With the clocks changing the nights drawing in the Film Festival season is well underway. What better time to start thinking about some of the thought proving fare that is likely to grace the cinema screen over the coming weeks? To start we have to look no further than the latest film programme to “brighten” the dark winter months. Having made its debut at the London Film Festival Jane Campion’s Bright Star chronicles the tragic relationship between Keats, one of the finest romantic poets and a humble Hampstead seamstress. With her past record of both Cannes and Oscar success she is still only the second woman ever to be nominated for a Best Director award for The Piano in 1994. Bright Star begins its run at The Courtyard on 12th December. Another offering which comes with a strong pedigree is Sam Mendes’ Away We Go which opened this year’s Edinburgh Film Festival. Funny, positive and smart, it’s a film that marks a distinct change of direction for one of Britain’s most celebrated contemporary directors and will be shown as part of our latest season in late November early December.

Festivals are a great occasion to celebrate all that is good in film, not necessarily to everyone’s liking but to get onto a festival programme I always believe that the piece of work has had to persuade a hardened panel of critics as to its merits. With modern digital equipment meaning that just about anyone can make their own masterpiece without them we may just simple drown in the amount of film available. Small budget doesn’t mean bad film either. Take a look at ‘Paranormal Activity’, shot in documentary style, costing less than 15,000 dollars but went on to become one of the top grossing films in the States, amassing more than 7 million dollars at the US box office primarily down to people persuasion pushing for a theatrical release via the collective power of Social Networking sites.

Shortly after Christmas we will enter the run up not only to BAFTA and OSCAR season (I know not strictly festivals but they do highlight ‘quality’ for closer inspection) but to our own and greatly appreciated BORDERLINES film festival which in the space of 6 years has grown into the largest rural film festival of its kind in the UK! How great is that and of course as usual The Courtyard will be at the hub of it. As I write a list of contenders are being whittled down to a final shortlist and hot off the press I can tell you that being considered for inclusion are, Micmacs
The Vanishing of the Bees, An Education, Taking Woodstock,The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Katalin Varga, Precious to name but a few. Can’t guarantee they will all make it but as they have been shortlisted well worth looking out for. So some great films to look forward to over the winter months and of course, as usual let us know what you think!

Simon Nicholls
Head Projectionist
Courtyard Theatre Hereford 4/11/09