We’ve just had word that our tickets are on sale (HURRAH! call the Villa Box Office on 01624 600555 to book) so we thought we’d stop this drip-feed news nonsense and just spill the proverbial beans! You already know about Martin Pope and the Friday night Q&A screening from Isle of Man Film. SO, here’s what you can expect on Saturday (details about Sunday to follow in tomorrow’s blog post). And remember, each evening event is only £5 to attend, or £12 for the whole blinkin’ weekend. Bargain, if we do say so ourselves! (and thanks again to the Isle of Man Arts Council, without whom we wouldn’t be able to run this festival..)
Saturday 15th – “An Evening With the Indies”
A group of special invited guests from the British independent filmmaking community will screen and discuss shorts and tasters from upcoming features. The evening will include our ‘Manxies Abroad’ film, too. You can watch videos, films and trailers by each of our guests on our Special Guests page
The Special guests:
We’re very excited to announce that PHIL HAWKINS will be with us for the festival. Phil is a multi-award winning British Director and Writer who has been feted by Steven Spielberg as “one of the best new and upcoming young Directors”. He has 2 Best Feature Director, 4 Best Film and 10 Best Advertising awards. Brent Ratner (Director, X Men) is a fan of his work, even Carrie Fisher calls his work “the most distinctive of any we’ve seen” praise indeed from Princess Leia!
Phil’s career spans from commercials to music videos to feature film. “Phil is the perfect guy to round off our Saturday night” said Dave. “His work is so inspiring – visually stunning, extremely clever and always entertaining”. One of Phil’s biggest achievements to date was to shoot a full length feature film – “Being Sold” – in just two days. Starring Lee Boardman – who will also be present on the night – the movie went on to win Best Film and Best Actor awards at the London Independent Film Awards in 2011.
Phil will introduce clips from ‘Being Sold’, and will also be screening his new short film “SPARK”.
DANNY LACEY : The Leeds based filmmaker and ultimate indie filmmaker returns to screen two of his brand new short films – “Host” (shot on the Red Epic by Philip Bloom, starring Raffaello Degruttola) and “Love Like Hers” (shot on Super 16mm film by David Beaumont, starring Vincent Regan and Susie Amy). Danny also came to the Island to work on MannIN Shorts Finalist film “I Do” (which will be screened on Sunday)
RAFFAELLO DEGRUTTOLA : Actor, Writer, Director Producer. As an actor, Raff’s resume is impressive to say the least (“Saving Private Ryan”, “Quantum of Solace” – and “Host” of course!), but he is also making a name for himself as an excellent independent filmmaker. Short film “The Other Side of My Sleep” (Official Selection at Boston Film and La Showbiz Expo Int’l Short Film Festivals) and forthcoming feature documentary “FLIM – The Making Of…” are getting him a whole lot of interest in the industry. He will be screening clips of both movies and discussing his career.
LEE BOARDMAN (actor, HBO’s ‘Rome’, ‘Longford’, ‘London Boulevard’) and LESLEY MANNING (writer and Director for the BBC and independently, and tutor at the NFTS). Lee and Lesley are no strangers to the tiny Isle. Brought over by Phil, Dave and Christy to run an Acting For TV workshop back in 2009, they have returned many times since – to run further workshops in both Acting and Directing for MannIN Shorts and to progress plans to make a feature film on the Island in the future. They will show and discuss a clip from their independent feature ‘Leila’ and Lesley will screen an exclusive trailer for forthcoming production ‘Telepathy”
Tickets £5 (avail from Villa Box Office now) 5pm – 7pm. Or £12 for the entire weekend of film festival events.