More shake-ups afoot for Edinburgh film fest

REEL NEWS:Further ructions are afoot at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. When, in 2008, the event moved from its usual spot in September – occupying the same slot as the main Edinburgh Festival – to an empty space in June, many punters felt that it lost a great deal of its busy energy.

Late last year, revitalisation seemed likely when it was announced that, under the watchful eye of actor Tilda Swinton, producer Lynda Myles and critic Mark Cousins, the festival was to ditch the notion of a single director and invite distinguished practitioners such as Isabella Rossellini and Gus Van Sant to curate a less conventional line-up.

Now, it has been reported that Swinton, Myles and Cousins have all left the event. "Our involvement ended when we submitted more than 100 ideas for the creative and artistic vision for the festival and we've not been involved since the middle of February," Cousins told the Scotsman newspaper. "We were all doing this unpaid, and have busy lives. I'll be in the audience come June."

Meanwhile, James Mullighan, a former music industry professional, has taken greater control over the festival. "It's fair to say my role has morphed quite a bit since I was appointed," he said, "and I do have more responsibilities. However it was never the intention that Linda, Tilda and Mark would be involved right up to the festival in June."

Raiders of a lost art

The Belfast Film Festival continues until April 14th. Among the events still to unfold is a singular theatre piece called Raiders of the Lost Story Arc. Presented by the Kabosh company, the performance, which plays at the Black Box on April 10th and 12th, is derived from the transcripts of meetings between director Steven Spielberg, writer Lawrence Kasdan and producer George Lucas.

This genuinely intriguing project, created and directed by Stephen Hackett and Paula McFetridge, will star Paul Kennedy, Frankie McCafferty and Alan McKee as the great men. belfastfilmfestival.org

Hooley’s good vibes on film

For northern music fans of a certain vintage – of many vintages, actually – Belfast’s Good Vibrations record shop and label remain legendary institutions. Originally located on Great Victoria Street, the store was the first stop for musos in search of the latest release from shouty men with spiky hair. Founder Terri Hooley later went on to release records by Rudi, The Moondogs and – most famously – The Undertones.

Now, after many years in development, a film on Hooley's life appears set to crank into production. Good Vibrations(as the film is inevitably titled), will be directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D'Sa – who gave us Cherrybomb– and based on a script by distinguished writers Glenn Paterson and Colin Carberry. It will feature Michael Fassbender in a supporting role, and will begin shooting around Belfast in August. There is, as yet, no word as to who will play Hooley himself.

The project, sponsored by Absolut vodka and supported by Filmbase, offers the winner a prime slot at the festival and a support package valued at about €10,000. Film proposals should be from five to 10 minutes in length and (of course) on a gay or lesbian theme.

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, April 20th. For full details go to gaze.ie. This year’s Gaze kicks off on July 28th.

Weinstein boys taken to court

The heavyweight (in so many senses) bust-up between film-maker Michael Moore and Bob and Harvey Weinstein rumbles on.

As reported here a few months ago, Moore has filed suit against the legendary producers for alleged non-payment of $2.7 million (€1.9 million) revenue from his hit documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. Having failed to settle, Moore and the Weinsteins are now headed for court.

Moore has been reasonably conciliatory toward the brothers themselves.

“Harvey and I have a lot of important history together – brothers in arms,” he said. “And he and Bob have been nothing but a force for good indie film-makers. I hold no ill will, and for now am just blaming all of this on his accountants and business affairs people.

“If I had to bet, I’m guessing they never even showed the independent auditor’s report.”

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