Any film in the appropriate format can be screened on board the mobile cinema, so anything goes. Where we provide content, we aim to keep our programme of films diverse, interesting and exciting. This page features a run down of some of the works shown recently in the Vintage Mobile Cinema. We hope this goes some way to saying thank you to those talented film-makers who have allowed us to screen their work. We are always looking for new films, so if you’re a film-maker and you’re interested in having your film screened on board the Cinema, get in touch.
Ten Seconds
A man can see 10 seconds into the future. What will he use his powers for?
‘Ten Seconds’ is a film by Tim Clague, and was commissioned through the South West Screen Digital Shorts programme, a project which allowed a selection of South West film-makers to realise their dream and make a short film with support and funding.
Screened at: Ramsgate Summer Squall, August 2011
Ramble On
This film is just fantastic. We can’t possibly do it justice by describing it here, so all that remains is to advise you to watch it – be warned though, it may not suitable for kids.
‘Ramble On’ is a short film animated by Tom Parkinson and Tim Ruffle, commissioned as part of South West Screen‘s Digital Shorts programme, a project which allowed a selection of South West film-makers to realise their dream and make a short film with support and funding.
Screened at: Ramsgate Summer Squall, August 2011
Off Beat
We love Aardman Animations. It’s as simple as that. Not only are they supremely talented individuals who have inherited a gratuitous amount of artistic skill, they’re also really, really nice people.
One of those nice people is Will Becher, whose delightful short animation ‘Off Beat’ asks a simple question – what happens when all the policemen go on holiday?
‘Off Beat’ was commissioned as part of South West Screen’s Digital Shorts programme, a project which allowed a selection of South West film-makers to realise their dream and make a short film with support and funding.
Screened at: Aeon Festival, August 2010; Ramsgate Summer Squall, August 2011
Kung Fu Romance
When we screened some work of the recent graduates of the Arts University of Bournemouth last year, we had a whole lot of kids coming out of the cinema asking the same thing. ‘Can we go in and watch some more?’ More specifically, the kids just kept requesting one film for us to play again and again – Ben Ho’s ‘Kung Fu Romance‘, a short animation that packs a big punch.
We’ve no doubt that Ben is amongst the talented graduates of Bournemouth who’s work we’ll be seeing again – no doubt on the television or big screen next time!
Screened at: Aeon Festival, August 2010; Ramsgate Summer Squall, August 2011
Thanet on Film
Sellout screenings at Broadstairs Palace Cinema for weeks running and emergency public meetings sparked by the issues raised, ‘Thanet on Film’ was never an ordinary archive film experience. Hugely popular with the local community, our screenings of this film were no exception at the Ramsgate Summer Squall festival. Sold out every time, our only disappointment was those we had to turn away.
The film has proved so popular that it has spawned a sequel – now you don’t see that happening with an archive film very often, do you!? You can catch a glimpse of the trailer for ‘Thanet on Film II’ on YouTube.
Screened at: Ramsgate Summer Squall, August 2011
Southport Flower Show Archive Films
The Southport Flower Show is the UK’s biggest independent Flower Show, now in its 83rd year. With an impressive pedigree such as that, it was important that the films we screened to the flower enthusiasts who visited us over four days in August were top notch. Archive films from Southport’s flower shows in the 1950s, 60s and even the Golden Jubilee transported our audiences back in time – and yes, we even had a few dedicated green-fingered folks who spotted their former selves on film! Our Flower Show films came from the collections of the North West Film Archive, many of which were shot by the Southport Movie Makers club.
It’s not often than an amateur film club such as this produces such professional looking films, and our audiences were impressed to see films from the ‘Southport on Film’ collection on subjects such as the history of the pier and the origins of Southport’s famous Lord Street. We hope to be back again sometime to visit the good folks of Southport once again!
