Author Archives: Frostie

Edwina Currie, Ben Shephard go head-to-head to help young people cook

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The oven gloves are off as Edwina Currie and Ben Shephard go head-to-head to help young people master their signature dishes

 

Will Edwina’s Curry or Ben’s Shepherd’s Pie triumph in the
Red Tractor beef and lamb 5by25 challenge?

 

Celebrities Ben Shephard and Edwina Currie are hitting the road as part of the 5by25 campaign which calls for young people to master at least five simple dishes by the age of 25.  On 12th and 13th September, in an election-style campaign, Ben will be visiting southern England, whilst Edwina tours the north of England, in a bid to get young people up and down the country cooking and mastering their signature dishes.

 

Each celebrity is aiming to gain the biggest following for their dish by encouraging people to vote for their favourite via the campaign website www.5by25.com and by spreading the word through Facebook and Twitter.

 

TV presenter Ben Shephard will be visiting youth organisations and community centres in Southampton, Bristol and Watford, teaching young people to cook his very own version of the traditional Shepherd’s Pie.  Former politician, novelist and Strictly Come Dancing star Edwina Currie will be cooking her simple lamb curry – with her own special twist – in Wigan, Birmingham and Halifax, Yorkshire.

 

The young people taking part in the initiative are 16-25 years-olds currently involved with organisations around the country including The Prince’s Trust Fairbridge Programme, Kids Count, Food Positive, Southampton Voluntary Services and Focus on Food.  Each of these organisations have recognised how important learning to cook is as a life skill and that teaching the young, whatever their background or circumstance, is a key priority.  The organisations have been working with the Red Tractor beef and lamb 5by25 campaign to help make this happen.

 

Ben Shephard says: “I’m really looking forward to going on tour with 5by25 and, in the spirit of friendly competition, I am fired up about winning this challenge as I believe cooking is such a vital skill to learn.  More important than beating Edwina, success in this competition means ensuring young people master my simple shepherd’s pie and can cook the dish for their friends and family for years to come.”

 

Edwina Currie, novelist and Strictly Come Dancing star said: “All young people should have the choice to cook and feel empowered by the knowledge of how to select, prepare and cook simple dishes from fresh food. I can’t wait to get on the road and start teaching my delicious lamb curry to all the young people I will meet. Beating Ben aside, seeing my lamb curry become the champion dish means that young people across the country will learn the skills to cook from scratch and feel confident in the kitchen for years to come.”

 

The Red Tractor beef and lamb 5by25 campaign was launched in October 2011 after research revealed almost 60% of Britain’s 16-25 year-olds are leaving home without the ability to cook even a simple Spaghetti Bolognese.   The website is core to the campaign and contains a selection of simple but tasty recipes including Edwina’s Curry and Ben’s Shepherd’s Pie as well as guidance on selecting the best ingredients and food preparation.  Young people are encouraged to cook these simple meals from scratch and complete the ‘Master the Dish’ challenge.

 

Jane Ritchie-Smith, Head of Consumer Marketing at EBLEX, the organisation that founded the Red Tractor beef and lamb 5by25 campaign, said: “We’re very excited to have Ben Shephard and Edwina Currie involved in this year’s campaign which we hope will really boost the profile of 5by25.  It’s all about helping young people learn skills for life including time management, planning and self-sufficiency through cooking; but we’re hoping to have a bit of fun along the way as well!”

Nominations for 2013 FDM everywoman in Technology awards are open

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CALLING THE UK’S LEADING WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY

 

Nominations for 2013 FDM everywoman in Technology awards are open

 

Applications are being welcomed for the UK’s leading Awards scheme recognising the achievements of women working in IT. The 2013 FDM everywoman in Technology Awards were launched by the UK’s largest female business community, everywoman, in association with womenintechnology.co.uk  to recognise the achievements of women working in the sector and to encourage a pipeline of new talent who will become future industry leaders. FDM Group is partnering with everywoman for the first time in 2013, following the international IT service provider’s Chief Operating Officer, Sheila Flavell receiving the accolade of ‘Leader of the Year in a Corporate Organisation’ in last year’s Awards.

 

Currently there is a significant gender imbalance within the technology sector with females making up only 19% of ITC managers and only 14% of IT strategy and planning professionals*. However the GCSE results announced in August showed that more girls than ever are choosing science subjects, and a higher percentage are achieving grades A-C than their male counterparts, demonstrating that the tide may be turning in terms of the gender imbalance amongst future generations**.

