Opposite page, clockwise from top left Zan Lyons, Mark Levin, Alessi, Evi Vine, Cosmo Jarvis, Phillip Roebuck; above left Japanther; right Penny Rimbaud

JAZZ NIGHT COLONEL JD WILKES, JAPANTHER, PENNY RIMBAUD, WEDNESDAY 8 OCTOBER AT 8PM – THE SPICE OF LIFE LOUISE ELLIOTT SATURDAY 11 OCTOBER AT 8PM – THE REX Raindance and Paul Pace presents some of the UK’s finest jazz acts. Wednesday is singer’s night, accompanied by top-flight backing. There will Colonel JD Wilkes is best known as the singer/frontman and songwriter be three sets – mainly invited guests first, then a featured artist (tbc), fol- for the Nashville-based rockabilly band the Legendary Shack*Shakers. lowed by an open mic set. Recently, JD has branched out into filmmaking with his new documen- tary Seven Signs which is making its UK premiere at Raindance this year. His efforts have garnered him praise from several publications like Alarm Magazine, who described him as ‘the closest thing to the ambassador of EVI VINE, COSMO JARVIS, ALESSI genuine Southern culture’. Joining him on the mandolin is his wife Jessica FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER AT 8PM – THE REX Leibel Wilkes. www.jdwilkes.com

Evi Vine is a singer/songwriter emerging from the UK’s underground Japanther’s music is all at the same time, poignant, intense, danceable music scene. Inspired by artists as Leonard Cohen, the Cocteau Twins and and fun. It’s a happy combination of Noise-Rock, Pop Punk and Indie. Nine Inch Nails, Evi’s powerful and emotive, but raw minimalist narrative Thurston Moore called this New York based Rock and Roll duo ‘a lean, style is very much her own. www.evivine.co.uk slam boogie machine with no time for boredom.’ These guys are sure to get yer panties in a twist. www.japanther.com Cosmo Jarvis is an 18-year-old composer, multi-instrumentalist and - maker with over 250 songs composed, 100 recordings and over 60 videos Penny Rimbaud is a drummer, writer, poet, former member of perform- made including everything from music videos through to short movies. ance art groups Exit and Ceres Confusion, and co-founder of the anarchist Cosmo is an exceptional new talent emerging in the British music scene. punk band Crass. Penny will join in a performance with Japanther. www.cosmojarvis.com Louise Elliott is an Australian tenor saxophonist and has performed with Alessi is a unique eighteen-year-old singer-songwriter who is very open a wealth of international musicians. Originally known for her appearanc- to the world of the imagination. Her songs are a new take on psychedelic es with cult rock outfits Laughing Clowns, The Saints, Ed Kuepper and folk music taking a myriad of influences from art and music, and her own Paul Kelly, Louise has a fiery commitment to inspiring and energetic live life. In a very short time, Alessi has created her own signature sound, which performance which has been referred to in the media as ‘her profoundly she calls very ‘British, and a little like Syd Barrett.’ www.myspace.com/ diverse smorgasbord of funk, blues and rock’ and ‘an African inspired jazz alessimusic explosion’. She has played with Penny Rimbaud for 8 years.

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Mohan is unsatisfied with his life. He is unhappy with his arranged marriage and, struggling to find a job, he is being pressured by his father-in-law to join the family firm. With both of his parents dead and with few prospects in life, he is reliant on his overbearing bed-ridden aunt Kamla for financial security, and begins to find respite from his menial life in her new nurse – embarking on an affair with her. At the onset, it seems to be exactly what he needs from life. But it’s not long before some dark and sinister secrets begin to emerge, throwing a spanner into the works once again. Beautifully shot against the backdrop of Southall, Smita Bhide’s debut feature depicts West London’s Indian community to colourful effect, paint- ing a multi-cultural portrait of the city. Abhin Galeya also provides a terrific performance as Mohan, who is easy to identify with as he so desperately tries to escape the trials and tribulations of his everyday life. THE BLUE TOWER It’s a clever and intriguing thriller that will capture your imagination from THURSDAY 2 OCTOBER AT 8:45PM & FRIDAY 3 OCTOBER AT 2PM the big dreams of its lead character to the symbolism of the film’s titu- CountryUK Running Time 87 mins Format HDV/HD-Cam Director/Screenplay Smita lar Blue Tower. Daring enough to be different, it ushers in a new era for Bhide Producer Jamie Nuttgens DoP AnneMarie Lean-Vercoe Cast Abhin Galeya, Alice O’Connell, Indira Joshi Print Source Monkey in Heaven Email [email protected] British-Asian cinema – and isn’t afraid of addressing several taboos in the

