Dame Judi Dench in Branagh Theatre’s A Winter’s Tale: part of the Christmas season at City Screen, York, showing on December 4 at 7.30pm
CHRISTMAS comes early to City Screen, York, with The CBeebies ChristmasShow on November 30 and December 1, straight from the theatre stage for a family-friendly feast of fun.
This year’s pantomime is the CBeebies adaptation of the Hansel And Gretel fairytale, screened at 11am on both days.
Dave Taylor, City Screen’s marketing manager, says: “We’re starting in November, I can sense you thinking, but there are so many Christmas shows to fit in. Something for everyone: the traditional films like Miracle On 34th Street, It’s A Wonderful Life and the German classic The Singing Ringing Tree.
“We even have a sing-along Dementia-Friendly Screening of the musical White Christmas on December 16.
“There are the modern favourites like Die Hard, Elf and a Home Alone double bill and, finally, there are Screen Arts recordings of Branagh Theatre: A Winter’s Tale, starring Dame Judi Dench, and Royal Opera House ballets Coppélia and The Nutcracker.”
City Screen’s chef will enter into the Christmas spirit with festive food from the end of November, offering a dozen dishes, some traditional, some vegetarian, one vegan, and one meal for which City Screen will donate £1 from every sale to Picturehouse Cinemas’ chosen charity, Refuge.
“This charity supports women and children against domestic violence, which sadly peaks with the stresses at this time of year,” says Taylor.
Tickets are available for all the Christmas shows at the City Screen box office in Coney Street, on 0871 902 5747 or at picturehouses.com/york.Full details of screening dates and times can be found at picturehouses.com/york.
FESTIVAL TRIUMPH: Sasha Rainbow’s Kofi & Lartey wins the Best Of Fest prize
SASHA Rainbow has won the Best Of Fest Award at the 2019 Aesthetica Short Film Festival in York.
More than 400 films competed in the Official Selection for the grand festival prize at the five-day event, which climaxed with Sunday’s awards ceremony at the Yorkshire Museum, Museum Gardens.
Rainbow’s documentary Kofi & Lartey tells the true story of a man who escaped Agbogbloshie, the electronic waste dump site near the centre of Accra, Ghana’s capital, dubbed one of the most toxic places on Earth. The 20-minute film follows him as he empowers two young boys to do the same.
New Zealander Rainbow’s film, along with all the category winners, becomes available for consideration for the 2020 BAFTA awards.
Kofi And Lartey was among the films selected by ASFF director Cherie Federico for the Opening Night Ceremony showcase that launched the festival last Wednesday night.
Iain Cunningham was awarded Best Featurefor Irene’s Ghost, his BIFA-nominated debut feature documentary account of his search for information about the mother he never knew, as Narrative and Documentary Features returned to the festival for a second year.
Delving into hard-hitting topics, the Drama strand provides the largest part of ASFF’s programme. Best Dramawas awarded to Thomas Vernay for Miss Chazelles,the story of two young rivals.
Best Thriller went to Madame, directed by Garth Jennings, best known for 2016’s Sing and 2005’s Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. Norteños, directed by Grandmas, took home the award for Best Comedy; Leszek Mozga won Best Animation for Roadkill; Charby Ibrahim, Best Documentary for the animated Bright Lights – The Perils Of The Pokies, a reflection on the devastating consequences of gambling.
Tapping into the brand ethos, LEONE’s L’Incredibile, in partnership with Nike, was awarded Best Advertising; Best Fashion went to Lola’s Manifesto, directed by Gsus Lopez and Cristian Velasco.
Usurping the idea of convention, Best Artists’ Filmwas presented to Rhea Storr for A Protest, A Celebration, A Mixed Message; Best Experimental was awarded to Samona Olanipekun for Kindred, a spirited interpretation of life in the 21st Century.
The Golden Age, directed by Eric Minh Cuong Castaing, won Best Dance, while Best Music Videowent to Emmanuel Adjei for Shahmaran – Sevdaliza.
Introducing new digital playgrounds, ASFF welcomed Virtual Reality and Immersive films into the competition for a second year. Best VR & Immersive was awarded to Virtual Viking – The Ambush, directed by Erik Gustavson, who used 106 cameras to capture Norway’s west coast, marking one of the first techniques in scripted VR drama.
New for 2019, the Hijack Visionary Filmmaker Award recognises directors with exceptional vision and a unique cinematic voice, with the prize going to Ellie Rogers for They FoundHer In A Field.
The Polaris Award celebrates the achievements of filmmakers in the North of England, with sponsorship from Film Hub North and BFI Network, and this year’s award was received by Charlene Jones for Henceforth, an honest and raw project highlighting the grief of three siblings after the loss of their parents.
Across the five-day run, festival-goers were invited to vote for their favourite film from the Official Selection for the People’s Choice Award, won by Garry Crystal for Down, from the Drama category. This claustrophobic short about two strangers trapped in a lift stars Amanda Donohoe, James Eeles and Paul Barber.
Chosen by students at the Youth Engagement programme, the Youth Awardwas given to Lasagne, directed by Hannah Hill.
This year’s festival drew entries from 53 countries and welcomed thousands of visitors, including industry professionals, students, tourists and film enthusiasts, some travelling from as far afield as Canada, Norway, Germany. Australia, Japan and New Zealand.
Entries for the tenth anniversary festival open on December 1, with the 2020 festival dates confirmed for November 4 to 8.
