An Exciting Line Up Of Film Festivals For Londoners This Autumn
‘Enjoy a Different Side to Film’
London International Animation Festival (26 August-4 September)
Hackney Film Festival (15-18 September)
London Spanish Film Festival (23 September-6 October)
This autumn will see three inspiring film festivals hit cinema’s across London, showcasing some of the best films from all over the world, right on the capitals doorstep. Covering all genres, a mix of cultures and a variety of languages, The London International Animation Festival, The Hackney Film Festival and The London Spanish Film Festival are guaranteed to have something for everyone.
Kicking off the season is The London International Animation Festival, returning for its eighth year from 26 August to 4 September. The UK’s biggest animation festival will screen 280 films from over 30 countries, host premieres, satellite events, talks and a two day industry event. With eight competitive sections within the programme, the festival opens with a showcase of films including theWorld Premiere of Phil Mulloy’s latest feature DEAD BUT NOT BURIED. Highlights include a focus on Polish animation including the premiere of GEORGE THE HEDGEHOG and special guests will be on hand to give talks on all things animation, including Theodore Ushev from the National Film Board of Canada.
The week wraps up with the Best of the Festival on Sunday 4 September with a selection of films chosen by a panel of judges and audience votes. Films will screen at The Barbican, The Horse Hospital and Rio Cinema.
East meets East at The Hackney Film Festival which runs from 15 -18 September. A selection of shorts and live performances all by local filmmakers and artists ensure a varied and lively programme across Hackneys most renowned venues.
Ahead of the festival opening there will be a launch at 'The Others' in Stoke Newington on Friday 19th August with screenings of shorts and features followed by DJ/VJ sets. The festival then opens on on Thursday 15 September with a free networking event for festival contributors, industry types and film heads which serves as a sneak peek into what’s on offer over the four day event. Highlights include an Experimental Performance Event at Café OTO on Friday 16 September plus a day of film screenings on the Saturday at the Rio Cinema. Taking us on into the night will be a live A/V showcase at the Arcola Theatre. The festival closes with an outdoor screening at Dalston Roof Park showcasing films and DJ/VJ sets with some hearty local food.
The London Spanish Film Festival ends the autumn season, running from 23 September – 6 October with a packed programme of more than 30 films including features, documentaries, animation, shorts, a Retrospective strand dedicated to Geraldine Chaplin, a Catalan strand featuring films from Catalonia and two films from Basque cinema. Back for its seventh season, the London Spanish Film Festival (which will also host a spring programme in April 2012) will see the best in contemporary cinema from Spain, screening both Spanish and English-language titles.
The festival opens with Andrucha Waddington’s LOPE starring Alberto Ammann which will be released in the UK by Optimum Releasing. Highlights from the festival include Iciar Bollain’s TAMBIEN LA LLUVIA starring Gael Garcia Bernal; BALADA TRISTE DE TROMPETA by award-winning director Alex de la Iglesia; CARNE DE NEON which will be released later this year through Showbox and Spanish director Gustavo Ron’s English title WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER starring Natalia Tena, Emilia Fox, Greta Scacchi and Ben Chaplin. The festival closes with BLACKTHORN, directed by Mateo Gil and starring renowned Spanish actor Eduardo Noriega. Directors and actors from all corners of Spain will descend on London to take part in Q&As, bringing a touch of Spanish fervor to the capital. Films will screen at the Cinelumiere, Rich Mix and Shortwave cinemas.
The three film festivals are part of Film London’s Pilot Publicity Fund (PPF) which aims to increase awareness of the festivals and help them reach larger and more diverse audiences.
About the Film London Pilot Publicity Fund
Film London’s Pilot Publicity Fund (PPF) aims to increase the impact of London’s cultural film offer by leveraging additional publicity and marketing support to significantly raise the profile of film festivals in the capital. Through enhanced spending power and innovation the PPF provides a unique opportunity for cultural film exhibition to ‘punch above its weight’ in the capital’s crowded media market to attract larger-than-average audiences.
Film London has awarded Organic Marketing the 2011 PPF and the following London-based film festivals have been selected to beneficiaries:
• Bird’s Eye View
• Hackney Film Festival
• Tongues on Fire: London Asian Film Festival
• London Spanish Film Festival
• London International Animation Festival
• London International Festival of Science Fiction and Fantastic Film
The Film London PPF is supported by the National Lottery through the BFI and Film London Regional Investment Fund for England.
About Film London
Film London, as the capital’s film and media agency, aims to ensure London has a thriving film sector that enriches the city’s businesses and its people. The agency works with all the screen industries to sustain, promote and develop London as a major international production and film cultural capital, and it supports the development of the city’s new and emerging film-making talent. Film London is funded by the Mayor of London, the National Lottery through the BFI, and receives significant support from Arts Council England and Skillset. For more information visit the official website.