Edinburgh. Monday, 18 August
Enfant terrible
Jonas Akerlund turned up for a red carpet call looking very much like a scruffy heavy metal rocker. The director of music videos including Prodigy’s controversial Smack My Bitch Up seemed not too bothered, shall we say, about impressing the onlookers as he arrived at the cinema, bedraggled and greasy-haired, for the premiere of his feature debut Spun, starring Britany Murphy and Mena Suvari.
Crowd-pleasers
The votes are being counted already for The Standard Life Audience Award – based entirely on what the movie-going public think has been the best of the fest so far. Last year Rabbit-Proof Fence scooped the award and before that it was Amelie. This year it seems that Jim Sheridan’s In America, starring Samantha Morton and Paddy Considine is top of the pops – followed closely by Lone Scherfig’s Wilbur (Wants to Kill Himself).
And the gore-loving audience also seem to have enjoyed Richard Jobson’s 16 Years of Alcohol, in at number 3.
Contenders Ready…
The jury was announced today for the prestigious Michael Powell award, which celebrates the best British feature film contribution to this year’s festival. Some of the panel of decision makers include British film producer Simon Relph, the sci-fi novelist Luke Haines and former member of Black Box Recorder Rowan Joffe. The competition this year promises to be tough with a lot of quality offerings Brit from filmmakers – the short list features festival opener Young Adam, Edinburgh-made 16 Years of Alcohol, and Chris Cooke’s witty look at drink-driving; One for the Road. The winner will be announced on the lst day of the festival, August 24th. Watch this space…
Best of the Fest prog announced
It's been a day of festival announcements. The Best of the Fest programme for Sunday 24 August, comprising of audience favourites, was also announced today.
Four Eyes - Duncan Finnigan's Coatbridge-set comedy drama
In America - Jim Sheridan's moving tale of an Irish family in New York
Young Adam - Ewan McGregor in brilliant adaptation of Alexander Trocchi's novel
The Red and The White - Miklos Jancso's anti-war masterpiece
Torremolinos 73 - Pablo Berger's wonderful Spanish comedy
The Other Final - Brilliant documentary about the football match between the two lowliest national teams in the FIFA rankings
One for the Road - Chris Cooke's extremely funny ensemble comedy
Afterlife - Alison Peebles' bracing drama about a family coping with disability
Infernal Affairs - Hong Kong policier with brains and brawn
Box 507 - From Spain, Enrique Urbizu's socio-politically conscience revenge thriller
Shimkent Hotel - An utterly gripping tale of exploitation gone awry set in some of the former Soviet states
The Bookstore - Tunisian ensemble drama, "one of the unheralded discoveries of the year" - Variety
A Decade Under the Influence - Fascinating documentary about Hollywood's last golden age, 1968-75
Jealousy is My Middle Name - Korean revenge thriller with a difference
A Big Girl Like You - From France, a young girl's journey into womanhood
Until tomorrow, Claire x
