London Film Festival Feature 26/10/06
The Times BFI London Film Festival is in full swing, hosting films – and stars – from around the world. Suchandrika Chakrabarti reports from the red carpet…
Last night saw the UK premiere of Bobby, about the 1968 assassination of Robert F Kennedy.
Luminaries in attendance included director/actor, Emilio Estevez, plus Christian Slater and Martin Sheen.
The festival’s artistic director, Sandra Hebron, called them “an enviable cast,” but they are only a few of the VIPs who have descended upon London in the last few weeks.
Wednesday night brought Kate Winslet, and a screaming crowd of fans, to the Odeon West End.
She obviously appreciated their presence. She said: “Well it’s just lovely. You think, what are you doing out here in the rain? They’re so glad to see you though.”
The four-time Oscar nominee said of her movie, Little Children: “I would describe this film as a drama and a love story, and it has a lot of very funny moments, set against a suburban backdrop.”
The role has won her critical acclaim. When asked if she is fazed by talk of more award nominations, she replied: “Does it bother me? Bother me? I love it!
It’s fantastic, to be in something that might be thought of that way.”
The UK premiere of Borat was on the same night, and the Kazakhstani TV reporter’s shenanigans included bringing thirty members of his family, leading a donkey onto the red carpet and encouraging the crowd to join him in a rendition of the Kazakhstani national anthem.
Apparently his career has been going from strength to strength, as he was last seen editing the celebrity section of yesterday’s The Sun.
Apart from these high-profile red carpet events, the London Film Festival plays an instrumental part in publicising smaller independent films.
Artistic director Sandra Hebron said: "British film is very well represented this year, and it seems to be a very important year.”
One example is Black Gold, by British directors Nick and Marc Francis.
The documentary looks at the disparity between the poverty of Ethiopian coffee workers, and the huge profits of the western companies who buy their beans.
Marc Francis said: “It’s an industry worth over $80 billion a year. And what a great subject to use as an inroad to get everyone to relate to a much bigger story?”
Another British film to look out for is Mischief Night, which is set in Beeston, Leeds – home of three of the 7/7 London bombers.
Director, Penny Woolcock, said: “These are scary times in which divisions between people are leading to terrible bloodshed.”
However, the issues are still treated with a healthy dose of comedy.
The festival runs until November 2, so there is much still to come.
Tonight’s premiere is another British movie: Anthony Minghella’s Breaking and Entering, starring Jude Law and Martin Freeman.
