A Perfect Film Night With blinkbox and Grolsh

As the winter months approach and staying in becomes the new going out, Grolsch has partnered with blinkbox, the UK’s leading movie streaming site, to bring film fans the ultimate night in.

To get their hands on a movie rental, film buffs should look out for special Grolsch packs available now at participating retailers. Every pack will offer an online film rental from the thousands available at blinkbox.com, with the option to enjoy the film instantly, or save it for another time.

To experience the ultimate film night in fans should follow three simple steps;

1.       Purchase a special Grolsch pack and find the unique code inside

2.       Register and enter the unique Grolsch code at www.grolschfilm.co.uk and click the blinkbox logo

3.       Choose a film and follow the instructions to instantly enjoy the rental

For full terms and conditions please visit www.grolschfilm.co.uk.

Seal Team VI – Journey Into Darkness

‘Seal Team VI – Journey Into Darkness’, a gripping drama inspired by the heroic and highly secretive missions of the US Navy’s SEAL Special Forces Team, is being released on retail DVD by Scanbox Entertainment on 25th October. Not to be confused with a sequel, SEAL Team VI is the most elite of the 12 US Navy & Special Forces SEAL Teams. 

It is the heart wrenching story of the team’s so-called black ops incursion into Iraq four days prior to the start of Operation Desert Storm and the harrowing consequences it ultimately faces when their mission is suddenly compromised. 

Having been handpicked by one man, Master Chief Devon ‘Mack’ Mackefy, the squad specialises in counter-terrorism operations and is ready at any time to travel the world to respond to terrorist threats from air, land or sea.
 

Mack and his team are highly respected for their ability to finish the most complex tasks irrespective of the circumstances and while their reputation is uncompromised their activities are shrouded in both controversy and secrecy. 

When the team is called up by the US government to undertake an operation inside Iraq, they are one man short and seriously strained from a previous mission. 

Furthermore, their newest recruit Davis is untested in the field and these factors threaten the success of the operation as well as the team’s survival. 

They find themselves surrounded by the enemy in every direction as they try to identify and mark aerial targets, avoid capture and stay alive for four days. 

On top of all these problems, the team’s fearless leader is distracted because he is privately grieving over the recent loss of his 12-year-old son. 

His wife Cassandra knew what she was getting herself into by marrying Mack but the unexpected and immediate deployment of the team when she needed him most proves too much for her to handle.
 

Her fear of losing what’s left of her family is outweighed by the fact that Mack has no choice in the matter but he is forced to deal with his own demons during the mission when he has to decide between taking the life of an innocent boy or risking the lives of his men. 

However, ultimately Mack, Davis and the rest of the team know they have to opt for honour, brotherhood and courage as they risk their lives in the name of freedom. 

‘Seal Team VI – Journey Into Darkness’ has a run time of 96 minutes, a 15 certificate and a recommended retail price of £12.99 

All In the iMinds

With the aim of making broad-based general knowledge accessible to people's lifestyles and devices, a new company, iMinds has recently launched 8 minute knowledge grabs for MP3s and other devices, making it easier to resolve to learn new things this New Year.

Understanding the importance of general knowledge as a way of giving context and clarity to the specialised knowledge we use every day, iMinds has sought to replace some of the music on our MP3 players with knowledge instead.  Across a diverse 12 categories of information including Politics, Business, Science and History, iMinds gives the listener a self-contained knowledge grab complete with engaging soundscape.

iMinds has received significant industry and consumer acclaim.  In less than three months, iMinds has secured over 200 chart positions in iTunes Music Stores globally including Top 10 results in countries as diverse as the USA, UK, Ireland, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Spain and Australia.  Named as one of the 25 Best Travel Gadgets of 2009 by Time Magazine and receiving features in US Vogue, LA Times, Wired, Mashable and TechCrunch.. to name just a few..  iMinds has also extended its distribution through OverDrive to over 10,000 libraries and schools around the world while also being available in retail channels such as Audible.com, iTunes, BooksOnBoard and BarnesandNoble.com.

