By Justin Trefgarne, course leader at MetFilm School Love them or loathe them, the Royal Family in its various forms has been entertaining, enthralling and fascinating us for centuries. The British Monarchy’s catalogue of blood feuds, forbidden love affairs, wars, abdications and endless scandals has supplied material for the writers of every age. From Shakespeare’s thinly disguised commentaries on Elizabeth and James I respectively to Peter Morgan’s reimagining of the Royals as high-end Soap Opera in The Crown, the audience for these gilded dramas has never waned. And now, as Elizabeth II, and indeed millions of Britons, celebrate her becoming not just the longest serving British monarch but the third longest serving monarch in world history, we take the opportunity to cast our gaze over some of the best Royalty-themed films of the first century of cinema. In no particular order, here are the top 10 picks to watch over the Jubilee weekend: Spencer Kristin Stewart brings her own brand of sparkle and unpredictability to this intense, poetic take on Princess Diana. Whether Diana was really like this or not is sort of missing the point. Pablo Larraín’s film is a tightly wound character study of a woman unravelling under intense pressure and as a consequence plays out as much as a psychological horror as it does conventional drama.  The Queen Given the intense scrutiny the modern day Royals find themselves under, it’s quite rare to find Elizabeth II at the centre of a movie narrative. Helen Mirren transcends as a Queen in semi-exile after the death of Diana, facing a crossroads in her reign and, more immediately, a beguiling stag that haunts her estate in the Scottish Highlands.  Elizabeth Radical choice of director (Shekhar Kapur): tick. Young actress ready for super-stardom (Cate Blanchet): tick. The rise of Elizabeth retold as The Godfather: tick. A period film for all the ages.  The King I confess to being on the fence about Timothée Chalamet until I gave this film a whirl. And it’s astonishing. His spindly, hungover, sad rendition of Prince Hal slowly morphs into something raw, timeless and utterly believable. Joel Edgerton and David Michôd’s masterful retelling of the ‘Henriad’ exerts a compelling, epic grip that makes it one of the best historical films since Gladiator.  Mrs Brown Judi Dench cemented her reputation as one of the world’s most accomplished screen actors with this moving portrayal of a grieving Queen Victoria. But perhaps the film’s biggest surprise was the unexpected, nuanced performance of Scottish comedian Billy Connolly as the ‘commoner’ who encouraged her to return to public life.  The Lion In Winter One of three stage plays adapted for the screen on this list, The Lion In Winter brings together the titanic screen presences of Katherine Hepburn and Peter O’Toole for a heady dose of relationship fireworks. They really don’t make ‘em like this any more. Notable too for Anthony Hopkins making his screen debut.  A Man For All Seasons I was forced to watch this at school and was ready to write it off until the genius of writer Robert Bolt’s characters and the play’s moral conscience completely captivated me. A film as relevant now as it was when first released. Watch out for a late-period Orson Welles filling up the frame with his interpretation of Cardinal Wolsey.  The Madness Of King George A film in which the a King descends into ‘madness’ only to be retrieved from the abyss by a radical form of treatment. Gentle, funny, heartbreaking and sumptuous all at once, this is British period filmmaking at its finest.  Viceroy’s House If all this feels too much like Royalist propaganda, then cleanse the palate with Gurinder Chadha’s brilliant, bold dismantling of the accepted history of the Queen’s Uncle’s attempt at managing the Partition between India and Pakistan. Moria Bufini and Chadha’s masterful script weaves the political and the personal together seamlessly to challenge and confront the dissolution of the ‘British Raj’.  Sid & Nancy Since The Sex Pistols blew up pop music in the late 1970s, no Royal celebration is complete without an airing of their alternative jubilee anthem, ‘God Save The Queen’. And why not indulge, then, in the film that launched the careers of Oscar Winners Gary Oldman, Roger Deakins, maverick director Alex Cox and Working Title chief Eric Fellner?  |
Tag: cinema
Easter opening times at Fort Kinnaird
For those looking to enjoy a day out with family and friends or pick up some last-minute Easter gifts and decorations, Fort Kinnaird has confirmed its Easter weekend opening times.
With a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as ODEON cinema, there are plenty of ways to make the most of the Easter break at Fort Kinnaird.
From Friday 15th – Monday 18th April the centre’s shopping hours will remain the same as normal:
- Good Friday – 15th April: 9am – 9pm
- Easter Saturday – 16th April: 9am – 6pm
- Easter Sunday – 17th April: 9am – 6pm
- Easter Monday – 18th April: 9am – 9pm
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We know many people will be looking for ways to spend quality time with family and friends during the Easter break, and we look forward to welcoming them to the centre.
“To help them make the most of this time together, we’re open every day over the Easter weekend, so visitors can spend a day or evening out at the centre.”
Fort Kinnaird is home to more than 70 retailers and restaurants, including Primark, M&S, ProCook, Next, Smyths, Wagamama, Nando’s and Fridays. There are also over 2,600 free parking spaces.
