D&CFilm » Festivals/Events

War Horse charity premiere at Apollo Cinema, Paignton

Sean Wilson — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:21:48 +0000

War Horse: Steven Spielberg's epic tale had an epic charity performance at the Apollo Cinema, Paignton

Devon’s never had it so good. Midway through 2010, rumours began to arise. Had the world’s most famous film director, Steven Spielberg, been spotted on Dartmoor filming his adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s novel War Horse? The answer was yes, but we had a while to wait. Fast forward 18 months and we finally got to see the results, the majesty of the moors plain to see from the opening frames of Spielberg’s sweeping film.

An epic tale that calls to mind the films of John Ford, Spielberg’s acclaimed drama explores the bond between Dartmoor farmer’s son Albert (Jeremy Irvine) and his horse Joey. The two friends are separated by the outbreak of World War I, and the film charts their struggles on either sides of the battle lines.

As the county basks in the glory of the subsequent media attention, on the evening of January 9th, the local area landed another major scoop. In association with the Rotary Club of Ashburton/Buckfastleigh, Paignton’s Apollo Cinema hosted a Charity Premiere, the second in the country following the World Premiere in London.

The premiere was held in aid of Help for Heroes, Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund and Michael Morpurgo’s charity Farms for City Children, and to say that the foyer of the Apollo Cinema was buzzing with excitement on the evening would be an understatement. It’s unprecedented for Torbay to play host to this kind of event, and the red carpet leading into the cinema merely stoked the interest, not to mention the shire horse patiently greeting the crowd near the steps.

This was my first film premiere and the fact it was held on my doorstep infused even the most basic of things with deep-seated joy, especially the glossy, beautifully designed tickets. As I glanced around at the make-up of the audience, all of whom were rapt at the slightest hint of the film starting, one thing struck me. Virtually every age group was catered for, from children to their parents and the elderly. Few directors are able to strike the populist chord as accurately as Spielberg, something which gives rise to a great deal of snotty criticism.

But there was a purity about the evening: this was an event, a shared experience, a sign that movies can bring people together. Truly, how many directors can boast that sort of clout in today’s cynical climate? That the Apollo Cinema were able to act as hosts is an enormous boost for the local area. Afterwards, I caught up with the cinema’s manager, Sarah O’Connor and she shared her thoughts on the evening:

“War Horse was filmed locally and there was a lot of interest in the film. Steven Spielberg spent time on Dartmoor and said it was one of the most wonderful locations he’d ever shot in. There’s obviously a lot of local interest because people can see places they know, places they’ve visited, places where they live,” said Sarah.

“[The novel] was also written by Michael Morpurgo, who lives in North Devon, and we wanted to tie that in with a premiere in the local area because we thought Torbay and Devon deserved one.

“We pushed really hard for permission from Disney and Dreamworks in order that we could show the film before everyone else. We were really lucky to get it the day after the London premiere – it’s something that’s unheard of in the Torbay area.”

Sarah then explained how the cinema went about securing the premiere: “We had to make a presentation to Disney, which we waited months to hear back from.

“Then we were approached by the Rotary Club, and they said they’d like to do a charity premiere of War Horse. So together, we made another presentation, and I think they got fed up with us asking! But they ultimately said yes. It’s great for Torbay to be able to host this, it’s been a superb event and it’s turned out to be a fantastic film as well.”

Finally, Sarah explained the Apollo’s committment to local media and culture: “Apollo Cinema is trying really hard to integrate itself into the community and become a community cinema. We’re trying to come up with a product that encourages a wider variety of films than other cinemas in the area, and we have the facilities to follow that through.

“We’ve expanded our content to include live opera and ballet performances from the Royal Opera House, West End performances, musicals and so on. What we’re trying to do is find content that’s suitable for everybody so that all everybody can come here and find something that they want to see.”

Many thanks go to Apollo Cinema, Sarah O’Connor, Philip Darby and the other members of the Ashburton/Buckfastleigh Rotary Club for a superb evening.

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Dubai International Film Festival – an exciting merger between west and east

Sean Wilson — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:04:56 +0000

Throughout the week, patrons, press and special guests flip-flopped between Hollywood and world cinema

I recently had the good fortune to attend the 8th edition of the annual Dubai International Film Festival (or DIFF as it’s referred to in the trade) – in fact, the first film festival I’ve attended as a cinema journalist.