 

This Awards programme, backed by industry leaders, aims to encourage women to see technology as a fast-moving, innovative sector where they can excel, as demonstrated by the role models unearthed since the programme’s launch in 2011.

 

The FDM everywoman in Technology Awards are free to enter and the 2013 categories include:

 

  • Rising Star of the Year – awarded to a woman under 26 who is excelling in her technology career and is the one to watch.

 

  • Team Leader of the Year in an SME (with under 500 employees) – awarded to a woman whose team leadership has greatly contributed to the organisation’s success.
  • Leader of the Year in a corporate organisation (with over 500 employees) – sponsored by Cisco – awarded to a women operating in a senior technology position making a contribution to the strategic direction of the business.
  • Innovator of the Year – sponsored by IET – The Institution of Engineering and Technology – awarded to a woman designing, developing, researching or implementing technology in an unconventional and innovative way.
  • Entrepreneur of the Year – awarded to an owner/operator of a technology business whose vision and talent will inspire others.
  • Inspiration of the Year – awarded to an individual (male or female) for their active commitment to encouraging, advancing or championing the progress of women working in technology.
  • Woman of the Year – sponsored by FDM Group – awarded to an exceptional woman whose vision, innovation and success makes her an outstanding role model for future generations.

 

Entries are open from 7 September 2012 until 19 November 2012 and full details are online at www.everywoman.com/techawards. 

 

Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of everywoman comments: “Technology has provided businesses of all sizes with the tools to thrive and succeed and is vital for the future growth of our economy. These awards celebrate the extraordinary talent in the sector and uncover the women who are excelling. We want to get the message out that IT offers diverse and creative opportunities, particularly to a new group of tech-savvy women that have grown up with consumer technology as part of their every-day lives. What’s more, those companies that nurture and develop their female talent are most likely to achieve success”.

 

Sheila Flavell, Chief Operating Officer and Founder Director of FDM Group states, “The FDM everywoman in Technology Awards are a fantastic platform to showcase and celebrate the efforts and successes of so many high-calibre women in such a male-dominated industry. We are delighted to be sponsoring the 2013 Awards and support everywoman in their determination to raise the profile of women in technology. Like everywoman, FDM is fully committed to helping more women further their careers and break through the ‘glass ceiling’.  At FDM, we are dedicated to supporting our female workforce and encouraging other women to pursue IT, and as a result we have seen the percentage of female staff increase to 23%, well above the 14.4% industry average.”

 

Maggie Berry, Managing Director of womenintechnology.co.uk adds: “Women currently only make up less than 20 per cent of the UK’s IT workforce so we are delighted to be working with everywoman again to uncover and celebrate some of the hidden female talent in the UK’s technology profession through the 2013 awards programme. We want to actively champion the women who are already doing great work in this sector and who, through these awards, will become inspirational role models for a future generation of female technologists.”

 

The awards programme will culminate in a glittering awards ceremony to be held on 19 March 2013 at The Savoy.

 

Twitter @everywomanUK – Hashtag – #ewtech

Joe McElderry set for a home run for Teenage Cancer Trust

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Joe McElderry will be taking part in the Great North Run for the third year running to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust.

 

Joe, who is the charity’s celebrity ambassador and North East Patron, completed last year’s 13.1 mile race in 1 hour and 40 minutes and smashed his fundraising target by raising over £10,000. All monies raised from sponsorship will go towards developing Teenage Cancer Trust services and facilities for young people diagnosed with cancer in the North East.

 

Joe, whose new album is out now, has been fitting in training around his packed schedule. He said, “Completing the Great North Run last year was such a great experience. The atmosphere was incredible and I was really happy with my time.”

 

Talking about Teenage Cancer Trust, he adds, “Teenage Cancer Trust is an absolutely amazing charity. Their units feel like home and really help to boost morale for the young people being treated there. Not only do they look great, but there is a real family atmosphere in the charity and I love that! With the help of my fans, I know we can raise loads of money to help young people fight cancer. Please help me to reach my target and donate £5 by texting JOE91 to 70500.*”

 

Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for the six young people aged between 13 and 24 diagnosed with cancer every day.  We build specialist units within NHS hospitals bringing young people together to be treated by teenage cancer experts in a place designed just for them.  We want every young person with cancer to have access to this specialist support, no matter where they live.

