Category — Uncategorized

by Matthew Holtmeier

In a joint invitation between the Department of Social Anthropology, the Centre for Film Studies and the Institute for Iranian Studies, acclaimed Iranian director Mohsen Makhmalbaf visited the University of St Andrews 24 June 2010.

The event involved a screening of Salam Cinema, followed by a Q&A session and a more intimate reception afterward. During these, Makhmalbaf discussed the practical aspects of filmmaking, and the role of cinema and culture in shaping political events, which is particularly important given his prominence in the Green Movement in Iran.

Salam Cinema, which Makhmalbaf made in 1994, follows the auditions of ordinary Iranian citizens who show up in response to an ad placed in the newspapers announcing open auditions for Makhmalbaf’s latest film. Makhmalbaf, played by himself, teases out the participants’ desire to be involved in cinema by asking why they want be cast in his film – the usual response being a declaration of love for cinema. [Read more →]

Catherine Shoard, the editor of film for The Guardian and Rachel Millward, the director of the Bird’s Eye View festival, entered into a debate on why so few women directors are showcased at the Cannes Film Festival and why they hardly ever win the coveted Palme d’Or. The question at hand is whether the Cannes festival is unfair to women.

Click here to access the conversation between Shoard and Millward published by The Guardian.

This is the official poster for the Festival de Cannes which be held from the 12th of May 2010 till the 23rd of May. For more information about the line-up, the juries (headed by Tim Burton) log on to http://www.festival-cannes.com/en.html

Wanted to share an interesting piece that a journalist at The Guardian wrote just as Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece Psycho is about to rerelease in theatres in the US.

Click here to access it.

We are happy to announce that the first issue of Wide Screen is now online.

Click here to access.

The last week has seen an interesting feud in the Hindi film industry with producers and distributors joining hands against multiplexes over the issue of revenue sharing. Industry heavyweights like Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan (actors who have turned producers since a few years), Karan Johar, Yash Chopra and a host of others held a press conference to ‘explain to the audience why they will not be seeing any new releases in the theatres for a while.’ [Read more →]

Click here to read a review of Entre Les Murs (The Class)

Click here to read the review.

Click here to read the review.

Will Kate Winslet’s sixth Oscar nomination prove lucky for her? Click here to read.