It’s a strange experience, attending your first film festival. Any preconceptions of hobnobbing with celebrity guests under the blazing sun of an exotic, far-away climate are swiftly shattered. For one, you’re based almost exclusively in rooms; the stars are secreted out of the way for the most part; and for those who haven’t done it before, it’s overwhelming, even intimidating. However, it’s also a tremendous character-building experience, and to attend a film festival that’s, comparatively, still in its infancy, is a fascinating thing. (And on a flippant note, receiving your first ever press pass is damn cool.)

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, DIFF aims to cross borders and transcend boundaries. And this year, the festival kicked off with a bang by hosting the world premiere of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol – a major coup for the festival that saw Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg and Anil Kapoor hit the red carpet.

The festival reflects an exciting merger between west and east. Throughout the week, patrons, press and special guests flip-flopped between Hollywood and world cinema, from a conversation with Owen Wilson (receiving an award from Variety Dubai) to a lively chat with famed Eygptian director Mohammed Khan. The continent spanning implications of DIFF are borne out in Dubai itself: a city where Western extravagance meets the rich heritage of the Middle East. It really is one of the great meeting points of the world – and the festival follows suit.

Such vignettes are what make the festival what it is: contradictory, exciting and always changing. Just like Dubai itself, in fact. The ethos is perhaps best summed up in an article from the Khaleej Times, comparing and contrasting the star voltage of one Tom Cruise with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Both men are able to command huge audiences on either side of the globe, and at DIFF 2011, said audiences were able to come together. It’s a testament to the festival that they come together in a spirit of kindness, bound together by love of cinema.

During the festival, I caught up with English actress and filmmaker, Victoria Borasio, now based in Dubai. She shared here thoughts on DIFF:

VB: My name is Victoria Borasio and I’m from Tunbridge Wells. I lived and trained in London and studied with Lamda and Guidhall for many years, doing speech and drama training. I moved to Dubai about four years ago. Principally, I’m an actress, and in the last couple of years I’ve started to write and produce films in the UAE. I recently wrapped a short film entitled Red Inside, on which I acted as producer. I’ve also been involved as a producer and one of the lead actors on pilot for a TV series called Checking In, which will hopefully get picked up very soon.

I’ve recently filmed a series for NBC which is due for release in January and I’m currently looking for funding for a film called The Hidden Reason. It’s based in the UAE, in Dubai, and centers on a girl from the UK who is coming to terms with her past, and what happened to her mother, who was emotionally and psychologically abused. The girl is coming to terms with how it has affected her personally, although she’s tried to hide it.

SW: So what drew you to the UAE from the UK, particularly in terms of filmmaking?

VB: Well, my husband is an eye surgeon and formerly used to work at Moorfields in London. We came out to Dubai because Moorfields opened up a branch here and wanted him to be a consultant here.

SW: Is there an appeal to short films, because your film, The Hidden Reason, as I understand it, is a 15 minute short, is that right?

VB: That’s right. I mean, Dubai for me is an amazing location to be as an actress and filmmaker. The opportunities aren’t as vast as they are in the UK, but the competition isn’t as great. So, potentially, I have more opportunities as an actress here. And also to be at the forefront of the emerging UAE market is very exciting!

SW: And what do you make of the film festival itself and the opportunities it affords?

VB: Excellent networking! That’s what it’s all about! Sad to say, I’ve not seen much of the festival itself because I’ve been filming Red Inside. Incidentally, people can find out more about The Hidden Reason online at www.victoriaborasio.com.

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Film submission deadline lines for 2011 Cornwall Film Festival

D&CFilm — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:34:21 +0000

Cornwall Film Festival: film submission deadline for the 10th Cornwall Film Festival is looming

Filmmakers in Cornwall and beyond are reminded that the deadline for the 10th annual Cornwall Film Festival call for entries is 6pm on Monday, August 1.

Ten short-film categories in a wide range of genres offer awards that include cash or filmmaking equipment. New categories include Wild About Cornwall (wildlife), Reel Women (female-directed), Eye-Toons (animation) and Xtreme Shorts (extreme sports), plus an expanded student-film category, Decent Exposure, with a £1,000 cash award.

