Welcome to the 2014 Electric Film Festival. We usually have a July and a September festival but this year we have decided to amalgamate the two into one brochure (just like in ‘The Dark Crystal’ - "What was sundered and undone shall become whole... the two made one.") Having listened to and read comments from the last few Festivals we are delighted to incorporate some of your suggestions. We have later showing times (apart from 'Blue is the Warmest Colour' as it's a long movie), a few matinees, multiple screenings of some films and POPCORN…(just kidding about the popcorn). My choices for this season are varied and hopefully interesting to people other than myself. There are documentaries, a heartbreaking musical (in French), an enchanting film about a girl and her bike, my 'that poor lady' film of the season and many, many more. If the subject matter of any of these films seems a little heavy after a long day at work, don’t worry, we have a bar. And you can take your drinks into the screening. We also have a few shorts from local filmmakers to be shown before some of the main features. Look out for the shorts logo. So take a look through this little booklet, consult IMDB to your hearts content and then make your choices (ignoring IMDB obviously). So camera, lights, action...wow that is so naff. Nate Film Festival Programmer 2
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with HarmonieBand
Part I
VAMPYR (PG) SUN 27 JULY 8.30pm Tickets £12 Concessions £8 Dir. Carl Theodor Dreyer 1932 - 1hr 15mins Live soundtrack composed and performed by Paul Robinson and HARMONIEBAND (Paul Robinson keyboard, Dai Pritchard - clarinet/sax, Adam Robinson - violin/viola) An occult student is assailed by supernatural haunts and local evildoers in a village outside Paris. Brilliant Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer is famous for creating evocative atmospheres and austere and profoundly unsettling imagery. In this film he creates a mood of dreamlike terror by using a host of stunning camera and editing tricks. With its rolling fogs, ominous scythes, and foreboding echoes, Vampyr is one of cinema’s great nightmares. HarmonieBand has an internationally established reputation for performing contemporary music, presenting especially composed scores to accompany silent film, and leading educational projects for young people. www.harmonieband.com
COMPOSING FOR FILM WORKSHOP SUN 27 JULY 3pm – 5pm, Tickets £5 For anyone interested in exploring the role music plays in our understanding of films. View and discuss a short clip from a silent film and through improvisation, prepare an accompaniment for it. Bring an instrument or use some small percussion which will be available at the workshop. 3
WADJDA (PG) MON 28 JULY 8pm Dir. Haifaa Al-Mansour - 1hr 38min - 2012 - Saudi Arabia In Arabic with English subtitles Cast: Reem Abdullah, Waad Mohammed, Abdullrahman Al Gohani
Meet Wadjda, a sarcastic and streetwise girl whose carefree attitude sets her apart from most girls in her school. She spots a shiny green bicycle in the local shop and becomes determined to buy it so that she can race the boy next door, a culturally unacceptable action with potential societal repercussions. This groundbreaking first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia offers a moving, rarely seen picture of everyday life in Riyadh. With a central character so unique to the screen, director Al-Mansour has crafted a subtle counterpoint to the images of females the world is accustomed to seeing, a character who holds hope for the future. "The film marks a huge triumph for its female director...a remarkable film twice over." - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times Did you know? Because of restrictions placed on women in Saudi Arabia director Al-Mansour was not allowed to interact with her male crew and had to direct the street scenes from a nearby van, watching through a monitor and issuing instructions through a walkie talkie. 4
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TUE 29 JULY 8pm
Part I
BLACKFISH(15) Dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite - 1hr 20min - 2013 - USA Cast: Samantha Berg, Dave Duffus, Dean Gomersall
Blackfish tells the story of Tilikum, a performing killer whale that killed several people while in captivity. This documentary compiles shocking footage and emotional interviews to explore the creature's extraordinary nature, the species' cruel treatment in captivity, the lives and losses of the trainers and the pressures brought to bear by the multi-billion dollar sea park industry. This emotionally wrenching story challenges us to consider our relationship to nature and reveals how little we humans have learned from these highly intelligent and enormously sentient fellow mammals. Time Out
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COMPLIANCE (15) WED 30 JULY 8pm Dir. Craig Zobel - 1hr 30min - 2012 - USA Cast: Ann Dowd, Matt Servitto, Pat Healy
When a prank caller posing as a police officer convinces a fast food restaurant manager to interrogate an innocent young employee, no-one is left unharmed. This choice begins a nightmare that tragically blurs the lines between expedience and prudence, legality and reason. Based on true events. “A punchy and effective drama.” Empire, Time Out
