EIFF 10 (hair of the dog)

EIFF 09 was quite a year, it was my first time in Scotland, my first time showing a film made by myself and Alex Barrett at the film festival, I was there the night Michael Jackson died, I met many great people, fell in love with the city and saw the most diverse, most exciting range and some of the best films I had ever seen in one week, so EIFF 10 had alot to live up to...

On arrival, it all came back to me, the warmth of the delegate centre, welcomed by the lovely volunteers (the best people you'll meet at any film festival, as I've mentioned before) queuing for the computers and attending the hair of the dog (networking with plenty of drinks) My hostel turned out to be great, situated near the castle, with a 45 degree staircase to climb each night back to the my dorm. My room was entitled the underwear room and the bed I was sleeping in was entitled panties. (don't ask)

On my first evening, I relaxed and got into the mood for the week ahead (okay, okay, I was trying to find out where the party was) As I caught up with old friends, I eventually found out that the party for Saturday night was the ceilidh. which was my first time witnessing the famous dance, which I found a joy to watch and...I ate haggis, for the first time (I loved it!!!)

With my usual routine of partying into the night, sleeping little, waking up early, finding any spot to eat, the festival was in full swing and started with the film Cigarette girl, an interesting parellel story about libel laws in a world between two cross sections titled the smoking and non-smoking section, where cigarettes are sold on the black market. As I said all week at the festival...I've seen worse films...

As I go into the rest of the films, I shall give brief reviews of the films, until I decide which one deserves more attention...

Act of Dishonour, not very convincing, I felt no emotion to the story or cared much

Au revoir Taipei, a quirky, off beat, funny, entertaining, sweet, engaging, story

Kick off, not rememorable enough, but had some good photography and some good performances

Street Days, not very good

My son, my son, what have ye done? Unsual, strange, good story, enjoyable.

Kawasaki's Rose, I have no idea what this was...

Superhero me, very good for a first documentary, full of enthusiasm and passion for the subject, only one small ten minute section is dull and all in all, it could have been more fun, but edited well, Steve Sale has a great presence and the film deals with a subject relevent today.

The dry land, soppy, sad, not so engaging but Ryan O Nan and America Ferrera are very good, basically through, this is no Jacob's Ladder...

And so to A spanking in paradise produced by Andy Mass, whom I met at the festival last year, with a short film in competition. Spanking has many great things about it, Uncle Rab's (Simon Weir stories, told in long takes, lasting almost ten minutes, with hardly any cutting away at all. With an unusal setting in a brothel and a great array of characters, this was a film proud to be set in Edinburgh and was full of energy. Whilst the story is fast and made by a young crew of filmmakers with a young lead Andrew Hawley, who holds the film together well, the film has a surprisingly, relatively slow pace. The film was shot in only three weeks and finished just under a week before it was first shown at the press screening. I spoke to Andy about the next festival for the film, to which I heard something I have never heard before...

'Forget the next festival' he said, 'we're going to make the next film.' In fact, Andy penned out to me the next five projects that he and his crew were planning on making over the next few years. As I found this surprising, I also found it refreshing, that this group of filmmakers were not interested in looking back, only forward. I admire this, at their panel discussion talk, they spoke of the word development and how it can go on, as opposed to just going out and making the film.

So back to the list...I saw some great short films within the black box 2 section, put together this year again by the Kim Knowles, notably movement #1 and abstract? Other great shorts I enjoyed included Polish short Echo, Arnica, Barber's dozen, the poetic Ashura and the stunning Crook and the highlandman.

The 40 second animation, The tail gunner, short and sweet.

The final programme, psychedelic, fun, entertaining, iconic central performance by Jon Finch.

Long shot, film within a film type of thing.

Made...poetry of a endless time

The Days of Desire, whilst my friend and collaborator of the short film we had screened at EIFF 09 thought this was a masterpiece, I thought it was conventional, almost trying to be a Hollywood film, a film overpowered by music, amongst nice cinematography. The film does however, have a great central performance by Orsolya Schefcsik.

After seeing Postales, I spoke to the director, John Hyde, about something which intruged me. Most young, new, indie, hip, whatever you want to call it filmmakers, most of the time, deal with adult issues in their films, at an adult level. Postales however, has a very family feel to it, a sense that it was appealing to all. I can't remember if ever, I last saw a film like this calibre at a film festival. Josh's reaction was one of great interest, as he spoke of his immense detail and thought around making the film, including all the elements he looked into, in and around the film. The filmmkers were all great people and I look forward to seeing them again and indeed, viewing their next project.

And so to the film, which mostly blew me away...Police adjective, alot to say, or maybe nothing to say at all...with time, this could become one the greatest films I have ever seen, even though I didn't fully realise it whilst I was watching it. Nothing happens...the plot is shown to be complex to the audience, when it is in fact, so simple, a challenging, thought provoking, demanding, riveting, clever and powerful film from Romania. Purely incredible.

