Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

St Albans’ first ever Film Festival hopes to reel in the next Kubrick

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St Albans’ first ever Film Festival hopes to reel in the next Kubrick
St Albans will be hosting its first annual film festival from 8th– 10th March 2013.
The Festival programme will feature talks, workshops, parties and a short-film competition, with thousands of pounds up for grabs. The festival is already attracting interest from around the globe. Filmmakers from as far as Australia, Singapore,
Greece & USA have submitted their work along with entries from around the UK.
The festival is currently OPEN for submissions until the end of December 2012 and Filmmakers of any age
(including children filmmakers) can enter their short film into one or more of six categories:
Main Short Film – Top quality, slick shorts.
Student Film – Made by a student of any age from 5 to 95. We will be splitting this award in 2 and giving a prize
to the best child filmmaker and one to the best over age 16 filmmaker.
Music Video – Any Music Genre accepted.
Documentary – inspiring short docs
Children’s Film – U Certificate films for family audiences. Eg: Animations!
Over 18s Films – Something for the grown-ups! Horror, Erotica, War etc..
The city’s Roman heritage has made St Albans a popular location with film-makers, directors and actors. It is
just 20mins by train from London and close to some of the most prestigious film studios in the
world: Pinewood (Superman, James Bond); Elstree (Star Wars, Indiana Jones); and also Leavesden (Harry
Potter). Tom Cruise is currently filming his new movie with Emily Blunt, All You Need is Kill, in the area, and,
as was widely reported, Cruise is so at home in St Albans he recently took his entourage with him when he
popped out for a curry at a local Indian restaurant!
St Albans’ rich film-making history goes way back. Arthur Melbourne-Cooper – the pioneer of moving pictures
– was born in the City, and the much celebrated film director Stanley Kubrick came to settle in the area, where
he created some of his most famous work. Kubrick’s manor was used as a nerve centre for his film
productions. The Shining was finished there, and Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut were started and
completed there.
Interested filmmakers can submit their work via the festival websitewww.stalbansfilmfestival.com and each
entry costs £20. Selected films will be showcased in the festival and the best film in each category will win a
cash prize of £500. There will also be a cash prize for the best performance by an actor or actress in the
festival, sponsored by Top Talent Acting Agency.
Festival Director, Leoni Kibbey, says: “I really want this festival to demonstrate how important St Albans has
been and is, in the UK film industry. It will encourage talented filmmakers in the area to make films and show
them to a live audience and will contribute to the cultural consciousness of this historic city. Both local
residents and visitors alike will get the chance to sample some exciting, original films, and we may even find
our new Kubrick! The Festival will put St Albans on the filmmaking map.”
More information regarding venues and judges will be announced in the coming weeks.
“The best thing that young filmmakers should do is to get hold of a camera and some film and
make a movie of any kind at all.” STANLEY KUBRICK

 

The Hunt | Film Review

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Watching a film about a kindergarden teacher who is falsely accused of child abuse may not be seen as the most enjoyable way to spend your time, but this film by Thomas Vinterberg is an absolutely stunning piece of cinema. I was emotionally involved all the way through the film.

Working from a brilliant script – which he co-wrote- Thomas Vinterberg has created a riveting film. They say a lie can get all the way around the world by the time the truth has put its shoes on, and this film proves the point. It is a film of consequence and lies. Mads Mikkelsen – the Bond villain in Casino Royale- shows his full range as an actor, in a performance that deserves an Oscar nomination. In fact, the entire film has “Oscar’ written all over it. This film might signify the start of a wave of Danish films.

Mikkelsen plays Lucas, a kindergarden teacher who is falsely accused of child abuse after rejecting a little girl’s advances. Mass hysteria ensues even though there is no evidence. Lucas losses everything, but will the truth will out?

This film is called The Hunt for two reasons: one, it has hunting in it. The hunting and gun use is shown responsibly (or so my companion, who knows about guns, told me) and two, the witchhunt that ruins an innocent man’s life.

Beautifully shot with a film that has laughs in it despite the subject matter, The Hunt is one of the best foreign film I have ever seen.

Director:

Thomas Vinterberg
Writers:
Thomas Vinterberg, Tobias Lindholm

Stars:
Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen and Annika Wedderkopp

 

What Happened to Kerouac? | Film Review

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WHAT HAPPENED TO KEROUAC?

A unique insight into the King of the Beat Generation

Out Now.