It’s recommended to check the opening hours of individual retailers before setting off to avoid disappointment.
For more information to help plan your Easter trip to Fort Kinnaird, including what’s on head here.
Everyman Edinburgh is here …
… paying tribute to the capital’s big screen history
To celebrate the official opening of the Everyman Edinburgh at St James Quarter, four giant picture frames have popped up around the city centre – each in a location that featured on the big screen in famous movies including, Sunshine on Leith, Avengers: Infinity War, One Day and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.
The Everyman Edinburgh frames can be found on the Royal Mile, Calton Hill, The Shore and George IV Bridge, for passers-by to capture their own selfies and redeem two free tickets to Everyman Cinema, #nofilter needed.
To enter, step into the frame, share your pic and tag @StJamesQuarter and @EverymanCinema on Instagram or Facebook along with the hashtag #FramedbyEveryman.
The first 500 people to show their posted content to the box office at Everyman Cinema on level 5 at St James Quarter will receive two free tickets to a movie screening of their choice.
The frames will be in place until Saturday 2nd April.
St James Quarter Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/stjamesquarter/
St James Quarter Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/St-James-Quarter-105737954246444
Everyman Cinemas Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/everymancinema/?hl=en
Everyman Cinemas Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/EverymanCinemas/
About Everyman
Everyman is redefining cinema. Bringing an innovative lifestyle approach to their venues, where you swap your soft drink for a nice glass of red wine and slice of freshly made pizza served to your seat.
There are currently 36 Everyman cinemas across the UK. Created to deliver a warm and friendly atmosphere, with an excellent food and drink selection and fantastic customer service.
About St James Quarter
St James Quarter is Edinburgh’s largest development in a generation.
A new 1.7 million sq ft masterplan in urban placemaking. Comprising 850,000 sq ft of retail space, St James Quarter will complement the luxury shopping offer of neighbouring retailer Harvey Nichols, which anchors the premium shopping street of Multrees Walk.
Completing the city centre’s retail circuit, it will also be home to John Lewis, Everyman Cinema, an enticing mix of new restaurants, cafés and bars; Scotland’s first W Hotel – W Edinburgh – which includes 244 stylish guestrooms, a destination bar, outdoor terrace, signature restaurant, chef’s table, and an AWAY® Spa; luxury aparthotel brand Roomzzz, comprising 75-rooms; New Eidyn residences that will provide 152 premium apartments with exceptional amenities, by developers Native Land, nine new public squares and 1,600 car parking spaces.
Leonardo DiCaprio tops list of most-viewed Oscar acceptance speeches
- Leonardo DiCaprio officially has the most popular Academy Award acceptance speech of all time, with more than 47 million views.
- Matthew McConaughey has the second most-viewed Oscar’s acceptance speech on record, with more than 21 million views.
- Jennifer Lawrence’s fall up the Academy steps has more than 14 million views on YouTube.
New research reveals that Leonardo DiCaprio has the most-viewed Oscar’s acceptance speech of all time.
The study conducted by casino experts MapleCasino examined the verified Oscars YouTube account to reveal the most-viewed Acadamy Award acceptance speeches, to establish the Internet’s favourite Oscar speeches ahead of this year’s ceremony.
The research revealed that Leonardo DiCaprio has the most-viewed Oscar acceptance speech in history.
After multiple nominations, DiCaprio finally won his long-awaited ‘Best Actor’ Acadamy Award in 2016 for his role in The Revenant, attracting more than 47 million views on YouTube. The Hollywood actor used his speech to address critical issues, highlighting the threat of climate change and the damaging effects of big polluters, telling the audience to “not take this planet for granted.”
Matthew McConaughey has the second most popular Oscars acceptance speech, with more than 26 million views on YouTube. The Dallas Buyer’s Club actor won his ‘Best Actor’ award in 2014 – beating the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale – and delivered a passionate talk thanking God, his family and colleagues, before finishing his speech with his signature phrase, “alright, alright, alright”.
With more than 21 million views, the Internet’s third favourite Oscar acceptance speech goes to Heath Ledger. As one of the most emotional speeches of all time, the late Heath Ledger won ‘Best Supporting Actor’ in 2009 for his role as the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Due to Heath Ledger’s sudden death the year before, his family accepted the award on his behalf, going down in history as one of the most memorable award acceptance speeches of all time.
Kate Winslet has the fourth most popular Oscar’s acceptance speech, in addition to the most-watched speech for a ‘Best Actress’ winner. Kate Winslet won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in The Reader in 2009, beating the likes of Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep. The actress struggled to hold back her emotions during her evocative speech, which has now received more than 17 million views.
The findings revealed that Jennifer Lawrence’s Oscar acceptance speech is the fifth most popular on record for her 2013 ‘Best Actress’ award for Silver Linings Playbook. Jennifer Lawrence will go down in Oscars history, sadly not for her speech, but for her fall up the Academy steps on her way to collect her award, which has now received more than 14.5 million views on YouTube.