 

Traditionally treated alongside children or elderly patients at the end of their lives, young people can feel extremely isolated during treatment, some never meeting another young person with cancer.  Being treated alongside others their own age can make a huge difference to their whole experience.  There are currently 22 Teenage Cancer Trust units across the country, including two in Newcastle – both of which Joe helped to officially open.

 

Teenage Cancer Trust also educates young people and health professionals about cancer to ensure a swift diagnosis and referral to specialist support.  Cancer in young people is rare but we want young people to know the common signs and symptoms so they can seek medical advice if they are worried.

 

There are over 90 runners in Teenage Cancer Trust’s Team this year, and their cheering squad will be based at Simonside Youth Centre, between miles 8 and 9 from 10am on the morning of the race. To get involved, email Emily.fitzwater@teenagecancertrust.org or call 020 7612 0720.

 

* Please text JOE91 to 70500 to donate £5 and help Joe raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust. The charity will receive 100% of every donation

https://www.justgiving.com/Joe-McElderry0

 

 

For more information about Teenage Cancer Trust visit www.teenagecancertrust.org

Michael Fassbender and Domhnall Gleeson to star in Frank

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Michael Fassbender (12 Years A Slave, Prometheus, Shame) and Domhnall Gleeson (True Grit, Harry Potter, Anna Karenina) are attached to star in Lenny Abrahamson’s next project Frank. Frank is written by Jon Ronson (The Men Who Stare at Goats) and Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Men Who Stare At Goats) and has been developed by Film4 who will also co-finance the film with the Irish Film Board.

Frank is a comedy about a young wannabe musician, Jon (Gleeson), who discovers he’s bitten off more than he can chew when he joins an eccentric pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank (Fassbender).

The film is a co-production between Runaway Fridge and Element Pictures and will be produced by David Barron, Ed Guiney and Stevie Lee. Exec producers for Film4 are Tessa Ross and Katherine Butler and for Element Pictures, Andrew Lowe.

Protagonist Pictures are handling international sales. Abrahamson’s current film What Richard Did will premiere in Toronto 2012, and is also being handled by Protagonist Pictures.

Fassbender, who won Best Actor in Venice in 2011 for his performance in Steve McQueen’s Shame, is currently shooting Ridley Scott’s The Counselor alongside Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz, while Domhnall Gleeson recently finished shooting Richard Curtis’ new comedy About Time, and was recently named as one of Variety’s ’10 Actors to Watch’.

Abrahamson’s past features include Garage, which won the CICAE Cinema Prize at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes 2007, and Adam & Paul which played at the Berlinale Panorama in 2004 and won Best Director award at the Irish Film and TV Awards.

Frank is scheduled to commence principal photography late 2012.

Celebrities, Royalty and Olympians Gather at Exclusive Launch of New Range Rover

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Iconic British car-maker Land Rover reveals their new model to the world via a dramatic event in London.

A star-studded guest list of rock stars, royalty, celebrities & Olympians gathered in West London to celebrate the global debut of the All-New Range Rover – the fourth generation of the iconic Range Rover line.

Rock legend Mark Knopfler entertained an audience of almost 500 VIP guests – including Olympians Zara Phillips and Greg Rutherford, as well as Sir Ranulph Fiennes, model David Gandy, and comedian Jimmy Carr – at the exclusive launch event held at The Royal Ballet School in Richmond, London.

The world’s first SUV with a lightweight all-aluminium body structure, the All-New Range Rover is the ultimate luxury SUV, following the innovative spirit of the original design from over 40 years ago.

With order books now officially open and sales scheduled to start in late 2012, the all-new Range Rover will be introduced in 170 markets worldwide.

Designed and engineered at Land Rover’s development centres in the UK, the new Range Rover will be produced in a state-of-the-art new low-energy manufacturing facility at Solihull, UK. Over £370million has been invested in the Solihull plant to create the world’s largest aluminium body shop.

