VERTIGO NEWSLETTER #26, September 2007



	Problems reading this newsletter? See http://www.vertigomagazine.co.uk/newsletter/September2007.htm VERTIGO NEWSLETTER #26, September 2007 Vertigo's newsletter features the latest on the magazine, what's new on the website plus exclusive competitions, events listings, links to resources and more. Subscribe or buy Vertigo magazine online / Go to the latest issue / Unsubscribe from this newsletter / Send us your information CONTENTS 1) *Vertigo News* – September On line issue on the Vertigo website from Monday 24th September 2) *Competition* – 2 competitions: Win a copy of ‘100 British Documentaries’ and a copy of ‘Haxan’ 3) *Events and screenings* – Documentary Centenaries, ‘House Without a Door’, Russian Film Festival, ‘The Cinema of Werner Herzog’ 4) *Calls for submissions* *and Courses* – LUX Associate Artists Programme, Birds Eye View 2008, London Artists’ Film and Video Awards 2008 5) *Links* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - VERTIGO NEWS *What Matters: Meaning in the Moving Image* – the new issue of Vertigo is out now. With the new summer issue of Vertigo – Volume 3 Issue 6 - we take a look at faith and meaning in the moving image. From articles on Devotional Cinema, to Girls Communion rituals, William Blake and metaphysical art in Halifax, Vertigo explores the role of meaning in our visual culture. In addition, there are Artists’ Pages by Gary Tarn, Patrick Keiller and Nicola Bruce; interviews with directors Raul Ruiz and Otar Iosseliani; a look at the Russian “Westerns” of Turkmenistan; a celebration of Road Movies; New Media with ubu.com and Second Life; reports from Oberhausen and the UNESCO Convention in Essen, plus DVD and book reviews and much more. To subscribe go to http://www.vertigomagazine.co.uk/shop/shophome.htm September On line issue on the Vertigo website from Monday 24th September The September online edition of Vertigo will be on the Vertigo website from Monday 24th September with articles, reviews and competitions featuring Werner Herzog, Hal Hartley, Lars von Trier's Golden Heart trilogy plus an essay on the Direct Cinema movement and an interview with Ken McMullen, director of the classic film Partition which has recently been re-released on DVD (see http://www.secondrundvd.com/release_partition.php). To see the September On line issue go to http://www.vertigomagazine.co.uk/issue.php?sel=onl&siz=1 You can still catch the August On line issue until Sunday at: http://www.vertigomagazine.co.uk/issue.php?sel=bac&siz=1&id=45 2 - COMPETITION First Competition: Win one of 2 copies of ‘100 British Documentaries’ from BFI Publications ‘100 British Documentaries’ by Patrick Russell, provides an accessible and occasionally provocative introduction to a rich and surprisingly varied tradition, by considering 100 examples from a century’s worth of cinema, from the Victorian period to the present day. Russell’s insightful essays on the 100 films place them in context, discuss the ways in which they represent their subject matter, and consider how they portray Britain during a century of great social and political change. In addition, the 100 films represent work by a wide range of film-makers, including Humphrey Jennings, Paul Rotha, Lindsay Anderson, Molly Dineen, Nick Broomfield and Patrick Keiller, in a variety of styles, genres and subjects. For your chance to win one of 2 copies of the book, email the answer to the following question, along with your full contact details, to vertigo@vertigomagazine.co.uk Which film documentary from Humphrey Jennings was nominated for the Oscar of Best Documentary in 1943? For more information on BFI Publications go to http://www.bfi.org.uk/publications.html Second competition: Win a DVD copy of ‘Haxan - Witchcraft through the Ages’ from Tartan Video This is an old silent film from 1922, featuring a funky new soundtrack - together with a CD of the soundtrack, and 2 runner-up prizes of the CD soundtrack. ‘Haxan’ directed by the pioneering Danish director Benjamin Christensen is based on the infamous medieval book, ‘Malleus Maleficarum’, regarded as the 'bible' of the Inquisition's witch hunts. Shot completely at night for added atmosphere, the film explores the role of superstition in the lives of medieval minds, and dramatises satanic activities and rituals. For your chance to win a copy of the DVD, email the answer to the following question, along with your full contact details, to vertigo@vertigomagazine.co.uk In 1968, a shortened version of ‘Haxan’ was released. With which renowned counter-culturefigure was the narration of this film version provided? For more information on Tartan Films go to http://www.tartanvideo.com 3 - EVENTS AND SCREENINGS Crossing the Line Festival, Rich Mix, Bethnal