Additionally, Marlon Brando’s acceptance speech also features as one of the Internet’s favourites, placing eighth overall, making it the oldest acceptance speech in the ranking.
Receiving the ‘Best Actor’ award for his role in The Godfather, Brando’s 1973 speech has more than 11 million YouTube views, despite him not making an appearance. During the iconic speech, actress and Native American civil rights activist Sacheen Littlefeather spoke on Brando’s behalf, protesting the treatment of Native Americans in the film industry.
A spokesperson for MapleCasino commented on the findings: “From Kate Winslet’s emotional speech to Leonardo DiCaprio’s political address, acceptance speeches can be used to not only celebrate wins but also as a vital platform to voice political and social change.
“The Internet celebrated when DiCaprio won his well-deserved Academy Award back in 2016, delivering such a powerful speech that it still sparks interest today.
“As a keen environmental activist, DiCaprio used his platform to call attention to the detrimental effects of climate change, which now has close to double the number of views of Matthew McConaughey’s speech.”
The study was conducted by Maple Casino – the premier authority for the best online casinos in Canada, devoted to connecting Canadian players with the top online casino reviews.
| Top 10 most viewed Oscar acceptance speeches of all time | |
| Winner | YouTube views |
| Leonardo DiCaprio | 47,352,852 |
| Matthew McConaughey | 26,186,277 |
| Heath Ledger | 21,425,866 |
| Kate Winslet | 17,530,502 |
| Jennifer Lawrence | 14,589,004 |
| Eddie Redmayne | 13,734,109 |
| Natalie Portman | 12,183,834 |
| Marlon Brando | 11,454,828 |
| Joaquin Phoenix | 11,386,659 |
| Sandra Bullock | 10,917,316 |
END
Cineworld launches inaugural ‘Cineworld Day’
CINEWORLD DAY TO TAKE PLACE THIS SATURDAY FEBRUARY 26th
TICKETS REDUCED TO £3 FOR ALL FILMS, ALL DAY, IN ALL FORMATS
OFFER VALID ACROSS ALL 101 CINEMA SITES IN THE UK & IRELAND
Cineworld, the UK’s leading cinema chain, has announced its first ever ‘Cineworld Day’ to take place this Saturday, February 26th, 2022.
A grand celebration of the nation’s love of cinema, the inaugural Cineworld Day will take place in all corners of the UK as Cineworld reduces its ticket prices to £3 for all films, all day, in all formats, including IMAX, 4DX, ScreenX and Superscreen, in addition to regular 2D.
Cinema-goers will have the chance to see all of the latest film releases for only £3, including: Cyrano, The Duke, Death on the Nile, Uncharted, Marry Me, Belfast and Sing 2.
As part of the Cineworld Day celebration, some of 2021’s biggest blockbuster favourites will also be brought back in IMAX, 4DX and ScreenX such as, Dune and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
As part of the Cineworld family, Picturehouse will also offer £3 tickets throughout Cineworld Day;
Additionally, as a limited time offer, customers can also receive 50% off their first month of Unlimited with the code BATMAN50 when you pay monthly or 10% off annual memberships with BATMAN10.
Stuart Crane, VP of Film for Cineworld Group, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome customers to our first Cineworld Day, where for one day only on Saturday February 26th, they can experience all of the latest movies in all of the Cineworld formats for only £3, including IMAX, 4DX, ScreenX and Superscreen.
“The last two years have been especially difficult for the cinema industry, but with the huge crowds returning through our doors for movies like Spider-Man: No Way Home and with so many exciting movies to look forward to in 2022, like The Batman, Morbius, Top Gun: Maverick, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Jurassic World: Dominion, we wanted to celebrate everything that people love about cinema and everything that there is to look forward to at Cineworld, the best place to watch a movie.”
The event is sponsored by PepsiMax, IMAX, 4DX and ScreenX.
For more information on Cineworld Cinemas and to book tickets for Cineworld Day on Saturday February 26th 2022, please visit: cineworld.com
#CineworldDay
World’s Best Video Game Adaptations?
Ahead of the cinema release of video game adaptation Uncharted in the UK, new data has found the best video game movie, revealing Pokémon’s ‘Detective Pikachu’ to be a favourite across the globe.
- Pokémon’s ‘Detective Pikachu’ scored the best video game adaptation with scores 53/100 on Metacritic and 68% via Rotten Tomatoes
- Second is ‘Rampage’ seeing a box office of £350 million, Critic scores of 51% on Rotten Tomatoes and an IMDB rating of 6.1/10
- ‘Warcraft’ in third, this video game movie was the highest earner at the box office with £376 million
Gaming experts SolitaireBliss, analysed 34 video games made into movies looking at both critic and viewer ratings and box office income adjusted for inflation to find the most popular video game movie.