The final entry deadline for both Board Shorts surf films and Xtreme Shorts has been extended until September 1. The best entries from these two categories will be screened at the festival’s Board Shorts short-surf-film fest on Saturday, September 24, at Lusty Glaze beach in Newquay.

The Cornwall Film Festival will take place 4-6 November 4-6 at the new Lighthouse Cinema in Newquay.

For more information, pop along to the Cornwall Film Festival site

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Cornwall Film Festival Early Bird deadline fast approaching

D&CFilm — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:40:06 +0000

The early bird deadline for entries for this year’s Cornwall Film Festival is fast approaching, with submissions required to reach the festival office by 5pm on Monday, July 4 to be eligible for the early bird discount.

The Cornwall Film Festival celebrates its 10th birthday this year over the weekend of November 4-6 at WTW Cinemas’ brand new, state-of-the-art Lighthouse Cinema in Newquay, and a special occasion a number of new entry categories have been created for 2011, which include exciting new awards and prizes and comprise a total of nine juried competitions.

New categories for this year include:

Reel Women celebrating short films directed by women around the world, with a £500 prize for the winning filmmaker.
An expanded student short-film category, Decent Exposure, which will accept entries from across the UK, and will offer a £1,000 prize to the winning filmmaker.
Eye-Toons Animation Competition, with a £500 prize sponsored by Spider Eye Animations, based in St Just.
Xtreme Shorts, an international competition for those extreme sports enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies, with a Dogcam Bullett HD Camera, sponsored by Dogcam, for the winning filmmaker.
Wild About Cornwall, a new wildlife/conservation category created in partnership with Cornwall Wildlife Trust, with a number of exciting prizes for the winning filmmakers, including a one-to-one filmmaking workshop with wildlife filmmaker Jeff Goodman.

The early bird deadline for all categories is Monday, July 4.

For more information about the categories and awards for the 2011 Cornwall Film Festival, and to find out how to enter your film, visit the Cornwall Film Festival’s submissions page.

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Devon filmmakers spends a Fanstastic Film Weekend with movie legends

D&CFilm — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:39:05 +0000

Fantastic Film Weekend: Ashley Thorpe and Peter Sasdy

Devon filmmaker Ashley Thorpe had a wonderful Fantastic Film Weekend at the Bradford National Media Museum where he interviewed one of horror cinema’s greatest directors, and chatted aesthetics, art and hobnobbing with Sirs Jonathan Miller and Christopher Frayling.

Ashley, who’s no slouch of a filmmaker himself, was part of a Q&A with the museum’s artistic director Tony Earnshaw and the legendary director Peter Sasdy (Taste the Blood of Dracula, Countess Dracula and Hands of the Ripper)

The Sirs Jonathan Miller (director) and Chrisopher Frayling (author – former head honcho at the arts council) were in town for their own Q&A following a screening of Miller’s critically celebrated Whistle and I’ll Come to You.

Ashley hooked up with the two they are filmmaking experts in fields such as Gothic Horror and Spaghetti Westerns.

Of the festival itself, Ashley said: “In fact, there could only be one complaint: that there really weren’t enough hours in the day to see everything!

“It was a horror fan’s dream made manifest, a treasure trove of esoterica, curated by a team of people who know their audience, know and adore the films and ultimately respect their cultural significance.”

Read Ashley’s full report on the Fantastic Films Weekend, on the Fangoria site.

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Two Short Nights film festival is calling for submissions for International Open Screening

D&CFilm — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 15:02:12 +0000

Two Short Nights 2011: Exeter’s super film festival is calling for submissions for its International Open Screening

Now in its 10th year, Two Short Nights is one of the top film festivals in the region, bringing together South West and international filmmakers together for two short nights and more of a celebration of film and filmmaking.

Submissions are being invited for the International Open Screening of the 2011 festival.

All films accepted for Two Short Nights will be automatically nominated for the Two Short Nights Audience Award and will be screened at the opening night of the festival.

Interested? Here’s a quick run down of requirements:
Films must be no longer than 10 minutes
Films must be sent as either:
- HDV 1080i
- DV PAL on Mini DV
- QuickTime files.
All films must be submitted with the following completed form.
All entries are subject to the Terms and Conditions.
Films can only be returned when submitted with an SAE (that’s stamped, addressed envelope, for our interenational readers – the address is your own, of course).

