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Love of the Commonwealth people
by Conrad Astley28/ 4/2005
The Commonwealth Film Festival offers viewers the chance to see
movies they would not otherwise have heard about, or to see them
long before they will hit cinema screens.
But while the notion of an international film festival may conjure
up images of unwatchable art-house movies in foreign languages,
likely to put off many regular cinemagoers, its organisers say this
couldn't be further from the reality.
Audiences are made up of the merely curious as well as die hard
movie buffs, students and wannabe film-makers, but they are often
surprised by what they see, according to programme director Mathieu
Ravier.
He said: "There seems to be this misconception that these films are
elitist or worthy but I think, when audiences get over that, they
really enjoy watching them and see things they wouldn't have had
the opportunity to.
"Many of these films aren't high-brow at all, they're just
entertainment, and it's great they're finding an audience.
"With a programme as varied as we've got this year, there will be
something for everyone.
"Some films will get an art-house audience, but others are just
great action films, and will be more likely to get audiences of
teenagers who are into computer games."
The festival, now in its fourth year, has expanded rapidly since it
was set up to coincide with the Commonwealth Games. Last year's
audiences were up by 70 per cent to 4,500, and organisers
anticipate another rise this year.
There will also be 1,200 submissions shown over the next week -
twice as many as when the festival started - from dozens of
countries across the Commonwealth.
But Mathieu says the success of the festival is really reflected in
the quality of the films.
The submissions - sent in by film-makers - only make up half the
movies being shown and the rest have been snapped up by the event's
organisers after they visited other prestigious festivals around
the world.
All films shown over the next week will be making their Manchester
debuts, while many will have never been shown before in the UK, and
some are due to go on to general release.
One of this year's biggest draws is a preview of Danny Boyle's
comic fantasy Millions. Radcliffe-born Boyle, who directed
Trainspotting, Shallow Grave, and 28 Days Later, chose to screen
the film in Manchester ahead of its national release. The film,
written by 24-Hour Party People's Frank Cottrell-Boyce, stars James
Nesbitt and focuses on two Liverpudlian children who find a bag of
stolen money, and decide it should be given to the poor.
Other films, such as The Purifiers - Scotland's first martial arts
flick - are thought to be likely to get wider distribution.
The festival has a reputation of acting as a springboard for
struggling film-makers hoping for recognition, and there will be
150 industry delegates at this year's event, including distributors
and broadcasters keeping a close eye on the screens.
Unknown films have previously been picked out to appear at other
festivals, while others, such as Indian movie The Fire And The
Rain, were snapped up for DVD release.
That success helped secure the festival's reputation among
film-makers on the subcontinent, and this year will see dozens of
Asian films being screened. These include Bengali road movie Chased
By Dreams, the Bangladeshi film Shankhonad, and romantic comedy
Pink Ludoos, described as Canada's answer to Bend It Like
Beckham.
Mathieu said: "Many of the people whose cultures are reflected in
these films come to the festival, and we get excellent feedback
from people from Indian and Pakistani backgrounds.
"Of course, we can see Bollywood films anywhere but the festival
offers audiences a much wider selection."
Another highlight of this year's festival will be a spotlight on
Malaysian films - a country previously unknown for its cinema -
while the queerscreen event will look at the best in recent gay,
lesbian and transgender cinema from countries including New Zealand
and South Africa.
This includes road movie The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things,
starring Winona Ryder, Marilyn Manson and Peter Fonda.
The festival will also be championing new local talent, in short
films showcase North By North West.
Other films to be shown include Juliet McKoen's Fleetwood-shot
thriller Frozen, about a woman's desperate attempts to track down
her missing sister, and the London party scene satire Charlie
White, starring Manchester-based Alex McGettigan and Sonila
Vjeshta.
Mathieu said: "The main thing about the festival for most people is
it's a complete experience.
"A lot of the directors, writers and actors will be there to talk
about the films.
"It's about much more than just going to watch a film, eating your
popcorn and leaving."
Festival highlights
It's All Gone Pete Tong Satirical biopic about
an Ibiza DJ who loses it all after becoming deaf. Featuring cameos
by DJs including Pete Tong and soundtrack by 808 State's Graham
Massey.
Millions Danny Boyle and Frank Cottrell-Boyce's
eagerly anticipated new film, described by the London International
Film Festival as "a modern day Ealing comedy set in
Warrington".
Charlie White Manchester cast in a depiction of
moneyed London socialites and celebrities going from party to
party. Introduced by director Samuel P Abrahams and members of
cast.
The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things
British-made film about a boy brought up by a prostitute in
America's southern states, starring Winona Ryder, Marilyn Manson
and Asia Argento.
A Whale of a Time Documentary about a mysterious
whale bone discovered underground in Toronto - 1,000km from the
ocean.
Guided Walk: Manchester in the Picture Hour-long
tour of city locations used in TV and film, from A Taste of Honey
to Prime Suspect.
Shooting in the North West Talks from film-makers
and studio bosses about filming in the region.
Get Animated Opportunity for under 10s to make their own films.
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