Article
Cornwall Film Festival
A three day weekend of thought-provoking and challenging independent cinema
9th – 11th November 2018
The Poly, Falmouth
This November, Cornwall Film Festival shakes up your cultural calendar with a thought-provoking and challenging showcase of independent cinema, centred around a three-day weekend (November 9th-11th) at The Poly in Falmouth. This is your invitation to see more films in one weekend than you’d otherwise see in months, including critically acclaimed new releases that won’t be shown anywhere else in the South West.
Now in its 17th year, the Festival caters for connoisseurs and casual viewers alike, with a programme curated to reflect the theme of ‘RESISTANCE’ that includes features and shorts; dramas, documentaries and off-the-wall comedies; international and UK cinema; award winners from Cannes and showcases of new work from the big-name filmmakers of tomorrow. Confirmed feature screenings so far include:
Shoplifters
Preview Screening Winner of the coveted Palme d’Or at Cannes 2018, and hailed as among Hirokazu Kore-eda’s (Still Walking; Like Father, Like Son) best work, this complex drama about a poverty-stricken Tokyo family gives rare prominence to Japan’s urban underclass and questions the possibilities of survival in the margins with insight, humour and compassion.
Songbird
A life-affirming comedy shot on Cornwall’s own university campus in Penryn, starring Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother), Jessica Hynes (Paddington 2, Shaun of the Dead) and Noel Clarke (Kidulthood, Adulthood, Doctor Who).
Peterloo
An epic historical drama, directed by festival patron Mike Leigh (Mr Turner, Happy-Go-Lucky), that depicts the 1819 Peterloo Massacre on an ambitious scale. Starring Maxine Peake (Funny Cow, Silk) and Rory Kinnear (Skyfall, Black Mirror).
Colette
Preview Screening an exhilarating period drama starring Keira Knightley (Atonement, Pirates of the Caribbean) in a career-best turn as the French novelist and trailblazing feminist icon, alongside Dominic West (The Wire, Appropriate Adult) and Eleanor Tomlinson (Poldark). Premiering at Cornwall Film Festival following rave reviews at Sundance.
Foxtrot
A gripping, urgent and witty drama that presents a ‘fierce nightmare vision of Israel’, screened in Hebrew with subtitles. Winner of the Grand Jury prize at the 74th Venice International Film Festival.
The Tale
A shocking and emotional investigative thriller that’s won ten international awards and been called ‘the mother of all #MeToo movies’. This will be free-entry community screening, with the aim of encouraging discussion on the challenging topic of child sexual abuse.
The lineup also includes two very different documentaries. Firstly, Preview Screening On a Knife Edge offers rare insight into the coming-of-age of a Native American teen, George Dull Knife, as he confronts the challenges of growing up and becoming politically active amidst a climate of poverty and social injustice. We are thrilled to announce that Director Jeremy Williams will be present for a Q&A after the screening. Secondly, The Eyes of Orson Welles sees award-winning filmmaker Mark Cousins capitalise on exclusive access to Welles’ private art collection and dive into the visual world of the legendary actor, director, writer and producer to present a unique portrait of this fascinating figure.
As if that weren’t enough to satisfy even the most eager of film fans, the Festival presents a unique opportunity to view a huge variety of shorts, with screenings of a shortlisted entry in the International and Regional short film competition categories, as well as the winning short from the Festival’s ever-popular Student category. With offerings from first-time writer directors and seasoned festival contributors alike, from sci-fi and horror to documentary, animation, experimental and comedy, this year’s shorts are bound to once again be cited by audiences as an unmissable highlight of their Festival experience.
“This year’s selection of shorts embodies everything Cornwall Film Festival seeks to encourage—innovation and ambition, stylistic boldness, strength of form and the courage to resist cliché in original storytelling. We are delighted to count this selection of filmmakers among our esteemed alumni.” – Louise Fox (Festival Director).
Beyond screenings, the weekend offers masterclasses, talks, director Q&A’s and networking events for aspiring filmmakers, screenwriters and curious cinemagoers—a comprehensive programme curated by industry experts to offer Cornwall’s wealth of emerging homegrown talent a unique opportunity to grow their skills and careers without crossing the Tamar! Confirmed appearances so far include award-winning wildlife filmmaker Nina Constable, Golden Chough winner Natasha Price, Alice Cabañas from the BFI Network, comedy writer James Henry and BAFTA / Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer, Phillippa Giles.
To top off the weekend, 2018 sees the launch of the Cornwall Film Festival Fellowship, honouring lifetime achievement in the art form of the moving image. We are delighted to announce that the inaugural award will be presented to filmmaker, writer and artist Jane Darke. Jane will present a selection of her work and take audience questions before receiving her award during Sunday’s closing gala.
Associated events outside of the headline dates/venue include:
Some Like it Hot
Billy Wilder’s glittering comedy masterpiece starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, presented in partnership with Penwith Film Society. Come along in your finest 1920s outfit; we’re expecting mobsters, molls, drag kings and queens and everyone between! Sunday 4th 7pm November at The Acorn, Penzance.
Deep Time: Meteor
Step inside a meteor-shaped mini-cinema to view a constellation of experimental artists’ films inspired by ‘Deep Space’ and ‘Cosmic Rays’. The sculptural film pod has toured festivals throughout the summer and lands on the Moor in Falmouth on Saturday 11th November, with free entry from 11-5pm.
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
A special Scratch ‘n’ Sniff screening! From Stinking Bishop to Bunny Burps, experience all the smells of the movie with our special ‘smelly scratch cards’, promising olfactory amusement for audiences of all ages! There will also be a free workshop before the film starts. King Charles Hall, Falmouth Saturday 10th November at 11am £3 per person