Bird's Eye View

Our 2010 Festival is Launched!

With apologies for having been a bit secretive about it, we launched the Birds Eye View Film Festival 2010 on Tuesday, at the Century Club on Shaftesbury Avenue, London. This was one of those exclusive shin-digs, with press, VIPs, sponsors, partners and all good schmoozable folk joining us as we announced the festival programme with a celebratory tipple.

New Chair Elizabeth Karlsen, Fiona Shaw and Rachel

Fiona Shaw - surely one of the greatest actors working in London today – we find her quite mind-blowing! – gave the opening address, while I introduced our new chair – the amazing producer Elizabeth Karlsen – and revealed the delights of the festival to come.

Fiona Shaw’s speech was typically eloquent – ranging from aboriginal Australian women’s culture to new interractive narrative forms in film. Her final message was clear and passionate: “Just as poetry comes from the silence, so films come from the darkness. Women need to illuminate more of that darkness, for the benefit of both genders…” amen to that!

Speeches audience

Other guests included Mamma Mia director Phyllida Lloyd, Harriet Walter and Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank, Red Road). Live entertainment came from singer-songwriter Julia Johnson. Generally, we had a darned good time.

And what did I say about the festival? Well, apart from publicly excusing myself from attending the festival due to my forthcoming baby girl (set to arrive some time in the build up to Opening Night!), I shared my excitement about the just sealed festival programme. We will be joined by one of Europe’s finest directors, Susanne Bier (nominated for an Oscar in 2006 with After the Wedding, and the woman behind Brothers – the Hollywood remake of which is released this weekend) for a special masterclass and retrospective, also Jessica Hausner with her Golden Lion nominated film Lourdes, acclaimed Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahui with From a Whisper which swept the boards at last year’s African Academy Awards, Kim Longinotto with Rough Aunties, and also Isabel Coixet with the UK premiere of Map of the Sounds of Tokyo.

All that and so much more – see our press release for details and expect all on the website very soon!

See excerpts from both Fiona Shaw’s and Rachel’s speeches below.