Film Event Highlights – March 2012
Write Shoot Cut's inaugural Short Film Networking Night sees the light of day on 12 Mar at the Banshee Labyrinth Cinema, deep in the bowels of Edinburgh's most haunted pub. This free event will take place on the second Monday of every month and is aimed at both filmmakers and those interested in short film. A selection of films will be shown, followed by a Q&A with any filmmakers in attendance, and everyone is invited for drinks afterwards. See write-shoot-cut.com for more details.
Mark Millar's Geek Film Night continues, with Frankie Boyle attending the GFT on 4 Mar to introduce his choice of film, Starship Troopers. Starring Casper Van Dien and the legendary Neil Patrick Harris, Paul Verhoeven's Oscar-nominated film (yes, really) is a trashy, hammy, cult hit featuring giant space bugs. Would you expect anything less from the director of Showgirls? There will also be a Q&A with Boyle before the film, ensuring the night is a hilarious and crude one.
Dead by Dawn returns to the Filmhouse in Edinburgh from 29 Mar – 1 Apr. The annual horror film festival is keeping its line-up quiet so far, but attendees can expect independent films, classic horrors, short films, special guests, lots of free stuff to take home and, of course, the Shit Film Amnesty, in which attendees are invited to bring in their most embarrassing, rubbish DVD. The person with the worst one has the honour of getting everyone else's offerings. You simply can't lose, unless you win.
The Belmont in Aberdeen and Cameo in Edinburgh are showing a special screening of Werner Herzog's latest documentary, Into the Abyss, on 27 Mar. The film, examining the difficult subject of capital punishment through one particular murder trial, in which one of the convicted men was executed eight days into filming while the other sentenced to life imprisonment, won the Best Documentary award at this year's London Film Festival. The screening is accompanied by a satellite Q&A session with the director, who is always eloquent and fascinating. This should not be missed.
Were he alive today, Chico Marx would celebrate his 125th birthday on 22 Mar. In his honour, the GFT is screening a special double bill of two of the Marx Brothers' finest films, A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races. Combining Groucho's unrivalled quick wit, Harpo's faux-Italian gibberish and Chico's silent, childlike playfulness, as well as some fine musical talents, these films perfectly display the visual and intellectual comedy of these vaudevillian legends.