Send your films to: International Open Screening 2011, Exeter Phoenix Digital, Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, Exeter, EX4 3LS

The deadline is Friday, September 16

Pop along to the Two Short Nights site for the application forms

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Film Night at the Tavistock Wharf as part of the Tavistock Music and Arts Festival

D&CFilm — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 09:10:40 +0000

Tavistock Film Night:an evening of diverse short film by Devon filmmakers at the Tavistock Wharf

There an evening of exciting and diverse short films by Devon filmmakers at the Tavistock Wharf as part of the Tavistock Music and Arts Festival on Tuesday, April 26 at 7.3pm.

All the shorts are by Devon filmmakers, many of them award-winning Phoenix Bursary films – including Mrs Lustleigh’s Fancies, A Very British Circus, as well as Man Cub, Hairy Hands, Making The Difference, Crumpled Up Guy and many more!

The event is being organised by Tanya Morel of Oddbodies, who are renowned for their imaginative, personal and oddly eerie films (catch their Mrs Lustleigh’s Fancies at the Film Night at the Wharf).

Tickets cost £5, for more details visit the Tavistock Wharf site or call the box office on 01822 611166.

• Oddbodies are on the look out for four actresses for their next feature.

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Martin Scorsese curates four-night film season at Port Eliot Festival 2011

Paul Atkins — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 11:01:45 +0000

Martin Scorsese is curating a unique four-night film season at this year’s Port Eliot Festival in Cornwall.

The Mean Streets director, who’s currently shooting his first 3D film, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, at Shepperton, has selected films that will be played on an outdoor, drive-in style cinema at the event in July.

Festival co-founder Catherine St Germans said: “Getting Scorsese to do something for this tiny corner of Cornwall is truly fantastic. We wrote him a nice proper letter, and he said yes. We could not have dreamt of a more illustrious programmer.”

However, she admitted organisers were “currently unsure” whether the American would attend the event.

“He hasn’t said he’s not coming, so we very much hope he will – if he does we know he will just fall in love with the place as everyone does.”

The four themed double bills, collectively titled The Director’s Cut, are:

Trains: Murder on the Orient Express/North by Northwest
Books: The Leopard/The River
Noir: The Narrow Margin/Human Desire
Musicals: The Red Shoes/All About Eve

Scorsese has not chosen any of his own films, but that gap will be filled by discussions of his work chaired by the film writer Tom Shone.

Port Eliot Festival, at St Germans, began as a small books event in 2003 and now includes music, food, fashion, art, a flower show and comedy. This year will also include John Cooper Clarke presenting a masterclass on writing limericks.

The festival runs from July 21 to 24, 2011. For more information and ticket details, check out the Port Eliot Festival website.

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Filmmakers, get together for networking and screening at the next CINE

D&CFilm — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:09:03 +0000

CINE the next Cottage Industry Networking Event for filmmakers is at the Exeter Phoenix on Saturday, November 6

Cottage Industry Film’s next filmmakers’ networking event, CINE, for anyone interested in or involved with film, returns for its monthly incarnation at the Exeter Phoenix on Saturday, November 6 from 2pm to 5.30pm.

The combination of screenings, Q&A, networking and talk followed by an informal natter is a sure-fire winner and the event has already established itself on the South West film horizon.

On the smorgasbord of cinematic delight will be the award-winning Ashley Thorpe’s Scayrecrow, Art from Marco Von Moos, Blueberry by Matthew Sanger, and Ben Barfoot’s exploration in to the making of his movies Fuse.

It will all be topped off by Elly Ward from London BBC, who will talk about her experience working in live television.

In-between times there’s be mingling and mixing, as well as organising the Christmas bash, and an update on the CINE short shoot film challenge. CINE will be going eight-weekly in the new year, so fill up your boots now with all things filmy.

And remember, the event is also a fundraiser for D+CFilm, with the money raised going towards supporting and promoting filmmakers in the region.

