The British Raj is back. And this time, it's operating at a multiplex near you. A seven-film fest is bringing the finest of English Oscar worthies to town, with the distinguished directors in discussion via webcast
The British Raj is back. And this time, it's operating at a multiplex near you. A seven-film fest is bringing the finest of English Oscar worthies to town, with the distinguished directors in discussion via webcast
It's been a bad week at the theatres. And classic change is welcome. Thankfully, the UK Film Council has taken notice. They're coming up with 'From Blighty with Love,' a fest that will feature the screening of seven Academy films on multiple screens in digital format across Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. And this is just the beginning of the Brits being back, say organisers.u00a0
Europe walking: Stills fromu00a0Man On Wire
u00a0"This is just the commencement of setting up the system to get high quality British films to India," starts Sarah McKenzie, senior executive for export development, UK Film Council. It's the name, however, which catches your curiosity. "'Blighty' is an English term for Britain, derived from the Hindustani word 'vilayati' meaning foreign," she explains.
The UK Film Council is working hard to open up quality English cinema to international markets and audiences, and says the spread reeks of variety. "The programme is to showcase the diversity of the British cinema, with high-end movies to very ordinary documentaries. They are just about everything you expect from cinemau00a0- interesting, story telling, insightful and flexible in terms of interpretation in the modern times.
It also reflects the change in our technology," Sarah elaborates. India happens to be the first destination for the project. Why, you may wonder. "There is a strong awareness of Britain in India and vice versa, and English is widely spoken here. Indians have also developed an international thinking since they travel so much, so we thought of trying this here first."
Seven sees
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Time: 10pm
Fri 5 Mar: GLORIOUS 39, Opening Night, Stephen Poliakoff In Conversation
Sat 6 Mar: MAN ON WIREu00a0
Sun 7 Mar: EASY VIRTUEu00a0
Mon 8 Mar: RAGE, Sally Potter In Conversation
Tues 9 Mar: GENOVAu00a0
Weds 10 Mar: GLORIOUS 39u00a0
Thurs 11 Mar: MAN ON WIREu00a0
Fri 12 Mar: EASY VIRTUEu00a0
Sat 13 Mar: IN THE LOOPu00a0
Sun 14 Mar: RAGEu00a0
Mon 15 Mar: GENOVAu00a0
Tues 16 Mar: IN THE LOOP, Armando Lannucci In Conversation
Weds 17 Mar: MAN ON WIREu00a0
Thurs 18 Mar: ANGEL, Closing Night Film |
The movies that will debut here include Julian Jarrold's Brideshead Revisited, In the Loop, directed by Armando Iannucci and Stephen Poliakoff's Glorious 39, among others. "All of these are extraordinary because they have been nominated for the Oscars, or appreciated on other platforms for the director's incredibility," assures Sarah.
u00a0Another fascinating feature of the festival is the 'in-conversation' event, whereby the directors will interact with the audience via web-cast. Stephen Poliakoff, director of Glorious 39, Armando Iannucci, the Oscar-nominated director behind In the Loop and Sally Potter, the director of Rage, will be a part of this event.
Instead of running the festival at The British Council as is typical of such affairs, the organisers have collaborated with a major multiplex chain to take the plan forward. It was accessibility on their mind. "The advent and growth of multiplexes has opened new avenues. We now have the opportunity to bring in different kinds of cinema, a much wider variety than what was once possible, and moreover, it makes film distribution a cheaper affair," Sarah signs off.
At Big Cinemas, TGIP Mall, Noida
Tickets available through https://www.bookmyshow.com/, or call 3989 5050
Monday to Friday 10 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8 pm, 10 pm