Now with over 180 titles, this is the future of general knowledge acquisition ..iMinds' expansive library is a unique targeted learning-on-demand experience that's compatible with people's devices, interests and lifestyles and introduce readers of all ages to a new way of learning.  iMinds has also released a Junior range, based on the school curriculum, aimed at ages 7-14years and a Travel range aimed at frequent flyers and armchair travellers alike.

http://www.iminds.com

http://www.myipodissmarterthanyours.com

DOUGHTY HANSON TO ACQUIRE VUE ENTERTAINMENT

8 November 2010:  Doughty Hanson & Co, one of the largest independent private equity firms in Europe, today announced that it is to acquire Vue Entertainment (“Vue”), one of the UK’s leading developers and operators of state-of-the-art multiplex cinemas from Cavendish Square Partners, affiliated investment funds of Och-Ziff Capital Management Group and the existing management team.  The Vue management team, including Tim Richards (CEO) who established the company, will be reinvesting in the transaction.

Vue has the third largest market share in the UK in terms of box office via its 68 cinemas and 678 screens. The company also runs 2 cinemas internationally. In recent years, Vue has led the way in new cinema development in the UK and 50% of all new multiplex cinemas built nationwide in the past couple of years have been a Vue multiplex. The most recent openings include the all digital Vue Westfield cinema in London which has broken records as the highest grossing cinema in the country.

Cinema visits rank as one of the UK’s most popular paid for out of home entertainment activities for people of all ages.  Cinema attendance has grown year on year, even against the backdrop of the economic downturn. UK box office revenues were up 11% in 2009 and UK admissions were up 6%. Future growth is expected to be driven though a number of areas, including digital 3D films which are increasing in popularity and are set to represent around 30% of the box office next year.

In addition, the roll-out of digital projection will deliver a wider choice of content and greater flexibility in programming, helping to drive attendance alongside the strong slate of movies already scheduled for 2011 and beyond.  Vue has recently announced that it will be working with Sony Digital Europe on the rollout of 4K projectors across Vue’s cinema portfolio, which is set to be completed by 2012.

Julian Huxtable, Senior Principal at Doughty Hanson said today:  “Vue Entertainment is a great company led by an exceptional, highly experienced management team which has created a strong market position for the company with an exciting future ahead. Vue has an excellent reputation for its high quality customer experience and its innovative approach of developing and marketing new products and services designed to grow the business and customer base.   

“The company has achieved consistent financial performance and has succeeded in growing through the recent recession.  We believe that Vue offers a strong platform for growth and we are excited about working with Tim and his team on the next exciting chapter of the Vue story.”
  

Tim Richards, CEO of Vue Entertainment, said: “Doughty Hanson is an ideal partner for Vue, as it shares our vision of driving attractive growth and investment returns by consistently delivering an excellent entertainment experience for our customers.

“Vue has come a long way since it was launched in 2003 and this next phase of our journey with Doughty Hanson as our new partner is going to be very exciting. We will continue to innovate, enhance and grow the business. We will continue to open fantastic new state of the art cinemas such as the new 14 screen all digital Vue multiplex cinema in Westfield’s Stratford City which opens in September next year.”

Halloween Season at Everyman Cinemas, London

From 29 to 31 October, Everyman Cinemas are celebrating Halloween with a line-up of the very best in scary thrillers. Everyman Scream (!) on the Green and Everyman Hampstead will celebrate ghosts, vampires, witches and poltergeists for one weekend only! So sit tight and hide behind your popcorn if you have to – these films are not for the faint hearted.

- FULL LISTINGS BELOW -

Everyman Scream on the Green:
Friday 29^th October 11:00pm - Dawn of the Dead

In this first sequel to Night of the Living Dead, a group of four people take up residence in a deserted mall while trying to stay alive amidst the armies of the dead and a vicious gang of militant bikers

Cast:

David Emge – Stephen

Ken Foree – Peter

Scott H. Reiniger – Roger

Gaylen Ross – Francine

Director: George A. Romero

Saturday 30^th October 11:00pm - Evil Dead II

A sequel/remake of the film The Evil Dead. A young man named Ash takes his girlfriend Linda to a secluded cabin, and plays back a professor's tape recorded recitation of passages from the Book of the Dead. The spell calls up an evil force from the woods which turns Linda into a monstrous Deadite, and threatens to do the same to Ash. When the professor's daughter and her entourage show up at the cabin, the night turns into a non-stop, grotesquely comic battle with chainsaw and shotgun on one side, demon horde and flying eyeball on the other.