Screened at: Southport Flower Show, August 2011
RAF Harrowbeer Archive Films
On the 70th Anniversary of the opening of the RAF base at Harrowbeer, near Yelverton in South Devon, a celebration was organised to mark the event. We were lucky enough to be invited along to screen archive film of the local area and
Some of the squadrons that had their home at Harrowbeer were from Poland, and it was heartwarming to see some of the Polish relatives and friends of those brave airmen come along to watch ‘For Your and Our Skies’ and ‘Poles in the Battle of Britain’, both of which captured the tremendous heroism of those brave airmen.
We also screened a selection of film from the South West Film and TV Archive, including the award winning ‘Peter and Ruby’ about subsistence farmers on Dartmoor, ‘Plymouth – the Blitz Years’, and a selection of archive footage from as far back as the 1920s.
Screened at: RAF Harrowbeer 70th Anniversary Event, August 2011
British Film Institute Classics
If you’ve never appreciated what it is that the BFI does, all you need to do is have a look at their impressive film catalogue. Tasked with the job of preserving Britain’s film heritage, the BFI are never idle, and at Vintage 2011 we had the pleasure of presenting some of the best known films from their collection as well as some obscure gems that deserve recognition today.
These films are moving, funny, and most of all relevant – whether Ministry of Information films that take you on a journey around everyday wartime London, or 1960s feature films that allow you to look into a world of new-found sexual freedom, our audiences were captivated by these wonderful films; many of which have been re-mastered and re-released on Blu-Ray with stunning results.
Listen to Britain (1942) – A short Ministry of Information film produced during WWII, this film depicts a day in the life of Blitz-torn Britain. The result is a sublime composition of scenes of ordinary life in an extraordinary time. With poetic beauty, it tells the story of the human spirit. Directed by Humphrey Jennings and Stewart McAllister, starring Chesney Allen, Bud Flanagan and Myra Hess.
Withnail and I (1986) – This is a hilarious journey around the dysfunctional world of Withnail – gloriously and gratuitously acted by Richard E Grant – and ‘I’, who are a pair of clueless Londoners that set off from their squalid flat to a country cottage in the Lake District. The audience is left wondering if these two comical genius half-wits will even survive their wine-soaked encounter with the Cumbrian countryside. One of Britain’s favourite cult films, it is directed by Bruce Robinson, and stars Richard E Grant, Paul McGann and Richard Griffiths.
London Can Take It (1940) – A short Ministry of Information film, the documents 18 hours of the Blitz. After the Nazi air force delivers their nightly barrage of bombs, London awakes and goes back to work with their morale not only intact, but as this film states, higher than ever. A propaganda film that aimed to show the war’s effect on ordinary people and turn public opinion in favour of bringing the USA on side against Germany, this remains a powerful document today. Directed by Humphrey Jennings and Harry Watt.
Permissive (1970) – This is one of many films re-released as part of the BFI’s Flipside series, which aims to rescue weird and wonderful films from obscurity and make them available once again in high-quality editions. When Suzy arrives in London, she is unwittingly plunged into the world of the ‘groupie’. The soundtrack by prog rock legends Comus, Forever More and Titus Groan adds to the gritty atmosphere and produces a dark British counter-cultural aretefact that’s shot through with grim authenticity. Directed by Lindsay Shonteff, starring Maggie Stride and Gay Singleton.
Under the Table You Must Go (1970) – This documentary takes the audience on a trip around the pubs and clubs of London in the weird world of 1970 – often surreal, it’s a truly jolly trip that is worlds away from the wine bars that line the streets today. Directed by Arnold L Miller.
Nightmail (1936) – It’s a simple idea, beautifully executed – this short film follows the night mail train from London to Scotland, with music by Benjamin Britten and poetry by WH Auden that mirrors the rhythm of the train’s wheels. An evocative and nostalgic piece of beauty. Directed by Harry Watt and Basil Wright.
