Another doc to look out for this year is Hit Me With Music. Exploring the explosion of the dancehall scene in Jamaica, Miguel Galofre’s film has some of the best dancing you’ll see on screen this year. Featuring some seriously sweet moves from the likes of Jelly Baby and the late ‘Dancehall Master’ Bogle. Unfamiliar with dancehall? Then check this out.
You don’t have to delve too far into the Flatpack programme to come across a good documentary, in fact on Saturday, you’ll find them in abundance. One of our picks of the bunch is the beautifully shot skateboarding doc, Dragonslayer which follows pro-skater Josh ‘Skreech’ Sandoval, who lives a life many would dream of, mixing parties with skating, and trawling Google Earth for empty pools to explore. But life isn’t as rosy as it seems, as he struggles with fatherly commitments, keeping his new girlfriend happy, and thoughts of the future; a life beyond skating. Screening before the feature, is the brilliantly bizarre short, Sk8rz.
With the programme now up online and brochures hitting the streets, it’s time to start working out how best to spend your days during the festival. If you’ve already had a browse, you’ve probably come across Film Bug, our mini festival taking place in the Colmore Business District. With screenings and events popping up all over the district throughout the day on Thursday 15th (and some on Friday too), it’s sure to be a cracker. You’ll find features, such as The Lavender Hill Mob, Blank City, and Quadrophenia, various shorts including programmes from KINO 10, and IdeasTap, and plenty more including archive screenings, artists’ film, and live performances. If you’ve studied hard enough, you’ll know that pretty much all of the Film Bug screenings are free too.
Many thanks to Lloyd Bowen too, for our lovely Film Bug ident.
Our submission deadline may be just 3 days away, but if you’re 18-30 and an IdeasTap member you have a little more time to submit a short for the festival. Flatpack is teaming up with IdeasTap for a screening of the most exciting work produced by IdeasTap members from around the UK. The deadline for these submissions is Monday 16th January. Full details on how to submit can be found here. For those over 30, send us an email and attach the completed word doc below to info@7inch.org.uk before 3:30pm on Friday 16th December.
Flatpack 6 submissions form [.DOC, 80 Kb]
Two deadlines to let you know of. Firstly, the deadline for Flatpack submissions is rapidly approaching. Just over a week left. 3:30pm on Friday 16th December 2011 is the precise deadline. There are a couple of ways in which to submit your film, you can send us a dvd or a link with a print out of the pdf or word doc below. If you prefer to submit digitally however, please attach the completed form and email it to info@7inch.org.uk with 2012 SUBMISSION in the subject line.
Flatpack 6 submissions form [.PDF, 80 Kb]
Flatpack 6 submissions form [.DOC, 80 Kb]
Secondly, Sheffield Doc Fest have extended their deadline for applications for Devise 2 Deliver; a 5-stage programme designed to help you maximise returns from the potential offered by developments in digital technology. The new deadline is Monday 19th December 2011. For information on Devise 2 Deliver and how to apply, follow this link.
Hello. Sam here. Programming Assistant. Right, time for some picks:
Firstly, Pixel Visions. Since I first saw this extract from Calculated Movements by Larry Cuba, I’ve been on somewhat of a research project into computer-generated animation. It’s been fascinating. Seeing numerous works by the likes of John Whitney and Lillian Schwartz has been great, but to watch them on 16mm will be an entirely different viewing experience. The performance from Scree afterwards should be pretty impressive too!
Flatpack always throws a good party, and although the Paper Party is shaping up to be the main shindig, I suspect Ra! Ra! Ra! at The Edge on Friday night is going to be quite an event.
Last, but by no means least, I thought it fitting to pick a feature film (seeing as though Flatpack is something of a film festival). In the Shadows is a taut thriller from German director Thomas Arslan. It’s quite bleak at times, but utterly compelling. It’ll be really interesting to hear from the director who will be there to discuss the film after the screening.
Here’s the trailer (couldn’t find an English trailer – don’t worry though, the film has subtitles!)…
We like to cater for all ages here at Flatpack, so if you’re browsing through the programme wondering what you can bring your four year old daughter or your eight year old nephew along to, then look no further than Colour Box 1 and Colour Box 2 (on second thoughts, do look a little further, check out Fantastic Mr Fox, Eleanor’s Secret, and Unravel too).
Here’s a little taster from the Colour Box 2 programme…
If you’re running out of time and unsure of what to get you’re loved one for Christmas, you can always give them a Flatpack/Fierce bookmark. They’ll be making their way into various shops, galleries, art and information centres over the next few days.
© Flatpack Festival 2010