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Posted by Michelle Strozykowski Jul 17, 2008 |
The clouds are grey, the threat of precipitation imminent. It must be summer in green and pleasant England....and summer means festivals! Glastonbury is done and dusted, but there are plenty of other festivals just around the corner, ranging in size from boutique chic to positively gargantuan! Even those crazy cats from The Mighty Boosh organised a festival this year.
Although loads of music festivals have film screenings, I've never quite understood the attraction of sitting in a field to watch a film, surrounded by loudmouth nutters. I have to admit though, the recent Meltdown Festival – which took place in London's Southbank Centre – turned me back on to the idea that films could be a worthwhile festival experience. They screened Ridley Scott's Bladerunner accompanied by a live orchestral performance of Vangelis' futuristic soundtrack. How cool is that?
The film festivals proper kicked off in Britain with Edinburgh's International Film Festival, where British film director Shane Meadows picked up the Michael Powell award for his new film Somers Town. The possible (although it's only a rumour!!!) new Doctor Who Robert Carlyle picked up the best actor gong for his performance in Summer, and German maverick Werner Herzog garnered the award for best documentary for his new film At the End of the World. After my recent profile of Wim Wenders, perhaps Herzog needs to be the next German director on my list for a retrospective career profile. Watch this space.