Green, 21- 23 September Tickets are still available for the Dochouse Crossing the Line Festival taking place from 21 to 23 September. This unique three-day festival examines the provocative new wave of films that cross the border between fact and fiction. Award-winning director Ken Loach opens the festival with a keynote address. Then there are masterclasses and debates with pivotal players such as Antonia Bird, Nick Broomfield, Peter Kosminsky, Stephen Frears, Brian Hill, Pawel Pawlikowski, Ed Coulthard and Penny Woolcock. For further details visit www.crossingtheline2007.co.uk Free InSight Q&A with Asif Kapadia, SOAS, Kings Cross, 24 September InSight is a not for profit organisation partnered with the School of Oriental and African Studies, Panasonic and Shooting People. On Monday 24th September InSight will be hosting a free screening and Q&A with its director Asif Kapadia whose latest film ‘Far North’ has just screened at the Venice Film Festival to great acclaim. This is an opportune moment to revisit his breakthrough feature ‘The Warrior’ in this special screening and to talk to a filmmaker forging his career and finding his voice, who is addressing his Anglo-Indian background and treading the line between artistic and commercial cinema. To book your free place, go to http://www.insighteducation.org.uk/Education.htm Through short courses, masterclasses, events and screenings InSight explores the potential for a more diverse visual culture through international cinema at SOAS and the potential for the democratisation of the medium through emerging technologies with Panasonic. For a full list of upcoming courses and events visit http://www.insighteducation.org.uk/Education.htm Documentary Centenaries - BFI Southbank, London, 1 - 30 September The BFI Southbank’s season on ‘Documentary Centenaries: A New Look at British Documentary’, explores the filmmaking school of Humphrey Jennings, Paul Rotha, Basil Wright, Edgar Anstey and Marion Grierson - pioneering documentarists all born 100 years ago in 1907. The programme is co-curated by Tim Boon, author of the forthcoming title (from Wallflower Press), ‘Films of Fact: A History of Science in Documentary Films and Television’ and provides viewers the opportunity to see the unique films discussed in this landmark text. This event offers a fascinating insight into how technology was perceived in 30s' and 40s' Britain. To make advance orders of the book, please e-mail info@wallflowerpress.co.uk. For further details visit http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/southbank/seasons/centenaries/ Screening of ‘House Without a Door’ – Cologne, Germany, 8 September - 13 October Bernd Behr's 2006 LAFVA - funded film, ‘House Without a Door’, will be showing as the inaugural exhibition at e-raum, a new project space in Cologne, exploring the relationship between film and architecture, linking a US military test structure with studio sets of 1920s German expressionist film. In addition, the film will be presented as a large-scale single-screen work accompanied by a specially commissioned soundtrack by Marcus Fjellström. The project was originally developed from a residency Behr held at The Center for Land Use Interpretation in Utah, and was first shown at Chisenhale Gallery, London in 2006. For more information visit the http://www.e-raum.eu/cms/front_content.php Bulgarian Film Festival - Renoir Cinema/Curzon Mayfair, London, 14 - 27 September The Bulgarian Creative Arts have chosen six films to showcase the talent and originality of contemporary Bulgarian cinema, offering a diverse programme from Mrs Dinosaur by Henry Kulev, an undiscovered gem from one of the leading figures in children's cinema, to Milena Adanova's debut feature, Monkeys in Winter, a compassionate and sensitive drama about motherhood across the generations. To celebrate the festival, Wallflower Press is running a special offer on the title ‘The Cinema of the Balkans’. Part of the 24 Frames series, the book contains 24 essays on individual films from the Balkan region, including works from Bulgaria, such as Goat's Horn (1972). To order your copy, please e-mail info@wallflowerpress.co.uk. For further information see http://www.wallflowerpress.co.uk/publications/24frames/balkans.html Ottawa International Animation Festival – Canada, 19 – 23 September This is the largest event of its kind in North America and one of the most respected animation events in the world. This year, this is the opportunity to see collections of the best new animation work selected from over 2070 entries from 73 different countries, gathering a mixture of short independent films, TV commercials, series, student films, music videos and feature films. In addition, the festival offers 32 showcase films chosen