Cast:

Bruce Campbell – Ashley ‘Ash’ J.Williams

Sarah berry – Annie Knowby

Dan Hicks – Jake

Denise Bixler – Linda

Director:

Sam Raimi

Sunday 31st October 11:00pm - The Exorcist

Something beyond evil is happening in a little girl's room. Regan has brutally changed both in the way she looks and the way she acts, with violent outbursts on everyone who comes in contact with her. Her worried mother gets in contact with a priest who comes to the conclusion that Regan is possessed. The top priest who can deal with an exorcism, Father Merrin, is called in to help save Regan from the demon inside her.

Cast:

Ellen Burstyn – Chris MacNeil

Max von Sydow – Father Merrin

Lee. J. Cobb – Lt Kinderman

Kitty Winn – Sharon

Linda Blair – Regan

William O’Malley – Father Dyer

Director:

William Friedkin

Everyman Hampstead: 
Friday 29^th October 9:00pm Let the Right One In

Oskar, a bullied 12-year old, dreams of revenge. He falls in love with Eli, a peculiar girl. She can't stand the sun or food and to come into a room she needs to be invited. Eli gives Oskar the strength to hit back but when he realizes that Eli needs to drink other people's blood to live he's faced with a choice. How much can love forgive? Set in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg in 1982.

Cast:

Kåre Hedebrant – Oskar

Lina Leandersson – eli

Per Ragnar – Håkan

Hanrik Dahl – Erik

Karin Bergquist – Yvonne

Director:

Tomas Alfredson

Saturday 30th October 9:00pm - The Shining

A man, his son and wife become the winter caretakers of an isolated hotel where Danny, the son, sees disturbing visions of the hotel's past using a telepathic gift known as "The Shining". The father, Jack Torrance, is underway in a writing project when he slowly slips into insanity as a result of cabin fever and former guests of the hotels ghost's. After being convinced by a waiter's ghost to "correct" the family, Jack goes completely insane. The only thing that can save Danny and his mother is "The Shining"

Cast:

Jack Nicholson – Jack Torrance

Shelly Duvall – Wendy Torrance

Danny Lloyd – Danny Torrance

Scatman Crothers – Sick Hallorann

Director:

Stanley Kubrick

Sunday 31st October 9:00pm – Dracula

After Jonathan Harker attacks Dracula at his castle the vampire travels to a nearby city, where he preys on the family of Harker's fiancée. The only one who may be able to protect them is Dr. van Helsing, Harker's friend and fellow-student of vampires, who is determined to destroy Dracula, whatever the cost.

Cast:                                                                                                                                                   

Peter Cushing – Doctor Van Helsing

Christopher Lee – Count Dracula

Michael Gough – Arthur

Melissa Stribling – Mina

Carol Marsh – Lucy

Director: Terence Fisher

TICKET PRICES: Premier £10.50, Standard £8.00

BOX OFFICE:  0871 906 9060 or online at www.everymancinema.com

Latest Dr Who Video Games

DOCTOR WHO EVACUATION EARTH ON NINTENDO DS AND DOCTOR WHO RETURN TO EARTH ON Wii TO LAUNCH ON 12^th NOVEMBER

LONDON, 8th October 2010 – Young Doctor Who fans will be excited to learn that the highly anticipated video games based on the top-rated BBC TV series have today been confirmed for release on Friday 12^th November 2010.

Licensed by BBC Worldwide and brought to life by games developer Asylum Entertainment and global distributor Koch Media, Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth for Nintendo DS and Doctor Who: Return to Earth for Wii will hit retailers in the UK, Australia and selected territories across Europe.

