Tag: cinema

Setting Sail: Edinburgh’s August Festival season launches with waterside outdoor cinema

FULL PROGRAMME REVEALED FOR ‘FILM FEST ON THE FORTH 2021’

The programme for Film Fest on the Forth, Edinburgh International Film Festival’s weekend of free outdoor screenings at Port Edgar Marina on Saturday 31 July and Sunday 1 August 2021, has been unveiled – and it includes everything from aquatic-themed family favourites and classic Scottish movies to exciting blockbusters.

Film Fest on the Forth will run at the Marina, which is located at South Queensferry on the banks of the Firth of Forth overlooking the three iconic bridges, from 10.00am to 10.00pm each day.

The weekend is supported by EventScotland as part of the Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21, in which Scotland celebrates its coasts and waters with a programme of events and activities, shining a spotlight on these vital elements of the landscape.

The fantastic themed line-up is comprised of 8 well-loved feature films with a maritime link, all well suited to family audiences with U, PG or 12A ratings. The selected films are as follows:

SATURDAY 31 JULY

  • MOANA (PG, 113 mins, 2016) Disney’s beloved musical animation of an adventurous teenager and her inherited love for the seas
  • THE WATER HORSE: LEGEND OF THE DEEP (PG, 111 mins, 2007) Family adventure set and shot in Scotland based on the Celtic legend of Kelpies (Water Horses)
  • WHISKY GALORE! (U, 81 mins, 1949) Classic anti-authoritarian comedy set on a Hebridean Island based on Compton Mackenzie’s novel.
  • JAWS (12A, 124 mins, 1975, 45th anniversary) Directed by Steven Spielberg and widely heralded as the original summer blockbuster

SUNDAY 1 AUGUST

  • BRAVE (PG, 93 mins, 2012) Pixar’s stunning animation set in the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland centred around a Scottish princess confronting tradition
  • THE ILLUSIONIST (PG, 77 mins, 2010) Charming, Oscar nominated animated adventure set across Scotland and specifically Edinburgh, based on an unproduced script by legendary French Director Jacques Tati
  • WHALE RIDER (PG, 105 mins, 2002) Oscar nominated drama centred on a young Maori girl and her special connection to the magnificent seas creatures who has to fight to fulfil a destiny her grandfather refuses to recognize.
  • TITANIC (12, 186 mins, 1997) James Cameron’s box office record-breaker and winner of 11 Oscars. An epic romance set on the seas which made global stars of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet

Tickets, which are free, are now available for Film Fest on the Forth at www.edfilmfest.org.uk 

Film Fest on the Forth screenings will be staged in an outdoor area which can accommodate up to 260 film fans.  You can get to Port Edgar Marina by train, bus, car, foot or boat. If you’re coming by boat contact the Marina office by phone or VHF before arrival to be allocated a berth.

Food and drink will be available from Marina tenants Scott’s restaurant and Down the Hatch as well as additional food and drink vendors coming in especially for the weekend, including EIFF’s Official Beer Partner Innis & Gunn, and Pizza Geeks and Poco Prosecco.

Between films audiences can visit other attractions on site such as activities on the water from Port Edgar Watersports and shopping at the Marina’s store, Beacon.

Russell Aitken, Managing Director of Port Edgar Marina said: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with EIFF in hosting this special open-air screening as part of Scotland’s Year of Coasts & Waters 2021. 

“It’s an incredible initiative to be involved with and we look forward to welcoming families from across Scotland to showcase the stunning location of the marina.”

Ken Hay, CEO of Edinburgh International Film Festival said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the return to the communal cinema experience with a brilliant programme of aquatically themed classics, all set against the backdrop of the iconic Forth Bridges.

“Huge thanks to our friends at Port Edgar Marina in staging the films and to EventScotland for their support as part of the Year of Coasts and Waters.  We look forward to seeing everyone there.”

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Film Fest on the Forth as part of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21.

” Scotland offers the perfect stage for audiences to enjoy unique experiences and this special cinematic event will showcase classic films in a memorable outdoor setting.”

Film Fest on the Forth, Port Edgar Marina, Shore Road, South Queensferry EH30 9SQ. Saturday 31 July and Sunday 1 August, 2021

The 74th edition of EIFF runs from 18 – 25 August 2021. The full programme will be announced on 28 July 2021.