Shackleton Epic Offers Antarctic “Adventure of a Lifetime” For Ten Explorers

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SHACKLETON EPIC OFFERS ANTARCTIC ‘ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME’ FOR TEN INTREPID EXPLORERS – BERTHS ON SALE FRI 7 SEPT

Ten travellers with an insatiable thirst for adventure – and £19,025 to spend – are being offered the chance to follow in the footsteps of legendary British explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton by joining an epic 56-day Antarctic expedition to mark the centenary of his remarkable 1916 polar voyage.

The Shackleton Epic, which will be led by veteran British/Australian explorer Tim Jarvis, aims to be the first expedition to authentically recreate Shackleton’s incredible 800-mile nautical voyage across the Southern Ocean from Elephant Island to South Georgia, and his subsequent crossing of the island’s mountains, using a replica lifeboat and only the equipment that was available to Shackleton at the time.

Global adventure and sustainable travel company, Intrepid Travel is the presenting partner for the expedition and is offering ten fearless explorers the adventure of a lifetime as crew on the TS Pelican, a tall ship similar to Shackleton’s Endurance which will be the official support vessel for the voyage.

The expedition sets sail from Punta Arenas, Chile on January 3, 2013 and is expected to reach its final destination of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil late in February. The lucky few that secure a berth on the TS Pelican will have the opportunity to help sail the vessel, gain navigational skills, learn about the Antarctic’s geography and wildlife, assist with environmental monitoring and follow the internationally recognised Shackleton’s Way leadership programme.

Just ten berths are available to the public and they will go on sale at www.shackletonepic.com at 12:00 British Summer Time on Friday, September 7. Interested explorers can contact Intrepid on shackleton@intrepidtravel.com or 0800 781 1660 for more information, or contact their travel agent*.

The voyage is taking place to honour Shackleton’s remarkable survival feat against the odds and to raise awareness of environmental changes and the need to protect the Antarctic. The expedition will raise funds for Flora and Fauna International to support its biodiversity conservation programmes.

Intrepid Travel’s Co-founder and Managing Director, Geoff Manchester said, “Intrepid Travel is proud to be the presenting partner for the Shackleton Epic, as it brings together two things we firmly believe in: a spirit of fearless exploration and a commitment to protecting our natural environment.

“Antarctica has attracted its fair share of explorers, but the heroic accomplishment of Shackleton and his crew stands out, not for flag-planting but for the endurance and hope that they showed in the face of obstacles that seemed insurmountable,” he added.

Tim Jarvis, leader of the Shackleton Epic expedition said: “A berth on the TS Pelican as part of the Shackleton Epic is absolutely the stuff of childhood dreams. We are thrilled that members of the public will be able to participate in this historic re-enactment voyage.”

Join celebrity hair stylist Errol Douglas at nutritional wellbeing event, beat hair loss

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Join celebrity hair stylist Errol Douglas at nutritional wellbeing event and beat hair loss blues. Frost Magazine has nine tickets to giveaway! Just follow us on Twitter and Tweet: “I want to go to Alive2Life wellness event with @Frostmag”

Black and Brown is hosting an Alive2Life wellness event in advance of October’s Lupus Awareness Month

Nutrition and what goes into the body often has an impact on what comes out, including hair growth. Food Doctor’s Anne-France Rix and award winning hairstylist Errol Douglas will be appearing on Saturday 15th September at the Alive2Life event, offering helpful advice about styling options for people experiencing hair loss caused by illnesses such as Lupus. Taking place at the De Vere conference centre, in Canary Wharf, the holistic event will promote healthy wellbeing and is the brainchild of Stephanie Jarrett, 26, who developed extreme reactions to her usual body products, after being diagnosed with Lupus in 2008.

Errol Douglas, hair stylist says, ‘I’m passionate about the role my industry plays in contributing to confidence in both men and women through the right cut, style and look for the individual. Everybody has their own look, and I love being part of my clients discovering what works for them…and rocking it!’

Stephanie Jarrett, organiser of the Alive2Life event reveals, ‘At it’s worst, I found that my skin and scalp were suddenly so sensitive to products that I’d been using for years, and the resulting soreness and hair loss were really devastating. This led me to found Black and Brown, sourcing natural and organic products, free of harmful ingredients to help others in the same position.’

Errol Douglas will host a Q&A session and encourages readers to submit their hair loss styling questions via Facebook or online, for a chance to win free tickets.