to represent the efforts of the Canadian and international animation communities. For more details about the programme and booking go to http://ottawa.awn.com/ International Panorama of Independent Film and Video – Greece, 21– 29 September In its 9th edition, the International Panorama of Independent Film and Video explores the boundaries of picture and sound, offering all the different trends of the art of motion picture coming from around the globe. Taking place in Patras city, this is a great opportunity to discover new artistic tendencies from directors coming from 56 countries with the presentation of 217 films. To see the full programme go to http://www.independent.gr/english/programma.htm For further information see http://www.independent.gr/english/index.htm Special Preview Screening of ‘Small Town Girl’ – London, 27 September This is a special preview screening of ‘Small Town Girl’ by Jill Daniels. Shot over five years, this is a unique and intimate portrait of three adolescent girls showing the harsh realities of life in two small towns at either end of England at the start of the 21st century. A wonderful and poignant documentary, beautifully directed. Space is limited so please RSVP to Jill at: jill.daniels@dsl.pipex.com or 0207 5643211 or 07890 100 249. For more details visit http://www.thefleapit.com First Russian Film Festival, London, 27 September – 3 October Organised by Academia Rossica (London) with support from the British Council, Russian Ministry of Culture and the Russian Embassy in London, this festival will be a high profile cultural event. Showcasing inspiring and provocative award-winning work from a host of internationally established young Russian filmmakers, it will provide a long-awaited opportunity for British audiences to view the portrayal of modern Russia through contemporary Russian cinema.The programme will include films made in the last two years which have already received international and national awards. An inter-cultural dialogue will be created with the help of ten visiting directors, as well as leading actors, who will be introducing screenings and participating in discussions. For any further information visit www.academia-rossica.org or email: oh@academia-rossica.org Hold Everything Dear: John Berger and Pasolini's La Rabbia, Curzon Mayfair, 3 October John Berger is a storyteller, essayist, novelist, screenwriter, dramatist and critic, whose body of work embodies his concern for, in Geoff Dyer's words, "the enduring mystery of great art and the lived experience of the oppressed." His latest book, ‘Hold Everything Dear’, is a remarkable collection of essays and reflections on the meaning of commitment and resistance. One piece is prompted by Pier Paolo Pasolini's 1962 film essay ‘La Rabbia’, a prophetic work, angry, empathetic, and almost completely unseen for 45 years. Following its screening, John Berger will be in conversation with Gareth Evans, editor of Vertigo magazine. Every audience member will receive a free copy of a 96 page, fully illustrated exploration of John Berger's life and work, with original writing by Berger, Geoff Dyer, Michael Ondaatje and Anne Michaels, among many others. Tickets are available on 0870 756 4621. ‘Hold Everything Dear’ is published by Verso Books (see www.versobooks.com). It will be available to buy on the night. Book Launch: ‘The Cinema of Lars von Trier’ - Danish Film Institute & the Arnold Busck Bookshop, London, 27 & 28 September Wallflower Press will be joining forces with the Danish Film Institute to host an evening of film and discussion at the Cinematique Book & Video Shop between Caroline Bainbridge, the author of ‘The Cinema of Lars von Trier’, and Stig Björkman, director of the fascinating documentary, ‘Tranceformer: A Portrait of Lars von Trier’. Analysing the enormous impact von Trier has had on contemporary film, the book forges a new understanding of the founder of Dogme 95 as a great democratiser of cinema and one of the most daring cinematic exponents of postmodern politics and satire. Plus, there will be a launch party at the Arnold Busck bookshop on 28 September. For more information go to http://www.wallflowerpress.co.uk/ Black to the Future – Piccadilly, 28 - 30 September Cinnamon Films presents a weekend celebrating black achievement in film and television in association with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. It will bring together the very best black talent from in front of and behind the camera for a weekend of screenings, seminars, Q&A’s, tributes and workshops. It is aimed at young professionals, recent graduates, BAFTA members, production companies, television executives and organisations that have responsibility to ensure diverse communities are represented on and behind