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR (18) THU 31 JULY 7.30pm Dir. Abdellatif Kechiche - 2hr 59min - 2013 France - In French with English subtitles Cast: Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos
Adele's life is changed when she meets Emma, a young woman with blue hair, who will allow her to discover desire, to assert herself as a woman and as an adult. Adele grows, seeks herself, loses herself and ultimately finds herself through love and loss. “Anchored by two of the most natural, committed performances you'll ever see…” Empire Did you know? The actresses only read the script once. The director insisted they forget what the script said line for line, and asked them to improvise their scenes to create as natural a performance as possible. 6
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Part I
PHILOMENA (12A) SAT 2 AUGUST 2.30pm Dir. Stephen Frears - 1hr 34min - 2013 - UK Cast: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Charlie Murphy, Simone Lahbib
‘Philomena’ is the moving, funny and at times shocking true story of one woman's search for a lost son. Falling pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena was sent to the convent of Roscrea to be looked after as a "fallen woman". When her baby was only a toddler, he was taken away by the nuns for adoption in America. Philomena spent the next fifty years searching for him but with no success. Then she met Martin Sixsmith, a world weary political journalist who happened to be intrigued by her story. Together they set off to America on a journey that would not only reveal the extraordinary story of Philomena's son, but also create an unexpectedly close bond between Philomena and Martin. The film is a compelling narrative of human love and loss that ultimately celebrates life, showing that there is laughter even in the darkest places. “A terrific, sophisticated comedy that tackles serious issues with a lightness of touch and a spirit of steel…” Empire Box Office 01483 444789
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THE GREAT BEAUTY (15) SAT 2 AUGUST 7.30pm Dir. Paolo Sorrentino - 2hr 22min - 2013 Italy - In Italian with English subtitles Cast: Toni Servillo, Carlo Verdone
Jep Gambardella has seduced his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome for decades, but after his 65th birthday and a shock from the past, Jep looks past the nightclubs and parties to find a timeless landscape of absurd, exquisite beauty. Winner Academy Award 2014 Best Foreign Language Film “A simply breathtaking work of art with a very human, intensely cinematic heart.” Little White Lies
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FRANCES HA (15) MON 8 SEPTEMBER 8pm Dir. Noah Baumbach - 1hr 24min - 2012 USA. Cast: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver.
Frances lives in New York, but doesn't really have an apartment. She is an apprentice for a dance company, but is not really a dancer. Frances throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as their possible reality dwindles. Frances wants so much more than she has but lives her life with unaccountable joy and lightness. With sensitive direction from Baumbach, this delightful film is “as light and breezy as a walk in Central Park, and just as refreshing.”(Empire) Did you know? Greta Gerwig is in every single scene of the film.
TUE 9 SEPTEMBER 2.30pm THU 18 SEPTEMBER 8pm Dir. Alexander Payne - 1hr 55min - 2013 - USA Cast: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb
Parts I & II
NEBRASKA (15)
A father and son steer this American road comedy into a vanishing Midwest on the trail of a dubious fortune - and in search of an understanding of each other that once seemed impossible. Stubborn, taciturn Woody (Bruce Dern in a role that won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival) believes he's got one last shot at mattering: a notice that he's the lucky winner of a million-dollar sweepstakes. Woody insists he must quickly get to the sweepstakes company's office in Nebraska - a 750 mile journey. Worried for his father's state of mind, it falls to Woody's reluctant son David (Will Forte) to accompany him on a trip that seems hilariously futile on the surface. Elegant in its simplicity and poetic in its message, ‘Nebraska’ adds another stirringly resonant chapter to Alexander Payne's remarkable filmography. “It's damn near perfect.” Rolling Stone Empire
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THE BALLAD OF NARAYAMA(15) TUE 9 SEPTEMBER 8pm Dir. Shôhei Imamura - 2hr 10min - 1983 - Japan In Japanese with English subtitles Cast: Ken Ogata, Sumiko Sakamoto, Tonpei Hidari
In a small Japanese village everyone who reaches the age of 70 must leave and go to a certain mountain top to die. If anyone should refuse he or she would disgrace their family. Old Orin is 69. This winter it is her turn to go to the mountain. But first she must make sure that her eldest son Tatsuhei finds a wife. “Imamura captures a truly universal, all-encompassing experience, showing the transmission of virtues and vices from one generation to the next in the service of life's tenacious continuity.” Little White Lies Did you know? The director asked the lead actress to have her four front teeth removed for the role. As it’s a very important action in the story she accepted. Luckily, Japanese dentists are highly skilled!