Until I had seen this, I felt quite disappointed with the array of films I had seen this week, nothing had really blew me away. Normally I go with the flow, take it easy, I don't read what the film is about, I think that's the best way. As the last day ended with me attending the 81/2 foundation screening, Mark Cousins and Tilda Swinton's new charity to inspire chidren at the age of 8 and a half with cinema, before we watched the magnificient the white balloon, Tilda ended with saying...

'Thank you so much for coming this afternoon, especially when you had absolutely no idea what was going to happen.'

And as they pointed out at the beginning of the screening, not knowing what you're about to see in cinema, that's what it's all about...

Positive tube strike guy (Remembering)

To the beautiful, lovely, sweet lady I met at the back of the 74 bus, on the second night of the tube strike, May 2009. You asked me when Marble Arch was the next stop, as the bus stood still in limbo.

Orange top, grey skirt, multi coloured belt, ginger blonde.

Laugher ensued us, the tube strike situation being the main topic of conversation.
I suggested you were having a great time, sitting on the crowded bus, going nowwhere fast.

We were both lucky to have seats...next to each other.

'It's different' a positive remark from you in regards to the strike situation.

4 hours of travelling a day it was costing you, in need of a bottle of wine later tonight

Wish you hadn't had got off the bus...

Remembering


Positive tube strike guy

11/6/09

26th in Hamburg, going on 27th and more

International, no budget, three minute quickies, what do all these words have in common? Whatever you're thinking, stop! They're all sections from the 26th international short film festival, which I was lucky enough to attend this year, in the wonderful town of Hamburg.

In town for a short film, made by myself and Alex Barrett, Paintbrush: The Epitaph received a welcome and warm reception, as I was offered a drink by the barman in the very characteristic Lichtmeb cinema, only to be told to put my money away, after being told it was a super film.


As I enjoyed the luscious weather walking around town, I carried my trusty map and most importantly, the pocket size film festival schedule. With an array of short films, in sections that included home grown Hamburg short films and German, the festival also offered a children's film festival, entitled the mo&friese, now in it's 12th year. Within this section, were films considered to be suitable for children, made by adult filmmakers and films made by children themselves. This being my first children's film festival, I would love to see more of them around the world, as I saw a collection of delicate, creative and well made films


To mention a couple, a film entitled Herzschmerz (Heartache) an animation made with lego by thirteen year old Lennart Dohle, a film which deals with two characters who share the same feelings of lost and loneliness. When Hildegard's handbag is stolen by a thief, new friend Tim is at hand to the following consequences that follow, with a story that carries many old tradition values. So moving, it's hard to write, let alone think about this film again as I was lucky enough to see it twice. Jeremy Philip's Milchzahm und silberhaar (Milk tooth and silver hair) deals with a grandfather's story of the past to his grandchild, thoughtout camerawork and an easy to follow story, made this a simple and effective film.


One of this year's special programmes was films from Thailand, which I was lucky enough to see one film from, shown in the opening ceremony. A very interesting piece, which may have been only the beginning for a great array of short films which I'll sadly never find out, the unfortunate and always way of life with so many great things to choose from, you can't have it all.



With my many hightlights of the week, around meeting wonderful people from around the world, filmmakers, team members of the festival, natives and of course the lovely volunteers, (whom I have always enjoy meeting at all film festivals, of which are some of the greatest people I am still lucky enough to have today in my life)



I now have to mention the open air night. Situated on the top floor of a car park, in the parameters of Rathaus and Willy Brandt-Strabe, unsual short films from the three minute quickies and of the past, were introduced and screeened in the heart of the city, with an astonishing view, food and two euros bottled beer. At the end of the night, people started to fold and carry their chairs. Me and Alex sat confused, as to whether the chairs were owned by each person or was a tradition that we were about to insult. Mixing into the crowd seemd the best bet as we we picked up our chairs and followed the crowd, as we all walked down the car ramp from the seventh floor, of the kitchsy entitled park deck kino. Never done that before!!! I'll never forget it. Here is a picture, courtesy of Simone Werder, whom we met going down the ramp.








Rather than make this whole article about only the film festival, I would like to mention my wonderful hosts, Steffen and Frajo, who welcomed me and made me feel at home in their apartment, greatly located in a lovely part of the city. To you both, Ich danke Ihnen!

The city of Hamburg I have fallen in love in, people ride their bikes like they're stirring sugar into their tea. As my flight flew in, ready to land, I could see how stunningly beautiful the city was and on arrival, it became even more gorgeous with it's amount of greenery, warm people, relaxed way of life, great venues, shops, bars and casual atmosphere. In Hamburg, I felt like people were enjoying their lives, taking it all for what it is, something I myself value and appreciate, it's nice to see.


And so...with an endless list of parties, a range of contacts, fond memories, many beers, quick meals, not much sleep, awards given out and some last minute dancing, the festival bittersweetly came to a close. But like the director of Camerimage once told me, as me and other friends sat around with miserable faces in the club, on the last night of festival, asking what was wrong. We told him with sadness, 'it's over.' Marek replied with joy and positivity, 'Don't worry, they'll be another camerimage next year' and so...they'll be another international Kurz film festival in Hamburg...




I'll be waiting...