Inspired by the Doctor’s adventures across time and space, both games feature the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith and Karen Gillan who plays his Companion Amy Pond. Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth and Doctor Who: Return to Earth will enable family and child fans to take on the role of the Doctor and Amy in stories written in collaboration with the Doctor Who production team.

The action adventure game on Wii™ includes two types of mini-game; the Gravity Gun and Sonic Screwdriver that specifically make use of the Wii technology and are sure to be a big hit with young fans of the show. The Nintendo DS™ takes gamers on a new mission to recover the TARDIS after a Solar Storm and includes over 100 puzzles, plus over 60 exciting locations to explore.

SUPER MARIO BROS. COLLECTION OF ALL-STAR GAMES

7^th October 2010 – If you needed another reason to celebrate 25 years of Super Mario, how about a Super Mario All-Stars – 25^th Anniversary Edition, containing four of the original most famous Mario games of all time from the NES, as well as a bunch of extra collectables, launching across Europe now on Wii from 3^rd December 2010.

Super Mario All-Stars – 25^th Anniversary Edition will include a Super Mario All-Stars Disk case containing Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels all on one disk, giving Mario fans four reasons to relive the excitement of these classic games on Wii.  And if you missed out on them the first time round, now’s the time to discover four of the reasons why Super Mario has become one of gaming’s most loved series’ of all time.

This new collection will also include a special booklet detailing the full history of Super Mario as well as a real treat for fans of the series – an audio CD containing music from Super Mario games spanning the last 25 years, from the original 1985’sSuper Mario Bros. to 2010’s Super Mario Galaxy 2, with classics such as Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine along the way.

In the quarter of a century since Nintendo game designer Shigeru Miyamoto’s team put the finishing touches to his first major adventure, Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Mario has become one of the most globally recognised characters in the world of entertainment.  The Super Mario Bros. series is now the best-selling video game series of all time, with more than 240 million units sold globally.

Join Mario’s 25^th Anniversary celebration in style, with Super Mario All-Stars – 25^th Anniversary Edition, available across Europe on Wii from 3^rd December 2010.

BBC SWITCH LAUNCHES BRAND NEW SITCOM

‘Popatron’ premieres on Saturday 23^rd October at 12.50pm on BBC Two

 

 

Set behind the scenes of a daily fictitious celebrity gossip show, Popatron follows the ups and downs of the production team working the weekly show.

 

Each week the storyline revolves around the team’s desperate attempts to fire-fight a variety of disasters involving that particular week’s celebrity guests.

 

The action takes place on both sides of the studio cameras. The show’s guest bands and interviewees are real celebrities, but the production staff and the show’s presenters are played by some of the UK’s best new comedy actors.

 

Each episode will feature cameo performances from the UK’s hottest bands and celebrities that will interweave with the sitcom’s storyline. And there will be up to the minute topical gags and references, as the show records right up to the day before transmission.

 

The story will be spontaneous as the cast will be given the scene outlines, but the dialogue is improvised as they go. The result will be unpredictable, fresh and very funny.

 

In the first episode of the new series, Scouting for Girls and R&B sensation N-Dubz are due in the studio and the production team are busy preparing for that day’s show. Runners Lottie and Bex experience their first day on the job, Producer’s Claudia and Devon are desperately trying to source a new co-host while Presenter Toby is doing his best to sabotage their efforts. And why does the new Mail Boy look suspiciously like former Big Brother winner Brian Belo?

 

Popatron is Executive Produced by Ben Caudell and Neil Webster, Creative Directors at Zeppotron. The storyline has been created by Jon Purkis. Popatron has been commissioned and co-executively produced by Head of BBC Switch Geoff Goodwin and Ruby Kuraishe.

BBC Switch is a mix of radio, TV and online shows, including The Cut, The 5.19 Show, No Hats No Trainers, and more. It airs on BBC Radio 1, BBC Two and the web.