First is ‘Detective Pikachu’ from the Pokémon franchise. Released in 2019, the adventure game could be played on Nintendo, where players accompany Pikachu to solve mysteries. Starring Ryan Reynolds in the movie, the film took in £348 million at the box office, making it the third highest-earning video game movie adaptation.
The film received a Metacritic score of 53/100, and the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of all films in the list, at 68%.
‘Rampage’ is the second highest in the list, after placing second at the box office with £350 million. The video game was first created in 1986, made originally as an arcade game, and players control three monsters with aims to survive against the military. The movie claimed Hollywood stars Dwayne Johnson and Naomie Harris to play the lead roles.
The Third most successful movie based on a game is ‘Warcraft’. Starring Paula Patton and Dominic Cooper, the film scored 28% on Rotten Tomatoes and 32/100 on Metacritic, but ranked highly after being the highest earner at box office with £376 million. Warcraft is built up around five core games in the franchise, where opposing players order virtual armies to battle against each other.
The action-adventure game adaptation with Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton and Ben Kingsley, ‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’, ranked fourth in the listing with an average score of 51 in the viewer and critic score, the movie made more than £317 million at box office when it was released in 2010.
Released in February 2020, ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ takes fifth place in the ranking. The movie featuring Jim Carrey received an IMDB score of 6.5/10 and 63% via Rotten Tomatoes. The series follows Sonic battling a mad scientist.
Sixth most popular is ‘Tomb Raider’ released in 2018, the film took in almost £225 million at the box office. ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’, the first instalment of this series of movies in 2001, placed eighth in the list. The game ‘Tomb Raider’ is an action-adventure which follows Lara Croft travelling the globe for lost artefacts, involving puzzle solving and fighting enemies.
The Resident Evil series with Kaya Scodelario placed twice in the top ten with ‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’ ranking seventh in the list, and ‘Resident Evil: Afterlife’ in ninth. The Franchise is a survival horror series which includes zombies and puzzle solving.
Tenth in the list is the fighting, action-adventure game adaptation ‘Mortal Kombat’, the video game movie received a Metacritic score of 60/100 and IMDB rating of 6.1/10.
| Most Popular Video Game Movie | |
| Rank | Movie Title |
| 1 | Detective Pikachu |
| 2 | Rampage |
| 3 | Warcraft |
| 4 | Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time |
| 5 | Sonic the Hedgehog |
| 6 | Tomb Raider |
| 7 | Resident Evil: The Final Chapter |
| 8 | Lara Croft: Tomb Raider |
| 9 | Resident Evil: Afterlife |
| 10 | Mortal Kombat |
Commenting on their findings, a spokesperson from SolitaireBliss said, “With the release of the new video game movie adaptation, Uncharted, it’s fascinating to see how viewers and professional critics score the movies based on games, and comparing that with how each film performed at the box office.
“Movies based on video games have the advantage of a set of fans already familiar with the brand, and likely keen to see it. However, it can be a double-edged sword as those same fans are likely to have strong opinions and high expectations. This data shows that plenty of video game films have made good money, but many have struggled to impress fans and critics.”
This study was conducted by SolitaireBliss, which provides an online gaming service allowing users to play a wide array of card games and challenges.
Valentine’s Viewing: The UK’s favourite Rom-coms
- ‘Palm Springs’ is the UK’s favourite Romantic comedy
- ‘Juno’ and ‘Groundhog Day’ take second and third on the list
- ‘Amelie’ and ‘Love Actually’ also make the top ten
New research has revealed that 2020’s ‘Palm Springs’ is the UK’s favourite rom-com.
The research, conducted by PokerListings.com looked at the number of Google searches, review scores and Wikipedia page views of the most popular rom-coms, to determine which one came out on top.
It found that 2020’s ‘Palm Springs’, starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti, was the UK’s favourite. The film receives more than 193,000 searches a month, accompanied with a Rotten Tomatoes Audience score of 88%, which sees it sit at the top. Released digitally in 2020 in the US on Hulu where it broke the platform’s streaming records, it reached UK audiences via Prime Video in early 2021 to further appeal.
The coming-of-age movie ‘Juno’ sits in second place, with UK audiences searching the title more than 158,000 times a month. Starring Elliot Page and Michael Cera in leading roles, the film received praise from critics and audiences alike upon its release in 2007, also winning ‘Best Writing for an Original Screenplay’ at the 2008 Academy Awards. It arrived on Disney+ in December last year which introduced it to wider audiences nearly 15 years after its release.