That Kind of Girl (1963)– Another classic from the BFI’s Flipside, this film was greeted at its finale by roaring applause from our last audience of the Vintage weekend. It gives a brilliant glimpse into the world of 60s Britain, while exploring the ‘issue’ of sexual promiscuity and venereal disease after a beautiful au-pair wrestles with the affections of three men. Directed by Gerry O’Hara, starring Margaret Rose Keil
Screened at Vintage at the Southbank Centre, July 2011
Ealing Classics
There are some things that only get better with age – and we’re not just talking about good wine here. The hard-working folks at the Vintage Festival scoured the country to put together a collection of all things cool from 5 decades of British fashion, music, design, art – and of course film.
Curated by one of our all-round film heroes, producer Stephen Woolley, our programme of classic films that got a huge thumbs up from the mobile cinema crew and all our audiences. And these classic films are making a real come-back – Optimum Releasing have been busy cleaning up some of the old 35mm film prints to not only make them available to the public once again, but to bring them back in a digitally restored format that has in many cases miraculously enhanced the audio and visual experience. So, if you’ve never seen them, we would heartily recommend you get out there and catch some of these classics, now available on Blu-Ray and DVD, with a host of extra features on the discs to boot:
Sing-Along Bugsy Malone (1976) – This musical gangster comedy is brought to life by actors and actresses who were all under 17 years old, with most considerably younger – Jodie Foster was only 13 when she ably took on the role of ‘Tallulah’. The setting is prohibition-era New York, where the gangsters are running riot – in this case, with rapid-fire custard ‘splurge guns’. Once splurged, a kid is ‘all washed up’ and his career in crime is over. And without spoiling the plot, the colossal custard pie fight as the film climaxes is well worth a watch! Directed by Alan Parker, starring Scott Baio, Florie Dugger, John Cassisi, Martin Lev and Jodie Foster
Whisky Galore! (1949) – Now, what would you do if you were living on a Scottish Island and a ship carrying 50,000 cases of whisky ran aground? No question for these inhabitants, only there’s just one problem – an English Guard Captain who stands in their way. The result is a comedy which, like a good whisky, only improves with age. Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, starring Basil Redford, Bruce Seaton, Joan Greenwood and Gordon Jackson.
Hue and Cry (1947)– This film is considered to the original Ealing comedy - creating a world of working-class children’s secret clubs on the war-damaged streets of London. The kids discover what they believe are secret messages between criminals being conveyed in their favourite comic, and set out to foil the plot. Directed by Charles Chrichton, starring Alistair Sim, Harry Fowler and Joan Dowling.
The Ladykillers ( 1955) – Posing as an amateur string quartet, a criminal gang take on a room in the unsuspecting Mrs Wilberforce’s lop-sided home. The landlady is blissfully unaware of the mayhem that she causes the gang – proving an unlikely adversary to the crooks. Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, starring Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Peter Sellers and Katie Johnson
Passport to Pimlico (1949) – When a bomb goes off in London’s Pimlico, an astonishing cache of documents are revealed that uncover the fact that the area actually belongs to the French. The residents embark on a hilarious adventure in and around their suddenly foreign land, and the absurdity of the plot is carried off brilliantly by the cast. Directed by Henry Cornelius, starring Stanley Holloway, Margaret Rutherford and Barbara Murray.
Yield to the Night (1956) – An exception to our selection of comedies, this is a powerful film about the power of the human spirit, following a murderess who is condemned to death. Faced with an ever shortening future, she is forced to face up to the past. An outstanding drama that stands the test of time. Directed by J Lee Thompson, starring Diana Dors, Yvonne Mitchell and Michael Craig.
Screened at Vintage at the Southbank Centre, July 2011
East Devon AONB – ‘Back to the Future’
A project sprung up in 2009 in the beautiful hills of East Devon to collect and preserve archive film that had lain dormant in people’s cupboards and attics for years, and make the footage available to the public. The result so far is this – a beautifully compiled and narrated short film that documents life in East Devon from another age. The project will also see the creation of a website where everyone can access the raw footage, with the aim of uploading dozens of newly digitised pieces of film.
