Glimmer 2010 kicks off next week, featuring Herzog's Plastic Bag
THE 8th Hull International Short Film Festival - Glimmer - gets underway on the 19th of April (until the 25th) and includes a look at the work of Jeff Keen, a retrospective of a 14-year-old filmmaker and the UK festival premiere of the Werner Herzog narrated Plastic Bag. While I wonder if it is the same plastic bag who made an unforgettable screen debut in American Beauty, you can check out the full line up of the festival online at www.hullfilm.co.uk. Famous for their pay-what-you-want entry fee - introduced by fest director (and Netribution's DVD editor) Laurence Boyce - key competitions include the Anthony Minghella Award for Best International and Best UK Short. This year for the first time the event is run in association with the University of Hull.
With the majority of films in competition being screened for the first time in the UK, this will be a chance to be the first to check out some of the great talents working in short films. Highlights include Curtains, a dark but comedic UK film that marks the co-directorial debut of Julian ‘The Mighty Boosh’ Barratt, and the UK Premiere of Plastic Bag, an elegiac film about the life of a plastic bag with narration from legendary film director Werner Herzog (see below in mini). The competitions will be judged by a jury of industry professionals, including scriptwriter Dominic Minghella who will oversee the award named in memory of his brother with prizes of £500 and £1000. Other competitions including the GLIMMER Award for Best Yorkshire Short, with a prize of £250 sponsored by the Hull School of Art and Design, and the GLIMMER Award for Best Hull Short, with a prize of £500 sponsored by Hull City Council.
GLIMMER also sees the return of the successful retrospective programme; this year focusing on the work of legendary filmmaker and artist Jeff Keen, one of the most prolific and longest working experimental filmmakers in Britain, alongside an exhibition of his art at the Ferens Art Gallery (Live Art Space) that will be open for the duration of the festival.In contrast, Glimmer will also be holding the first retrospective of onlyfilm, run by 14-year-old Callum Hale Thomson. Specialising in weird and wonderful films on 8mm, the company has also been joined by Callum’s younger sister Avalon who has also started making her movies on film.
BAFTA once again supports GLIMMER with a BAFTA Masterclass with THIRD Films producer Samm Haillay and filmmaker Daniel Elliott. THIRD Films is behind films such as the lauded feature Better Things and the multi-award winning short Love Me Or Leave Me Alone. You’ll also have a chance to see the latest in the Anatomy of a Film series as director Matt Taabu and producer Rob Speranza talk about their film Threads, a powerful short made in the Yorkshire region
More programmes include Burnout, a selection of music video curated by Third Eye Blind in Leeds, a chance to see some films based on the work of Philip Larkin in our collaboration with Larkin25, some exclusive films from Taiwan in our Country in Focus and much, much more.
Glimmer Director Laurence Boyce said:
“As always, it’s an absolutely packed programme that’s eclectic, exciting and downright brilliant – even if I say so myself. Thanks to the support of our title sponsor, the University of Hull, and others we can bring you some of the very best shorts and events possible. We’re also delighted that we’re going to be using the University of Hull as an additional venue, alongside our now traditional home of Reel Cinemas. Don’t you dare miss it.
Tickets for screenings and events are available now. Tickets for screenings Reel Cinemas and University of Hull are priced at £3.50 (Full) / £2.50 (Concs). Tickets for Reel Cinemas screenings are available in advance from Reel Screen Box Office at St. Stephens, via the booking line on 01482 223113 or at www.reelcinemas.co.uk Tickets for University of Hull screenings are available on the door 10 minutes before a screening is due to start.
GLIMMER Passes are priced at £20 and give access to all events at GLIMMER (subject to ticket availability).Please contact the Festival Office for booking Festival Passes
The Official GLIMMER Festival Hotel is The Portland Hotel (Paragon Street, Hull, HU1 3JP). Quote Glimmer 10 when booking for special festival rates.