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Part II
MUSCLE SHOALS (PG) WED 10 SEPTEMBER 8pm Dir. Greg 'Freddy' Camalier 1hr 51min - 2013 - USA Cast: Bono, Jimmy Cliff, Aretha Franklin
A documentary about a place filled with magic and music, legend and folklore. Muscle Shoals, Alabama, has lured some of the greatest Rock ’n’ Roll and soul legends of all time, and drawn from them some of the most uplifting, defiant and important music ever created. It is a place where, even before the Civil Rights Movement really took shape, the colour of your skin didn't matter inside the studio. “...an essential document of a defining era when 'soul' really meant something.” Time Out
HER (U) THU 11 SEPTEMBER 2.30pm Dir. Spike Jonze - 2hr 6min - 2013 - USA Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson
Heartbroken after the end of a long relationship, Theodore becomes intrigued with a new, advanced operating system. He is delighted to meet "Samantha," a bright, female voice, who is insightful and surprisingly funny. From the unique perspective of Oscar nominated filmmaker Spike Jonze comes an original love story that explores the evolving nature and the risks - of intimacy in the modern world. Box Office 01483 444789
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Part II
THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG (u) THU 11 SEPTEMBER 8pm THU 18 SEPTEMBER 2.30pm Dir. Jacques Demy - 1hr 27min - 1964 - France In French with English subtitles Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo
Jacques Demy's 1964 masterpiece is a pop-art opera, or, to borrow the director's own description, a film in song. This simple romantic tragedy follows Guy Foucher (Nino Castelnuovo), a 20-year-old French mechanic, who has fallen in love with 17-year-old Geneviève (a luminous Catherine Deneuve), an employee in her widowed mother's chic but financially embattled umbrella shop. On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Geneviève make love. She becomes pregnant and must choose between waiting for Guy's return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant. ‘The Umbrellas of Cherbourg’ continues to charm and delight. A simple human melodrama made engaging, profound, and unforgettable in the hands of a master director (Demy). This classic musical is easily one of the finest ever crafted. “A truly unique and wonderful film from a director who stands apart in the French cinema canon.” Film4
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PONYO (U) MON 15 SEPTEMBER 8pm Dir. Hayao Miyazaki - 1hr 41min - 2008 - Japan In Japanese with English subtitles Cast: Yuria Nara, Hiroki Doi
The son of a sailor, 5-year old Sosuke lives a quiet life on an oceanside cliff with his mother Lisa. One fateful day, he finds a beautiful goldfish trapped in a bottle on the beach and upon rescuing her, names her Ponyo. But she is no ordinary goldfish. The daughter of a masterful wizard and a sea goddess, Ponyo uses her father's magic to transform herself into a young girl and quickly falls in love with Sosuke. But the use of such powerful sorcery causes a dangerous imbalance in the world. Ponyo is a visually stunning fairy tale that's a sweetly poetic treat for children of all ages. "Miyazaki's back, and still a force of nature. A weird, wonderful aquatic romp, Ponyo is also a meditation on the state of this blue planet. Catch it." Empire (This film replaces 'The Wind Rises' as advertised in the printed Film Festival brochure)
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Part II
ROBOT & FRANK (12) TUE 16 SEPTEMBER 2.30pm Dir. Jake Schreier - 1hr 29min - 2012 - USA Cast: Frank Langella, James Marsden, Liv Tyler, Susan Sarandon
Set in the near future, Frank, a retired cat burglar, has two grownup children who are concerned he can no longer live alone. They are tempted to place him in a nursing home until Frank's son chooses a different option. Against his father’s wishes, he buys Frank a walking, talking humanoid robot programmed to improve his physical and mental health. What follows is an often hilarious and heartbreaking story about finding friends and family in the most unexpected places. “A small but perfectly formed tale with plenty to say about the nature of friendship.” SFX Magazine
Box Office 01483 444789
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TUE 16 SEPTEMBER 8pm Dir. Sebastián Lelio - 1hr 47min - 2013 - Chile/Spain In Spanish with English subtitles Cast: Paulina García, Sergio Hernández, Diego Fontecilla
Part II
GLORIA (15)
Gloria is a "woman of a certain age" but still feels young. Though lonely, she makes the best of her situation and fills her nights seeking love at social dance clubs. Her fragile happiness changes the day she meets Rodolfo. Their intense passion leaves her wavering between hope and despair - until she uncovers a new strength and realises that, in her golden years, she can shine brighter than ever. This film stars Paulina García in a tour de force performance that captured her the Silver Bear Best Actress Award at last year's Berlin Film Festival. “Astute, unpretentious and thrillingly humane…” New York Times
THE MISSING PICTURE (12A) WED 17 SEPTEMBER 8pm Dir. Rithy Panh - 1hr 32min - 2013 - Cambodia/France In French with English subtitles - Cast: Randal Douc
Writer-director Rithy Panh takes a daunting topic - the atrocities Cambodians suffered under the Khmer Rouge - and presents it in a way that's personal, imaginative and even strangely beautiful. Adapted from sections of Panh's book ‘The Elimination’, this film explores the story of his family before and after the Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh. In director Panh's deft hands, the film becomes not just a recreation of a reality long gone, but an indication of ever present melancholia for an entire people. “These miniatures magnify their subjects, and ennoble them. The picture is anguishing to see, but it isn't missing anymore.” Wall Street Journal Box Office 01483 444789
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Electric Film Festival Shorts
MON 28 JULY - THE SHOT
This year we are screening shorts created by local filmmakers before some of our films. Look out for the shorts logo to see which screenings will begin with a little short film treat.