Playing with Veils 13 mins process. CP

Danny, a factory worker, separated father of two and fearful victim of street violence, wants to be a fighter. Befriending a group of amateur boxers he is offered work on the door of a local club. He is, however, no brutish fool and being an avid reader, writes about his journey in a way that is quite unset- tling. His real boost comes from the friends he has made. Louis, heading up both the boxing and security details, is the voice of reason in the group; authoritative in stature but rational in thought; he is Danny’s spiritual and physical guide. Danny is closest to Rob, a complex man brooding over the mark left on his life by his abusive father. As Danny learns to stand up for himself and others, the group finds themselves at odds with a syndicate of drug dealers, headed up by menac- ing drug baron Billy Hennessy, who threatens them with destructive force. In this savage world, it seems that friends like these can only prevail if CLUBBED they stick together. The films strengths include the performance of Colin MONDAY 6 OCTOBER AT 7PM & TUESDAY 7 OCTOBER AT 2:30PM Salmon as Louis, whose serenity offers a counterpoint to the dominating Country UK Running Time 95 mins Format Super 16mm Director Neil Thompson violence and aggression. JG Screenplay Geoff Thompson Producer Martin Carr DoP Kate Stark Cast Mel Raido, Shaun Parkes, Scot Williams Print Source Formosa Films Email [email protected] www.formosafilms.com

Following the tragic death of their daughter, young couple Martha and Tomas move to a remote Irish village. There they take under their wing Daisy, an autistic child whose own parents have died in a strangely ritualis- tic fire. Daisy seems to settle in with the couple, and Martha finds a kindred spirit in her grief, but a growing antagonism towards the young girl from the locals, linking her to strange occurrences and uncovering tales of faer- ies, changelings and the malevolent spirits of a bygone age. With a setting reminiscent of The Wicker Man, laced with the fear of an unworldly child raised in such films as Rosemary’s Baby and The Omen, Aisling Walsh’s first feature since the multi-award winning Song for a Raggy Boy blends the supernatural with raw real-world emotions, won- derfully expressed by Samantha Morton as Martha. Amongst a stand-out cast, including Steven Mackintosh and Eva Birtwhistle, it is ten year old THE DAISY CHAIN Mhairi Anderson, as Daisy, who gives the most stunning performance. A THURSDAY 9 OCTOBER AT 7PM troubled young girl, an innocent child and at the same time feared by the Country UK Running Time 91 mins Format 35mm Director SCREENING SPONSOR witch-hunting locals, this young actress keeps us guessing of the terrifying Aisling Walsh Screenplay Lauren Mackenzie Producers Tristan Orpen Lynch, Dominic Wright DoP Simon Kossoff Cast conclusion. AStJ Samantha Morton, Steven Mackintosh, Mhairy Anderson P/S ContentFilm International E [email protected] Steven Mackintosh will be present for a Q&A after the screening.

