>> FILM AND FESTIVITY IN FALMOUTH
Forget Cannes. As Cornwall Film Festival 2005 fast approaches, anyone with even a passing interest in film would be wise to visit Falmouth from 18-20th November for a weekend of enlightenment, encouragement and above all, entertainment.
Crammed with national and local premieres, advice from acclaimed filmmakers, master classes with the cream of the industry, practical workshops and parties, this year’s Festival boasts a sumptuous feast for the imagination.
The events take place in some wonderful venues, old and new, from the historic Falmouth Arts Centre to the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, University College Falmouth (UCF) and Falmouth Art Gallery. The ideal location for this celebration of the creative arts, Falmouth’s vibrant and atmospheric charm, the stunning backdrop of the River Fal and the surrounding countryside serve as testimony to this inspirational county, which, as the Festival promises to confirm, fosters some remarkable home grown talent.
After a record number of entries, the Festival will showcase the efforts of local filmmakers, while Roughcut – Cornwall’s monthly film screening event - will proudly screen the entries for this year’s Two Minutes Silence competition. Innovative spectacles in filmmaking are guaranteed.
The eagerly anticipated opening feature will be Tickets, a film by a trio of internationally renowned directors: Ken Loach, Ermanno Olmi and Abbas Kiarostami. As a train weaves its path through Italy, bound for Rome, three separate stories are told, knitted together with a dynamic, humorous, touching and ingenious thread.
This year’s ‘Cornwall Catering 2000’ premiere will be The Constant Gardener based on Cornish-based author John Le Carré’s best selling novel. Starring Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, this gripping thriller follows Justin Quayle into mortal danger as he determinedly digs for the truth behind his activist wife’s murder in North Kenya. The film is produced by Simon Channing Williams, who, also based in Cornwall, is counted amongst the five best producers in the world. Followed by a question and answer session, this promises to be an inspiring evening not to be missed.
And if inspired is how you’re feeling, the Festival offers plentiful opportunities to learn new skills, absorb invaluable advice and network with industry insiders. A series of master classes in acting, directing and writing at UCF will give you the know-how from acclaimed professionals. Aspiring filmmakers will be able to gain hands on experience in a range of practical workshops that cover the fundamentals of filmmaking from lighting and sound to camera technique. Not content with showering these precious gems of guidance, a Kodak master class with respected Director of Photography Chris Howard BSC, also offers the chance to win a still camera.
The advice doesn’t end there, as workshops in animation, claymation, making documentaries and making films on mobile phones will keep those with specialist taste more than satisfied. Discussions on securing funding, marketing, distribution and breaking into features, as well as the chance to network with local media and production companies, should leave no question unanswered.
The Govynn Kernewek award once again promises to make someone’s filmmaking vision a reality. Short listed applicants will present a nail biting pitch before a panel of industry professionals and a live audience who will then decide the recipient of the cash production award. The winning film, which must be in the Cornish language, will be screened at next year’s Festival. The premiere of last year’s winning film, De Sul, directed by Mathy Tremewan and Fran Broadhurst, remains an eagerly anticipated event on this year’s Festival calendar.
The impact of Cornish writer and filmmaker Nick Darke, who died earlier this year, will be celebrated in a screening of The Wrecking Season, an award-winning film, made by Nick and his partner, Jane Darke. The achievements of another renowned local figure, artist and activist Kurt Jackson, will be applauded in the screening of a BBC documentary, followed by a discussion with the artist and director.
That’s not all. This year’s Young People’s Film Festival is going to be better than ever as local youngsters organise a fantastic programme of films from schools across the county, including the workshop on making films on mobile phones. And what festival is complete without a party? A surf film competition looks set to ignite the atmosphere with live bands, DJs and the chance to win a surfboard.
Cornwall Film Festival 2005 offers something for everyone. Whether you’re old or young, whether you make films, aspire to work in the industry or merely desire cracking entertainment, it promises to be a vibrant and stimulating event not to be missed.
For up to date events information visit www.cornwallfilmfestival.com
Falmouth Arts Centre Box Office opens Sat 8th Oct. Season tickets (£30, concs. £22) sell out fast. Some daytime tickets (£10) and single event tickets (£6) are also available. Limited amount of advance surf event tickets are available at £6 before Nov 1st at the FAC Box Office and SU Tremough campus. A season ticket or Fri daytime ticket will get you into the event for free. Call the Box Office on (01326) 212 300 for credit card bookings.