the screen. For more information visit http://www.bafta.org/site/page493.html Book Launch and Film Screenings – The Cinema of Werner Herzog, Ciné Lumière - London, 1 October Following the international conference entitled ‘Werner Herzog’s Cinema: Between the Visionary and the Documentary’ in September 2005 organised by the Goethe-Institut and the University of Kent. The Ciné Lumière will show all of Herzog’s feature films. One of the speakers at the conference was Brad Prager whose book, ‘The Cinema of Werner Herzog: Aesthetic Ecstasy and Truth’,will be published by Wallflower Press this month. To celebrate the publication of the book, Ciné lumière, the National Film and Television School, the Goethe-Institut, and Wallflower Press have joined forces to present two of Herzog’s most acclaimed feature films, ‘The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser’ and ‘Aguirre, the Wrath of God’in a double bill that highlights some of the focal points of the book. Plus, there will be an introduction of the films by Brad Prager. For booking, contact the Box Office: 020 7073 1350 or box.office@ambafrance.org.uk For more information visit: www.institut-francais.org.uk Arts on Film Archive: Talks & Screenings, Tate Modern, London, 2, 3 & 16 October To celebrate the newly established online Arts on Film Archive (see www.artsonfilm.org.uk) and the publication of the book, ‘Vision On: Film, Television and the Arts in Britain’ (by Wallflower Press), the Tate Modern will be hosting a series of events looking at the history of art documentaries in Britain, offering a programme of screenings with a showcase of works from the new archive, containing more than 465 documentary films produced by Arts Council England between 1953 and 1999. Highlights of the programme include Steve Dwoskin’s cinematographic journey, ‘Bill Brandt: Shadow From Light’, and James Scott’s rarely seen work, ‘The Great Ice Cream Robbery’. In addition, each screening will be followed by on-stage conversations with artists and filmmakers, led by John Wyver, author of ‘Vision On: Film, Television and the Arts in Britain’. To book tickets, call 020 7887 8888 and for further information go to www.tate.org.uk London Premiereof Miranda Pennell's ‘Drum Room’ – BFI Southbank, London, 3 October The latest in an ongoing series of Film London Artists' Moving Image Network (FLAMIN) supported artist screenings will present Miranda Pennell's 2006 LAFVA-funded ‘Drum Room’, reflecting on the relationships between the individual and the group, as young rock musicians express their collective and individual identities against the ordered conventions of the institution they inhabit. The film deconstructs the architecture of a music school and plays on the unexpected sound relationships contained within it. The programme will also include Pennell's ‘You Made Me Love You’and ‘Tattoo’, as well as a short performance by master drummer and legendary improviser, Steve Noble. The screening will be followed by a discussion and Q&A with the artist. To book go to https://tickets.bfi.org.uk/welcome.asp or call 020 7928 3232. For more information visit http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/southbank/film/8019 5 ½ Hull International Short Film Festival, Hull, England, 5 - 7 October This special festival will provide a diverse range of mini masterpieces over a three day period of screenings, masterclasses and special events, including a retrospective of some audience favourites from the Hull International Short Film Festival during its distinguished history and a programme of shorts that have wowed viewers at international film festivals over the past, including Daniel Elliot’s short ‘Dad’ and the French comedy drama, ‘The Guitar Lesson’. In addition, don’t miss the screening of the Finest Hour: Films by Humphrey Jennings! For further details and the full program go to www.hullfilm.co.uk and www.myspace.com/hullfilm Marbella International Film Festival – Spain, 5 - 7 October The Marbella International Film Festival provides a fantastic artistic opportunity for independent international talent within the worlds of cinema, visual and performance art. This is your chance to see independent artists presenting their independent artistic work coming from Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Such events include film premieres, music, dance, art exhibitions, workshops, lectures, fashion shows and gala evenings. For further information see http://www.marbellafilmfestival.com/en/home/default.aspx Subversive Cinema - Curzon Soho, London, 7 October To mark the publication of ‘Subversion: The Definitive History of Underground Cinema’ (by Wallflower Press), the Curzon Cinemas present a rare afternoon screening of subversive film in all its forms. The