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SP_Raindance_Aug08.indd 1 26/08/2008 15:15:08 Brothers Jack and Danny have their world turned upside down when their ill mother dies. Danny, at eighteen, is now responsible for his little brother; a task he resents, but carries out as a promise to his mother. Jack con- structs a surrogate ‘mummy’ out of a mannequin and his mother’s makeup and wig, in an attempt to hang on to their past existence. Danny falls into the world of loud parties and drugs, and while his new girlfriend Zoe is sweet and offers some stability, she has no idea of the situation she has stepped into. While Danny struggles to juggle taking care of Jack along- side his career as an aspiring DJ, it becomes clear that they both have to move on in order to do what’s right. Director Matthew Thompson has crafted an incredibly moving film which focuses on grief, which is shown from denial through acceptance. This is, however, far more than just a psychological study. It depicts a coming of DUMMY age for Danny (played with a rare mixture of complexity and genuineness FRIDAY 10 OCTOBER AT 6:45PM by Aaron Johnson). It also shows the effect of loss at a young age for Jack Country UK Running Time 85 mins Format HD-Cam Director/Screenplay Matthew (a stunning debut for Thomas Grant), whose extreme politeness endears Thompson Producer Miranda Robinson DoP David Langan Cast Aaron Johnson, Thomas Grant, Emma Catherwood Print Source Screensouth Email [email protected] us to him. Most affecting, however, is the poignancy that results from see-

Playing with 1 or 2 Things I Don’t Know About Him 11 mins ing that doing the right thing is not always as easy as it sounds. JG

Johnny is a shy and stuttering Teddy boy who goes dancing down the Palace every Friday night. All he wants from life is one dance with Sally Andrews – the girl of his dreams. But having finally worked up the courage to ask her, her boyfriend beats, bullies and humiliates him. Johnny lashes out violently, and while being chased from the scene his car takes a plunge into a nearby river- leading him to a watery grave. After forty years of drifting out to sea, the car becomes caught in the net of a fishing boat. Johnny’s decomposing body is suddenly resurrected, and he embarks upon a murderous rampage on those who bullied him that fateful night. From first time filmmaker David Howard, Flick boasts a comic book look that echoes Sin City, and oozes in retro style. Featuring a recognisable British cast that includes Mark Benton and Michelle Ryan, the big star on FLICK display is 1970s screen goddess Faye Dunaway as a one-armed Police FRIDAY 3 OCTOBER AT 7:15PM lieutenant from Memphis. Throw in a kick-ass 1950s Rock & roll sound- Country UK Running Time 95 mins Format HDV Director/ SCREENING SPONSOR track, mixed in with some tunes specially written by Richard Hawley, and S’play David Howard Producer Rik Hall DoP Chris Segar Cast Faye Dunaway, Liz Smith E [email protected] you’ve got one hell of an entertaining gem. CP Website www.flickthemovie.com Faye Dunaway will be present for a Q&A after the screening.

A tired and moody Zakes Abbot drives along a familiar stretch of rain- drenched motorway with his girlfriend Beth asleep in the passenger seat. He accidentally misses his turning and in the process cuts off a large white lorry, narrowly avoiding an accident. The enraged lorry driver then swerves violently ahead of him with the back panel of the truck swinging up to momentarily reveal a horrific sight – a terrified young woman chained in a cage. Zakes stares in disbelief and proceeds to tell the now fully awake Beth what he thinks he’s just seen. At Beth’s insistence he calls the police but tensions between the couple begin to flare when she accuses him of not doing enough to help the woman and erupt further when Zakes discovers a suspicious missed call on her phone. When the pair stop at a service station where Zakes carries out his routine job of putting up post- ers in the restrooms, he discovers that Beth herself has gone missing and HUSH soon comes to realise she may have become the next victim. SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER AT 7PM Making full use of the British weather to achieve it’s dark forlorn tone, Country UK RT 95 mins Ft 35mm Dir/S’play Mark Tonderai SCREENING SPONSOR this is a striking muddy-hued debut by British director Mark Tonderai who Prods Robin Gutch, Mark Herbert, Colin Pons, Zoe Stewart DoP Philipp Blaubach Cast William Ash, Christine Bottomley, manages to hit every note in the chiller song book with absolute precision Guy Burnet P/S Optimum E [email protected] and in the process takes the audience on one hell of a scary ride. W www.optimumreleasing.co.uk This is the third feature from Sheffield based Warp X Productions. SB