 

I read On The Road years ago and a biography on Jack Kerouac. He was definitely a talented writer and I have found it depressing lately that some people don’t know who Kerouac was. That should all change soon when the ‘unfilmable’ On The Road hits our screens this month.
This documentary has access to all of the main people who surrounded Kerouac and were themselves part of the Beat movement. In fact,, one of the reasons this documentary is a success is the amount of access the filmmaker got to the people in Kerouac’s life, including his daughter and ex-wife. It paint a full, comprehensive and entertaining insight in Jack Kerouac’s life.
There is also home movie footage and Kerouac’s appearances on the Steve Allen show. This documentary is a brilliant insight into the historical and artistic time of the beat generation. A great snapshot of history and a must-see.
Jack Kerouac is a cultural icon whose influence is still felt around the world 42 years after his death, not least
with the upcoming film adaptation of his most famous book, ‘On The Road’ starring Sam Riley and Kristen
Stewart. The key protagonists of the Beat Generation are also the subject ‘Kill Your Darlings’, due for release
in 2013, in which Kerouac is played by Jack Huston and Daniel Radcliffe stars as Allen Ginsberg.
Those wishing to know more about this iconic writer need look no further than What Happened To Kerouac?,
an illuminating tribute to the King of the Beat Generation as told by the writer’s contemporaries, friends and
family and by Kerouac himself. This new double disc DVD edition offers a re-mastered version of the original
film and also contains over two hours of additional material including never before seen interviews. What
Happened to Kerouac? is released by 3DD Productions.

 

With contributions from fellow Beat writers including Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso and William Burroughs
and family members including Kerouac’s ex-wife Edie and his daughter Jan, What Happened To Kerouac?
offers an honest and engaging portrayal of an extraordinary talent through a series of vivid vignettes and
anecdotes that reveal what happened when fame and notoriety were thrust upon an essentially reticent man.
The new 2-disc edition of What Happened to Kerouac? also features ‘The Beat Goes On’, a collection of
interviews that delve deeper into Kerouac’s character including previously unreleased full length interviews
with Abbie Hoffman, Timothy Leary, Michael McClure and Paul Krassner.
Home movie footage and excerpts from Kerouac’s unforgettable appearances on the Steve Allen (1959) and
William Buckley (1968) TV shows are intermingled with captivating recordings of Kerouac reading from some
of his best loved works including On The Road, Mexico City Blues and Doctor Sax. The result is an enlightening
appreciation of Kerouac’s character and of his contribution to modern literature.
“99% pure genius
Kerouac”
Allen Ginsberg
“It brings us closer
to Kerouac than any
other film”
Los Angeles Times
“Abounds in insights
about a writer who
laboured a decade to
attain success and
then spent a decade
being ruined by it”
New York Times

 

Elizabeth Hurley, Van Morrison join other celebs for Cheltenham Fashion Week finale

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Cheltenham Fashion Week has welcomed high flyers, glitterati and celebrities to Cowley Manor VIP event ‘For One Night Only’.

Celebrity names such as actress and Hop, Skip and Jump President Elizabeth Hurley, singer
Van Morrisson, actress Lisa Maxwell, cricketer Shane Warne, designer Selina Blow and
Embarrassing Bodies’ Dawn Harper are just some of the high profile attendees that headed
down the red carpet of the glamorous event and watched a high fashion runway show.

Speaking ahead of the event Elizabeth Hurley, who is attending in her capacity of President of Hop, Skip and Jump, said: “The Cheltenham Fashion Week One Night Only event is being held in aid of Hop, Skip and Jump. This is a charity that gives a unique and vital service to the many families who have children with additional needs so it is absolutely right that we should be together gathering support for them during this special week for Cheltenham. Until I met up with Hop, Skip and Jump I had not realised the enormous need for a place which gives flexible day respite to the many families who have children and young adults with additional needs. The change in people’s lives through this unique provision is truly remarkable.”

On arrival at the luxury boutique hotel guests were greeted with a Champagne reception, followed by a sumptuous three course supper and wine. Guests also received a VIP goodie bag filled with lavish treats.

The event was a complete sell-out. The A-list event treated guests to an evening of fine dining, music and glamorous fashion showcasing new and established couture designers from all over the UK.

Winning pieces from the earlier Student Shows also featured alongside the Couture Show.

Photo credit: Spencer McPherson

Oddities on the Southbank

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When I am super busy I love to have snacks in my bag. Especially as I am one of those people who tend to get grumpy when I don’t eat. I am covering both the Raindance Film Festivals and the London Film Festival so there is not much time to eat or even relax at the moment.

So it was quite blissful today when I took some time out today on the Southbank and recharged with some Oddities. The weather might not be brilliant but the view still makes up for it.

Oddities are cool savoury baked snacks that come in odd, fun shapes. Oddities come in Smoky Bacon and Cheese flavour. They are a great alternative to other snack things that you can have on the go. They are also much healthier than crisps and cereal bars and don’t have any artificial flavours or colours, They also come in sharing bags if you are not on the go. To find out more go here: Oddities

Sponsored Post.

JAMIE LAING RECRUITS NEW CANDY KITTEN

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Jamie Laing, entrepreneur and star of Channel 4’s hit show “Made in Chelsea”, has ventured into the world of racehorse ownership as co-founder of The Candy Kittens Racing Club.

The Racing Club is just one within the Celebrity Race Clubs portfolio, offering customers the chance to mingle with their favourite celebrities while experiencing what it is like to own their own racehorse. Each group has a racehorse running under its name and in its colours and membership can cost as little as £10 per month, offering exciting opportunities to go behind-the-scenes of the sport, as well as enjoy some top on-track action.