author of the book, Duncan Reekie, will introduce an exciting programme of contemporary underground film, protest video, countercultural cinema, Agit-Prop, Beat cinema, Surrealist film and early cinema. As Underground Cinema activist and founder of Exploding Cinema, Reekie, will also be talking about his own film, ‘Destroy All Mobsters’, which will be screened at the event. To book call the Box Office: 0870 850 6928 For further details see http://www.curzoncinemas.com/flash/listings/events/curzon_soho/subversion_and_the_cinema Doclisboa 2007- Lisbon, Portugal, 18 - 28 October The 5th edition of Lisbon International Documentary Film Festival offers this year, Doclisboa, which is the only film festival in Portugal exclusively dedicated to documentary films. Once again, it will bring the best national and international documentary films to Lisbon, with screenings, more films sections and complementary activities than ever before. Plus, there will be a retrospective of Lech Kowalski, a larger figure of the American underground cinema (including a Masterclass with the artist); a special programme on Nordic documentaries: ‘Nordic Wind’; the new section’s Filmed Diaries and Portraits; masterclasses; a video library; school sessions and galleries. For further details about the festival see http://www.doclisboa.org Bristol’s Compass of Resistance Film Festival - England, 21 October – 9 November The Compass of Resistance International Film Festival is arranged by Compass Film in partnership with Swedish-based organization Film International. It uses the imaginative framework of the compass axis to direct audiences across the cinematic globe. This 2nd edition of the Compass Film Festival focuses on the theme of 'Resistance' in international cinema. Venues Watershed, Cube Microplex and Kuumba African Arts Centre will offer an impressive range of film screenings, discussions, workshops and other events. Starting with an international experimental short film competition, ‘Radical Reels: Five Minutes of Mayhem!’, the main festival weekend will take place at the Watershed on 3 & 4 November with the compass needle turning to India, Russia, Jamaica, Algeria and England. Plus, the films will be accompanied by talks with internationally acclaimed academics and film directors. For further information visit http://www.compass-film.co.uk American Black Film Festival – Los Angeles, 25 – 29 October In its 10th edition, the American Black Film Festival’s mission is to strengthen the Black filmmaking community through the resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development, offering world premieres of shorts, narrative features and documentaries. This event is the leading film festival in the world for African American and urban content. In addition, the festival will offer a great variety of cinematic showcases, also including panels, workshops and symposiums. For the full program and further details about the festival go to http://www.abff.com/ Sheffield Documentary Festival, Sheffield, 7th-11th November It’s just 67 days until Doc/Fest 2007. There is over £70,000 in pitch prizes to be won this year including the Sky One Development Prize for the 3rd year running, the Channel 4 Pitch in which six new directors must compete in front of a panel of television executives, including Channel 4 commissioning editors, to win the chance to make a 24-minute film for Channel 4's documentary strand First Cut, and the Cross-media Challenge: a new co-production competition for innovative, interactive, ‘socially engaged content’ with applications for mobile and broadband. Delegate passes are now available from https://sheffdocfest.com/account/login including access to all films, sessions, masterclasses and Doc/Fest parties. Further details of the programme are available on the website. 4 - CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS, APPLICATIONS AND COURSES *Call for entries – Buffalo 07: a celebration of drama** In its 5th year, the Buffalo World Cinema Short Film Festival (part of the Wandsworth Arts Festival), opening in October 2007, will feature innovative and exciting short films from new and established film makers from all over the country and abroad. The objective is to promote and celebrate innovative filmmakers from the Black & Asian Diaspora, and specifically encourage new audiences to explore and share the filmmakers’ visions. To submit your film, send a DVD copy of your film (any genre and up to 30 minutes in duration) completed after 2004, including a short synopsis and two production stills. For more information email: wadebuffalo@yahoo.co.uk or see http://www.ethnicnow.com/channels/film/press-release/3/1401/calling-for-submissions-5th-buffalo-short-film-festival.html Deadline for submissions: 