The specialists will be in good company, as an outstanding panel of experts will also be on hand to impart their collective wisdom at theAlive2Life event. Speakers from a multitude of industries ranging from skin care’s Lucy O’Brien to trichology with the Philip Kingsley Clinic’s Glenn Lyons, who will also be in attendance.

For more information about the event visit www.alive2life.co.uk

56th BFI London Film Festival: What’s On

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The programme for the 56th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express launched today under the new creative leadership of BFI’s Head of Exhibition and Festival Director, Clare Stewart, bringing a rich and diverse programme of international films and events from both established and upcoming talent over a 12 day celebration of cinema. The Festival will screen a total of 225 fiction and documentary features, including 14 World Premieres, 15 International Premieres and 34 European Premieres. There will also be screenings of 111 live action and animated shorts. A stellar line-up of directors, cast and crew are expected to take part in career interviews, master classes, and other special events. The 56th BFI London Film Festival will run from 10-21 October 2012.

This year sees the introduction of several changes to the Festival’s format. Now taking place over 12 days, the Festival expands further from its traditional Leicester Square cinemas – Odeon West End, Vue West End, Odeon Leicester Square and Empire – and the BFI Southbank to include four additional new venues – Hackney Picturehouse, Renoir, Everyman Screen on the Green and Rich Mix, which join existing London venues the ICA, Curzon Mayfair, Ritzy Brixton and Ciné Lumière.

GALAS

The Festival opens with the European Premiere of Tim Burton’s 3D animation FRANKENWEENIE, whilst Mike Newell’s visually stunning adaptation of GREAT EXPECTATIONS, starring Helena Bonham Carter and Ralph Fiennes will close the Festival, with key talent from both films expected to attend. Among the highly anticipated Galas is the American Express Gala World Premiere of CROSSFIRE HURRICANE, a documentary celebrating 50 years of rock legendsThe Rolling Stones who are also expected to attend the Festival. For the first time this year both the Opening Night Gala and the American Express Gala red carpet events and screenings will be screened simultaneously to cinemas across the UK. Other Galas include the American Airlines Gala of Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut, QUARTET, featuring an outstanding British cast including Dame Maggie Smith, Billy Connolly and Michael Gambon; and Ben Affleck directs and stars in the Accenture Gala presentation of political thriller ARGO which he also produced with George Clooney. British film directors making their mark this year include Paul Andrew Williams with London-based comedy drama, SONG FOR MARION, which screens as The Mayfair Hotel Gala and features a sterling cast headed by Vanessa Redgrave, Terence Stamp, Gemma Arterton and Christopher Eccleston; and Roger Michell, whose HYDE PARK ON HUDSON is the Centrepiece Gala supported by the Mayor of London, stars Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Olivia Colman and Olivia Williams and is set on the eve of WWII when the King and Queen of England make a visit to see Franklin D Roosevelt in upstate New York. Nintendo Gala THE SAPPHIRES, is an inspirational Australian musical comedy set in the 60s starring comic man of the moment Chris O’Dowd, who appears alongside Australian Idol star Jessica Mauboy; and THE SESSIONS, is a moving drama, based on a true story with superb performances from John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and William H. Macy.

AWARDS AND COMPETITIONS

The BFI London Film Festival Awards have undergone a significant change this year by introducing competitive sections that are given much more prominence in the Festival campaign and programme. The Best Film Award in partnership with American Express; the Sutherland Award for Best First Feature and the Grierson Award for Best Documentary will now be presented to the winning films from three programme sections: Official Competition, First Feature Competition and Documentary Competition. Each section is open to international and British films and 12 films have been shortlisted for each Competition.

Official Competition

The inaugural Official Competition line-up, recognising inspiring, inventive and distinctive filmmaking, includes four European premieres:

· Michael Winterbottom’s EVERYDAY

· Sally Potter’s Ginger and Rosa

· Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children

· Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths

Together with UK premieres of

· Michel Franco’s After Lucia

· David Ayer’s End of Watch

· Rama Burshtein’s Fill the Void

· Daniele Ciprì’s It Was the Son

· François Ozon’s In the House

· Cate Shortland’s Lore

· Pablo Larraín’s No

· Jacques Audiard’s Rust and Bone

Titles in consideration for the First Feature Competition recognising an original and imaginative directorial debut are:

3 European premieres

· Masaaki Akahori’s The Samurai that Night

· Anand Gandhi’s Ship of Theseus

· Barry Berk’s Sleeper’s Wake

and 9 UK premieres

· Benh Zeitlin’s Beasts of the Southern Wild

· Tom Shkolnik’s The Comedian

· Maja Miloš’ Clip

· Gabriela Pichler’s Eat Sleep Die

· Sally El Hosaini’s My Brother the Devil

· Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Neighbouring Sounds

· Scott Graham’s Shell

· Andrey Gryazev’s Tomorrow

· Haifaa Al Mansour’s Wadjda

In the Documentary Competition category, in partnership with the Grierson Trust, recognising documentaries with integrity, originality, and social or cultural significance, the Festival is screening:

4 World Premieres

· Charlie Paul’s For No Good Reason

· Nick Ryan’s The Summit

· Sarah Gavron’s Village at the End of the World

· Greg Olliver’s Turned Towards the Sun

1 International Premiere

· Sébastien Lifshitz’s Les Invisibles

4 European Premieres

· Jay Bulger’s Beware of Mr Baker

· Shola Lynch’s Free Angela and All Political Prisoners

· Alex Gibney’s Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God

· Amy Berg’s West of Memphis

3 UK Premieres

· Katja Gauriloff’s Canned Dreams

· Ken Burns, David McMahon and Sarah Burns’ The Central Park Five

· Ulises Rosell’s The Ethnographer

Closing the Awards section is the prize for Best British Newcomer, in partnership with Swarovski, which highlights new British talent and is presented to an emerging writer, actor, producer or director. The recipient of this prize will also receive a £5,000 bursary, courtesy of Swarovski.

This year’s nominees are:

1. Rowan Athale – director/screenwriter Wasteland

2. Sally El Hosaini – director/screenwriter My Brother the Devil

3. Fady Elsayed – actor My Brother the Devil

4. Scott Graham – director/screenwriter Shell

5. Eloise Laurence – actor Broken

6. Rufus Norris – director Broken

7. Chloe Pirrie actor Shell

8. Tom Shkolnik – director/screenwriter The Comedian

STRANDS / PATHWAYS

This year significant changes have been made to the structure of the Festival programme with new focused categories that are clustered around the themes of Love, Debate, Dare, Laugh, Thrill, Cult, Journey, Sonic and Family. With over 200 features screened during the Festival this new approach is designed to help Festival goers find the films that mean the most to them and to open up entry points for new audiences.

LOVE

Sweet, passionate, tough – LOVE is a complex and many splendoured thing.

The Love Gala is Michael Haneke’s Cannes Palme d’Or winner AMOUR, with Haneke making a welcome return to the Festival this year.

Other titles in this section include: BROKEN starring Tim Roth and Cillian Murphy; Ira Sachs’ KEEP THE LIGHTS ON; Xavier Dolan’s LAURENCE ANYWAYS; Liz Garbus’ documentary tribute to Marilyn Monroe LOVE, MARILYN; ROBOT AND FRANK starring Frank Langella and Susan Sarandon, and Ursula Meier’s SISTER with Léa Seydoux and Gillian Anderson.

DEBATE

Riveting films that amplify, scrutinise, argue and surprise screen in the DEBATE section and this year’s Gala is the European Premiere of THE PERVERT’S GUIDE TO IDEOLOGY an absorbing documentary sequel to THE PERVERT’S GUIDE TO CINEMA from Sophie Fiennes featuring renegade philosopher and bionic cineaste Slavoj Žižek who also takes part in an ‘In Conversation’ event during the Festival.

Other highlights in this section include Marco Bellocchio’s DORMANT BEAUTY featuring Toni Servillo and Isabelle Huppert, Thomas Vinterberg’s THE HUNT featuring Mads Mikkelsen’s Cannes award-winning performance, and the European Premiere of ZAYTOUN.

DARE

In-your-face, up-front and arresting, the films in DARE will take audiences out of their comfort zone. The Dare Gala is Mira Nair’s Venice-opener THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST, starring Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland, Riz Ahmed and Liev Schreiber.

Other highlights in this strand include: the European Premiere of HELTER SKELTER featuring Japanese supermodel Erika Sawajiri, the World Premiere of KELLY + VICTOR Kieran Evans’ adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Niall Griffiths, and the International Premiere of Antonio Campos’ SIMON KILLER, Carlos Reygadas’ Cannes-winner POST TENEBRAS LUX, Pablo Trapero’s gripping and intelligent drama, WHITE ELEPHANT, and Sergei Loznitsa’s critically celebrated IN THE FOG.