#EdFilmFest 

#FestOnTheForth

https://www.facebook.com/events/245112974043818

Pensioners prove you are never too old to dance

A MULTICULTURAL care team in Edinburgh has had residents lining up to participate in traditional activities from nations around the world.

Pensioners at Cramond Residence, which is situated to the north of the city, have been enjoying country line dancing lessons with North American staff members.

Staff have been using their heritage and traditional activities from home as a way of enabling residents to experience a variety of new hobbies and cultures from the comfort of their own home – a favourite of which has become dancing.

Lisa Sohn, Lead Lifestyle Coordinator at the 74-bedroom plush home, said: “Residents and staff are always keen to develop a close relationship and learn new things about each other.

“That’s why lots of our staff members have volunteered to host a day full of activities dedicated to their home countries, which means everyone can learn more about that country and its food and traditions.

“All of the activities we put on encourage social interaction, so all of these different experiences give residents time to reminisce and chat about their own travel experiences, while also learning about each other and staff.

“The line dancing afternoon was a huge hit with lots of our residents, who are now very keen for us to add it as a permanent activity to our monthly planner!”

Previous months have included a presentation about India and samples of food by Vinay Naik and Sai Chand A Pinnoju, food service assistants at Cramond Residence. Other cultural events have included Spanish, Italian & German language classes accompanied by traditional foods from these countries, most recently, a pizza making masterclasses.

During lockdown, Lifestyle Coordinators led activities from The Residence Cinema, connecting via video with residents in their own private lounge or in their bedrooms via smart TVs to enable two-way communications.

Cramond Residence provides a combination of luxury accommodation and the highest quality of care, with all residents enjoying a wide range of amenities and activities, delicious food and a tailored care programme.

The home offers residents an abundance of different amenities, including beautiful gardens, a library, a hair salon, a private fine-dining space, physiotherapy room and cinema, which also doubles as a large, multi-purpose space for a host of social events.

Places in the care home start from £1850 a week. To find out more, call 0131 341 4037 or visit https://cramondresidence.co.uk/

SENIOR SELECTIONS at HOME launches on Filmhouse at Home

Edinburgh Filmhouse has announced exciting plans to expand its popular online programme of screenings for over 60s. 

Back in February, they began a pilot programme called Senior Selections at Home, where people were invited to get together on Zoom to discuss a film they had all watched on BBC iPlayer. 

Since then Filmhouse has developed its very own online movie platform, called Filmhouse at Home –  and this will let the team of senior volunteers handpick the films to show for future Senior Selections at Home events.

The first season includes Minari, Breathless, Bait and starts with a screening of The Rider, by Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao. As part of its ongoing commitment to access, all films chosen for Senior Selections at Home will have captions available and attendees will receive a discount code to access the film, making the whole event FREE to access.

The Filmhouse team will also be offering some simple digital training in how to participate in Senior Selections at Home, so that everyone who wants to join can have a chance to do so.

Yvonne Gordon, Head of Community Engagement and Learning at Filmhouse said: “I am really proud to launch Senior Selections at Home on Filmhouse at Home. We have all missed welcoming our older audience members to the cinema and were delighted to see so many of them engage with us when we trialled online events earlier in the year. 

“We also attracted newcomers, who hadn’t been to any of our cinema based sessions.  I am very keen to continue to offer a service to this online community and recognise that not everyone is able to come to us – so we can come to them! 

“Now we’ve all got used to Zoom, break out rooms, chat boxes and watching films from home, we hope to continue to build our online audience for Senior Selections at Home. 

“I am confident that using Filmhouse at Home will let us share films that are full of surprise and delight – and give us plenty to talk about after the movie, over our favourite beverage!

“I am grateful to our supporters and funders who allow us to offer this programme for free. Access is at the heart of all we do and Senior Selections is an excellent example of this.”

Senior Selections at Home is free to attend, but places are limited so booking is essential to avoid disappointment.

Sign up links will be released monthly on our website:

https://www.filmhousecinema.com/senior-selections-home. 

Details:

Upcoming online events will be held on:

Tuesday 13 July 2pm (The Rider)

Tuesday 10 August 2pm (Minari)

Tuesday 14 September 2pm (Breathless)

Tuesday 12 October 2pm (Bait)

You can already sign up for our event on Tuesday 13 July where we will be watching The Rider via the Eventbrite link below:

Register on Eventbrite

Training sessions will be held on Zoom on Wednesday 7 July and Thursday 8 July at 2pm. To join one of the sessions please email education@cmi-scotland.co.uk .