Screened at Bicton College Country Fayre, June 2011
Devon Wildlife Trust – otters and sea life
We pitched up in summer 2011 in the familiar surroundings of Barnstaple town square to screen some truly relaxing wildlife footage. One of the Devon Wildlife Trust’s attentive wardens captured the magic of a family of otter cubs playing in a stream, oblivious to the cameras trained on them. You can view this beautiful footage online here, although our version was overdubbed with some gorgeous local folk music.
Screened at the Devon Wildlife Trust Festival, Barnstaple – June 2011
Adventure Travel Film Festival films
It’s remarkable how much this line of work brings us together with eccentric geniuses. One of these is Austin Vince of the Adventure Travel Film Festival, who brought together an unlikely collection of films that were simply brilliant.
Playing to a full house every time, we treated the audience to ‘Severn Railway Bridge’ (1967), a melancholic newsreel capturing the dismantling of the massive bridge across the Severn Estuary at Sharpness; ‘Century 21 Calling! (1964), a chirpy promo film funded by the Bell telephone corporation showcasing the hoped-for breakthroughs in telecommunications and promising pie in the sky nonsense like ‘pagers’, ‘conference calls’ and ’speed dialling’; ‘The Peak District’ (1954), a delightful celebration of one of Britain’s earliest national parks; and the unexpectedly dazzling film ’The Shovel’ (1953) - a National Coal Board production revealing the history of this most basic of human tools. It seamlessly morphs into a training film aimed at new recruits to the mining industry. Great store is set by the ability to flick a hefty load of spoil horizontally and with great accuracy. This is known as the ‘Pioneer Throw’. The pupils practice this move by trying to launch their loads through a one foot square aperture in a wooden hoarding. This makes for as surreal a moment as you will ever witness.
Austin brought the films to life with unique, hilarious and insightful personal introductions to them all. We’re already looking forward to the Adventure Travel Film Festival 2012, which will no doubt bring more delights!
Screened at the Adventure Travel Film Festival, Bideford – June 2011
Borderlines Film Festival – Herefordshire Archive Films
Yet again, the good folks of the Media Archive for Central England came up with the goods for us to screen. Audiences were transported back to sample rural Herefordshire life back in the days when horsepower meant just that and a mobile phone was one with a long enough cord to carry through to the next room. Amongst other things, a bicycle tour set out from Hereford town and cruised through the lanes to Bodenham, to enjoy a pint in the pub and some archive cycling films on board the bus.
Screened at the Borderlines Film Festival, various Herefordshire locations – March 2011
Flatpack Festival – Birmingham Archive Films
The Media Archive for Central England has a 70,000 film strong collection holed up in their vaults. The fabulous people of Flatpack Festival, true to form, mined this dizzying collection of films to come up with a brilliant programme of archive material. Author Catherine O’Flynn gave an introduction to Breathing Space, with a unique insight into the 1960s Birmingham sculpture ’Youth, cast in concrete’ – somewhat different from the no-doubt idealistic vision of the concrete happy architects of the time. Other films focussed on areas like Handsworth and the famous Bullring, and audience members were moved by catching sight of people and homes that they had once known – some of whom are now gone forever.
Meanwhile, Flatpack screened a frankly inspired collection of films at other locations throughout Birmingham – if you’ve never been to this unique film festival, we heartily recommend that you get up there in 2012.
Screened on tour with Flatpack Festival, various Birmingham locations – March 2011
Cornish Archive film from SWFTA
With the Westcountry in our hearts, the good folks at the South West Film and TV Archive are always going to have some films that strike a chord with us. There’s nothing like seeing somewhere familiar brought to life sixty years gone – almost as if the local high street has been transformed into a film set for a period drama.
Screened on tour with Awen Productions, various locations in Cornwall – February 2011
Digital Heritage East Anglia Films
These are some of the fantastic people who are out there busily saving archive films from the ravages of time so that we can continue to peek into life in times gone by. The Digital Heritage Project is a cross-channel digitisation project that aims to increase public access to a unique collection of archive films from the East of England and Upper Normandy in France from the turn of the 20th century. Norwich HEART is collaborating with Rouen based screen agency Pôle Image Haute-Normandie and the archive film collections of the East Anglian Film Archive to bring this valuable, moving image history alive for modern audiences.
