| THIS
IS LOCAL LONDON
WANDSWORTH FILM FESTIVAL
When
it comes to film, Wandsworth doesn’t just host Hollywood
A-listers for some lights, camera, action (like David
Schwimmer, for example, who shot many scenes for Run,
Fat Boy, Run in Battersea Park), but the odd movie star
lives here as well, such as Keira Knightley.
So it is only appropriate that the borough has its own
film festival. This weekend sees theWandsworth and Westminster
Film Festival, with a series of screenings and workshops
taking place in the considerable shadow of Battersea Power
Station (pictured).
One highlight comes on Saturday night, when an eclectic
fistful of short films will be shown. These include Gone
To The Dogs, a surreal comedy starring British cinema
legends Tony Booth and Dora Bryan plus 15 mutts. Booth
plays Jack, a frustrated pensioner who dies and comes
back as a dog.
A more serious film is Lost Wax, which traces the story
of sculptor Ian Walters, who died last year.
Two psychological dramas are included in the evening;
Breaking Out is a powerful exploration into depression
that was selected for the Cannes Festival Semaine de la
Critique in 2004, while Sick was directed by Mike Rymer
and produced by Christine Hartland.
Clapham South-based Christine says: “It is about
the breakdown of relationship between father and daughter,
and deals with depression - that is how we got support
from the Samaritans and NHS. I was so impressed by how
Mike talked about the film and the way he constructed
the
script was quite amazing. It has similar themes to Breaking
Out, which I saw when we were doing 'SICK'. It is nice
that these are being shown around the power station -
it gives it a nice quirky twist.”
Sarah Mason, one of the festival organisers at Wandsworth
Council, says: “The festival is a great opportunity
for local film-makers, and for anyone who is interested
in the industry, to take part in the seminars."
“There is so much talent within the borough and
we are proud to be showing some of the short films that
have been financially assisted by the Wandsworth Film
Awards over the past few years, such as Gone To The Dogs.”
On Sunday is Buffalo, an innovative and entertaining mix
of global short films. Wandsworth & Westminster Film
Festival, Battersea Power Station, Sat and Sun, October
21-22, wandsworth.gov.uk/film |