ONLINE GAME SET IN RUINED SAN FRANCISCO

Multiplayer Action Fuses with Advanced 3D Graphics and Rich Audio to Create High-End Browser Gaming Experience

GDC ONLINE – Oct. 7 2010 – Bigpoint Inc., the US-based subsidiary of Bigpoint GmbH (www.bigpoint.com) – a worldwide leader in online gaming – today unveiled its first browser game developed in North America. Set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco, Ruined Online (www.ruinedonline.com) is a fast-paced, arena-style combat game that includes high-end features common to traditional console games.

“We came to the United States to extend and optimise our existing portfolio of games and to create new titles specifically for this market,” said Heiko Hubertz, CEO and Founder, Bigpoint. “With Ruined Online, we believe we’ve taken a huge step forward in producing a game that looks and feels like something you get with console and PC games, but requires nothing more than a browser to play.“

While still in early development, Bigpoint is showing-off a playable demo at the Game Developers Conference Online in Austin, Texas this week. In its current form, the game includes two arenas based on well-known San Francisco landmarks. Players can select one of three characters and engage in a death match against other live players.

In developing Ruined Online – which is being built atop the Unity 3 engine – Bigpoint has partnered with dSonic Inc., an award-winning audio production company, and Cinematico Inc., a full service 3D design, animation, and motion capture studio. Bigpoint selected these firms to achieve a high-calibre experience for hardcore gamers.

Bigpoint is planning to release an open beta of the game this winter. At that time, three more characters, additional San Francisco-inspired arenas, and multiple game modes will be available. In addition, the game will include 3D positional and stereo sound, including voice chat.

For more information about Ruined Online, including character back-stories and 3D scenes from the game, and to sign-up for the game newsletter, please visit: www.ruinedonline.com.

La signora di tutti (Everybody's Lady)

La signora di tutti, a film by MAX OPHULS is released in the UK on DVD on 15 November 2010

SYNOPSIS:

With the Nazi terror on the ascent, master filmmaker Max Ophuls fled to Italy in 1934 and made La signora di tutti [Everybody's Lady] — an exuberant, desperate melodrama that, although arriving early in Ophuls' body of work, ranks comfortably alongside Letter from an Unknown Woman, The Earrings of Madame de..., or Lola Montès in the hierarchy of the director's achievements.

Isa Miranda, one of Italy's greatest stars, plays the role of a star (in the part that made her a star) pressed to revisit the entire history of her lovers to the present moment through an inexorable web of flashbacks... brought on by the anaesthetic following a failed suicide attempt. From the record revolving on a turntable in the picture's opening moments, Ophuls sets into motion one of those roundelays with fate that he alone could pull off with such eminent elegance.

A precursor to the romantic themes that would culminate in Lola Montès, Ophuls' vertiginous La signora di tutti serves brilliantly as both a critique of one grande dame's own powerful narcissism, and an elevation of her glacial femininity to the level of sublime fetish.

The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present La signora di tutti [Everybody's Lady], the stunningly beautiful '30s masterpiece by famed auteur Max Ophuls (Letter from an Unknown Woman, The Reckless Moment, La ronde, The Earrings of Madame de..., Lola Montès) starring the legendary Italian actress Isa Miranda. Released for the first time on DVD in the UK on 15 November 2010.

---

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Beautiful new transfer from pristine film materials in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio

• A new and exclusive video essay about the film by film scholar Tag Gallagher

• Optional English subtitles

• A lengthy booklet containing a new and exclusive essay on the film by filmmaker and critic Luc Moullet; and newly translated excerpts of an interview with star Isa Miranda, and remarks by director Max Ophuls.

  

---

DETAILS:

Label: Eureka!

DVD Catalogue No: EKA40327

DVD Barcode: 5060000403275

DVD RRP: £19.99

Release Date: 15 November 2010

Certificate: TBC

Run Time: 86 min

Format:  1.37:1 OAR/ B&W

Genre: World Cinema

Director: Max OPHULS

Year: 1934

Country:  Italy

Language: Italian

Subtitles: English (Optional)

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.

---

SPECIAL FEATURES:

- Beautiful 1080p high-definition presentation

- Original English dubbed audio

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

---

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