We will walk you through the process, from signing up on Eventbrite to creating an account and using Filmhouse at Home.

Thank you to our supporters who make Senior Selections possible: The Foyle Foundation, JTH Charitable Trust and all those who wish to remain anonymous.

Filmhouse at Home is supported by the Weston Culture Fund.

www.filmhousecinema.com  

Lights, camera, action: 74th Edinburgh International Film Festival goes ahead in August

  • A ‘new look’ innovative EIFF set to deliver in person events in Edinburgh and beyond with indoor and outdoor cinema experiences alongside online festival screenings celebrating film’s ability to bind us together
  • Festival focused on bringing communities together and championing Scottish and UK filmmaking talent in the heart of the August festival season
  • Filmhouse and a network of cinemas across Scotland set to collaborate in a joyous communal celebration of the return to cinema
  • Spectacular FREE outdoor screenings of films in St Andrew Square for ‘Film Fest in the City’ from 19-25 August will form the centre of the Festival’s invitation to audiences in this unique year
  • Innovative programme of new features, documentaries, animations, experimental and shorts programmed by a team of regular and guest programmers led by Nick Varley to address big issues, champion social change and invite new audiences to become involved
  • As a kick off for the return of Edinburgh’s festivals in August, EIFF will present ‘Film Fest on the Forth’, a fantastic aquatically themed programme of outdoor waterside screenings on 31 July and 1 August at Port Edgar Marina, South Queensferry
  • Filmhouse at Home widens access to the Festival programme and additional content online connecting global thought leaders with local and international audiences
  • EIFF Talent Lab returns online to give practical support to 24 writers, directors or producers working on their first feature film
  • EIFF Youth programme, inspiring and supporting the filmmakers and curators of tomorrow, to run in person and in an online programme 20 – 23 August.

Edinburgh International Film Festival is delighted to announce today that it will return in a new and innovative form this summer running 18- 25 August 2021.

Championing Scottish and UK filmmaking, the Festival will include physical screenings and events indoors in Filmhouse Cinema and outdoors with Film Fest in the City in St Andrew Square, in a rich and diverse programme celebrating the return to cinemas and the collective cinema experience.

The festival will also be available to audiences across the UK through its online platform, Filmhouse at Home, where alongside the films viewers can access Q&As and hear first-hand the insights, experiences and passions of directors, filmmakers and actors.

In addition, the Festival is collaborating with partners to widen its reach through a programme of presentations across Scotland, opening up access and inspiring curiosity in many who may previously not have been able to experience the Festival programme. More will be announced in the coming weeks.

Film Fest in the City in St Andrew Square Gardens will deliver a free programme of cinematic favourites, delivered in partnership with Essential Edinburgh and supported by Johnnie Walker, EIFF’s Official Whisky Partner, Innis & Gunn, EIFF’s Official Beer Partner, and EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.

A watery themed, Film Fest on the Forth (31 July & 1 August) will show films the whole family can enjoy at a purpose built outdoor cinema space at Port Edgar Marina in the shadow of the Forth’s iconic bridges. Film Fest on the Forth is also supported EventScotland in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21.

The Festival’s first priority at all its screenings and events will be the safety of its audiences and guests.

This year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival programme has been brought together by a team of regular and guest programmers led by Nick Varley, founder and former co-CEO of distributor Park Circus.

Alongside Nick, guest programmers Christophe Mercier, formerly Fox Searchlight and Warner Bros, who is working on the international selection and Nada Cirjanic formerly Great Point Media and Independent Film Sales, who is focused on UK titles who together will bring together a condensed programme of features which will join documentaries programmed by Rohan Crickmar, animations selected by Abigail Addison, shorts programmed by Jenny Clarke and experimental films selected by Lydia Beilby and Kim Knowles..

Selections will seek opportunities to both find new ways to bring people together around unique cultural experiences and address the huge social changes and climate issues that face the planet after more than a year in lockdown, bringing the insights of global thought leaders to Festival audiences and championing social change and action.

The full programme will be announced and tickets go on sale on Wednesday 28 July. Announcements on outdoor programmes, opening and closing films will be made in due course.

