| by dr andrew cousins andrew@netribution.co.uk The Breakdance Film Festival The Breakdance Film Festival has been running for an extraordinary twelve years. In that time it has quickly established itself as Britain’s premiere film festival. Every year it shows the cream of cutting edge shorts and new feature films. I asked the festival co-ordinator, Tristan DeSheills to talk me through some of this years best entrys. | ![](/Media/Front%20page/25/transparent_sq.gif) | ‘Inward Facing Tears’ Short Documentary 12 Mins Directed by Austin Trenchard Winner of the Silver Teardrop at the Helsinki Documentary Film Festival 1999 "A very powerful essay on what it is to be a man in the 21st century. Austin Trenchard’s uncompromising film contains graphic footage of men crying as they describe the loss of a loved one, a favourite pet or the outcome of the 1987 FA Cup Final. Particularly moving is the sequence in which Vinnie Jones is taken back to the spot where his Yorkshire terrier, Squeaky, was run over in 1972. You really get a chance to see the man behind the image" ‘Isolation, Confusion, Loss’ Short Documentary 11 Mins Directed by Vanessa Feltz "Vanessa Feltz takes us on a personal journey through the last twelve months of her life. Audiences should note that this film contains lengthy sequences of Vanessa without any make-up" ‘Eleven Men with Queer Shaped Balls’ Short Documentary 13 Mins Directed by Alan P. Nurse Winner of the Golden Dildo Award at the Toronto Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2000 "A very funny and heart-warming film about the ups and downs of a gay rugby team in Birmingham as they battle to win their league. Will they be able to go all the way? Or will they have to pull out early? From the director of ‘Dykes on Bikes’ a film about a lesbian cycling team." ‘Insomnia’ Experimental Short 7 Mins Directed by Julie Housegogarden "A blend of images, music and sound effects which attempt to convey the feelings of being deprived of sleep for 48 hours. Warning: contains stroboscopic lighting effects and extensive use of Portishead on the soundtrack." ‘Men are from Mars…’ Short Drama 10 Mins Directed by Blake MacFisheries "Bernadette wants Wayne to commit to a long-term relationship. Wayne is uncertain. That is until his guardian angel appears and shows him what his life would be like if he was struck down with testicular cancer. Issue-led drama." ‘I was 3 Feet Shorter as a Child’ Short Drama 6 Mins Directed by Waylon Hemmingway Winner of the Crystal Onanism Award 2001 "Nostalgic look back at the 1970's through the eyes of Warren, a boy who spends his days at the local fleapit dreaming of becoming a director" ‘Carpe Diem’ Short Drama 10 Mins Directed by Natasha Sinatra "Lucien is a drifter. He is drawn into a shadowy underworld by a beautiful woman. Has he been embroiled in a vampire cult? Or do they just need more iron in their diet?" ‘Three-way-thing’ Short Drama 10 Mins Directed by Arnott Wiiierd "A dinner party conversation turns to the subject of sexual fantasies. Will the guests feel liberated enough to act them out? Contains nudity, sex scenes and the muted grunts of the director in the background" Plus the premiere showings of: ‘Mr Floppy’ British Feature Film 101 Mins Directed by Noyce Undercarriage Written by Richard Curtis Starring Hugh Grant, Judi Dench, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rowan Atkinson as Dr Blenkinsop "Romantic comedy in which Hugh Grant plays a terribly nice stuttering young Englishman afflicted by impotence. Will it wreck his chances of a relationship with the lovely young American travel agent?" ‘Spatchcock’ British Feature Film 120 Mins Directed by Guy Ritchie Written by Guy and Madonna Ritchie Winner of the Mike Figgis Award for Best Use of a song by Sting Starring Jude Law, Joseph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter and Eddie Izzard as ‘Muppet’ "A British take on ‘Shaft’. Jude Law is Dave Spatchcock, a private detective prowling the mean streets of Weston-Super-Mare" ‘The Tightness of my Corsets’ British Feature Film 135 Mins Directed by Alan Parker Starring Ralph Fiennes, Emma Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, Samantha Bond "Costume drama exploring the seething undercurrent of sexual tension and illicit desire in a London department store at the turn of the century" ‘Elastic Reality’ British Feature Film 90 Mins Directed by Mike Figgis Winner of the Sony Award for Extreme Cleverness Starring Saffron Burrows, Saffron Burrow’s Friends, Julian Sands "Digitally shot drama. The screen is divided into 100 different screens each showing a different image – some too small to be seen with the naked eye. Simultaneously broadcast on the Internet. The Breakdance Film Festival runs from April 3rd – 7th. | | | |