The Candy Kittens racehorse has been named by Jamie after his brainchild sweet shop, Candy Kitten, which opened this May in London. The two year old filly is trained by Alastair Lidderdale, in Lambourn, and is due to make her debut at Goodwood Racecourse on 14th October 2012.

Jamie (pictured) visited his new horse last week, meeting female jockey Leonna Mayor, Apprentice Jockey for Alastair Lidderdale, who rode Candy Kitten on the gallops in the Club’s chosen silks. He commented during his visit:

“I am very excited to be adding to my Candy Kitten family with this fine filly of a racehorse and hopefully she’ll give us reason to celebrate during the coming months. Everyone is welcome to join in and I am looking forward to meeting lots of Candy Kitten fans at the races.”

Wonderwater Café asks ‘How much water do you eat?’ at London Design Festival

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A striking pop-up café designed to highlight the water footprint of food will be unveiled at the London Design Festival by not-for-profit organisation Wonderwater, and staged at the popular Leila’s Shop in Shoreditch in September.

Wonderwater Café raises awareness of the water footprint of food, asking visitors ‘How much water you eat?’. The pop-up event is designed to raise awareness of the critical relationship between water and food. Its supporters include World Design Capital Helsinki, Arts Council England and King’s College London.

Following critical acclaim in Helskinki and Beijing, the Wonderwater Café arrives in the UK for the London Design Festival to demonstrate the impact of visual design in communicating complex issues in an engaging, interactive way. The Wonderwater Café menu indicates the breakdown of the water footprint of the dishes and drinks on offer, showing how much water is used to produce the different foods and where it comes from in the world.

“The Wonderwater Café brings complex water scarcity issues to life in a highly visual, compelling way, and is designed to inspire people to make responsible choices,” explains Jane Withers, Co-founder, Wonderwater. “By telling the story of the water footprint of food with creative, image-led design, we hope to stimulate conversations on the fundamental issues surrounding how our food is produced.”

The greatest impact of the water footprint occurs in the global food growing and production supply chain, which affects the world’s delicate global balance of fresh water.

* The average UK citizen consumes 4,645 litres per day, which has a significant impact on resources in water-scarce countries.
* Food is one of the top contributors to UK consumers’ daily water consumption and represents a far greater proportion than domestic water, which accounts for just 3% (150 litres).
* More than 60% of the UK’s water consumed through food is derived from outside the UK, according to the Water Footprint Network.
* As the global population swells to 9bn by 2050, water scarcity will have a significant impact on food security, with scientists predicting that we will need to consume less meat and more vegetables.

“Armed with the right information, people can begin to understand the global flows of water in food production, and opt for dishes with a low water footprint or select food stuffs produced in regions where water resources are not dangerously strained,” says Kari Korkman, Co-founder, Wonderwater. “Agriculture represents by far the largest slice of global water consumption, so the most effective way to enhance the sustainability of our water footprint is through the food and drink choices that we make.”

Visitors to the Wonderwater Café at Leila’s Shop will be able to enjoy a mouth-watering selection of responsibly sourced food, while digesting information from the vibrant infographics, dynamic visual displays and raindrop-shaped blackboards, all of which convey mind-blowing facts and figures on the water footprint of their meals. The displays will be integrated into the existing shop, with bespoke water footprint menus for the duration of the festival.

Customers will be able to choose low, medium or high water footprint foods on the menu. Water bottles conveying important water footprint messages will also be placed on each table. For further information please visit www.wonderwater.fi or www.londondesignfestival.com.

Outdoor Ice Skating in the Heart of the City

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Broadgate announces the return of London’s original ice rink, which hits the heart of the city from 16 November 2012.

2012 Skate season: 16 November 2012 – 24 February 2013

Prices: Adults £9, Under 16s/Students/OAPS £7, Skate Hire £2. Monthly and season tickets available, check these out on your first skate

Booking: No need to book, just turn up and skate (see timings below)

More information: Keep an eye on www.broadgate.co.uk for updates

Start Skating

A first come first served system means spontaneous skaters can turn up to a number of sessions each day, with no need to book:

Weekdays

Lunchtime skate 12.15 – 14.15

Afternoon skate 15:00 – 17:00

After work skate 17.30pm – 19:00

Late skate 19.30pm – 21:00 – please check availability on the website, as the late Skate session will be affected by Broomball matches and private hire

Weekends

These are open sessions all weekend, as follows:

09.30 – 11.30

12.15 – 14.15

15:00 – 17:00

17.30 – 19:00

19.30 – 21:00

The rink will be open 7 days a week – excluding Christmas Day.

Broomball Competition Evenings

Similar to ice hockey, this fast and furious game is fun for participants and spectators alike. For further information, call the Broadgate Ice Rink office on 020 7505 4100.

Hire the Rink
The rink is available for private hire – ideal for office parties, a special occasion or anyone too embarrassed by their skating skills to cope with an audience. For more information, call 020 7505 4100.

Where?

Broadgate Circle is a two minute walk from Liverpool Street Station.