The Bill Murray classic ‘Groundhog Day’ comes in third place, with more than 50,000 searches a month and with an 8/10 rating on IMDB, one of the highest on the list. It’s often spoken about as one of the most influential comedy movies of all time, with the common term ‘Groundhog Day’ referring to a day that keeps reoccurring, originating from the movie from its release in 1993.
| Movie | RT Audience score | IMDB Rating | Number of monthly Google searches | Wiki Page daily average views |
| Palm Springs | 88 | 7.4 | 193000 | 3,566 |
| Juno | 88 | 7.4 | 158600 | 3,369 |
| Groundhog Day | 88 | 8 | 50300 | 6,726 |
| Love Actually | 72 | 7.6 | 19200 | 10,068 |
| Amelie | 95 | 8.3 | 46300 | 4,507 |
| Silver Linings Playbook | 86 | 7.7 | 1550 | 8,123 |
| Breakfast at Tiffany’s | 91 | 7.6 | 5500 | 4,947 |
| Some Like It Hot | 94 | 8.2 | 2150 | 3,996 |
| Notting Hill | 79 | 7.1 | 28600 | 5,406 |
| The Holiday | 80 | 6.9 | 40100 | 4,897 |
‘Love Actually’ falls just outside the top three with the film not only being a popular rom-com but a fan favourite Christmas movie as well. The ensemble cast of stars like Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth makes it one of the most rewatchable British films.
In fifth place is the French movie ‘Amelie’ which was released in 2001. It’s the best-rated film in the list, with a Rotten Tomatoes Audience score of 95% and an 8.3/10 on IMDB. In the year it was released, it won ‘Best Film’ at the European Film Awards and was even nominated for five Academy Awards.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from PokerListings said: “With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, it’s often that romantic comedies are the films couples turn to for their perfect combination of laughter and intimacy, and this list will hopefully provide some viewing inspiration. It’s fascinating to see how timeless films like ‘Groundhog Day’ and ‘Some Like It Hot’ are, with the classics competing with newer titles like ‘Palm Springs’ in the list.”
PokerListings.com is the world’s largest and most trusted online poker guide, offering the best online poker bonus deals guaranteed.
CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN: The UK’s favourite Christmas Film
- ‘Elf’ is the UK’s favourite Christmas movie
- ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ and ‘Home Alone’ take second and third respectively
- ‘Love, Actually’ and ‘Last Christmas’ also make the list
The 2003 comedy ‘Elf’ is the most popular film to watch this Christmas period, according to new research.
Research conducted by PokerListings.com analysed IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes scores, as well as Google search levels and Wikipedia page views to see which Christmas movie is the UK’s number one fan favourite.
‘Elf’ ended up taking the top spot, with more than 30,000 Google searches a month for the Christmas classic, as well as praise from audiences and critics alike.
The film is currently sitting at 7/10 on IMDB and a 79% score from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. The Jon Favreau-directed comedy featured an ensemble cast with Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, James Caan and many more starring.
In second place is the animated musical ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’. Released in 1993, the film is a high scorer with audiences sitting at an 8/10 on IMDB and a 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
It’s the biggest scorer for Wiki page views on the list, with more than 1.1 million visiting in the past month alone. The fantasy title was the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
‘Home Alone’ sits in third place in the list as another audience favourite, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 80% and a 7.6/10 on IMDB. It’s widely considered one of the greatest festive films ever, and the effect the film has is clear, with its success influencing the making of six sequels since its release in 1990.
| Rank | Movie title | RT Audience score | IMDB Rating | Total Searches per month | Wiki Page Views (Past Month) |
| 1 | Elf | 79% | 7 | 30800 | 159,484 |
| 2 | The Nightmare Before Christmas | 91% | 8 | 1070 | 1,100,610 |
| 3 | Home Alone | 80% | 7.6 | 2450 | 530,980 |
| 4 | Mickey’s Christmas Carol | 90% | 8 | 1920 | 75,212 |
| 5 | Last Christmas | 81% | 6.5 | 11900 | 230,285 |
| 6 | Love, Actually | 72% | 7.6 | 2050 | 335,226 |
| 7 | Santa Claus: The Movie | 66% | 6.3 | 36900 | 38,795 |
| 8 | It’s a Wonderful Life | 95% | 8.6 | 800 | 672,539 |
| 9 | Love Hard | 94% | 6.3 | 30 | 699,162 |
| 10 | The Snowman | 91% | 8.2 | 4400 | 93,672 |
‘Love, Actually’ also features in the top ten, sitting in fifth place. The film is one of the most prominent UK rom-coms set in the Christmas period, and features a star-studded cast including Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson and many more. It had a charity short film sequel, Red Nose Day Actually, which aired in 2017 on BBC One with the same cast.
The 2019 Romantic Comedy ‘Last Christmas’ makes an appearance in seventh place. Inspired by the music of George Michael, it stars Emilia Clarke in the leading role, with Emma Thompson and Henry Golding also starring.
It’s an example of a Christmas movie that divided critics and fans, with a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 81% and only a 44% score from critics, with a 6.5/10 on IMDB. It’s also one of the most Googled entries on the list with more than 11,000 searches a month.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for PokerListings said: “It’s great to see how diverse the market for Christmas movies is, with a variety of genres included on the list.