Screened on tour with the Firstsite Art Gallery, various locations in East Anglia – January 2011
Bristol Record Office Archive Films
There’s something magic about archive films – it’s as close as you’ll ever get to time travel. These films from the Bristol Record Office show a picture of life gone by, whether extolling the health-giving properties of Bristol-brewed beer, or taking the audience on a hectic journey around one of Britain’s busiest ports.
Screened at ENCOUNTERS FILM FESTIVAL, November 2010
La Legende~Dali
This is a short film that packs a big punch. Somehow, film-maker Tom Austin turns ten minutes in a boxing gym with the legendary artist (played by Jez Jameson) into a surreal docu-drama about his life. And much like the great painter’s work, this film at once confounds yet makes sense of the insensible.
The film tells the story of how his odd family (including his dead brother) helped shape the young man into becoming arguably the twentieth century’s greatest painter. And there’s plenty here for the film buffs - with reverential references to his and Bunuel’s groundbreaking film ‘Un Chien Andalou’, and his collaboration with Hitchcock on ‘Spellbound’, its aim is to remind us how much Dali has influenced the way we look at this wierd world we live in. Won Best Film (Audience Award) & Best Bursary Film at the Two Short Nights Film Festival, Exeter, Nov. 2009. You can catch a clip of the film on Youtube here, although this really is a film that deserves to be watched from beginning to end – keep an eye out to see when we might screen it next!
Screened at Compton Verney Art Gallery, November 2010
The Bachelor Tree
There’s only one thing that we can really say about this film – we love it! It’s a true delight – a modern twist on the fairy tale, with elements of riddle, limerick and legend.
As Mark Turnock, the film’s director and co-writer explains:
“We made this as our graduate film for UCA Farnham, on a budget of £3,500 (most of which went on petrol), as a labour of love. We wanted to make something silly and bawdy, with an old ‘English’ sense of humour that you don’t really see around much nowadays. The film exists to be entertaining and inconsequential, a vaudeville piece in some seaside theatre, or a pantomime that pulls its audience along and asks for nothing more than they forget the world around them- just for fifteen minutes- and enjoy themselves. When it ends, the viewer should be left with a smile; and the feeling that they’ve reconnected with something magical, a sense of fun that perhaps isn’t really found anywhere else these days.”
Each time we have screened this film, every audience member has emerged from the cinema beaming. We are certainly looking forward to screening this film again soon, and in the meantime, you can watch it here on Vimeo – we would definately encourage you to do so!
SCREENED AT: The Aeon Festival - August 2010; Compton Verney Art Gallery – November 2010; Ramsgate Summer Squall Festival – August 2011
Uncomfortable
This short film earned David Salas an award at the Two Short Nights Film Festival last year, and it’s no surprise – although the film is only just over 10 minutes long, it packs a punch.
When Frank’s wife collapses he does nothing. We stay with him for 24 hours as his wife remains on the floor, unmoving, and he slowly begins to fully understand the enormity of what has happened.
The cinematography is beautiful and haunting, and draws the audience into Frank’s world, alone and in shock. David Salas has a keen sense for how to draw emotion out of the moving image, and we look forward to seeing more of his work in the future and also to screening this beautiful short film again.
See the Uncomfortable website for more details.
SCREENED AT: The Aeon Festival, August 2010
Rifts
Vicki Psarias is someone that we suspect is going to go far – she is already a multi-award winning filmmaker, winning plaudits for her short films Rifts and Broken which have screened at international film festivals from Dinard to LA.
Rifts is her MA graduation film, and helped garner her The Channel 4 4Talent Award for Best Filmmaker in 2007 where she was heralded as a ‘future creative hero’. The film has screened at film festivals internationally, picking up Best Film and Best Screenplay awards along the way. A feature screenplay based on the short film and Vicki’s idea is now being written by screenwriter Phil Hughes and produced by Lee Brazier.
