On 3rd October I attended the press event for the UK Film Festival. Now, more cynical journos will tell you that the great thing about press events is that even if what’s on offer is a load of old shite, there’s always free booze and a chance to network. Thankfully, while there was a generous helping of the grape and grain on offer from the good people at the UKFF, it wasn’t a load of nonsense at all.
We were treated to some of the films from last year’s festival as we sat in the plush Aubin cinema, which is a delightful place, a mixture of extremely comfortable seats and great AV – the Odeon it is not – complete with bar and sitting area outside of the screening room. The films were great, particularly one of the award winners from last year, Buzkashi Boys. It’s a beautifully morbid and heart plunging short about two young boys in Afghanistan who dream of being Buzkashi warriors whose Oscar nomination was, in my eyes, very much deserved. The best on show, however, was the fine Abbey Road short documentary Why Don’t we do It in the Road? Indeed, I was left wishing it was longer, wishing it was a full documentary, but the hopes of one Beatles nut don’t necessarily need to be granted, particularly when so much is covered in the five minutes it lasts for.
The full event kicks off on 11th November and finishes on the 15th, so be sure to attend if you are in any way interested in film. If the pick from last year that we watched is anything to go by it should be a great event.
Anyway, enough of what I think, here’s the blurb on this year’s event:
The UK Film Festival will be returning for its 3rd year, taking up residence in The Aubin Cinema in London’s creative hub Shoreditch, from the 11th – 15th November 2013.
