Northern Lights Film Festival
When: 20/03/2010 - 28/03/2010
The only UK Film Festival to focus on international feature film breakthrough talent, the 2010 Northern Lights Film Festival (NLFF) will build upon the success of previous years to showcase and celebrate the best new films by the most talented new filmmakers from around the globe.
The First Movie
Sunday 21 March, 3pm
Gala Theatre, Durham
Tickets £10/£8 – to book call 0191 332 4041
Northern Irish cineaste Mark Cousins is a passionate advocate of the power of film to transform our understanding of the world. In ‘The First Movie’ he visits a small village in the Kurdish North of Iraq armed with a projector, a selection of great movies and three small cameras to allow the children there to express their inner imaginations.
With special guest, Director Mark Cousins, who will be introduce the film and then hosting a Q&A session.
No One Knows about Persian Cats
Wednesday 24 March, 6pm
The Side Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
Tickets £10/£8 – to book call 0191 232 2208 or buy online http://shop.amber-online.com/products/no-one-knows-about-persian-cats
President Mahmud Ahmadinejad imposed a ban on ‘Western and decadent music’ in Iran soon after taking power, yet No One Knows About Persian Cats portrays Tehran as a city with a vibrant underground indie rock scene, and features a number of bands who sound and look good enough to be gaining coverage in NME. Made in secret, and in fear for the crew’s safety this is a remarkable film that cannot be broadcast in the country it was made.
After the screening there will be a skype interview with director Bahman Ghobadi and some of the young people in the film to find out about the frightening reality of rule breaking in Iran.
Followed by a live gig by the stars of the movie, Take It Easy Hospital.
In the Realm of Senses
Friday 26 March, 6pm
The Oriental Museum, Durham
Tickets £10/£8 – to book call 0191 334 5694
Oshima’s controversial masterpiece screens at the Oriental Museum alongside an exhibit created specially for the screening and accompanied by an introduction led by Lúcia Najib, director of centre for world cinemas at university of Leeds. In the Realm of the Senses is Ôshima’s famously banned portrayal of the intense affair between a married man in the Meiji restoration period and his chambermaid and is based on an actual scandal. It is a very explicit film but the sex scenes are used to create an unparalled depiction of love and desperate escape from repression in the stifling environment of Japan in the run up to World War II.
Jade
Saturday 27 March, 4pm
Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle upon Tyne
Tickets £4/£3 – to book call 0845 217 9909
Join us for a special Q&A screening with BAFTA nominated North East filmmaker Daniel Elliott. Winner of over twenty five international awards and nominations, the bill includes Daniel’s THE MAKING OF PARTS, four short documentaries made for Channel 4 and JADE, winner of the Silver Bear at Berlin, and a BAFTA nomination for Best Short Film. Daniel is a longstanding part of NLFF. His first film FENDER BENDER, made as part of the very first NLFF in 2003 went on to win festival prizes across the world. Daniel will talk after the screening about his work and his progression towards his much-anticipated, feature film. Supported by BAFTA, this screening will be the second in an NFM and Tyneside Cinema strand, NE Talent, celebrating the work of filmmakers in the region.