The short film follows two warring kebab shop owners, and in the microcosm of an urban British street, it cleverly mirrors much bigger global issues and culture clashes. We certainly can see why the film has been chosen to be developed into a feature length film, and we are looking forward to seeing it!
See Vicki’s website for details of this and all her films.
SCREENED AT: The Aeon Festival, August 2010
Night / Day
Night/Day is a short film that was commissioned through the UK Film Council’s ‘Digital Shorts’ scheme and co-produced by Somerset Film and South West Screen. It is a moving short drama was filmed on location in Somerset with a local cast and crew, and yet again demonstrates how much talent that the South West film industry is harbouring.
Set in 1979, this film is about David, a ten year-old boy who fears he is losing his mother’s affection. He struggles with the day-to-day impact his bedwetting has on his life and uses the opportunity to sing in his school concert to win her love back.
In 12 short minutes, this film really does draw you into David’s life – it’s a heartwarming and cleverly presented tale, and Jack Osmond, who plays David, is a strong and convincing actor – one to watch in the future!
See the Night / Day website for more details – we very much hope to screen this film again soon.
SCREENED AT: The Aeon Festival, August 2010
This is Purgatory
To some, ‘purgatory’ relates to a space of limbo between Heaven and Earth. However, to a handful of residents near Stroud, purgatory is much more close at hand – it’s the name of a small piece of woodland near where they live. This delightful short documentary follows some of these residents as they talk about their own take on the idea of life, death and purgatory.
James Edmonds created the film in 2008; it had a quite unique genesis – 24 artists of various media were invited to respond to randomly generated map references in the Stroud Valleys area of Gloucestershire. His reference included Purgatory woods – but what started out as an attempt to find out why the wood was so named quickly became a fascinating series of character studies and a quirky humorous and moving reflection on life now and life hereafter, and there are some absolutely delightful gems amongst the scenes that he filmed. While the film has obvious local interest, the appeal goes far beyond the borders of Purgatory woods!
We look forward to screening this film again in the future.
SCREENED AT: The Aeon Festival, August 2010
Where’s the Party To?
A cracking short documentary which explores the past, present & future of the legendary music scene in Bristol. With interviews and footage from such Bristol household names as DJ Derek, Pinch, Deli G, Queen Bee, Clipz, Scott Hendy, Parker, Amo, John Stapleton, MC Kelz and many many more. If you are interested in the world-famous music scene in Bristol, this is a great look at the people who actually make things happen! The film focuses on the underground scene rather than the most famous acts who have come out of Bristol. In this way, it shows how this city has evolved to become a key part of the UK music scene, and how it continues to lead the way.
See the Shooting People website to have a look at the film, or the Chemical Records website to buy the film.
SCREENED AT: The Aeon Festival, August 2010
The Boat People
‘The Boat People’ is a feature length film that was shot in South Devon, but has since travelled the world, earning selections at films festivals from Hollywood to Salento, from Filmstock to Fargo.
It’s a psychological thriller - Jared is taken to the coast by his new girlfriend, Alice. They stay in the seaside cottage she’s owned all her life with her sister, Cleo. As soon as he gets there, Jared begins to have haunting dreams of a distant exotic land. The dreams excite Alice.
Even more weird is that when Cleo unexpectedly turns up, she somehow seems to know what happens in the dreams without him telling her. Gradually Jared realises that the sisters are using his dreams to uncover a long-buried secret from their childhood, when they lived in Vietnam and their parents were brutally murdered.
But who was the murderer? And why does Jared begin to feel that his life is now threatened? As the landscape and the house reveal their secrets, Jared becomes more and more drawn into the twisted world of The Boat People. First they take over his dreams, then they take over his mind.
‘The Boat People’ keeps the audience on edge, teasing them with flashes from some other place and time. The film is well paced and the cinematography excellent, and we think that this film has certainly earned its place at the international table of film festivals. We look forward to screening it again sometime soon.
See the Boat People website to watch a trailer, get info on where you can see it next and buy the DVD.