EIFF will open accreditation for press and industry screenings following the programme launch.

EIFF Talent Lab 2021 adopts a virtual format running across two weekends in August (13-15 & 20-21). The Lab will support writers, directors and producers from Scotland, the UK and internationally, with a programme designed to help them take next steps towards their first feature film.

This year EIFF Youth, supported by Baillie Gifford, will gather in Edinburgh over the middle weekend of the Festival, and online over an extended weekend, to take part in workshops, access career advice, look at environmental issues in cinema production, meet and interview filmmakers.

EIFF Youth and EIFF Talent Lab are funded through the PLACE programme, a partnership between the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals.

Edinburgh International Film Festival is also teaming up with Filmarket Hub to launch a new talent showcase, to be announced on 28 May.

Ken Hay, CEO of Edinburgh International Film Festival, said: “We all love film and we’re delighted that EIFF is back in 2021, focusing on bringing communities together and celebrating the communal cinema experience as widely and inclusively as possible.

“The Festival will play a leading role in hailing the return to cinema-going and champion Scottish and UK films to audiences and industry around the world. We also believe that in this year particularly, that EIFF has a strong role to play in highlighting key social issues and will seek to deliver a programme that inspires curiosity and action in our audiences.”

Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “I am delighted that the Edinburgh International Film Festival is returning this summer with a programme that extends across Scotland. 

“As well as celebrating the collective cinema experience, the Festival will also help writers, directors and producers take next steps towards their first feature film through the Talent Lab 2021 programme supported by the Scottish Government.”

Isabel Davis, Executive Director at Screen Scotland said: “As people start to come back together over the summer it’s exciting that EIFF will offer audiences in Edinburgh, Scotland and across the UK a celebration of the communal experience of cinema.

“Filmhouse will once more play host but this year the festival will also animate the city, from its centre to its shore, as well as offer an accessible, digital programme will enable audiences unable to attend in person to experience the festival online.”

Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland, said: “Events are a key part of the social and economic fabric of Scotland and following the challenges presented by the pandemic over the last year, it is wonderful to see Edinburgh International Film Festival has returned with a high-quality hybrid programme for film fans to enjoy in a way they feel most comfortable, whether that’s in person or online.

“EventScotland is delighted to be supporting this year’s festival, including both Film Fest in the City and Film Fest on the Forth in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21, and we look forward to hearing more of what’s on offer across the programme in the weeks to come.”

Cllr Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We’re proud to continue our support of the world’s oldest continuous film festival which explores new ideas in filmmaking and is known for heralding and debating the latest developments in cinema.

“It was much missed last year and I look forward to the return to the collective cinema experience with events and screenings planned for the Filmhouse and St Andrew Square as well as the online platform for audiences to enjoy from home. 

“Public safety will of course remain a priority, and we can all very much look forward to the full programme announcement in July.”

The UK’s most Googled Oscar-winning film: our hearts still go on for Titanic

  • Leo Di Caprio blockbuster tops list of people searching to watch the film online 
  • Forrest Gump is second, followed by Best Picture winner in 2017 Moonlight  
  • Globally the most popular film search is Parasite, with Titanic in second and Forrest Gump in third place 

The UK’s heart still goes on for Titanic as new research reveals it is the most searched Oscar-winning film that people try to access online.  

Ahead of this weekend’s Academy Awards, Search Intelligence investigated which Oscar winner for for Best Picture is the fans’ favourite.  

The study found that Titanic is the most searched film in the UK after analysing search terms that people typically use to watch a film online. 

Tom Hanks classic Forrest Gump, which won Best Picture in 1995, is Britain’s second most searched film, while 2017 winner Moonlight takes third place.  

The UK’s most searched Oscar-winning films – top 10 

UK rank Film Best Picture-winning year 
1 Titanic 1998 
2 Forrest Gump 1995 
3 Moonlight 2017 
4 The Godfather 1973 
5 One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest 1976 
6 Braveheart 1996 
7 Parasite 2020 
8 The Departed 2007 
9 The Sound Of Music 1966 
10 12 Years A Slave 2014 

Globally, the most popular film search is 2020 Oscar-winner Parasite, followed by Titanic, with Forrest Gump in third place.  