LAUGH

From laugh out loud through romantic comedy to dry and understated – humour in all its forms can be seen in the LAUGH section. A romantic caravan trip quickly descends into chaos when a young couple’s dream holiday takes a wrong turn in acclaimed British director Ben Wheatley’s dark comedy SIGHTSEERS which has its UK premiere as the Laugh Gala.

Other titles in this strand include the International Premiere of Bollywood-meets-Tollywood Amelie style AIYYA, the UK Premiere of romantic comedy CELESTE AND JESSE FOREVER starring Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg and the European Premiere of Stephen Gyllenhaal’s GRASSROOTS, and the International Premiere of Australian cricketing ‘bro’mantic comedy SAVE YOUR LEGS!

THRILL

The films in THRILL are nerve shredders that will get the adrenalin pumping and keep audiences on the edge of their seat; The Gala presentation for this section is the World Premiere of Bollywood action epic CHAKRAVYUH, directed by Prakash Jha who will be attending the Festival.

Other highlights in this section include: controversial Sundance hit COMPLIANCE, Nordic Noir double bill of EASY MONEY and its sequel; the Berlin Golden Bear winner CAESAR MUST DIE and Korean box office smash NAMELESS GANGSTER: RULES OF THE TIME.


CULT

The CULT section features films from the mind-altering and unclassifiable, to fantasy, sci-fi and horror. The Cult Gala is the European Premiere of A LIAR’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY chronicling the life of Monty Python’s Graham Chapman through multiple animation styles and featuring Chapman’s fellow Pythons in the voice cast.

Other highlights in this section include: ANTIVIRAL, the feature film debut of Brandon Cronenberg; the International Premiere of Actress Katie Aselton’s directorial outing, the survival horror BLACK ROCK; Japanese maestro Takashi Miike’s FOR LOVE’S SAKE and Juan Carlos Medina’s fantasy horror PAINLESS, along with documentaries MY AMITYVILLE HORROR, THE JEFFREY DAHMER FILES, and ROOM 237.

JOURNEY

Whether it’s the journey or the destination, the films in JOURNEY will transport and shift perspectives.

Celebrated Romanian director Cristian Mungiu returns to the Festival with BEYOND THE HILLS screening as the Journey Gala . The film won Best Screenplay at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, where actresses Cristina Flutur and Cosmina Stratan also shared best actress award.

Other titles in this strand include: riveting Moroccan drama HORSES OF GOD, Raymond Depardon and Claudine Nougaret’s documentary JOURNAL DE FRANCE, Jem Cohen’s MUSEUM HOURS, Michel Gondry’s THE WE AND THE I and the World Premiere of Marc Isaac’s new documentary about the A5 –THE ROAD: A STORY OF LIFE AND DEATH

SONIC

Music inspired films and events that will have audiences dancing in the aisles can be discovered in SONIC.

Highlights in the Sonic screening programme include Mat Whitecross’ coming-of-age story SPIKE ISLAND about an Indie band of 1990 vintage, who are determined to see their heroes The Stone Roses; GOOD VIBRATIONS, the biopic of Terri Hooley, Belfast’s Godfather of Punk, which was declared the best Irish film at Galway Film Fleadh earlier this year; and world music is represented with films from Africa and Chile, KINSHASA KIDS and VIOLETA WENT TO HEAVEN.

The Festival is delighted to include two popular events from the year-round programme at BFI Southbank for the first time – BUG and Sonic Cinema, both celebrating the links between music and film. Sonic Cinema presentations include a focus on the Sigur Ros Valtari Mystery Film Experiment featuring premieres of new clips and, in celebration of Warp Films’ 10th Birthday, a special presentation of Shane Meadow’s THIS IS ENGLAND screening with a live score from composer Ludovico Einaudiand and musician Gavin Clark. Regular BUG host Adam Buxton will present a special artist focus with talent to be announced.

FAMILY

The Festival showcases films for all ages in its FAMILY section and this year’s Family Gala is ERNEST & CELESTINE, the delightful animated story of an unlikely friendship between a bear and a mouse from the directors of A TOWN CALLED PANIC. In addition to Opening Night Gala FRANKENWEENIE, there are five other animated features screening in the Festival as well as an animated shorts programme. Three of the family features are hand-drawn films from France, and WOLF CHILDREN is the new hotly anticipated animated title from Japanese director Mamoru Hosoda.