SCREENED AT: The Aeon Festival, August 2010
Sita Sings the Blues
Nina Paley’s feature-length animated labour of love is an inspiring and mystical journey through Indian legend and through her life. Nina chose to distribute the film through a Creative-Commons Attribution-Share Alike License, which means that she has given the film to the world as a gift. In her own words, she states:
“You don’t need my permission to copy, share, publish, archive, show, sell, broadcast, or remix Sita Sings the Blues. Conventional wisdom urges me to demand payment for every use of the film, but then how would people without money get to see it? How widely would the film be disseminated if it were limited by permission and fees? Control offers a false sense of security. The only real security I have is trusting you, trusting culture, and trusting freedom.”
Not only is this a radical, even revolutionary, approach to the distribution of a creative piece of work, but the film itself is gorgeous and deep; a musical, animated personal interpretation of the Indian epic the Ramayana. As Nina describes it:
“The aspect of the story that I focus on is the relationship between Sita and Rama, who are gods incarnated as human beings, and even they can’t make their marriage work.
And then there’s my story. I’m just an ordinary human, who also can’t make her marriage work. And the way that it fails is uncannily similar to the way Rama and Sita’s [relationship fails]. Inexplicable yet so familiar. And the question that I asked and the question people still ask is, “Why”? Why did Rama reject Sita? Why did my husband reject me? We don’t know why, and we didn’t know 3,000 years ago. I like that there’s really no way to answer the question, that you have to accept that this is something that happens to a lot of humans.”
We applaud Nina’s talent and her bravery. To see the film or buy the DVD, visit the Sita Sings the Blues website.
SCREENED AT: The Aeon Festival, August 2010
Animated Exeter
Animated Exeter is an annual festival initiated in 1999 and developed by Exeter City Council. With an audience of around 15,000, Animated Exeter is now the premier animation festival in the South West. Its core aims are to:
*Excite and inspire young people
*Encourage and foster talent
*Showcase high quality animation
They run a year round programme of workshops for schools and young people in the South West, with information about further education and career paths into the animation industry; competitions for animators; showcasing high quality international animation and curating exhibitions to entertain and inform the public.
We have been pleased to be able to showcase some of the previous winners of the Animated Exeter competitions, and the quality and depth of these short films showed just how much talent the British animation industry has, as well as how many young and upcoming young animators are waiting in the wings.
The next festival is scheduled for 14 – 26 February 2011, see the Animated Exeter website for details. We’re certainly looking forward to it!
SCREENED AT: The Aeon Festival – August 2010; Compton Verney Art Gallery – November 2010
Petroc Graduates’ Short Films
North Devon College’s graduate class of 2010 produced some great animations and films, and we suspect that there might a few names to watch in the future amongst the class. We wish them all the best of luck with their future careers!
SCREENED AT: Petroc, June 2010 & The Aeon Festival, August 2010
See the Petroc website for details of courses on offer.
Undercurrents
Undercurrents not only have getting on for 20 years experience in documenting activism and campaigning in the UK and abroad, as well as filming inspiring projects that are building a positive future, they also run their very own solar powered Mobile Cinema, the Sol Cinema!
They have a large library of documentaries, and we are proud to have been able to provide a cinema space for some of these fantastic films to be screened. Films that we have shown include:
‘Eco-village Pioneers’ – Over a decade, Helen, a co-founder of Undercurrents went in search of a sustainable way of life. Along the way she recorded the UK’s most high profile campaigners on low impact living. She charted how Tony Wrench and his partner (see photo below) challenged and radically changed a council’s policy on rural housing. Their unique, inexpensive ecohome made from oak, cobwood and recycled window walls, straw-insulated turf roof, with solar power for electricity, compost toilet and reed beds for grey water is now a proven example of what the Government needs to be providing. Her journey took her to Crystal Waters Permaculture village in Australia, Sunseed Desert Technology centre in Spain, Findhorn spiritual community in Scotland, The Village in Ireland and the low impact settlement, Tinkers Bubble in Somerset England. Her trip also includes the world renowned Centre of Alternative Technology in mid Wales. The main strand of the film follows the story of Lammas- Britains First planned Ecovillage to be developed in England and Wales.