Overall, global searches showed more more interest in recent winners, with the last four Best Pictures featuring in the top ten – Parasite, Green Book, The Shape of Water and Moonlight. 

The World’s most searched Oscar-winning films – top 10 

UK rank Film Best Picture-winning year 
1 Parasite 2020 
2 Titanic 1998 
3 Forrest Gump 1995 
4 Green Book 2019 
5 The Godfather 1973 
6 The Shape Of Water 2018 
7 Moonlight 2017 
8 Gladiator 2001 
9 Slumdog Millionaire 2009 
10 Braveheart 1996 

The study used data analytics platform Ahrefs to calculate the average annual search volume for 16 different terms film fans typically use when trying to watch movies online, such as “Titanic full move” or “watch Titanic online free”.  

All 92 Best Picture winners were included, from 1928/29 victor Wings, up to last year’s winner Parasite, as well as the eight nominees for the category this year. 

The analysis was carried out be leading SEO agency Search Intelligence. 

The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony takes place tonight.

Home cinema: Filmhouse at Home

The team at Filmhouse in Edinburgh and Belmont Filmhouse in Aberdeen is pleased to launch Filmhouse at Home, their new online streaming platform which allows audiences to enjoy some of the finest Filmhouse-curated cinema from the comfort of their own home.

Live from today (Friday 26 March), the platform’s first titles include the award-winning Stray, a captivating documentary about stray dogs on the streets of Istanbul that had its premiere at London Film Festival, Holocaust survival drama Persian Lessons from the director of House of Sand and Fog, Vadim Perelman, critically-acclaimed documentary Poly Styrene: I am a Cliché about counter-culture icon and punk pioneer Poly Styrene and first documentary entirely in Scots Gaelic, Iorram (Boat Song) which is a lyrical portrait of the fishing community in Outer Hebrides, past and present.

Initially offering 20+ titles starting from £3.50, the Filmhouse at Home programme will grow to present a similar selection of films to that which the cinemas’ audiences are accustomed to: independent, world cinema at its best. The future programme will include, among others, Sundance-winning and now Oscar-nominated Minari.

Rod White, Head of Programming at Filmhouse Cinemas said: “We’re excited to announce the launch of Filmhouse at Home. Our brand-new video on demand platform is another way for audiences to engage with the kind of cinema on which our reputation is built.

“Given a percentage of the online ticket price comes directly to us, it also offers another way in which you can support us across everything we do.

“We hope that not only will this allow fellow cinephiles a new way to enjoy our carefully-curated films before we are able to welcome them back into our cinemas, but that Filmhouse at Home will also ensure that those who are less able to venture out, or make it to our cinemas in Aberdeen and Edinburgh have a new way to access the best of independent, world cinema.”

Audiences will have 30 days to watch a film once purchased and 48 hours to watch a title once they click ‘play’ (exceptions apply). In the 48 hours, the film can be watched multiple times. Wherever possible films are audio described, closed-captioned or subtitled.

Some films hosted by Filmhouse at Home are only available to rent a limited number of times so audiences are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment. 

Filmhouse at Home is generously supported by the Weston Cultural Fund.

8 best films to watch this Halloween

Pete Appleyard, a tutor at Ealing’s world famous MetFilm School, has a massive interest in the genre of Horror. He’s taken time out to pull together this haunting selection of spooky films from the last 100 years!

It’s a mixture of classics, blockbusters and unusual but worthy finds.

Pete’s final choice – Host – was written, shot, edited and released during the Covid-19 lockdown … it will make you think again when accepting an unexpected Zoom call invitation …

Nosferatu – 1922

This early, unofficial adaptation of Dracula by F.W Murnau still holds every bit of its gothic power almost 100 years after it was made. Its filled with iconic gothic imagery and features an amazing central performance by stage actor Max Schreck as the terrifying Count Orlock (who’s name translates as Max Fear). It also works as a wonderful introduction to silent film for those new to early cinema.

Trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LOOhc2eML4

Frankenstein– 1931

The first Horror blockbuster and the film that made a star of Boris Karloff. Few films can claim to be as iconic as this classic from universal pictures. From the gothic production design to the incredible Jack Peirce make-up for the Monster, Frankenstein feels like the definitive version of Mary Shelley’s morality tale of man playing god.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN8K-4osNb0

Dead of Night – 1945

One of the few Horror films produced at Ealing Studios during its golden era, Dead of Night is one of the earliest examples of the Horror Anthology film. Essentially a collection of short films linked together by a wraparound story, the anthology format became a staple of British horror films through to the 70’s and 80’s but rarely was it done as well as here. The scenes of Michael Redgrave being menaced by an evil ventriloquist dummy remain terrifying to this day.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UCJz617E8s

Night of the Living Dead – 1968

With his debut feature George A Romero managed to do some incredible things. First and foremost he re-invented the Zombie film moving away from the voodoo stories of old to the flesh eating ghouls we know and love today. Secondly, he cast the genre’s first black lead actor, the amazing Duane Jones. And finally, Romero managed to hide biting social commentary on the civil rights movement and the US’s role in Vietnam amongst the gore and mayhem. Political horror at its best.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob8vZhSjES8

Nightmare on Elm Street – 1984

The horror boom of the 80’s gave birth to a number of new horror icons but king amongst them has to be Wes Craven’s ultimate boogie man Freddy Kruger. A killer who stalks you in your dreams, Kruger was brought to life by the classically trained Robert Englund. Whilst the sequels are imaginative and fun it’s the original film that has all the scares, including a very gory encounter with a young Jonny Depp.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCVh4lBfW-c

The Ring – 1999

The late 90’s saw and explosion in new Japanese horror cinema and the most terrifying of all has to be The Ring. The set up is simple, once you have watched the cursed VHS tape you have 7 days to live unless you pass the curse onto another. Blending MR James with Japanese folk law, The Ring is a slow burn of a film with an explosive and horrifying final. Forget the watered down American remake and numerous sequels, the original is the real deal.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Z-MOqAvtY

Raw – 2016

Julia Ducournau’s Raw starts as a coming of age drama about a young woman joining her older sister in a French veterinary school but soon morphs into something more sinister. A strange mix of John Hughes and David Cronenberg, it’s one of the most effective body horror films in recent years and represents a new wave of female directed horror.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFlXVX2af_Y

Host – 2020

The haunted Zoom call film! A great example of what you can do with very limited recourses, Host was written, shot, edited and released during the Covid-19 lockdown. Drawing its influence from other format bending films such as The Blair Witch Project and Ghostwatch, it has more atmosphere, jokes & scares packed into its lean running time than most horror films made for 10 times its budget.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNlKbqHqGcY

First ever digital Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh opens tomorrow

Access free but limited – book now!

www.taiwanfilmfestival.org.uk | 18-27 Sept | Twitter | Facebook

#TaiwanFFE

First ever Taiwan Film Festival Edinburgh kicks off digitally on 18 September with an ambitious programme of features, documentaries and shorts charting the fascinating history of Taiwanese cinema starting with the 60s plus Q&A sessions and panel discussion presented in collaboration with the Scottish Documentary Institute and Cinetopia.

With half of the programme UK premieres, access to the Festival is free (up to 400 users per film and limited to UK only).

Audiences are encouraged to pre-book their free access now by registering at https://online.taiwanfilmfestival.org.uk/

The Festival presents 7 distinctive strands to guide the audiences through six decades of Taiwanese cinema.

  • Taiwanese Hokkien-Language Cinema presents three classic titles from the 60s, including The Bride Who Has Returned From Hell and Six Suspects.
  • A Borrowed Hong Kong, the Imagined China in Taiwan, and Trans-regional Cinema focuses on the 70s when Taiwan, then seen as Free China, gave Hong Kong filmmakers the financial support and creative freedom that Shaw Brothers, the most influential “right-wing studio” in British Hong Kong since mid-60s, could not offer. Drawing on the complicated cultural relationship between Taiwan, China and Hong Kong in the Cold War, this section presents the iconic Four Moods, an anthology film including an episode directed by legendary King Hu.
  • Melodrama Divas is devoted to films based on romance novels by Chiung Yao, possibly the most influential writer of this genre in the Chinese-speaking world.
  • Starting a new era, Taiwan New Cinema and Its Legacy offers a fascinating insight into the realism-based world of the new generation of filmmakers of the 80s and then post-2000, including such titles as The Sandwich Man – the hallmark of Taiwanese cinema.
  • Highlighting the contribution of immigrant filmmakers to Taiwanese cinema, Midi Z Selection presents work of the celebrated, Myanmar-born director whose both beautifully crafted and hard-hitting films gained him following all over the world.
  • Docs: Exploring Diversity in Pursuing the Taiwanese Identity gives voice to indigenous people and so-called New Immigrants as it examines Taiwanese identity. Lastly,
  • Shorts: The unusual usual presents a selection of short films from the last decade which have won praise for their keen examination of the ‘normal’ and fresh approach to dissecting issues in modern Taiwan society.