A man receives a camera lens which has magical abilities. He investigates the method in the magic to explore the world and beyond!
TUE 29 JULY - THE LONG JOURNEY HOME “They fell in love as Europe fell apart”. 1938: an English woman marries her sweetheart and moves to Germany against her father’s wishes.
WED 30 JULY - UNDER Kerry is a train driver, she is on sick leave due to a trauma at work. While roaming the train network to make sense of her tragedy she meets a man who understands her.
MON 8 SEP - ANJA AND VIVIEN A lament on music, memory and time. The film tells the story of a woman asked to revisit recordings of her father, recordings which hold forgotten moments from her past.
WED 10 SEP - TEA FOR TWO A short film following the story of a couple's poisonous stand-off over the breakfast table.
TUE 16 SEP - METRO 7 BIS In French with English subtitles A woman visiting Paris for the first time meets a handsome stranger, but her world is shattered when he reveals his true identity.
WED 17 SEP - THE GARDEN
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Old and alone, Simeon takes his life at last. His spirit wanders free through the garden of the afterlife where he finds his long dead tempestuous lover Celestina. He is plagued by memories of his dark acts. Can Simeon find redemption? www.electrictheatre.co.uk
BOOKING INFORMATION ELECTRIC FILM FESTIVAL TICKETS Full Price £6.50 Concessions & ET Friends £5 3 films or more £5.75 Concessions & ET Friends £4.25 5 films or more £5.25 Concessions & ET Friends £3.75 A booking fee of 50p per ticket is chargeable on card transactions. BY PHONE: ONLINE: IN PERSON:
01483 444789 www.electrictheatre.co.uk The Electric Theatre, Onslow Street, Guildford, GU1 4SZ.
BOX OFFICE OPENING HOURS Monday to Saturday: 10.30am - start of screening. Box Office closes at 5pm when there is no performance. Please note that we do not show trailers. Films will start promptly at published times.
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST and be the first to know about our upcoming events. Scan the QR code, join online at electrictheatre.co.uk or give us a call on 01483 444789. Did you know? Programme notes will be available for each festival screening, free of charge. Follow us on Twitter @ElectricTheatre or like our Facebook page /ElectricTheatre and get sneaky peeks into what’s coming up at the Theatre, production and film images/videos, plus our recent news. 19
DIARY AT A GLANCE JULY Sun 27, 3pm Sun 27, 8.30pm Mon 28, 8pm Tue 29, 8pm Wed 30, 8pm Thu 31, 7.30pm
Composing for Film Workshop Vampyr (PG) Wadjda (PG) + SHORT ‘The Shot’ Blackfish (15) + SHORT ‘The Long Journey Home’ Compliance (15) + SHORT ‘Under’ Blue is the Warmest Colour (18)
AUGUST Sat 2, 2.30pm Sat 2, 7.30pm
Philomena (12A) The Great Beauty (15)
SEPTEMBER Mon 8, 8pm Tue 9, 2.30pm Tue 9, 8pm Wed 10, 8pm Thu 11, 2.30pm Thu 11, 8pm Mon 15, 8pm Tue 16, 2.30pm Tue 16, 8pm Wed 17, 8pm Thu 18, 2.30pm Thu 18, 8pm
Frances Ha (15) + SHORT ‘Anja and Vivien’ Nebraska (15) The Ballad of Narayama (15) Muscle Shoals (PG) + SHORT ‘Tea for Two’ Her (U) The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (U) FILM TBA Robot & Frank (12) Gloria (15) + SHORT ‘Metro 7 Bis’ The Missing Picture (12A) + SHORT ‘The Garden’ The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (U) Nebraska (15)