A staple of the UK film calendar, the 18 th Bradford International Film Festival (BIFF) kicks off in just over a week’s time and features a typically eclectic mix of old classics and top new independent movies. Hosted by the renowned National Media Museum, and also taking in an array of nearby venues, there’s really something to suit all cinematic tastes across the ten day period.
A trio of retrospectives offers an in-depth look back at the work of Ray Winstone and includes screenings of such classics as Scum, Nil by Mouth and Sexy Beast. There are also screenings showcasing the work of both Eastenders favourite Barbara Windsor and acclaimed French director Olivier Assayas. Across the festival there is also a chance to see some of the best work from legendary animator and cartoon director Chuck Jones. Jones was at the forefront of Warner Bros. – the revered animation studios – and produced some of the most-loved ‘toons featuring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Road Runner more. The BIFF will be showing classics such as Duck Amuck, One Froggy Evening, Rabbit Seasoning and What’s Opera, Doc as extra treats before many of their feature films.
Also on offer is a variety of Cinerama and Widescreen classics showing as part of the festival’s ‘Widerscreen Weekend’. Taking full advantage of the specially-curved pictureville cinema screen, it’s an excellent opportunity to see landmark movies the way they were meant to be seen. Around the World in 80 Days, How the West Was Won and The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm are all going to look mightily impressive on the ginormous IMAX screen.
The festival also has an impressive catalogue of new features on offer too. One movie that leaps out in particular is the much-hyped, action-packed, Indonesian film: The Raid. This film has already been receiving plenty of plaudits in the mainstream press and is well worth seeking out by fans of martial arts cinema. Other notable features on show include Albert Nobbs, in which Glenn Close plays a hardworking hotel waiter who is hiding a rather major secret, namely that Albert is in fact a woman. There are plenty of European films on offer too including Bread and Circuses, a movie which won several prizes in its native Slovenia, in which a bickering family visit the Slovenian capital to attend the recording of a game show. Likewise Flying Pigs: a Polish football Hooligan drama and Free Men: a moving French World War Two drama are both ntriguing prospects. Also showing is renowned Russian director Aleksandr Sokurov’s take on the story of Faust, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and has received critical acclaim aplenty.
One final programme that looks of great interest at this year’s BIFF is that of the Uncharted States of America which aims to showcase some of the very best independent American movies. I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at some of the films on offer and there’s some really interesting work well worth checking out. My reviews of Turkey Bowl, Bummer Summer and Sawdust City will be updated to the New Empress website over the next 24 hours so check back to find out what I thought of them. In the mean time the full festival programme can be found here .