For more information please visit www.taiwanfilmfestival.org.uk 

#TaiwanFFE

Scottish Live Screaming

Streaming-induced arguments on the rise as Scots feel content fatigue

Lack-lustre lockdown entertainment is leading to arguments with friends & family, new research has found.

ODEON Cinemas found that over a quarter (26 per cent) of the nation has argued about what to watch during 2020 and on average Scots have a stream-induced argument TWICE a week.

Choosing what to watch isn’t the only screen-screamer, with 60 per cent of Scots also getting annoyed when others in the household ‘double-screen’ (watching TV and being on a mobile phone, laptop or tablet at the same time).

Elsewhere, entertainment- starved Scots also spend 102 hours – the equivalent of 4 days a year – searching for shows to watch. It’s no surprise then that 68 per cent admit to feeling content fatigue, ‘bored’ of streaming sites which have been their ‘go to’ for much of the year.

ODEON is hoping the release of Tenet (26 August) will fill the entertainment void & help the 28 per cent of the nation looking to ‘escape the everyday’ in the darkness of the cinema.

Carol Welch, Managing Director UK & IRE said “At home entertainment has played a huge part in our lives this year but after spending hours making do with a small screen, we’re looking forward to welcoming guests back to the real deal.

“Those who are tired of big cat kings or double screening can rest assured they can escape to the big screen and immersive entertainment at ODEON.” 

Brits no longer have to waste hours ‘remote con-scrolling’ as film fans can get back to ODEON – the home of entertainment – by booking tickets at https://www.odeon.co.uk/

Filmhouse needs you!

With a September opening in its sights, the Filmhouse has launched a fundraising campaign to support its return. It is asking people to donate £40, the cost of an annual membership, to raise the £60,000 needed to secure its future.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/filmhouse

Filmhouse has undertaken a survey of its members and regular attenders to understand the many complex issues and concerns that they would have in returning, but which has also unlocked a huge outpouring of support for it.

Juliet Tweedie, Head of Development for Filmhouse said: “We have all been so touched by the outpouring of love and support for Filmhouse since we closed our doors in March.

“The last three months have been very challenging. We have been very lucky to be able to access support from Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Government and the UK Government through the furlough scheme.

“Even with this support to help with the immediate financial strain, we anticipate that as well as a reduction in admissions when we do re-open, due to constraints on capacity in the building and changing habits of customers, we will have to invest hard cash into making the building safe and navigable for our customers and staff.

“We need your help to secure our future, so that we can continue our work as Scotland’s leading independent cinema and a hugely active charity in the city. We are a vital part of our community, and we don’t want to give up any of it.

“We recognise that this is a time of uncertainty, and other charities may be approaching you for help. We are so grateful for any donations, however large or small, and thank you for thinking of us.”

Filmhouse isn’t just a cinema. It is a charity and a community hub for film lovers across Edinburgh and the Lothians. As Scotland’s largest independent cinema, it screens over 850 wonderful films, seasons and special programmes to 200,000 people every year.

Its film education programme is attended by over 10,000 school children each year, and it seeks to inspire young film lovers through its Young Programmers initiative. Its Senior Selections programme brings together older audiences at risk of isolation.

And its Café Bar is a much-loved community space, where its famous nachos and chickpea curry have been keeping the city well-fed for over 20 years! It supports cultural programmes and partners throughout the city, and is proud to have over 5,000 members.

Independent cinemas across the UK are facing a huge challenge to reopen. Despite recent government announcements around the reopening of cinemas and the projected Phase 3 return in Scotland, the recent survey by the Independent Cinema Office found that the challenges of social distancing measures and the need for significantly reduced audience sizes means that reopening may not be viable for many.

The Filmhouse has set up a Go Fund Me page:

 https://www.gofundme.com/f/filmhouse 

which can be accessed directly or through its website or social media channels.

Alternatively, you can send a cheque to Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9BZ.