SIXTEENTH RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 37 Paul Morrison’s latest feature since 2003’s Wondrous Oblivion, provides us with a fascinating account of three of the leading artists of their time; Salvador Dalí, Luis Buñuel and García Lorca. Little Ashes follows a young Salvador Dalí from his beginnings living in the Residencia de Estudiantes, leading to his dynamic relationship with poet Federico Lorca and their increasing infatuation with each other. Shot against the picturesque land- scapes of Spain alone makes Little Ashes an unmisable spectacle. Set across a timeframe that spans the roots of fascism to the beginning of General Franco’s dictatorship, Little Ashes depicts love in a time where homosexuality was deemed immoral – a point particularly reinforced by Matthew McNulty’s portrayal of surrealist filmmaker Luis Buñuel, a man notorious for his contempt regarding the matter. While it is a far cry from his role in the Harry Potter franchise, Robert LITTLE ASHES Pattinson brings Dalí to the screen with precisely the irreverent and eccen- TUESDAY 7 OCTOBER AT 7PM tric personality you would expect from one of the creators of Spain’s Country UK Running Time 107 mins Format HD Director SCREENING SPONSOR avant-garde movement. It is however newcomer Javier Beltran who steals Paul Morrison Screenplay Philippa Goslet Producers Carlo Dusi, Jonny Persey, Jaume Vilalta DoP Adam Suschitzky Cast the show as García Lorca whose pain and longing is thoroughly portrayed Javier Beltrán, Robert Pattinson, Matthew McNulty and always felt, but never overplayed. CP Print Source Met Film

Peter Greenaway’s first feature film since the completion of the Tulse Luper Cycle, Nightwatching continues the director’s fascination with Flemish painting. Nominated for the Golden Lion at Venice, Nightwatching weaves a tale surrounding the commission and creation of Rembrandt’s most famous work, known as The Nightwatch; a tale mixing painting, theatre, politics, loss of sexual innocence and personal vanity in what eventually becomes a murder mystery. In some respects this harkens back to Greenaway’s first feature, The Draughtsman’s Contract, as through his painting Rembrandt shows the guilty natures of the work’s subjects. By exposing crimes in his painting the conspirators become determined to obtain their revenge by leading him to personal and financial ruin. Working with DoP Reinier van Brummelen, Greenaway has lit almost every scene as a Rembrandt painting, rich in shadows and hidden fig- NIGHTWATCHING ures. In a mixed cast of , Martin Freeman as Rembrandt, and Eva THURSDAY 2 OCTOBER AT 6:30PM Birtwhistle, as his wife, Saskia, bring a contemporary reality to Rembrandt’s Country UK Running Time 134 mins Format HD Director/ SCREENING SPONSOR earthy home life, comparing it to the surface pomp of the painting’s sub- Screenplay Peter Greenaway Producer Kees Kasander DoP Reiner van Brummelen Cast Martin Freeman, Emily Holmes, jects, which cover the grim nature of their own various crimes. RO’D Jodhi May Print Source ContentFilm International Email [email protected] www.contentfilm.com Peter Greenaway and Martin Freeman will be present for a Q&A.

EncountErs Film school: thE Final Edit Friday 21 & Saturday 22 November 2008 WaterShed, 1 CaNoN’S road, harbourSide, briStol 14th intErnational short Film FEstival Join Encounters for a special two-day focused tueSday 18 – SuNday 23 November 2008 editing workshop including: veNueS SurrouNdiNg briStol harbour, uK talks chaired by industry professionals hands on training in, after effects, Final Cut and avid www.encounters-festival.org.uk market stands Festival office For more information and registration go to: T +44 (0) 117 929 9188 E [email protected] www.encounters-festival.org.uk target audience: edit assistants, technical runners, short filmmaker/editors, those who have an interest in developing an existing career in post-production.

