Brighton Film Festival 2009 preview
Between the 19th of November and the 6th of December, Brightonians will be able to feast on an international banquet of films – from shorts, to DIY arthouse flicks and major releases – as the seventh annual Brighton Film Festival takes place.
In terms of the big-name titles, a highlight will surely be director John Hillcoat’s adaptation of Cormack Mccarthy’s book, The Road. The screening of the film at the Duke Of York’s cinema will be followed by a question and answer session with the director himself and Nick Cave, who wrote the soundtrack to the film.
Micmac, a quirky new comedy from Amelie director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, will also feature. It tells the story of a group of outsiders who are intent on stopping two major weapons manufacturers.
For families, children-at-heart, and those of us who loved the sublime imagination of Spirited Away, Ponyo, which is the latest creation from Japanese animator Hayo Miyazaki, will be a must-see.
A scene from The Road, directed by John Hillcoat
An exhibition from Mark Lewis, an acclaimed moving image artist, will on show at The University of Brighton, while Figuring Landscapes, a package of artists’ moving images from the UK, will explore the theme of urban and rural spaces. Another part of the programme that looks interesting is Nevermades, which, according to organisers, will show films that were never finished and therefore retain an enigmatic, mysterious quality.
It is likely that this will be our only chance to see some of the more low-key showings that are on offer. Amongst them Until The Light Takes Us – a documentary on Norway’s infamous black-metal scene in the 90s, which was surrounded by murder and church-burnings – stands out for me as a screening that is bound to be intriguing.
For the full programme, visit the website of festival organisers Cine-City, who are a film and moving image agency based in Brighton. The six venues included in the venue are the Duke Of York’s cinema, the Sallis Benney Theatre, Embassy Court, Grey Area, Lighthouse and the University of Brighton Gallery.
