Written by roguerunner | 26 June 2009
Posted in news - Contests

From occasional Netribution contributor and Harry Potter 'floor editor', Dan Hartley:

Hey Netrib's

Please excuse the shameless self promotion but I've entered a short film as part of the Virgin Mobile Shorts competition and we'd really appreciate it if you pay a visit and view our film. It's only 2 mins long and garnering great reviews.

It's a comedy about  a mini movie mogul who pitches his big idea to a major movie star, oblivious to the greater drama unfolding behind him.

www.virginmediashorts.co.uk/films/film/the-big-idea-3/

Hope you like it!!

Dan

 

Written by Nicol Wistreich | 22 June 2009
Posted in news - Censorship

The importance of open video and free media has been established beyond doubt this last week following the events in Iran. Ten key videos, including the heart-stopping 'Poem from the rooftops of Iran' (below) have been compiled by Ben Parr @ Mashable.com, [via Xeni @ BoingBoing, via Raymond Leon Roker)]. The one that really made me shivver when I first saw it has now received almost half a million views and is also below. Taken from a mobile phone it shows an almost classical story, as it moves from injustice (motorcyclists drive into crowds), reaction (motorcycle on fire) to redemption (as the crowd rescues the motorcyclist, take him to safety and give him water).

Riot Police caught by crowd

Poem from the Rooftops of Iran

May peace prevail.

Written by Emma Carter | 22 June 2009
Posted in news - Community projects

This in from Emma Carter about the latest project from our pals at Good Pilot, Chris Aldhous and Pete Hodgson, who we previously worked with on the HyPe Gallery, and who ditched the big corporate ad world soon after to focus on projects they believed in, including this provocatively-titled youth campaign for Action Aid.

Bollocks To Poverty, the youth arm of international charity Action Aid, are looking to recruit a 'Tour Ambassador'. It's a once of a lifetime opportunity for any music lovers to be the official "Bollocks To Poverty' representative at Reading and Freeze Festivals - hanging out backstage and interviewing top bands.

In a novel recruitment strategy, there will be no interview, assesment or tests but candidates simply have to put on a Bollocks To Poverty themed event (anything from a private screening to a gig to a bake off), and upload images, video and copy about it to the offical Bollocks To Poverty site. All the events will be judged by a celebrity judging panel which includes Watford punks, Gallows, and the winner gets the job.

More information is on the Bollocks To Poverty official site here.

Written by Sheffield Doc/Fest | 19 June 2009
Posted in news - Documentary

From Sheffield DocFest:

This year has seen Sheffield Doc/Fest receive its highest number of film submissions to date. As a result Doc/Fest has extended the deadline for submitting a film to this year's festival to 6pm, Wednesday 1 July 2009.

This gives filmmakers an extra 15 [10 - sorry, Ed!] days to submit a film, which can be completed through Doc/Fest's website www.sheffdocfest.com/view/submitafilm. Applicants may contact Film Programmer Hussain Currimbhoy if they wish to discuss their film before submission ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

The one hundred or so chosen films will be screened to Doc/Fest's renowned audience of 1,500 delegates and members of the public. Over 80 Commissioning Editors have already confirmed attendance at Doc/Fest 2009.

Read more...

Written by Nicol Wistreich | 18 June 2009
Posted in news - Festivals

Sam Mendes was in Edinburgh last night with Sean Connfery and Alan Cumming for the opening night gala of his film Away We Go - which has great buzz here in New York where it's already openend. Amidst news that Lars von Trier will now attend the festival next week for the just added UK premiere of AntiChrist, , the festival looks set to continue its mission of discovery with a total of 23 world premieres. Also expected are Alfonso Cuarón, Andrea Arnold, Brenda Blethyn, Darren Aronofsky, Gael Garcia Bernal, Guy Pearce, Hugh Dancy, Jesse Eisenberg, Joe Dante, John Krasinski, Kathryn Bigelow, William H. Macy and Kate Winslet.

Good coverage at the BBC and some video from the opening here.

