Is the dough in the right place?

Tuesday 23 December 2008

ReFrame

BREADMAKERS will be screened at the ReFrame Peterborough International Film Festival, Ontario, Canada, on Saturday 24th January 2009 at 12 noon.

ReFrame celebrates the latest works created by filmmakers from Canada and around the world, selecting films that will develop the viewer’s appreciation for arts and culture in contemporary media.

The 2009 program involves over a hundred community organisations and local businesses. Community group representatives introduce films to help the audience make the connection between what is happening in the film and what is happening locally. Over sixty volunteers from all ages and occupations step forward to make the festival a reality.

Previously known as the Travelling World Community Film Festival, the ReFrame Peterborough International Film Festival takes place between the 23rd and 25th January 2009.

More details at http://www.quidnovis.com/reframe/

Wednesday 17 December 2008

Humanity and Dignity

Yasmin has just sent this message by wire . . . well email.

BREADMAKERS has been shown at the Mustafa Ali’s Gallery in Damascus. The Gallery, with its various changing exhibitions, is situated in an old house in the Jewish quarter of old Damascus. It was so cold we went into the basement cavern-like bar, which has a bountiful supply of ironwork tables and wooden chairs. The bar was free (not possible in Scotland) and open (very possible in Scotland). We all had a nice time hanging out with the local cats.

About 50 people were at the screening, a mix of Syrian and International Artists young and old. I also noticed a couple of fellow filmmakers and a few curious local residents. There was a queue to see BREADMAKERS, so we screened the film THREE times. The third viewing included a very special guest – the Indian Ambassador.

The response to the film was overwhelming leading to an informed discussion afterwards. There was a nice comment from an older man, who said, "this film is not just about bread but about humanity and dignity". May I say that his words sum up the whole point of me wanting to make this film.

Saturday 6 December 2008

Tasty Treats

This article was published in the Strathspey and Badenoch Herald.

TASTY TREATS abound at Strath Film Festival

THERE will be tasty treats everywhere at the second Kingussie Food on Film Festival which runs for two days from February 6, 2009 at Kingussie High School. The first festival of its kind in Scotland, it combines feature films, short films, documentaries and a film-making competition with locally produced food, celebrity cooking demonstrations, competitions and a local food market.

The BBC's Craig Anderson will host Saturday's Film Night and interview all the short film directors. He said: "I so enjoyed taking part in last year's inaugural festival that I immediately agreed to come along and be involved again. This year I will also be part of an X Factor-style panel of film industry judges for the Highland Youth award for Short Food Films, which will open the festival on the Friday evening."

This award was launched in September after a highly successful film-making workshop in Kingussie attended by six schools from across the Highlands including Grantown and Kingussie. The workshop was run by Triple Echo Productions, of Newtonmore, who make the well-known "The Adventure Show" on BBC 2.

A £300 prize will be awarded for the best film at the Friday "Oscar Night" event, complete with red carpet, chocolate fountain, evening dress and live local youth bands. Also involved in the Saturday Film Night will be helpers with learning disabilities from Kingussie's Caberfeidh, who will be giving out free chocolate to eat with the screening of the main feature film, "Chocolat".

Internationally renowned cook, writer and presenter Lady Claire MacDonald will demonstrate her cooking at The Food Hall on Saturday afternoon, accompanied by her head chef Marcello Tulley. There will also be cooking competitions for children and a blind tasting competition organised by French chef Lydie Bocquillon for those eager to show off their culinary skills.
One of the festival's main organisers, Lydie said, "We are really excited to see the way this festival is taking off. I am confident it will grow and develop year on year and become a major event in the Highland calendar. The unique combination of food and films is irresistible, especially in the winter."

Sponsored by the Cairngorms National Park and organised by the Auld Alliance Gourmet Academy, in partnership with Kingussie High School, the event also received support from the Kingussie Business forum, the Strathspey and Badenoch youth forum and the Kingussie Mums and Toddlers Group.

The award-winning short film "Breadmakers", about Edinburgh's Garvald Bakery, which is staffed by people with Down's Syndrome and autism will also be shown and its acclaimed Lebanese/Canadian director Yasmin Fedda will appear to discuss the movie. She recently received the prestigious Black Pearl Award with its cash prize of £46,000 in Abu Dhabi but was delighted to take part in the Kingussie event when she was invited.