Cult film makes welcome return after twenty year absence
Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) is set to host TARTAN FEATURES: BEYOND YEAR ZERO, a three-day celebration of the low-budget independent feature film movement transforming the Scottish film industry.
In 2017-2018 a number of films made on miniscule budgets began to break through into cinemas and television. Independent features such as WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE (by ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE director John McPhail) and TEENAGE SUPERSTARS (by BIG GOLD DREAM director Grant McPhee) proved that small budget films could attract mainstream release.
Many of these films are connected to Tartan Features, a collective of Scottish feature filmmakers striving to make commercially and creatively successful films with tiny budgets.
Beyond Year Zero is a celebration of the next wave of film being made through the collective, featuring three of the latest Tartan Features: BEND DON’T BREAK (Alex Harron), FAR FROM THE APPLE TREE (Grant McPhee), which premiered at Manchester Film Festival earlier this month, and CONNECT (Marilyn Edmond), one of BFI’s top picks for this year’s Glasgow Film Festival.
The event also includes horror feature DARKNESS COMES, by BENCHMARK 6 Director David Newbigging, and an unearthing of Scotland’s original cult vampire feature BLOOD JUNKIES, Scotland’s first micro-budget feature. BLOOD JUNKIES, which was shot in North Edinburgh, was thought to be lost for nearly twenty years.
The BLOOD JUNKIES screening includes a Q&A with Director Bruce Naughton, led by ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE Director John McPhail.
The event also includes some recent short films by members of the collective and like-minded associates, including ECHO by Aimee Willemse, and a short preview of DEATH OF A VLOGGER with director Graham Hughes.
Many screenings include shorts and making-of films, as well as Q&A sessions with the filmmakers, actors and technical practitioners, including a discussion of women in cinematography, and another on making micro-budget features.
Grant McPhee from Tartan Features, said: “Over the past few short years Tartan Features has infiltrated the mainstream and proven that there is indeed an alternative and successful filmmaking path; that outsiders’ voices can be heard, that these new paths are open to everybody from any background and most importantly that these voices are now being listened to by audiences who are asking to see and hear more.
“This event is a celebration of DIY culture, the past and the future, for filmmakers and audiences alike to see what can be achieved with just ideas and attitude.”
All the screenings are free to attend, although attendees are encourage to make a small donation to charity if they feel they enjoyed the event.
Tickets can be booked through the CCA website: www.cca-glasgow.com
EVENTS SCHEDULE
Friday 22nd March @ 18:30 – Blood Junkies
Saturday 23rd March @ 13:00 – Far From the Apple Tree + Echo
Saturday 23rd March @ 16:30 – Connect
Sunday 24th March @ 13:30 – Bend Don’t Break
Sunday 24th March @ 16:30 – Darkness Comes
ABOUT FAR FROM THE APPLE TREE
FAR FROM THE APPLE TREE is the highly anticipated fairytale horror feature by BIG GOLD DREAM and TEENAGE SUPERSTARS Director Grant McPhee, which premiered at Manchester Film Festival (MANIFF) on 9th March.
The film stars Sorcha Groundsell (THE INNOCENTS, CLIQUE) as Judith, a wide-eyed and innocent artist who has been given the opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to live with, and learn from, renowned occult artist Roberta Roslin (Victoria Liddelle, OUTLAW KING) as she prepares for her first solo art exhibition. When Judith discovers a mysterious woman hidden within the archive who bears a striking resemblance to herself, she is faced with a battle between artistic integrity and her own mind.
View trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvM0dPctdOU
ABOUT CONNECT
https://youtu.be/6TXPWo7A5FI
CONNECT
The début feature film from Marilyn Edmond. The film is an ambitious attempt to confront the issue of male suicide in a heartfelt drama. Brian (a soulful Kevin Guthrie) has lost someone close to him. Outwardly, he keeps calm, goes to work and carries on, and nobody talks about the loss. He never feels that it’s possible to share his feelings, until care home owner Jeff (Stephen McCole) becomes a source of support. Moments of optimism clash with dark despair in a strikingly filmed tale shot in North Berwick.
View trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TXPWo7A5FI
ABOUT BEND DON’T BREAK
BEND DON’T BREAK is the debut feature of Alex Farron. It follows the fortunes of The Dundee Hurricanes, an American Football team based in Dundee who haven’t won in two years. The film follows the culture clash between the American players and their Scottish counterparts as they strive for success. All the while trying to juggle work, family, injuries and the game.
Alex Harron is a Scottish based documentary filmmaker. Bend Don’t Break is first feature length film. His previous short films, Wrestling is LIke Ballet with Violence and Not Set Door Price, were screened on BBC 2 and BBC Three respectively. His new film The Racer will be shown on BBC Scotland in 2019 and he has recently started filming his new documentary The First Ever, about Kristen Fraser and her goal to become to win a world title in boxing for BBC Scotland.
View trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn2FYBfRJfg&feature=youtu.be
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