We have two culture vultures below giving their impressions on yesterday’s Bradford International Film Festival catalogue launch. First we have Dan Fletcher of Dan’s Movie Insights and then James Voller of Wrestle With the Questions.
The 18th Bradford International Film Festival was officially launched yesterday with the unveiling of their masterpiece, the 2012 programme. The world’s first UNESCO city of film, Bradford has undoubtedly a rich film heritage and the festival is the perfect platform to recognise this achievement.
Running from the 19th-29th of April BIFF 2012 opens with Whit Stillman’s original comedy Damsels in Distress. This year’s line-up includes the Oscar nominated Albert Nobbs starring Glenn Close and Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion winner Faust.
Highlights of this year’s festival are spread thin. Indeed, the most pleasure will be derived from the extremely rewarding Uncharted States of America IV selection. This strand celebrates independent film across America and this year’s highlight is undoubtedly Sawdust City (image left), described as a ‘road movie on foot’. If that isn’t enough to get excited over, the producer is the brains behind last year’s hit LiTTLEROCK.
After the success of its debut year, Bradford After Dark returns and this time it’s personal. Popular titles include Cuba’s first ever zombie movie Juan of the Dead, the unlikely cohesion of London gangsters and black magic in The Devil’s Business, not to mention the latest offering from the current king of horror Ti West, The Inkeeepers.
Saving the best till last, the Bradford audience will witness one of the most hyped films of 2012 The Raid (image right). An Indonesian film, directed by a Welshman, you figure it out. A big hit at Sundance and more recently the talk of Glasgow The Raid is not to be missed.
It seems almost unfair to describe Bradford International Film Festival as an underachiever and that would be an unfair conclusion. Where BIFF triumphs is its ability to seek out fresh material from around the globe, its promise of a retrospective coup de’état and its unflinching passion for film.
– Dan Fletcher
As a film student I look forward to film festivals, and why wouldn’t I? A chance to see new and classic films in the same place surrounded by other film enthusiasts, a number of special events and of course the special guests. When I arrived at the Bradford International Film Festival’s official press launch yesterday I knew I was in for a treat, and I wasn’t disappointed. I received this year’s programme upon arrival at the National Media Museum and as I flicked through, before the event began, I was picking out names and films that stood out to me. I was a little excited.
The Pictureville cinema was the location and the Museum director, Colin Philpott, started proceedings with a brief welcome and introduction before handing us over to the festival co-directors, Tom Vincent and Neil Young, who explained how excited they were for this year’s festival and their personal highlights, before showing a number of trailers that enhanced my excitement. Trailers shown included the opening film Damsels in Distress and the animated Wrinkles, both of which look wonderful.
This year’s special guests have been confirmed as Ray Winstone (who will be interviewed by revered film critic Mark Kermode), Barbara Windsor and Olivier Assayas. I think you will agree, very impressive. The festival will also contain the usual mix of feature films – both old and new – and short films from around the world.
So as I said at the start, as a film student, I look forward to film festivals. Am I looking forward to this year’s festival? The short answer is yes; yes I am. The longer answer would be: considering the fact I have smiled so much today that my face hurts – in fact, since I was invited to the official launch I’ve smiled so much my face hurts – and I am more than a little impatient for the festival to begin, I would say I am excited, yes. You should be too, yes you reading this now, you should be excited, this year’s festival looks brilliant and if this morning’s official launch was anything to go by, it will be an incredible eleven days.
– James Voller
See for yourself what will be playing during the festival here, or see where you can get hold of the programme here. Or keep up with all festival developments via their Twitter Stream @BradFilmFest or on their Facebook page.
Mike McKenny is The Culture Vulture’s film editor. If you have any film related stories, articles, reviews with a twist, etc, contact him on mike.mckenny1983@gmail.com or find him on Twitter @DestroyApathy