Film HITLIST THE BEST FILM & DVD RELEASES
list.co.uk/film
Edinburgh International Film Festival With a strong international flavour, this year’s festival offers the chance to discover the best filmmaking from across the globe with strands dedicated to Denmark, South America and the Philippines. See feature, page 30–35. Various venues, Edinburgh, Wed 20 Jun–Sun 1 Jul.
Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present Insightful documentary about performance artist Marina Abramovic and her 2010 New York show The Artist is Present. See review, page 72. Selected release from Fri 6 Jul.
Mission to Lars Documentary about journalist Kate Spicer and her brother Tom, who has Fragile X syndrome, who embark on a journey to meet Tom’s idol – Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. With Q&A. Cameo, Edinburgh, Thu 5 Jul. 7 Days in Havana Vibrant and colourful anthology film directed by seven different international filmmakers and all set in historic Havana. See feature, page 70 and review, page 72. Selected release from Fri 6 Jul.
Where Do We Go Now? Poignant musical drama from Lebanese actor and director Nadine Labaki about a remote village divided by religion. It’s Labaki’s second feature after the warmly received Caramel. See review, page 74. Selected release from Fri 22 The Found Footage Festival This comedy touring event makes its Scottish debut at the Glasgow Film Theatre. A night dedicated to the amusing and bizarre home movies and training films we can find in thrift store bargain bins. GFT, Glasgow, Sun 8 Jul.
Silent Souls Strange and captivating Russian film from Aleksei Fedorchenko about two men on a journey to cremate the body of a former wife. See review, page 71. Selected release from Fri 22 Jun.
Gregory La Cava Retrospective A celebration of the American filmmaker who made his name directing Hollywood’s best screwball comedies, screening as part of the EIFF. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Wed 27 Jun–Thu 12 Jul.
Your Sister’s Sister Charming low key offering from Lynn Shelton (Humpday) about two sisters and their friend and a holiday in a remote cabin. Starring Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt and Mark Duplass. Selected release from Fri 29 Jun.
No One Can Hear You Scream . . . Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror Alien screening back to back with James Cameron’s Aliens on rare 70mm prints (cos Prometheus is out, yeah?). Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Sun 15 Jul.
Profile MATTHEW AKERS
Born 1975, Dallas, Texas Background Akers previously worked on documentaries covering subjects as diverse as life on a US nuclear aircraft carrier and in a New York circus. His experience with such grand dames as Elaine Stritch and Jon Bon Jovi came in handy when dealing with Marina Abramovic, the subject of his new documentary, The Artist is Present.
On capturing the work of one of the world’s most celebrated performance artists: ‘It was all very spontaneous: I was asked by Jeff Dupre, who I’d worked with on Circus, and he told me about her plans for a retrospective at New York’s MOMA. I was initially skeptical, I didn’t want to make some kind of hagiography, but she turned out to be very charming and cool to hang out with. She didn’t mind the cameras, she liked them, she said we could have editorial control, and complete access to her; she even handed me the keys to her house.’
On the wide audience the film has reached ‘We’d initially had no idea that the way Marina would interact with the audience would create such unpredictable results. I wanted the film to be more than a document of her performance, but something separate. I don’t think you can ever transmit the power of someone else’s art; you have to try and make a separate work of art that exists on its own right.’’ On future plans ‘I never anticipated that my film about Marina would strike such a chord with so many people, the film’s success is beyond my wildest expectations. My time is fairly full right now with the film’s promotion, but I do have plans for a new project, this time a narrative-based one.’
(Eddie Harrison) ■ Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present is on selected release from Fri 6 Jul. See review, page 72.
21 Jun–19 Jul 2012 THE LIST 69