 

Written by Laurence Boyce | 13 June 2009
Posted in news - Animation

‘Where’s Your Head At?’ is one of those songs that people remember for the video just as much as they do for the tune. It was innovative, fresh and, quite frankly,  frigging terrifying as rock band monkeys with human faces (ah, in all my years as a journalist, how long have I wanted to be able to type that phrase) go mental to the driving beats. As good as the video is, the genius computer animation and idea started to – slightly – overshadow the song. So, when animator Max Hattler was asked to provide concert visuals for the song, there was one simple request: “There was no brief, no pitch, they just wanted me to do whatever I want – as long as it didn’t involve monkeys!”

Read more...

Written by Laurence Boyce | 11 June 2009
Posted in reviews - Special Edition

Life is a strange thing. It keeps interfering when you want to do a DVD column. Yes, due to lots and lots of things, Special Edition has been away for a long time. But it’s never been forgotten and Laurence Boyce returns with Special Edition # 29 complete with lots and lots of discs, including an absolutely ton of British cinema, that you can get to keep you entertained whilst you absolutely ignore Big Brother. A bit like the rest of the UK nation…

After the huge misfire that was The Fountain it was a bit worrying when Darren Aronofsky announced that his latest film would set in the carny world of pro-wrestling. It was even more worrying when Mickey Rourke – long since derided as a Hollywood joke – would take the main role. Well, wouldn’t you know it, the both of them have made The Wrestler (Optimum Home Entertainment) one of the finest US films of the past few years. Whilst there has been a justified amount of praise for Rourke’s brilliant performance as Randy “The Ram” Robinson, a washed up pro-wrestler looking for one last big match,  it’s a shame that the film wasn’t more lauded for Aronofksy’s excellent direction and the excellent cinematography from Maryse Alberti. Even though it’s set in the present day the film throws us into a world of muted greys, trailer parks, old console systems and payphones: much like Randy, we’re apparently trapped by the 80s. Similarly, the camera is continually following Randy (indeed he’s in almost every single scene of the film) and through it's relentless pursuit we know that, ultimately, he can never escape his past. This technical bravura never feels tricksy and, alongside the brutal wrestling scenes, it creates an air of both energy and  bruised romanticism to the entire film. Mention must also be made of Marisa Tomei’s extraordinary and fragile portryal of a stripper whose life mirrors that of our babyface hero. Tragic and moving but also breathtakingly beautiful this is a unique and exciting example of American cinema at its best. The DVD comes with a comprehensive ‘making of’.

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Written by DepicT! | 11 June 2009
Posted in news - Contests

From Anna Searle @ Brief Encounters:

Set your timers to 90 seconds – DepicT! once again challenges filmmakers worldwide to show your stuff in just a minute and a half. Whether live action or animation, experimental or documentary, we’re looking for tiny films which are hugely distinctive, imaginative and engaging.

Part of Encounters Short Film Festival – “the UK’s most important film festival,” according to the Guardian – DepicT! offers talented filmmakers a unique range of industry prizes as well as priceless exposure through Encounters, the Digital Screen Network, depict.org and beyond.

Last year we received over 350 entries from filmmakers all over the world, and we can't wait to see what the next batch of entrants can come up with. We've had everything from conversations with God to confused cows, Marilyn impersonators to llama lovers... The possibilities are endless!

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Written by Laurence Boyce | 11 June 2009
Posted in news - Post-production

Sad news as I’ve recently heard that Film Lab North, based in Leeds, is going to be shut down in the next few weeks. Given that it was one of the last bastions of Super16mm and 35mm in the area, giving filmmakers in the area the opportunity to shoot on film whilst getting invaluable advice from the friendly staff.

Recent credits included shows such as 'Vincent' and 'Casanova' and the (underrated) feature Like Minds. But the place has a 25-year history with former clients including the likes of Disney and NASA. Yes, the stories of secret agents delivering cans of 16mm – which only a few hours earlier had been orbiting the planet – and then sitting in a darkened lab as they were being processed may seem apocryphal. But when you see a signed picture of the Space Shuttle crew in their offices, and the willingness of the staff to tell the story to anyone who asks, you can tell how important Film Lab North has been to the cinematic history of the region – and indeed – the world.