SCREENED AT: The Aeon Festival, August 2010
‘Broad Horizons’ – A compilation of animations, documentaries and short films made by women, including:
Evolving Minds (Melissa Gunasena) 45min – What is reality? Who defines it? Evolving Minds offers a fresh and radical perspective on alternatives to the mental health system. Presenting clear information in a humorous style it covers diverse topics such as shamanism, nutrition, psychotherapy, meditation and protest against draconian mental health legislation.
Fisch in Lesbos (undercurrents) 4min – A lesbian books a holiday
Be[lie]f (Shannon Smy) 3mins – Exploring belief structures
Happiness tends to Infinity (Yinka Selley) 3mins - A scientific equation on how to be happy
Trainstopping (Maren Girgensohn) 5 mins – British women activists join in protests against the transportation of nuclear waste across Germany
Life Before Death (Helen iles) 10min An inspiring short film explorings the experiences of two women & their daughters as they face terminal illness. Far from being a morbid lament, the film develops into an uplifting meditation on finding acceptance when faced with the most critical time of our life.
Clowning around at the G8 (Circa) 15mins – An insignt into the techniques of the Rebel Clown Army during the G8 summit in Scotland.
Eve’s Apple- (undercurrents) 3 min – Produced during an undercurrents video training workshop. For details of video training for women email us broads@undercurrents.org
The Very Model of a Modern Labour Minister- (Flash for Cash/Claire Civil) 3mins Animated sing along with the Government about Identity cards!
I ain’t looking for your Sympathy -(Twiz Evans) - An inspiring documentary about how women are using many techniques to overcome disability. Filmed on location during the Women in Tune festival.
SCREENED AT: The Aeon Festival, August 201
‘You Must Be Choking’ - One of the first films that Undercurrents ever made, this documentary follows some activists on the M11 link road protest at Claremont Road. Historical and riveting stuff.
SCREENED AT: The Aeon Festival, August 2010
‘Bike 2 Oz’ – Bike2Oz is the epic adventure of a young school teacher and a train worker in Oxford. After teaching her pupils about globel warming, Lowanna decided she couldn’t risk damaging the climate by flying home to Australia. With her partner Kevin, the couple travel the 12,000km to Sydney using only sustainable transport – the train, bicycle and cargo ship.
SCREENED AT: The Aeon Festival, August 2010
See clips of some of these films and more at the Undercurrents website, where you can also buy DVDs and find links to some great projects. Watch this space for more opportunities to see some of these films on board the Vintage Mobile Cinema at other events in the future!
A History of North Devon in more than 100 years of film
A series of eight 20-minute archive films which are being screened at locations throughout North Devon and beyond. These include:
‘A Tale of Two Rivers’ – An enchanting look at the communities and lives of those who have lived and worked on the Taw & Torridge river estuary corridor. Features a host of charming old North Devonians, this has proved one of our most popular films.
‘The Beast, the Hunt, and the Harvest’ – A film beautifully compiled into a nostalgic journey through our agricultural heritage, set to the haunting sounds of local folk musician Chris Millington’s music.
‘Sootbombs and Blazing Barrels’ – This film was produced to celebrate almost 100 years of celebration along with the North Devon Festival. Contains some very weird and wonderful scenes of old North Devon customs.
‘Hippies and Hooligans’ – A look at youth culture in the South West over the years. Hilarious!
‘North of the River, South of the Sea’ – A compilation of material about the area around the key North Devon towns of Braunton and Ilfracombe, but with an appeal that stretches much further. From the railways in 1898 to the gales of 1989, this is a truly enchanting mixture.
‘From Hartland Point to Lundy Light’ – Produced in association with the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this film explores the highs and lows of the gem in North Devon’s crown – the coast. From shipwrecks to the arrival of the motor car, this is a beautiful and captivating film.
For details of where to catch these films, being screened FREE across North Devon until March 2011, see the Movie Bus website.