#Edfilmfest Episode V: Revenge of the Retrospective

Our final blog comes to you with dual influence, firstly from this excellent poster ( pinned all over Edinburgh) urging you to find this year's EIFF retrospective strand and secondly inspired by a viewing of the brilliant 'The People V's George Lucas'. A documentary, so thorough in its examination of the cultural phenomenon that is Star Wars that it immediately makes you want to go out and watch them all back to back (even the prequels!). It raises some interesting debates surrounding Fandom, Auteur Theory. An 'of our times' documentary that leaves you ridiculously nostalgic.

TAKE A LOOK AT THE PEOPLE V'S GEORGE LUCAS HERE
Also, watched 'The Rebound' (an unusual EIFF choice) the first outing of Catherine Zeta Jones for some time- sees her team up in this rom com with the notably younger Justin Bartha. Catherine takes centre stage as the mom of two who's world falls apart when she captures her husband in an uncompromising position on home video..the fall-out is the rest of the film as she moves to New York to re-build her life.

BAFTA Scotland staged the excellent 'In conversation with Sir Patrick Stewart' at Cineworld to a sold out audience, and I'm pleased to say Sir P.S really is the nicest man. The reception offered the opprtunity to try 'Haggis Parcels' and this, on my last evening was the final and only Scottish fare I encountered: Thankfully the shop was closed for this:



Suitcase in hand, set off to view MR NICE, the eagerley awaited adaptation of Howard Marks book starring Rhys Ifans & Chloe Sevigny. The film is entirely true to the book and Ifans is the natural, obvious choice for Marks. With such an excellent character portrayal from Ifans, you have to keep reminding yourself that you are not watching Howard himself.




MR NICE is due out in early autumn and you can VIEW THE OFFICIAL TRAILER HERE


Well, It has been a fantastic festival- viewed far more films than last year, met more people, walked more ground.

Favorite film: 'Third Star' closely followed by 'The People V's George Lucas' and huge thanks to all at EIFF who work incredibly hard to make this happen. Thanks also to BAFTA Scotland and colleagues at Film Agency Wales who are constantly 'out there' working and meeting people for the good of film in Wales, and including me along the way-Hoorah!

Roll on EIFF 2011.

#Edfilmfest Rhan Pedwar

Welsh film 'Third Star' is the closing night gala film at the 2010 Edinburgh Film Festival and this is something Wales should be shouting about.

An early morning viewing alongside the festival jury, allowed us to absorb breathtaking views of Pembrokeshire in all it's glory as four firm friends (Benedidct Cumberbatch, JJ Feild, Adam Robertson & Tom Burke) take on an life affirming journey to Barafundel Bay and what ensues is an often funny,ultimately heartbreaking and beautiful piece of work. No-one we spoke to afterwards remembers a time they saw a film that evoked such emotion in them.

Meeting the producer Vaughan Sivell and his co-producer Adam Robertson ( who also stars in the film//is an EIFF Skillset Trailblazer) it is clear they share a real passion for Wales and this film and this is transfered directly onto 16mm. Once again- very exciting for Wales, the film makers and beyond.



Although it is almost neever really dark at this time of year in Edinburgh, day turns into dusk and BAFTA Scotland hold a reception at Olorusso, an excellent terrace perfectly positioned to overlook every aspect of this lovely city. We met Brian Newman, who will be coming to Wales soon to speak at The Mini Pixel Lab: The Cross-Media Film Workshop For Welsh Producers as part of Sillset's Acadamei and Power to the Pixel's unique workshop offering a tailored, hands-on opportunity for developing and financing cross-media stories- really interesting and knowledgable chap so would urge you to see him speak..