Norwich Film Festival
Encyclopedia
Norwich Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Norwich
. During its inaugural year the festival supported independent
films as well as student films, and showcased feature films, short films, animated films, and documentary films.
The festival is focused on showcasing new talent and independent film, which was reflected in the titles selected for screenings.
Major studio films were also supported during the festival, and an advanced pre-screening of the film Creation
starring Paul Bettany
was screened at the local Vue cinema. Also, a free event was held on the grounds of Norwich Castle
where the Tom Cruise
movie Top Gun
was shown outdoors to the public. As well as this, at the Forum
in Norwich, two dedicated BAFTA evenings were held, screening the 2009 nominees for the BAFTA Short Film Awards, and included a guest talk from BAFTA nominated director Tony Grisoni
. The patron of the 2009 Festival was Blackadder
and Notting Hill
actor Tim McInnerny
.
An awards ceremony concluded the festival where the winners of each category were announced and the Festival was closed with a screening of the film voted Best in Festival. Presenters of the awards included Loui Batley
and Georgia Groome
.
Due to financial constraints and a structural reorganisation, no festival was held in 2010. In early 2011, however, a statement on the festival's website announced that they would be reopening soon, with the next festival planned for March 2012.
in Canada. Since then it has gone on to win sixteen other awards at international film festivals, been nominated for an Academy Award, and been screened at prestigious events worldwide, including a conference at the UN Headquarters in New York
.
has once again been announced as a patron and judge, along with Bernard Hill
, who will also act as a patron and judge, and Steve Furst
and Jim Field Smith
who will also be on the judging panel.
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
. During its inaugural year the festival supported independent
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
films as well as student films, and showcased feature films, short films, animated films, and documentary films.
2009 Festival
The first festival took place from September 18th to 26th, 2009, with entries from all over the world. In total, 94 films were screened at the first festival, with these films coming from 13 different countries.The festival is focused on showcasing new talent and independent film, which was reflected in the titles selected for screenings.
Major studio films were also supported during the festival, and an advanced pre-screening of the film Creation
Creation (2009 film)
Creation is a 2009 British biographical drama film. Produced by Jeremy Thomas, the film was directed by Jon Amiel, and stars Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly as Charles and Emma Darwin...
starring Paul Bettany
Paul Bettany
Paul Bettany is an English actor. He has appeared in a wide variety of films, including A Knight's Tale, A Beautiful Mind, and The Da Vinci Code...
was screened at the local Vue cinema. Also, a free event was held on the grounds of Norwich Castle
Norwich Castle
Norwich Castle is a medieval royal fortification in the city of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk. It was founded in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest of England when William the Conqueror ordered its construction because he wished to have a fortified place in the important city of...
where the Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
movie Top Gun
Top Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
was shown outdoors to the public. As well as this, at the Forum
The Forum, Norwich
The Forum is a community building in Norwich, Norfolk. It stands opposite from the St. Peter Mancroft Church. Designed by Michael Hopkins and Partners, the Forum was built as a millennium project for the East of England and finished in October 2001...
in Norwich, two dedicated BAFTA evenings were held, screening the 2009 nominees for the BAFTA Short Film Awards, and included a guest talk from BAFTA nominated director Tony Grisoni
Tony Grisoni
-Biography:He has co-written several of director Terry Gilliam's films, including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Tideland.Tony Grisoni worked in many different areas of film making before turning to screenwriting. QUEEN OF HEARTS, 1989 was his award winning first feature directed by Jon Amiel...
. The patron of the 2009 Festival was Blackadder
Blackadder
Blackadder is the name that encompassed four series of a BBC1 historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments. All television programme episodes starred Rowan Atkinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick...
and Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
actor Tim McInnerny
Tim McInnerny
Tim McInnerny is an English actor. He is known for his role as Percy in Blackadder and Blackadder II, and as Captain Darling in Blackadder Goes Forth...
.
An awards ceremony concluded the festival where the winners of each category were announced and the Festival was closed with a screening of the film voted Best in Festival. Presenters of the awards included Loui Batley
Loui Batley
Louie Anne Batley is an English actress, singer and dancer best known for her role in Hollyoaks as Sarah Barnes...
and Georgia Groome
Georgia Groome
-Career:Groome was one of the eight young adventurers on Serious Amazon in 2006 for CBBC. Groome had a well received starring role in the 2008 film Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging....
.
Due to financial constraints and a structural reorganisation, no festival was held in 2010. In early 2011, however, a statement on the festival's website announced that they would be reopening soon, with the next festival planned for March 2012.
Previous Award Winners
Of the 94 films selected for screening at the 2009 festival, 23 were short listed for various awards. The most notable winner was Ana's Playground which, after having a screening at the NFF, went on to have it's official world première at the Calgary International Film FestivalCalgary International Film Festival
The Calgary International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for ten days in late September and early October...
in Canada. Since then it has gone on to win sixteen other awards at international film festivals, been nominated for an Academy Award, and been screened at prestigious events worldwide, including a conference at the UN Headquarters in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
| Award Category | Winning Film | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Best in Festival | Ana's Playground | Eric D. Howell |
| 2009 Best Short Film | Ana's Playground | Eric D. Howell |
| 2009 Best Feature Film | Zig Zag Love | Gillies MacKinnon Gillies MacKinnon Gillies MacKinnon is a Scottish film director and writer.His film credits include Hideous Kinky, Small Faces and Regeneration.-Personal life:... |
| 2009 Best Documentary | Running To The Limits | Alex Vero |
| 2009 Best Animation | O Pintor de Ceos (The Painter of the Sky) | Jorge Morais Valle |
| 2009 Best Student Film | Heartstrings | Rhiannon Evans |
2012 Festival
The next film festival is due to take place in March 2012. Tim McInnernyTim McInnerny
Tim McInnerny is an English actor. He is known for his role as Percy in Blackadder and Blackadder II, and as Captain Darling in Blackadder Goes Forth...
has once again been announced as a patron and judge, along with Bernard Hill
Bernard Hill
Bernard Hill is a British actor of film, stage and television. In a career spanning thirty years, he is best known for playing Yosser Hughes, the troubled 'hard man' whose life is falling apart in Alan Bleasdale's groundbreaking 1980s TV drama, Boys from the Blackstuff...
, who will also act as a patron and judge, and Steve Furst
Steve Furst
Steven Larry Furst is a comedian, actor and writer. Furst says his father told him that he arrived as an immigrant from Hungary with "nothing but a violin under my arm"...
and Jim Field Smith
Jim Field Smith
Jim Field Smith is a British film director, comedy writer, and actor.-Background:Field Smith attended Wellington College, Berkshire, England from 1992 to 1997, and then went on to the University of Birmingham, from where he graduated in 2001...
who will also be on the judging panel.