If you have a film you would like to screen at CINE or you’d like to do a short talk, email cine@cottageindustryfilms.co.uk with a brief synopsis (up to 50 words) of the film/project, along with any other relevant information, including a still from the film – films can be of any genre, but no longer than 15 minutes.

To find out more, pop along to the CINE site.

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Inaugural Short Shoot Challenge launched at CINE in Exeter

D&CFilm — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:12:48 +0000

D+CFilm and Cottage Industry Films launched their Short Shoot Film Challenge at the CINE screening and networking event last Saturday (October 2).

Simply write and shoot a three-minute short with a crime theme, featuring a librarian and unfriendly assistant, beginning with ‘spying’ and ending in ‘death’; stick it on a DVD; then email cine@cottageindustryfilms.co.uk for further instructions. Your film needs to be ready to be shown at the next CINE event on Saturday, November 6, so get cracking.

Saturday saw another bumper crowd of film fans flock to the Black Box at the Exeter Phoenix Digtial Media Centre for CINE – either showing their work or checking out some of the finest flicks from around the region.

There was another chance to see Ben Barfoot’s staggeringly good Fuse (click here for D+CFilm’s review); a clip of action/sfx scenes from John Tomkins’ Like An Angel; and David A Smith – Sign Artist, a rather good documentary about signwriting from Danny Cooke. Stay tuned over the next few days to read D+CFilm’s chat with Danny and to watch his film.

There was also a fascinating talk by Alistair Ganley, artistic director of the Cygnet drama school in Exeter. He chatted about the relationship between actors and directors, the difference between acting for the stage and for the screen, and how costumes can help actors get into character. Surprisingly engrossing stuff.

Of course, the monthly event is also a fundraiser for D+CFilm, with any mullah raised going towards supporting and promoting filmmakers in the region. Obvs.

The next CINE is from 2pm to 5.30pm on November 6. Come along, watch the films, swap business cards, share a pint, have a natter. If you have a film you would like to screen at CINE or you’d like to do a short talk, email cine@cottageindustryfilms.co.uk with a brief synopsis (up to 50 words) of the film/project, along with any other relevant information, including a still from the film – films can be of any genre, but no longer than 15 minutes.

(Image: Ashley Wing and Clayton Fussell of Cottage Industry Films address the CINE crowd)

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D+CFilm at the Devon premiere of Ben Barfoot’s sci-fi thriller Fuse

D&CFilm — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 12:46:25 +0000

Brixham-based writer-director Ben Barfoot presented the Devon premiere of his sci-fi thriller Fuse at Exeter Phoenix yesterday.

Ben, pictured above left with producer Lee Wade, played the flick, along with a short ‘making of’ documentary, to an enthusiastic standing-room-only crowd.

Fuse tells the story of a man who wakes up with a strange mechanical device embedded in his chest. He escapes on to the rain soaked streets of a city, littered with graffiti of civil unrest. When the storm breaks and the sun rises, he sees the city in its true light and comes to learn his place within it.

The 30-minute film has the ‘rotoscoped’ look of Richard Linklater’s A Scanner Darkly or Ralph Bakshi’s Lord Of The Rings – a technique in which animators trace over live-action film movement, frame by frame.

This style is invariably expensive and time consuming, so Barfoot’s production team created their own automated software for the process.

The results look amazing. Reminiscent of the Animatrix shorts from 2003, the direction seems a lot more dynamic than A Scanner Darkly – presumably because the automated software makes it easier to incorporate whip pans, shaky dutch angles, etc.

While some low-budget attempts at emulating big-budget features come across as bitty and rag bag, Fuse is actually pretty gimlet-eyed about adhering to the story. It must’ve been tempting for the filmmakers to just keep throwing new stuff at the work and bump it up to feature length.

Plot-wise too, things are kept pretty simple, with a minimum of exposition and dialogue. In fact, the film’s dialogue could probably be cut back even further – it rarely furthers the plot, some talky scenes go round in circles and the F-bombs seem incongruous.

Though moving along at a cracking pace, lead actor Robin Mayes anchors the piece with a surprisingly subtle performance. Jack Bailey, as Danny the Vagabond, also makes a strong impression. Jason Ward’s sound design and music is also noteworthy, if a little muddy over the Phoenix PA system.