“Despite many new additions every year to the festive line up, many entries in the top ten are more than 20 years old now, which really emphasizes how timeless movies like ‘Elf’ and ‘Home Alone’ are and how they can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
PokerListings.com is the world’s largest and most trusted online poker guide, offering the best online poker bonus deals guaranteed.
Taiwan Film Festival is back with Disruptions & Transformations
Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh returns for its second edition between 25 and 31 October with a fantastic range of Taiwanese cinema gems, many of them UK premieres, dating from the 1930s up to 2020, presented through in-person screenings and digital talks at Glasgow Film Theatre and Summerhall in Edinburgh and a free digital programme of films.
With the theme of Disruptions and Transformations, inspired by the fast-changing and unsettling world in the past few years, the Festival explores both the monumental historic shifts the Taiwanese society experienced over the decades but also portrays the seemingly small disruptions of the everyday.
Featuring the work of legends such as Hou Hsiao-Hsien and Edward Yang, and exploring topics such as war, urban life and the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community, the free programme of digital screenings is now available to pre-book on the Festival’s digital platform. Access is limited to a specific number of viewers per film so audiences are advised to book early.
For the first time, the Festival also presents a range of in-person screenings. As part of their special climate-focused strand in the run up to COP26, Glasgow Film Theatre will host a screening of two environmental documentaries showing how Taiwanese filmmakers address environmental transformations caused by economic and industrial progress – after all, the climate emergency is the ultimate change and interruption we all must respond to together.
On 25 October, Sacred Forest (2019) will delve deep into the majestic cypress forest in Taiwan and on 30 October, Whale Island (2020) will explore how the ocean might become our home one day. Tickets on sale soon.
Sounds in Silence is a double bill of silent cinema gems offering an extraordinary glimpse into the everyday lives of Taiwanese people in the early and mid-20th century, presented at Summerhall on 27 October and featuring new score from acclaimed composer and musician Lim Giong and live music by Glasgow-based experimental musician Rory Green. With contemporary film scoring featuring on the archive films from decades ago, the event is going to take audience on a trip through time to Taiwan in the 1930s and 1960s.
The tickets available here.
Liu Kuan-Ping, Chief Curator at the Festival, said: “I am really excited that for the first time, Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh is bringing three in-person screenings taking place at two fantastic arts institutions: Glasgow Film Theatre and Summerhall – all exploring Disruptions and Transformations on a macro and micro scale.
“I cannot wait to meet our audience face to face, with facial masks on of course. We are also pleased to be back with an inspired programme of free digital screenings this year available to nationwide audiences.
“We would like to thank the Ministry of Culture in Taiwan, our generous sponsor, as well as our partners Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute who have been instrumental in securing some of the cinematic gems we are now able to share with our UK audiences.”
Telling us the inspiration of the theme, one of the co-curators, Chiu Yi-Chieh said: “On 23 March 2020, all of our lives were interrupted in unimaginable ways by the global pandemic- it was precisely at that time that the Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh was born.
“It made us reflect on how changes and interruptions are always present in our daily lives. When we were making the selection, we wanted to encourage audiences to look beyond the canons and fall in love with films that are overdue the world’s applause.
“We welcome audiences’ own interpretative grouping by putting all films under the theme of Disruptions and Transformations without the conventional curatorial classification.”
Head of Taipei Representative Office UK Cultural Division, Dr Chen Pin-Chuan said: “It is great to see Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh continuing the great work. Through these wonderful films from Taiwan, we hope to establish connections with Scottish audiences, and will introduce more cultural and arts programs to Scotland in the near future.”
2021 TAIWAN FILM FESTIVAL EDINBURGH PROGRAMME
IN-PERSON SCREENINGS in Glasgow and Edinburgh
Sacred Forest 神殿| Ke Ching-Yuan| 2019 | 60 mins
In-person screening on 25 October at Glasgow Film Theatre; tickets on sale soon.
Sacred Forest takes an eco-philosophical approach to introduce the deeply unique nature of Taiwan’s cloud enveloped cypress forest ecosystems and to explore the nation’s oldest forests, tallest tree species, and priceless, multi-millennial stands of giant ‘sacred trees’. Sacred Forest follows six separate groups, each with different interests and field specialties, as they experience the raw majesty of the forest from multiple facets ranging from the analytically intellectual to the introspectively emotional and spiritually uplifting.
The screening will also feature a special introduction from the film director, Ke Ching-yuan.
Whale Island 男人與他的海 | Huang Jia Jun| 2020 | 108 mins | UK Premiere
In-person screening on 30 October at Glasgow Film Theatre; tickets on sale soon.
Taiwan is an island. Although it is surrounded by the sea, its people fear the sea since the history and the religious beliefs held on this island make people turn their backs to the sea. Oceanic literature author Liao Hung-chi and underwater photographer Ray Chin lead the audience out to the sea and into the water. They prompt us to understand the sea and to think about the possibility that the ocean might become our lives and the future of our living land.
