Guest blogger *(soon to be regular we hope) Jamie McHale previews Leeds International Film Festival
The events of the next couple of months have the cinephiles of Leeds (and further afield) on the edge of their plush red replica seats. We recently covered the upcoming appearance of film critic Mark Kermode to the Hyde Park Picture House (which is now sold out) and now it’s time to talk about Leeds International Film Festival. Celebrating its 25th year the festival has some pretty special events lined up, here are some key dates for your diary:
Friday 7th October
LiFF will be announcing their full programme as part of the annual city-wide spectacle Light Night, at 8pm trailers of the festival’s line up will be projected onto Leeds Town Hall’s giant screen and a full, free printed programme will be available. The line-up reveal will be followed by, get this, a silent German expressionist film! Readers of my Mark Kermode preview might think I’ve got an agenda but I assure you, it’s just a coincidence. However, the film in question isn’t dystopian nightmare Metropolis, it’s the terrifying nightmare Nosferatu. An early unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Nosferatu continues to scare audiences to their wit’s ends and this screening will be given an extra creepy edge (as if it needs one) thanks to live organ accompaniment by Simon Lindley.
Thursday 3rd November
It was revealed last week that Andrea Arnold’s (Fish Tank) adaption of Bronte’s Wuthering Heights will be the festival’s opening gala film. Recently winning the Best Cinematography Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and according to the Guardian ‘a costume drama like no other’, I for one cannot wait.
Wednesday 9th November
LiFF endeavour to host special events as well as screening a range of excellent cinema and on the 9th November Paul Merton brings his critically acclaimed touring show, Silent Clowns to Leeds Town Hall. Combing a mixture of silent comedy classics, Merton’s conjecture and live piano from Neil Brand it’s sure to be a hilarious evening.
More coverage to come soon…(you betcha!)
Leeds 25th International Film Festival runs 3-20th November, get your passes here.
Words by Jamie McHale, editor of Leeds based pop culture blog TQS.