Oh, and in keeping with most local films these days, there’s a fairly obvious on-screen spelling mistake…

But enough of the quibbles – there’s no getting away from the fact that Fuse is an extraordinary achievement. It’s far and away the most enjoyable, satisfying and accomplished movie we’ve seen from a local filmmaker since D+CFilm started and deserves to do well.

There’s another chance to see Fuse at the next D+CFilm CINE event at the Phoenix on October 2. If you have a film you would like to screen at CINE or you’d like to do a short talk, email cine@cottageindustryfilms.co.uk with a brief synopsis (up to 50 words) of the film/project, along with any other relevant information, including a still from the film – films can be of any genre, but no longer than 15 minutes.

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Second chance to see top South Devon movies at SHOOT – the Totnes Film Festival

D&CFilm — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:06:42 +0000

Did you manage to pop to The Barn Cinema, Dartington to catch SHOOT, the Totnes Film Festival as part of the Totnes Festival? If not, you’ve got another bite of the cherry tonight (Wednesday, September 8) as the movies decamp to The Barrel House in Totnes. And it’s worth getting to, there’s a stonking list to top South West made movies in the line up. Here’s what you saw/missed/will be seeing (delete where applicable).

The films are in the running for the first prize of being screened in front of a main feature film in The Barn in its November/December programme. Votes will be counted at both screenings at The Barn Cinema and at The Barrel House.

Here’s the line up:

Uncomfortable 16 m dir. David Salas
It must be a terrible thing to be left alone.

Woof Woof 2m 40 dir. Chanya Pepper
An interesting way of showing the relationship between a mother and child: A little girl wants to play mother, with her stuffed toy as the baby and her dog as the mother. But the mother just can’t get it right.

Rain 4m dir. Alexa St John Palmer
Rain is a modern film noir set in a wet, industrial future. This scene is of a conversation had by the protagonist and their femme fatale that takes place in a dark, urban train carriage. In this future it is constantly raining and the protagonist uses this as a metaphor for the realisation of his fate.

Index 8m 20 dir. Simon Davis
Stefan is depressed with life, he sits in a cafe and reads an interesting article suggesting how immortality may be possible. From nowhere, Lisa appears. She seems to know more about Stefan than her thinks. Filmed at the Blue Walnut Cafe, Torquay, and Slapton Sands. First Eye Productions is a film-making group funded by the Lottery and DCF.

La Legende~Dali 13m 50 dir. Tom Austin
A surreal comedy docu-drama looking at the life and work of Salvador Dali. Set in a boxing gym, it tells in a theatrical way how his odd family (including his dead brother) helped shape the young man into becoming arguably the 20th century’s greatest painter.

Ramble! 14m 57 dir. Steven Sowden
From the stable of Trenby Shalt, South Devon’s newest and cleanest video production house, come this short documentary about a group of people who walk the landscapes of the county in search of peace, light and meaning.

The Letters 5m 54 dir. Ben Boyd-Taylor
The Letters is about an assassin looking back to a few weeks earlier, as his hard exterior has softened by his growing love for nine women, whose love letters to his previous victim he receives, and the challenges this causes him.

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Gearing up for this year’s Board Shorts surf-film festival

D&CFilm — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:31:48 +0000

Board Shorts, Cornwall Film Festival’s celebration of perspectives on surf culture in film, video, photography, paint, picture craft, and kitchen sink, is back again this year.

This year’s event ‘kicks off’, like dude, at 2pm, featuring screenings of filmmakers’ work throughout the afternoon, as well as an exhibition of surf art, photos, vintage boards and a surf jumble too.

As night falls, maaaaan, a special selection of short films from Cornwall and across the globe will compete for the title of Best of Board Shorts, awarded by a celebrity judging panel.

From 7pm there will be live music from Neil Halstead, The Tinners Ceilidh Band plus DJs Sir Vinyl of the Fattest until proper late.

Here’s, like, the full so-called ‘schedule’, bro. Hang ten, yeah?

14:00: Site opens, access for camping.