The screening will also feature a special introduction from the film director, Huang Jia-jun
Sounds in Silence double bill at 6.30pm on 27 October in Summerhall, Edinburgh; also online 28-31 Oct on Festival website.
A Morning in Taipei 臺北之晨 | Pai Jing-jui | 1964 | 20 mins | UK Premiere
Director Pai Jing-jui’s 1964 short documentary depicts a modern, industrious Taipei full of diverse and determined individuals as they perform their morning routines. People begin their workday, actors prepare for a theatrical performance, and children play in the schoolyard; the day is full of wonder and possibility.
A pre-recorded conversation between Chen Chia-Huei (co-creator of the new score and sound for A Morning in Taipei and the art consultant and Head of Education at the Taiwan Sound Lab) and musician Rory Green will be screened after A Morning in Taipei.
Deng Nan-guang’s 8mm Movies 鄧南光8mm家庭電影| Deng Nan-guang| 1935-1941| 57 mins| UK Premiere
Deng Nan-Guang’s 57-minute collection of intimate home-style videos, filmed between 1935 and 1941, captures an overlooked side of Taiwanese life under Japanese occupation. The films serve as a well-preserved time portal to a bygone era, offering a glimpse of life in Taiwan under colonial rule in the lead up to the Second World War. Screened to a live music score from a Glasgow-based experimental musician Rory Green.
DIGITAL SCREENINGS on the Festival website between 25 and 31 October
The Best Secret Agent 天字第一號 | Chang Ying | 1964 | 102 mins
The first Taiwanese-language spy film produced in Taiwan; The Best Secret Agent is a remake of the 1945 movie of the same name that caused a sensation in Shanghai. During the Sino-Japanese War, Tsui-Ying flees with her father from the Japanese occupation. She meets a young man, Ling-Yun, and falls in love. In the meantime, Special Agent 001 leads the resistance against the Japanese.
Foolish Bride, Naive Bridegroom 三八新娘憨子婿| Hsin Chi | 1967 | 101 mins
The parents of two young lovers meet to discuss the possibility of their marriage, only to discover that they themselves were lovers 30 years ago.
Dangerous Youth 危險的青春 | Hsin Chi | 1969 | 95 mins
Khue-guan (Shi Ying), a penniless delivery boy for a cosmetics company, meets Tsing-bi (Zheng Xiao-fen), a young and charming waitress, in awkward circumstances just as his girlfriend leaves him for a wealthy suitor. Khue-guan is intrigued by Tsing-bi and tries to get her another job after meeting Giok-sian (Gao Xing-zhi), who runs a cabaret. Eventually, she finds out that her new job is as an escort to a lonely, elderly millionaire named Mr. Tshi.
The Homecoming Pilgrimage of Dajia Mazu 大甲媽祖回娘家| Huang Chun-ming | 1975 | 27 mins | UK Premiere
Viewers are transported back in time to 1974 to see the annual Taoist celebration of the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage. Thousands of participants accompany a statue of the goddess Mazu on a 9-day, 8-night procession, stopping at several prominent temples along the way.
Taipei Story 青梅竹馬 | Edward Yang | 1985 | 115 mins
A headstrong and financially-secure woman, Chin (played by Chin Tsai), is anxious to move forward in life and escape from the dissatisfaction and pain caused by family troubles, urban alienation, a lack of job security, tumultuous friendships, and a distant past of baseball glory to which her boyfriend, Lung (Hou Hsiao-hsien), so desperately clings. Chin thinks moving to America may be the solution, but as time goes by, it becomes increasingly clear that may not fix all her problems.
Dust in the Wind 戀戀風塵 | Hou Hsiao-Hsien | 1986 | 109 mins
Dust in the Wind is a coming-of-age love story about two young individuals, Wan and Huen, from the Taiwanese mining village of Jio-fen. Their hope is to make enough money to be able to get married one day, believing like everyone else that they are meant for each other. Despite what fate may seem to have in store for them, they cannot help but care deeply for one another.
Peony Birds 牡丹鳥 | Huang Yu-shan| 1990 | 107 mins | UK Premiere
A multi-generational story about the troubled relationship between a mother and a daughter: from when she was a young child to adulthood and her joining her mother in the busy Taipei of the 80s and 90s and pursuing a career of her own.
Also available on the Festival’s digital platform will be a Q&A session with director Huang Yu-shan.
Hill of no Return 無言的山丘 | Wang Tung | 1992 | 175 mins
This 1992 drama, set in 1927, tells the tale of two brothers, Chu and Wei, who leave home following the death of their parents to work at a Japanese-occupied gold mine in the remote, poverty-stricken town of Jiou-fen in the northeast of Taiwan. The brothers dream of one day becoming rich and owning their own land and, taken in by the gold rush, they endure back-breaking labour for little reward. They then both fall deeply in love with partners that risk to complicate their lives even further.
Also available on the Festival’s digital platform will be a Q&A session with director Wang Tung.
