant writing and a huge injection of humour.  Join actress Katherine Kelly (Becky MacDonald), the critic Gareth MacLean and producer Kieran Roberts to discuss the highs and lows of the wonderful world of Weatherfield.

Friday 27^th August (11am – 12pm) Udderbelly Edinburgh

Tickets - £10, £7.50 concessions

The Eastenders at 25: A Masterclass

Join soap stars Charlie Clements (Bradley Branning), Scot Maslen (Jack Branning) and BBC Controller of Drama Production, John Yorke, in an Eastenders master class. Featuring incredible unseen footage, discover the secrets of writing, producing and directing behind one of the most successful soap operas in the world. Learn how this year the production pushed the boundaries even further, producing its first live episode. You’ll be part of in-depth analysis of the story telling craft – cue drums.

Saturday 28^th August (11am – 12pm), Udderbelly Edinburgh

Tickets - £10, £7.50 concessions

The Last Resort

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

London Indian Film Festival

UK Welcomes first ever Film Festival celebrating Alternative Indian Cinema

  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

101 WAYS TO LEAVE A GAMESHOW

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

“Digital Revolutions” short film competition with cash prizes

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

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

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

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

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

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

Heather Croall, Director, Sheffield Doc/Fest said:

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

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

Frank Boyd, Director, Crossover said:

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

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

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

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

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