Keswick Film Festival

Friday Tips From David

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:52:00 +0000

In three weeks time the 13th Keswick Film Festival will be well under way. With so much on offer, how do you pick your way through the programme? We asked David Miller, Festival Programmer, for his tips:

Friday is really a choice between Looking Good and Feeling Very Good. Our Looking Good theme features films that have scooped awards from across the globe and the Feeling Very Good selection offers humour and a little light relief but usually with a twist! The opening film at the Theatre David and Kamal is a family-friendly film depicting life in Jerusalem as experience by two very different boys who come to rely on each other despite their differences. Over at the Alhambra cinema the opening film Pardon depicts Turkish humour but with a fact-based storyline that will have you gasping in disbelief!

Mid-afternoon options then switch places with a searing prison drama at the Theatre and American humour at the Alhambra. All four films thus far are UK premieres so our audiences will be the first to see these films. The early evening titles offer the same disparity of choice! Do you go for another intense thriller or be humoured by an Icelandic comedian offering his take on the financial crisis?

And, to close the day, is it one of the bloodiest, high octane dramas ever to come out of Korea (The Yellow Sea) or the French box-office smash that may well have resonance with us too (Welcome to the Sticks)! All in all, you can plot your day to see humour from international perspectives or journey across the globe experiencing drama, intrigue and action – and, of course, you can mix them up!

Win 2 passes

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:09:00 +0000

Have you got your passes yet? You can get them online at the Theatre website. You have to look hard to find them as they are in the middle of the list of films because of some vagary of the booking system.

Or you could try winning them here http://www.golakes.co.uk/prize-draws/keswick-film-festival-competition.aspx

John Hurt at Keswick Film Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:06:00 +0000

Are you signed up for our email newsletter? If not, here is the latest email message from Ann:

Hello film lovers,

Have you picked up the hot news from our website, the newspapers or other sources – John Hurt is coming to the Festival. He and his film producer wife will be with us all through the event. He will be introducing a number of his films and there will be an ‘In Conversation’ session on Sunday. It’s always a gamble when guests are not able to confirm until quite late on whether they will be there but now it feels a good decision to be showing In Love with Alma Cogan, Sailcloth and Lou, Naked Civil Servant and An Englishman in New York as a double bill, and Melancholia. All are interesting films in their own right but given a certain extra quality by the presence of the actor.

We have had a bumper number of entries for the Osprey Awards this year. The judges are grumbling about how hard their decisions are again! It just goes to show that creative Cumbria is alive and well. When they can decide on the shortlist we will be letting the entrants know and screening them on the Saturday.

And two late bookings secured by David for the closing films – both pre-releases of which he is particularly proud, Carancho from Argentina and Babycall from Norway.

The brochures have arrived. If you are local collect one from the Alhambra, they will be sent out by the Theatre with passes now.

See you soon

Ann Martin

Festival Director

Ways to Live Forever

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:23:00 +0000

This prize-winning film is our free family screening this year. It is based on a novel by Sally Nicholls which won prizes for Best Childrens' Book. Just heard 15 of her family are going to come and see the film as they live in the north and haven't seen it before. And Alex Etel will be there too we hope.

More Garlands for A Seperation?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:49:00 +0000

This contemporary Iranian tragedy, already the winner of a Golden Globe and nominated for a BAFTA, has now been nominated for the 2012 Best Foreign Film Oscar. The National Society of Film Critics agreed and also gave it the Best Screenplay award. Enough nudges to make it a must see at Keswick (15.00 Sunday 26th Feb)?

Looking Good for Thrill Seekers at Keswick

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:43:00 +0000

This year’s selection of the best from recent film festivals around the world features four cracking contemporary thrillers. Cell 211 (Friday 17.30) from Spain is a claustrophobic prison drama with an award winning performance by Louis Toser as the leader of a prisoner’s revolt.

For fast pacing and uninhibited screen violence try Yellow Sea (Friday 20.30) from South Korea. Is Phillip French’s observation ‘one of the bloodiest movies I’ve ever seen’ a recommendation or a warning!?

And for the final film on Sunday will you choose Carancho (TbtL) or Babycall (Alhambra)? From Argentina, Carancho, pitches an emotional love story against the background of commercial exploitation of injury and death from car accidents while the Norwegian Babycall engages us in a psychological dilemma: ‘how far would you go for the ones you love?’