The Personals 徵婚啓事 | Chen Kuo-Fu | 1998 | 105 mins
Du Jia-zhen is a 29-year-old eye doctor at a hospital, who decides to quit her job and find a husband. She places a personal ad in the newspaper, searching for a potential match to distract herself from recent heartbreak. The film depicts the urban dating scene of Taipei in the 1990s in all of its absurdity and hideousness, conveying humour through humiliation and evoking sympathy for the strangest people.
Splendid Float 豔光四射歌舞團 | Zero Zhou | 2004 | 73 mins
An aesthetically stunning, lightly humorous, and dramatic film that confronts traditional gender roles and explores the themes of conformity, grief, acceptance, personal struggle, and identity. A Taoist priest named Xiao Qiang-wei (James Chen) doubles as a drag queen by the name of Rose that performs at various nightlife venues.
Closing Time 打烊時刻 | Nicole Vogele | 2018 | 116 mins
Swiss filmmaker Nicole Vogele’s documentary Closing Time captures the calm after the storm of midnight living. The film draws attention to the quiet, fatigued period that follows the hustle and bustle of Taipei’s vibrant city life and the night shift workers that keep the city awake well into the early hours of the next day.
Scottish Premiere of Mark Cousins’ new film The Story of Looking at Edinburgh Filmhouse
Sunday 29 August also marks the launch of the ultimate Mark Cousins collection on Filmhouse @ Home
- Edinburgh Filmhouse hosts a special screening of Mark Cousins’ latest film The Story of Looking on Sunday 29 August at 7.30pm, followed by an in-person Q&A with director Mark Cousins.
- The Story of Looking is being released UK-wide on Friday 17 Sept by Modern Films.
- Scottish premiere of The Story of Looking at Filmhouse on Sunday 29 August marks the launch of the ultimate Mark Cousins collection on Filmhouse @ Home
Described by Variety as “An uplifting meditation on the power of looking”, Mark Cousins explores the role that visual experience plays in our individual and collective lives as he prepares for surgery to restore his vision.
In a deeply personal meditation on the power of looking in his own life, he guides us through the riches of the visible world, a kaleidoscope of extraordinary imagery across cultures and eras.
At a time when we are more assailed by images than ever, he reveals how looking makes us who we are, lying at the heart of the human experience, empathy, discovery and thought. He shares the pleasure and pain of seeing the world, in all its complexity and contradiction, with eyes wide open.
As the Covid-19 pandemic brings another dramatic shift of perspective, he reaches out to the other lookers for their vision from lockdown, and travels to the future to consider how his looking life will continue to develop until the very end.
“A rich cinematic journey into the art of seeing and how it connects us with culture, ourselves and each other” Time Out
https://www.filmhousecinema.com/showing/story-looking
The ultimate Mark Cousins collection on Filmhouse @ Home includes 13 films:
The First Movie (w/d/dp, 81 m, 2009)
The Story of Film: An Odyssey (w/d/dp, 930 m, 2011)
What is this Film Called Love? (w/d/dp, 75 m, 2012) a personal film about Mexico City and Sergei Eisenstein
Here be Dragons (w/d/dp 76 mins, 2013) About Albania
A Story of Children and Film (w/d/dp, 101 m, 2013)
Life May Be (co-w/co-d/co-dp with Mania Akbari, 80 m, 2014) Cine-letters
6 Desires: DH Lawrence and Sardinia (w/d/dp, 83 m, 2014)
I am Belfast (w/d/co-dp, 86 m, 2015) A city film, co-shot by Christopher Doyle
Atomic (d, 72 mins, 2015) A montage film, with a new score by Mogwai
Stockholm My Love (w/d, co-dp 2016) City musical, with Neneh Cherry
The Eyes of Orson Welles (w/d/dp, 100 mins, 2018)
Women Make Film: A New Road Movie Through Cinema (w/d 15 hrs, 2020)
The Story of Looking (w/d/dp, 87 mins, 2021)
Mark Cousins said: “For 36 years, Filmhouse has been my local cinema, my education, my escape and consolation, so I LOVE the idea that it will host my movies on Filmhouse at Home.
“I’ve been a passionate filmmaker for three decades. Many of my films have been influenced by what I’ve seen in Filmhouse. Now, for the first time, many of them are in one place. I’m humbled, as are my many collaborators – editor, producers, sound designers, composers and graphics artists – in Edinburgh, Scotland and further afield. Thank you from all of us.”
Rod White, Head of Programming at Filmhouse said: “What a twin pleasure it is to have Mark with us once again in person to discuss his latest film, The Story of Looking, ahead of its national release, AND be instrumental in bringing together all his feature film work to date in the one place – that being our streaming site Filmhouse @ Home – for new audiences to enjoy.
“We’re especially pleased and proud to be able to support a filmmaker who’s been such a strong supporter of Filmhouse over the years.”
The Story of Looking is supported by the National Lottery via Creative Scotland.