28 September 2007* Call for applications: Piemonte Share Award - Digital Art Prize 2008 This is your last chance to apply! Piemonte Share Festival announces the second edition of the Share Prize 2008 for digital art. The competition jury will award a prize of €2,500 to the work (published or unpublished) which best represents experimentation between arts and new technologies. For further information and the online registration see http://www.toshare.it/ Deadline for applications: 30 September 2007 Call for applications – LUX Associate Artists Programme Applications are now open for the LUX Associate Artists Programme (AAP), a new 12 month professional development course for artists working with the moving image starting in November 2007. The scheme aims to provide an intensive course of development focused on critical discourse, extending to the practical and infrastructural issues that present challenges for artists working with the medium through workshops, seminars, mentoring and a final funded project. AAP is open to all artists working predominately with the moving image, who have completed a graduate or post-graduate course in the past three years. For more information and an application form see http://www.lux.org.uk/projects/aap.htm Deadline for applications: 1 October 2007 Call for submissions - Birds Eye View 2008 This is your last chance to apply for the Birds Eye View Festival 2008, seeking submissions from women film-makers from around the globe, to be a part of a showcase programme of innovative and inspirational shorts, features, documentaries and new media arts. The Birds Eye View Film Festival 2008 will open on 6 March with six days of shorts, features, documentaries, as well as interactive new technology artwork exhibitions, special events, panels and parties. All events will be held at leading London film venues, with key events involving celebrity presenters and guest speakers. For more information on how to submit work and visit http://www.birds-eye-view.co.uk/. Deadline for submissions: 3 November 2007 Call for submissions– London Artists’ Film and Video Awards 2008 (LAFVA) Now in its 8th year, LAFVA is one of the largest publicly funded award programmes for artists in the UK. LAFVA 2008 is now open for applications. London Artists' Film and Video Awards is an open submission awards scheme for artists' living and working in the London region, offering awards up to a maximum of £20,000 for the production of new work. Awards are available to artists working in the context of contemporary fine art moving image practice. Submitted projects can be any format, length and genre whether single or multi screen and produced for exhibition in galleries, festivals, specialist venues or cinemas. For more information email: flamin@filmlondon.org.uk or call 020 7613 7694 and visit http://flamin.filmlondon.org.uk/ Deadline for submissions: 22 November 2007 Call for submissions – London International Documentary Festival 2008 PocketVisions is calling for film submissions for the expanded London International Documentary Festival (LIDF) - A Conversation in Film, 2008. The LIDF will run from 31 March to 5 April 2008 and is now calling for documentary films produced between 1 January 2006 and 6 December 2007 that fall within the following categories: environment, human rights, ethnography/anthropology, politics, heritage and the arts, other social and development issues. All successful applicants will be invited to be present at the LIDF. This festival aims to support new and innovative filmmaking talent, and asks filmmakers to participate in a series of intertwining dialogues to be run alongside the screenings. To submit your films go to www.lidf.co.uk. For further information visit www.lidf.co.uk or email: info@pocketvisions.co.uk Deadline for submissions: 6December 2007 LINKS THE INDEPENDENT FILM PARLIAMENT FOURDOCS LUX ARTISTS' FILM AND VIDEO EVENT LISTINGS SHOOTINGPEOPLE CALENDAR FOR UK-WIDE FILM SCREENINGS AND EVENTS INDEPENDENT CINEMA OFFICE FUTURE SHORTS: SHORT FILM NETWORK AUDIO DESCRIBED AND SUBTITLED CINEMA LISTINGS NEW PRODUCERS ALLIANCE: TRAINING/EVENTS/SCREENINGS/ADVICE DOCSPACE: DOCUMENTARY SCREENINGS NETWORK DFG DOCS: BRITISH DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING RESOURCE SIDF: FREE NEWSLETTER AND FESTIVAL INFORMATION SCRIPTFACTORY: SCRIPTWRITING EVENTS AND NETWORK IFP: THE USA'S INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER NETWORK BBC FILM NETWORK: NEW BRITISH FILMS ONLINE RHIZOME: GLOBAL NEW MEDIA ART COMMUNITY ARTIST'S MOVING IMAGE NETWORK BIRDS EYE VIEW: WOMEN FILMMAKERS FILM STREET: FOR YOUNG CINEMA LOVERS UK FILM FORUM Subscribe or buy Vertigo magazine online / Go to the latest issue / Unsubscribe from this newsletter / Send us your information