John Hurt coming to the festival

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:18:00 +0000

Great news! John Hurt and his film producer wife Anwen Rees-Myers are going to be joining us for the whole Festival. We are opening on Thursday with In Love with Alma Cogan a film she produced, directed by Tony Britten (who will be here too) with a cameo part by John. Then on Saturday we will be showing Lou with the short, Sailcloth and the double-billing of The Naked Civil Servant and An Englishman in New York. On Sunday at 3pm John will be 'In Conversation' , and at 5.30 we are screening Melancholia

Melancholia wins US Critics Best Film award

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:18:00 +0000

And did you see the news that Melancholia (Sunday 17.30) has just won the US critics best film of 2011 award...

Feeling Very Good

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:53:00 +0000

Are you signed up for our email newsletter? If not, here is the latest email message from Ann:

I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year and are now following your new resolution to see more films! Last night the Keswick Film Club started again with over 180 coming to see The Well-Digger’s Daughter. Maybe the numbers were so high to support Tom Rennie, longtime Manager of the Alhambra and great backroom worker for the Festival who has taken over the cinema, saving it from closure. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-16389049.

The Festival programme is almost complete and this week the brochure should be going to press. Most of the films and the programme are now on our website and tickets and passes are on sale from Theatre by the Lake. In previous mails I have described two of our themes, Looking Good, and Sounding Good. One of the others is ‘Feeling Very Good’ bringing some of the funniest of international film with Welcome to the Sticks from France Pardon from Turkey, Mia Sarah from Spain and No Pain, No Gain from the US. Will they travel well? Come and see.

The other is ‘Feeling Good?’ – this theme includes the free family film Ways to Live Forever, Lou with John Hurt, and the award-winning 50/50. There’s so much to say this year – next time – more about ‘Doing Good’, the ‘Homage to John Hurt’, the Shorts competition and guests.

Ann Martin

Festival Director

Harimaya Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:58:00 +0000

We were all really disappointed that technical problems prevented us from fully showing Harimaya Bridge at the 12th Keswick Film Festival. You'll be pleased to know that it will be showing at The Alhambra on Sunday to finish off the current Keswick Film Club season of films.

It will be a free screening to introduce people to the film club, so do come along and bring your friends. After the recent disaster in Japan, there will also be voluntary collection towards a Shelter Box.

Osprey Short Film Awards Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 09:15:00 +0000

It was great to see such a large turnout for the Osprey Short Film Awards. Many congratulations to everybody who entered and a big thank you to Jack Gold and Carl Hunter for their inspiring words.

The winners are as follows:

Under 18s

Gold: Coast Of Soap Ships by Signal Films
Silver: The Solway Spaceman by Activity Films
Bronze: A Frosty Reception by Moonbeam Media

Open Category

Gold: Stuck by Ola Omotoso
Silver: The Deer by Ross Cunningham
Bronze: Endangered Species: Fell Pony Breeders by Dreamtime Films

We're really sorry that we couldn't get any of the Fell Pony Breeder films to show at the cinema but you can now view the film on our website and the rest of the series on Dreamtime Film's Vimeo page.

Most of the other shortlisted films are also available online, see our page on the website for full details.

Extra Screening: Whisper With The Wind - 1:30pm Alhambra

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 08:44:00 +0000

There will be another screening of Whisper With The Wind on Sunday at 1:30pm in the Alhambra

Extra Screening: The Gleaners and I - Sat 9pm

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 08:26:00 +0000

Due to popular demand there will be an extra screening of The Gleaners and I on Saturday at 9pm in the Studio.

Are You Ready?

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:57:00 +0000

We're busy making the final preparations for the Festival and opening party tonight. How about you? Have you decided what to see yet? I thought it was worth pointing out some of the more special events:

Q&A with Kay Mellor at A Passionate Woman, the opening film tonight at 7:30pm
The Osprey Short Film Awards in the Alhambra Saturday 11am
Jack Gold with a Q&A at Red Monarch in the Alhambra on Saturday at 1.15pm
Eric Robson will be hosting a discussion after the Into Eternity at 3:30pm in the Theatre on Saturday.
"The hottest ticket may well be for Frankenstein Sings" says EmpireOnline as Lancaster Millennium Choir accompany a 25-minute abbreviation of James Whale's 1931 classic on Saturday at 6pm
Craig McCall is introducing his own film at 1.30pm on Sunday in the Studio, and introducing Black Narcissus later in the day in the Theatre.