Read more...

Written by Nicol Wistreich | 05 June 2009
Posted in news - Screenings

RefugeeYouth, Nueva Generacion and Refugee Action bring a collection of films about exile to BFI Southbank on 16 - 22 June.

The BFI Southbank marks National Refugee Week with a series of award-winning and moving films about exile and will host Refuge in Films, a weekend of films and events curated by young refugees.

Refugee Week celebrates the UK's history of providing sanctuary to people fleeing human rights abuses and their contribution to the UK. As part of their Simple Acts campaign, audiences are being urged to ‘watch a film about refugees’ - just one of the 20 small everyday actions that can be carried out by all in a bid to inspire people to change perceptions of refugees. Between Tuesday 16 and Sunday 21 June, a selection of thought-provoking and award-winning features, short films, interactive workshops and panel discussions with refugees and filmmakers will take place at BFI Southbank.

The programme will include the UK Premiere of Emmy award winning documentary, Made in LA (2007) (curated as part of the Refuge in Films festival) that follows a group of Latina immigrants working in LA garment sweatshops and their battle for basic labour rights. The week will also feature the UK premiere of The Fortress (2008), which won the Golden Leopard at the Locarno festival in 2008 and which investigates the hidden world of a Swiss reception centre for asylum seekers. Following the June 16 screening of The Fortress will be a panel discussion around the depiction of refugees in film that will feature well known film directors and people who have fled their country. During the day, Refugee Action will host a tea party with refugees and a display of award-winning photography in the delegate centre.

Over the course of the week, there will also be an opportunity to see Ellen Kuras’ (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) Oscar nominated documentary, The Betrayal (2008). Curated as part of the Refuge in Films festival, it is a film 20 years in the making that follows a Laotian family who have sought refuge in an unwelcoming Brooklyn, New York. There will also be screenings and a discussion with Mohamed Maklouf, film director and exile.

For younger viewers The Future Film Institute will hand over its programming of films and events to the Refuge in Films festival throughout the weekend of 19-21 June. The festival is curated by young people from New Generation and Refugee Youth, who come from 19 different countries. They have put together an amazing programme to celebrate Refugee Week. A series of visual workshops and performances will also be taking place over the weekend as well as the launch of Becoming a Londoner, a book produced by young people about their experiences of the process of becoming part of their new city. In the Mediatheque, there will be a special collection jointly curated by The Future Film Institute and Refuge in Film who will also co-host the monthly Future Film discussion group during the weekend. (from BFI Press Release)

Technorati Profile

Written by Nicol Wistreich | 11 June 2009
Posted in news - Young people

It's easy to talk about the digital revolution and the benefits of giving everyone a free and open platform for self-expression if the only people who use the best of the webs tools are contained to one social or economic group. I've previously trained people how to publish online and use CMSs, but I'd never had to teach people to write a blog who had not only never blogged before, but possibly never written publicly, or owned an email address.

One of the more enjoyable projects of recent years Netribution has worked on, Arts Beyond the Classroom (artsbeyond.org) is a pilot project from A New Direction, the new name for Creative Partnerships London, in association with two primary schools in inner London with a reputaiton for arts and creativity - and creatively driven by Eelyn Lee Productions.

20 children and their parents in both schools were taken to experience London's cultural delights, including film at the BFI, art at Tate Modern, dance at Sadlers Welles and music at the Royal Festival Hall (and the oft forgotten museums, via St John Soames). The trips were accompanied with workshops for the parents and children, and both parties were encouraged to blog about their experience on a group blog Netribution set up for the project.

What was originally intended to be a way for the project funders to track the success of the pilot scheme, became a major output in itself, with some (perhaps 10%?) of the bloggers really taking to it and both finding a platform to express themselves honestly, and often a unique style or format.