14:00-18:00: Art & Vintage surf exhibit, Skinners Bar & Catering – Sennen Barn

14:00-18:00: Surf Jumble and board swap – Gwenver Barn

14:30-18:00: Screenings in back room cinema – Sennen Barn

14:30: Musica Surfica by Mick Sowry (Winner, New York surf film festival)

15:15: Tom’s creation Plantation by Cyrus Sutton

15:50: The Surfer by Dominic Coleman (Recommended by The surf screen)

17:10: Under the Sun by Cyrus Sutton (Emmy award winner)

18:30 – 19:30: Neil Halstead – Gwenver Barn

19:30 – 20:30: Board Shorts films in competition, presented by Christiaan Bailey – Sennen Barn

20:30 – 21:00: Raffle and award for ‘Best of Board Shorts’- Sennen Barn

21:00 – 23:00: Tinners Ceilidh Band – Gwenver Barn

23:00 – 02:00: Sir Vinyl of the Fattest (DJ)- Sennen Barn

Board Shorts is on September 25 at Brea Vean Surf House, near Land’s End Aerodrome, just off the A30 towards Land’s End on the way to St Just. Basically, you’d better check Google Maps before you leave the house.

Tickets are a snip at £15 from the Hall For Cornwall website. Dude.

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Cornwall Film Festival must raise £27k to go ahead this year

D&CFilm — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:48:38 +0000

The Cornwall Film Festival, a registered charity which supports Cornish filmmaking, needs to raise £27,000 in order to run this year’s event.

Faced with an 80 per cent cut in Government funding and fierce competition for private arts grants, the festival has launched two fundraising campaigns.

Of main interest to hard-up D+Cineastes is the online global micro‐donation appeal.

Called £ove Cornwall Film Festival, it’s being spread through social networking sites to film enthusiasts, filmmakers and their friends.

Festival director Donna Anton told D+CFilm: “A few weeks ago, when David Cameron came to Newquay, I asked how the Government would support the arts in rural areas, while billions are being diverted to the 2012 London Olympics.

“He replied that US‐style philanthropy is the answer. In short, our festival is being left to its own devices.

“We will happily accept £1, £2 or £5 – whatever people, including students and youngsters, can afford.

“If several thousand people give us a few quid – or a few euros, dollars or yen – then we might have a chance to make ends meet this year.”

In gratitude, all donors’ names (though not amounts) will be listed as ‘CFF Global Producers’ on the festival website as well as in the printed brochure.

The festival is also running a customised advertising package for local businesses, designed in partnership with myCornwall.tv.

Details on both fundraising campaigns can be found on the Festival’s website, under ‘Support Us’.

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Another big turn-out for CINE film screening and networking event in Exeter

D&CFilm — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:47:08 +0000

The second CINE film screening and networking event organised by Cottage Industry Films for D+CFilm was another huge success.

Yet again, the Black Box at the Exeter Phoenix Digtial Media Centre was stuffed fulla film fans – either showing their work or checking out some of the finest flicks from around the region.

As well as getting a rare chance to see the movies on the big screen, there were informal Q&As with the filmmakers as well as the chance for people to swap business cards, share a pint, and generally have a natter about their adventures in the screen trade.

Of course, the event was also a fundraiser for your friendly neighbourhood D+CFilm, with any dough raised going towards supporting and promoting filmmakers in the region. Natch.

Yesterday’s event boasted The Bookshop, written by Tim Frank and directed by Paul Lumsden; BURN, directed by Patrick Kiely with visual effects by Cornwall’s Justin Heasman from Sketchwork Productions; Zomblies directed by David Reynolds, pictured below, from Realm Pictures; How The Panda Got Its Black Eyes by Reuben Gaines; Bonejangles by Sam Cook, pictured middle; Robbing Peter by Clayton Fussell and Ashley Wing, pictured top, from Cottage industry Films; and Lady Caine by Elliot G Montello.

We also ran into Like An Angel director John Tomkins who pitched at last month’s CINE event looking for writers for his forthcoming thriller They’re Coming. He was clutching two new scripts – all thanks, he said, to D+CFilm and CINE.

Don’t miss out – get along to the next event at the end of August. Stay tuned to D+CFilm to find out the date and the full line-up. Alternatively, you can check out the CINE site.

(If you have a film you would like to screen at CINE, email cine@cottageindustryfilms.co.uk with a brief synopsis (up to 50 words) of the film/project, along with any other relevant information, including a still from the film – films can be of any genre, but no longer than 15 minutes.)

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