The London Lift-Off Review... 2011..

The London Lift-Off Film Festival 2011 10-12th October. At The Tricyle Cinema Supported by AVID & FilmCrew Pro.  Over 200 people crammed into the Tricycle Cinema in North West London to watch three days of shorts, celebrating the prowess of student and independent filmmaking in the new digital age... The London Lift-Off Film Festival supported by AVID had received in the region of 300 submissions from film schools and independents from all over the world. Scheduling 23 short films from 300 must have been a mammoth task to organise: "We had three rounds, and fifteen industry based judges helping us to pick the official selections, we had everything from 2 minute animations to 30 minute political statements, and even the occasional slasher horror" says festival co-director James Alexander. "The work that was scheduled we tried to reflect into mood and feeling. Based on the judges submissions feedback we categorised each short either dark or light, then we looked at the stories of the pieces, were they inspiring, funny, romantic or sad." Ben Pohlman the other Co-Director continued, "We then scheduled each day based on an arc of emotional response. This gave our audience member a chance to feel as much as possible. Something we think in a 100% audience choice awards platform needs to be concurrent in order to get the most encouraging, and honest, response." The festival had films from all over the world and awarded 23 with the very first honours of the official selection laurels. The winners from those 23 were as follows:- Overall festival winner. All piñatas go to heaven by Paul McGhie. Best UK Professional. Worship by Callum Macdiarmid. Best UK Student. Drift by Ben Caird. Best International Professional. All you need is love by Wagnor Depintor. Best International Student. Les Armours Perdues by Samanou A. Sahlstrom. Best Performance. Bill Thomas in Vincent by Mazin Power. All of the awards were audience choice. Each filmmaker wins a full copy of AVID Media Composer 5.5, and a years full subscription to Film-Crew Pro! James said "Our sponsors this year have been extremely generous, without AVID on board then none of these filmmakers would have had a chance to showcase their excellent work, and FilmCrew Pro were excellent in giving the festival all the exposure it deserved. We are very proud, and eternally thankful of what our sponsors did to help get the festival up and running, without them there would be no London Lift-Off, it's as simple as that!" The Tricycle cinema also deserves a mention, a venue only really known for it's political plays scheduled under the guidance of Nick Kent, but it holds a secret and a very lovely one at that. UK Vogue called it "London's most beautiful cinema venue"... "We would like to fill it every afternoon and evening for a full week next year, that's our plan." says James with an undoubted look of determination. "The aim is to have shorts, features, documentaries, animations, and workshops" says Ben, "we trained as actors at The Oxford School of Drama and are very proud in what we learnt, it enabled us to make films of our own and to understand that great acting and story structure can exist in a student or independent film and we want to reward and work with the people that are doing just that!" James explains the workshops for next year "most film students leaving film school don't know how to talk to actors, it's as simple as that. Many directors just sort of leave you to it, and that's fine if everything is easy or clear to understand. But sometimes it can become difficult and the lines between film school director and drama school actor become extremely blur'd. Next year we will be inviting filmmakers to our workshops called simply How to Direct an Actor. We were trained for three years at one of the best drama schools in the country, so a two hour workshop would only scratch the surface, but we will hopefully give those that are keen to glean the best from their cast, something to build upon for their future projects." The London Lift-Off Film Festival is due to begin again on the first week of November and will be opening it's call for entries within the next few weeks. They are also on the hunt for a patron. "We want someone who is obviously well known but who supports inde film as much as we do. We have a lot of phone calls to make, but it's very exciting!" So, if you're a filmmaker who wants public exposure and a chance to connect and learn within the filmmaking community then London Lift-Off has to be your first port of call for the 2012 film festival season... Follow the festival on twitter. Like the festival on facebook. Click here for details on how to submit and support student and independent cinema!!! Previous blogs and write ups... Blogging about Rocket...  The Plan is the plan when it is The Plan.. Remembering Formby is not a film about Luke's hometown! Drifting its way to best UK Student Short  Only sound remains...  God is dead... ??  Dusting away the competition..  Hard hitting for the right reasons!  Time traveling best actor?!?!?  Going to heaven made of bashable cardboard!?

Here is a run down to whats on at this years festival, and to get a feel for the vast work on offer.

London lift-Off starts this year slap bang in the middle of the Film festival session here in London, riding off the end of Raindance and the London Film Festival, Lift-Off promises to bring a whole host of filmmakers from all over the world to the Tricycle Cinema in North West London.

Screenings take place in the afternoon of Monday 10th to Wednesday 12th October, between 3pm and 5pm, with an awards ceremony on the Wednesday evening at the Betsey Smith Bar, Kilburn.


Festival passes for all three days work out at £18.00 (£6.00 a day), with a special VIP invitation to the awards ceremony where there will be free drinks for those with passes!!


Standard tickets are £7.50 per day.
Festival pass £18.00.


Tickets may be purchased by clicking here.

Here is the definitive guide to the films showing at London Lift-Off 2011...

!!MONDAY SCREENINGS!!

To make you giggle, cry and inspire!!

Rocket by Jennifer Sheridan.  read the films blog.
Run Time: 2 mins.
Origin: UK
One day Bowie the dog awakes to an idea. Noticing he has recycling materials at his disposal he begins building a rocket to take him to the stars and away from his boring life. A funny very short film set to beautifully composed music.

All You Need Is Love by Wagnor Depintor.

Run Time: 18 mins.

