All Tomorrow's Parties

From the humble origins of Pontin’s holiday camp, the now global All Tomorrow's Parties festival continues to stay free of corporate sponsorship. This mishmash of footage from fans, musicians and filmmakers is taken from 10 years of ATP. The bricolage style is a perfect fit for a festival where established musicians play alongside unknowns, mainstream bands with experimental artists. Tarnation director Caouette’s excessive use of split-screen suggests all footage is too precious to leave out, but clips of wasted festival goers falling about and inane comments from musicians threaten to hijack the film. It’s when the documentary focuses on the live acts, however, that the visceral connection between fans and musicians is captured. Portishead, Nick Cave and Akron / Family’s performances in particular have an intoxicating intensity. Steve Albini described the festival as “the ultimate mix tape”. This can’t be said of the film, though there are fragments of genius to be found amid the debris. [Alastair Roy]