SHORTS

An original and innovative line-up of short films and animation that will enthral audiences young and old make up this year’s SHORTS programme including a dedicated section for younger audiences. Animated shorts for children include THE SANDPIXIES: DA CAPO GEORGE, THE MISSING MEATBALLS and I WANT TO SEE DWARFS.

Short film compilation programmes include Crime & Punishment with films featuring criminals, their actions and the consequences; Blood is Thicker Than Water with films examining interactions and relationships between friends, lovers and families and Obsessive and Compulsive with films that examine far-from-healthy obsessions.

Once again the London Calling section features a selection of shorts from budding filmmakers from across the capital and this year student films from some of the UK’s best film schools will be showcased in Back to School

These short films feature a host of well known faces including: Alison Steadman, Ralf Little, Tom Hollander, Martin Freeman, Stephen Graham and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

EXPERIMENTA

This year’s the Festival will present its largest ever series of artists moving image programmes, culminating in the annual EXPERIMENTA Weekend from 19-21 October 2012. In collaboration with the ICA, the Festival will also present several screenings of artists’ films to coincide with the Frieze Art Fair, from 10-13 October 2012. Peter Kubelka’s new work ANTIPHON will screen with ARNULF RAINER in an expanded projection event – Monument Film. Both films will be physically installed on the walls of the BFI Southbank Atrium for the duration of the Festival. The extraordinary presentation of Monument Film in the NFT1 cinema forms the centrepiece of an Experimenta Weekend which is full of outstanding visions. Thom Andersen, Nathaniel Dorsky and Laida Lertxundi return with new films, whilst Mati Diop introduces her award-winning work in London for the first time, and Beatrice Gibson premieres THE TIGER’S MIND.

TREASURES

Treasures brings recently restored cinematic treasures from archives around the world to the Festival.

This year’s previously announced Archive Gala is the World Premiere of the restoration of Alfred Hitchcock’s THE MANXMAN at the Empire Leicester Square with a live accompaniment by Stephen Horne. The Gala marks the grand finale of the BFI’s The Genius of Hitchcock project which commenced in June 2012 and is currently screening at BFI Southbank.

Digital restoration can have spectacular results, as shown in, David Lean’s LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, the full length director’s cut of the brand new 4K digital restoration which will premiere at the NFT1 showcasing BFI Southbank’s new 4K projector for the first time. The screening will be accompanied by a presentation from Grover Crisp, who will give a talk about the restoration work. Sir Laurence Olivier’s iconic RICHARD III also benefits from a fully restored print which will be screened at the Festival. Other highlights include silent movie THE SPANISH DANCER, a lavish costume romp with a live piano accompaniment; the BFI-backed revival of Roman Polanski’s TESS; a newly made documentary BERGMAN & MAGNANI:THE WAR OF VOLCANOES screening alongside a restoration of Roberto Rossellini’s VIAGGIO IN ITALIA and the latest restoration by Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Foundation, AFTER THE CURFEW which is a political commentary on what happened after Indonesia was liberated from Dutch occupation.

EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS

The EVENTS programme features the highly anticipated Screen Talks and Masterclasses.

This year’s Screen Talks in partnership with American Express, includes celebrated author Salman Rushdie whose adaptation of his own novel MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN screens in Official Competition and Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney who is at the Festival with his new film MEA MAXIMA CULPA: SILENCE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD in Documentary Competition.

The Masterclasses, presented in partnership with Swarovski, feature leading music supervisor Ian Neil (SPIKE ISLAND) and production design team David Wasco and Sandy Reynolds-Wasco who designed Martin McDonagh’s SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS. Time Out continues to support the free access ‘In Focus’ events, which this year sees four events with a focus on British Cinema.

The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition supported by American Express is taking place at the Festival Village, Southbank Centre. In addition, the Festival is proud to be working alongside the V&A’s major autumn exhibition Hollywood Costume with two events celebrating the role of costume on film and featuring the exhibition’s senior curator, the Academy Award- nominated costume designer Deborah Nadoolman Landis.

The Festival will announce its complete guest line-up in early October.