Origin: Brazil

All you need is love is a movie that is ironic about Brazilian contemporary cinema, today polarized into two genres: violence and life in favelas and soap-operas.

Letting Go by Sean Gleason.
Run Time: 9 mins.
Origin: UK
The film is about Joe and about when the confused shock and denial of losing someone meets the acceptance of it.

Les Armours Des Perdues by Samanou Sahlstrøm.

Run Time: 30 mins.

Origin: Denmark

Maria's life changes as she witnesses a man trying to kill himself.

Dusters by Christopher Baines. read the films blog.

Run Time: 12 mins.

Origin: UK

It's not easy selling cleaning materials with a stutter. Paul isn't having a good day.

Only Sound Remains by Arash Ashtiani. read the films blog.
Run Time: 14 mins.
Origin: UK & Iran
In the wake of the violent post -election protests in Iran ,a family tries to hide the news of death of their youngest member from their grandmother.



Pa'hana by Lana Dang.
Run Time: 10 mins.
Origin: Hawaii, USA
Kekoa is a man who wants the best for his daughter, though he himself is stuck between jobs struggling with the fact that he cannot achieve what he wants. 

Worship by Calum Macdiarmid. read the films blog.
Run Time: 11 mins.
Origin: UK
'A man delves deep into his dreams to confront the religion his father brought him up with'
The true story of a psychiatrist delves deep into his dreams to confront the religion his father brought him up with.

!!TUESDAY SCREENINGS!!
To test and dazzle the mind, the stomach and the consciousness.

Remembering Formby by Sue Elliot. read the films blog.

Run Time: 5 mins.

Origin: UK

Formby Patterson-Wright had one of the most recognisable faces in the country. His career spanned over four decades and his work can still be seen on road signs, construction sites and public buildings today.

Corvus by Clare Kissane

Run Time: 8 mins.

Origin: UK

One deed unforgiven. One revenge untaken. One man, one woman enter a forest that holds secrets of the past. Unaware of the eyes that watch.

Adams Tallit by Justin Olstein

Run Time: 17 mins.

Origin: Australia

A reclusive, recently widowed Holocaust survivor reluctantly babysits her vivacious young grandson, and discovers that life can be better in the company of others.

The Plan by Jason Moola. read the films blog.

Run Time: 23 mins.

Origin: UK

London. Six dysfunctional gangsters meet in an abandoned warehouse to plan their next job. 

Sanctified by John Charles Jopson. read the films blog.

Run Time: 13 mins.

Origin: Italy & UK

A pedophile priest 'confesses' to the repeated rape of a ten-year-old boy and is absolved of his sins. Based on actual victim depositions, perpetrator interview transcripts, and grand jury investigations.

Sink by Ryan Owen

Run time: 7 mins.

Origin: UK

Faced with new responsibilities, a young couple's relationship teeters on the edge of disintegration. Which road will they choose? Continue their juvenile ways or come together and deal with the consequences, and get older.

Ridicula by Domingo J. Gonzalez

Run time: 15 mins.

Origin: Spain

Laura is 40 years old and she has three sons. She has always been the perfect mother and wife. But now things have changed. 

Variationen by Sebastian Barner-Rasmussen

Run time: 14 mins.

Origin: Finland

A young man has recently been fired from his job as a guard at the museum. At home he is met by his brother, an inventor trying to build a time machine. Unemployed and with bills stacking up, he fools his technically gifted brother to break in to his former workplace.

!!WEDNESDAY SCREENINGS!!
To excite, scare and romanticise!!

Alone by Ethan Senecker

Run time: 8 mins.

Origin: USA

Home is the safest place, unless, you're alone.

Drift by Ben Carid. read the flims blog.

Run time: 20 mins.

Origin: UK

In an attempt to find a reattachment to the memory of his childhood, John returns to the London neighbourhood he grew up in.

Bwara Man by Mitu Kumar
Run time: 24 mins.
Origin: India
An aspiring intellectual writer is thrust with the task of writing a pulp fiction erotic novel to begin his career. As he writes, we see the world he is writing about. 

Vincent by Mazin Power. read the films blog.
Run time: 7 mins.
Origin: UK
Vincent got lost on his way to work one day, and he doesn't know how to get home. He has spent the last five years living on a bench behind a church.

Mossadegh by Roozbeh Dadvand
Run time: 24mins.
Origin: USA.

Iran. 1959. It is six years after the CIA orchestrated coup that overthrew democratic Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh from power.  Mossadegh must decide whether or not to trust a brilliant American physician that is sent to treat him.

The Maiden And The Princess by Ali Scher
Run time: 18 mins.
Origin: USA.
In the heart of London a young girl searches for herself amidst a musical fairytale.

All Piñata's Go to Heaven by Paul McGhie. read the films blog.
Run time: 4 mins.
Origin: UK.
Two pinata dolls meet at a Mexican themed party. Will love blossom between them? Or does fate have a more tragic end in store?

!!THE AWARDS!!

"I don't deserve this award, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that either. " -- Jack Benny.

All awards are audience choice and as member of the audience you will be given a voting card to decide which were your top two favourite films and which actor you loved the most.

Awards in the region of £12'000 worth of prizes will be given to the following categories:-

Best Actress

Best Actor

Best UK Professional Film

Best UK Student Film

Best International Professional Film

Best International Student Film

The festival runs from the 10th-12th October 2011 at the Tricycle Cinema in North West London. Click here for tickets.  Or call the box office now on 020 7328 1000.

Follow the festival on twitter.

Like the festival on facebook.