38 SIXTEENTH RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL Two Aberdeen removal men have a day from hell. A simple job in a remote part of the Scottish countryside goes awry when they hit a drunk stagger- ing in the middle of the road and decide to load him into the van and take him to hospital. It seems like a good plan, but then the bodies just keep piling up. A very funny dark comedy set in the locale and dialect of Aberdeen, it resonates with a Scottish humour that reveals both a practicality and a bravery that resonates and keeps this story feeling both real and surreal in turns. The dialogue and action is unrestrained and unless you are familiar with broad Scottish dialects, in this case Doric – apparently brought to the North east of by rural Spartans – you may not get every word but the intent behind the words is clear and evocative. Writer/director Mark Stirton lets the camera get close enough to ONE DAY REMOVALS observe the craziness without intruding. The cast are natural although and SATURDAY 11 OCTOBER AT MIDDAY what some might lack in screen craft they more than make up for in per- Country UK Running Time 87 Format HDV Director/ WATCH IT ON sonality. One Day Removals couldn’t be any more indie and for budding Screenplay/DoP Mark Stirton Producer Ken Fraser Cast Patrick Wright, Scott Ironside Print Source Stirton Productions filmmakers this is a great example of what can be done with little money E [email protected] W www.stirtonproductions.com and a lot of passion. CT Playing with Emma’s Last Date 11 mins

‘No one is amused by the suffering of others,’ claims American business man Eliott Gast (Jason Behr) in this shocking horror thriller. Sadly for Eliott, he is very wrong. Kidnapped on a business trip to he wakes up to find himself held prisoner in a deceptively comfortable room with only a few CCTV cameras for company. His captors soon reveal themselves as terrorists who plan to punish Eliott for the ‘crimes’ committed by the US government. Over the next forty days he is subjected to a series of agonising tortures, the nature of which lend the film’s title a gruesome double-meaning. His appalling ordeal is broadcast over the internet in exchange for donations from viewers who in turn get to chose his fate. Their decisions do not exactly reinforce one’s faith in human nature. As he becomes increasingly incapacitated, Eliott’s attempts to escape become more desperate and his only hope seems to SENSELESS be Nim (Emma Catherwood), one of his less enthusiastic tormentors. But SATURDAY 4 OCTOBER AT 9:30PM can she be trusted and is Eliott really as innocent as he seems? Country UK RT 85 mins Ft 16mm Director/Screenplay SCREENING SPONSOR Fans of Grand Guignol style films such as Saw and Hostel will find plenty Simon Hynd Prods Micky Macpherson, Nigel Thomas DoP Trevor Brooker Cast Jason Behr, Emma Catherwood, Joe to thrill them here. The torture scenes are graphic yet ingeniously creative Ferrera P/S Plum Films Ltd E [email protected] and the director certainly knows how to build up the tension. AD Playing with The Bent Penny 16 mins

‘Hard-hitting’ would be an appropriate phrase to describe this tale of four South London lads from writer and director Sam Holland. Not only because their lives are depicted completely without compromise but also because these boys solve most problems with their fists. They are the children of the council estates, urban thugs with little chance of release from the con- crete coliseum that surrounds them. Fuelled by anger and a hatred of the society that made them, their lives are characterised by petty crime and violent retribution meted out accord- ing to their own bigoted rules. Having long stopped hoping for tomorrow they live for the moment, relying on the transient pleasures of drugs and loveless sex. The gang’s leader Tommy, blinded by his own arrogance and having recently taken possession of a gun, threatens to take his friends into even ZEBRA CROSSINGS more dangerous territory. Meanwhile, Justin is the only one of the four who SATURDAY 11 OCTOBER AT 7:10PM dares to yearn for something more spiritual. Such aspirations threaten to Country UK Running Time 140 mins Format HDV, HDCam, MiniDV Director/Screenplay drive a wedge between him and Tommy leading to a shocking conclusion. Samuel Holland Producer Anastasia Atanesyan DoP Lucio Cremonese Cast Lee Turnbull, Greg Wakeman, Aaron White, Kyle Treslove Print Source Crown Films Email [email protected] The feature, shot for under £50,000 and with brilliantly realistic perform- ances shows that despite their violent lifestyle, everyone deserves a shot at redemption. AD

SIXTEENTH RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 39 EM8-B0342-raindance08 21/8/08 12:14 Page 1

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