We're also hoping to update this blog and tweeting (@keswickfilmfest) throughout the festival using the hashtag #kff12

Whatever you see we hope you have a fantastic time.

Osprey Short Film Awards

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:26:00 +0000

By now you probably already know all about the great films on offer at the Festival so I'd like to draw your attention to the Osprey Show Film Awards. Every year we ask Cumbrian film makers to submit short films to show at the festival and we award prizes to the best.

Once again the quality of entries has been incredibly high and the judges have a really difficult job of creating a shortlist, let alone decide on winners. There's a great selection of drama, comedy, horror and documentary in the final selection which will be screened at The Alhambra on Saturday 12th at 11am. It's a free event so it would be great to see a large turnout supporting local film makers, many of whom will be attendance.

Click for full details of the short-listed films

Party News

noreply@blogger.com (Elspeth) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 20:43:00 +0000

Keswick Brewing Company is providing beer for the party on Thursday evening. Pass holders and invited guests will be able to have a glass of their beer with their party food.

Why not book a tour of the brewery and find out how their delicious beer is made?

Empire Online

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 10:27:00 +0000

Of course we think David and his friends have chosen some fantastic films but so do others. Read this to help you decide what to see http://www.empireonline.com/festivalsandseasons/

The Square Orange

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:28:00 +0000

How could we have failed to put The Square Orange on the map in our brochure. I'm so sorry James, maybe it's because I assume EVERYONE knows you're just down the road from the cinema, have those fantasic pizzas and tapas, great music on a Wednesday night, lovely atmosphere and great selection of wines, beer, teas, coffees and soft drinks.
And we've seen you sprucing it up this week ready for the Film Festival, a new coat of paint, scrubbed floor. our poster in your window - all ready to go!
http://www.thesquareorange.co.uk/

Film Time Changes

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:26:00 +0000

Sorry but we've had to change the times of some films
We have had to move A Screaming Man from Friday in the Studio at 19.30 to the Alhambra at 16.00 hours. We have had to swap it with The Gleaners and I which moves to The Studio at 19.30.
We may put on another showing of A Screaming Man on Sunday if there are a lot of people who have missed it because of the change.
If you pick up a brochure or a leaflet with the film times on remember these will be incorrect because of this change

What to see at the Festival?

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:56:00 +0000

Have you decided what to see at the Festival. I'm finding the timeline in the brochure really handy to plot my route through the films. I find I go for the foreign films so there's some hard choices for me on Saturday and Sunday - will it be Jerusalema from South Africa or Tehroun from Iran; will it be The Harimaya Bridge - UK premier from Japan or The Temptation of St Tony from Estonia. I like getting an insight into other countries' culture - but how realistic is it? If you were in Estonia and saw Trainspotting and A Passionate Woman would it give you a real insight into UK culture I wonder. Maybe this will be the sort of discussions going on in The Hub in the Theatre this year......

Free workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Ann) — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 17:16:00 +0000

Did you know we've been offered a free workshop for people aged 19 - 25. It's happening on the Saturday morning for 4 hours at the Theatre by the Lake, run by 104 Films from Sheffield and a guest director. And guess who the guest director will be - it's our friend Sol from Hurricane Films who brought Under the Mud to Keswick and then got great acclaim working with Terence Davies. He and Roy came and introduced that film at Keswick too.

There's 15 places available and anyone wanting to attend should get in touch with kirsty@104films.com

Brochure Online

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:38:00 +0000

The brochure for the 12th Keswick Film Festival is now available for download on the webiste.

Wittertainment's Code Of Conduct

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:00:00 +0000

At this years Festival we'll be expecting all of our audience to follow Radio 5 Live's Wittertainment's Code Of Conduct.

2011 Festival Dates

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 10:46:00 +0000

The 12th Keswick Film Festival will take place between Thursday 10th and Sunday 13th February 2011.

For all the latest news from the festival, follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/keswickfilmfest

Final day photos - ice creams and feedback

noreply@blogger.com (Ian) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:08:00 +0000