We arrive at the conclusion of ESLF’s coverage of The 8th London Spanish Film Festival, where I had the privilege to interview the indefinable Isaki Lacuesta: filmmaker, lecturer, screenwriter, and writer. Isaki’s filmography consists of documentary and fiction, short films and feature films, and he possesses a limitless enthusiasm for cinema and creativity, both through the written word and the image. Documentary now is not just about stating facts, showing… Read More »
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Interviews
The 8th London Spanish Film Festival Retrospective: Eduardo Chapero-Jackson Interview
The young Spanish screenwriter and director Eduardo Chapero-Jackson, renowned for his visually creative short films attended the LSFF to promote his feature directorial debut Verbo. Eduardo graciously set aside some time to speak with me about his first foray into feature films, and his thoughts on the short versus the feature format. You are renowned for your short films. How did the transition into the feature format occur, and why… Read More »
The 8th London Spanish Film Festival Retrospective: Marisa Paredes Interview.
There has been an unexpected problem with the interpreter, leading to a last minute scramble to find someone who will translate for us. As I walk into the room Marisa Paredes greets me with a warm smile. With less than thirty minutes to go before she is due on stage, I’m sitting down face to face with Paredes, intimidated by this force of Spanish cinema, my hands shaking ever so… Read More »
The 8th London Spanish Film Festival Retrospective: Luis Tosar Interview
This year’s London Spanish Film Festival hosted a special feature of one of Spanish Cinema’s leading actors, Luis Tosar. To mark the end of this feature Tosar participated in a live onstage interview to introduce Jaume Balagueró’s Sleep Tight, before which I had the opportunity to sit down with the iconic Galician actor and musician. We discussed his career choices, the dangers of an actor judging his characters, and his… Read More »
The 8th London Spanish Film Festival Retrospective: Introduction and Joana Granero Interview
Mid-September through to mid-October, London’s silver screens were ablaze with filmic images, both home-grown and foreign. In its eighth year, The London Spanish Film Festival has been filling London’s cultural panorama with a showcase of contemporary Spanish cinema, in addition to films showcased at the 56th BFI London Film Festival Almodóvar and Spanish horror, some produced by Mexican filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro, perhaps do in fact define contemporary Spanish cinema… Read More »
Interview: Zam Sailm, director of Up There
Up There the debut feature from Zam Salim is released today (check out my review here). Graciously, Zam put some time aside for a short e-mail interview, full of humor and offering a more personal insight his thoughts on his directorial feature debut. Thanks Zam. You have been quoted as saying that you wanted ‘Up There’ to feel ordinary. What was the motivation behind this aesthetic and narrative choice? Was… Read More »
LFF – The Final Word: Jamie Kastner
Ten interviews down, one to go. The LFF: The Final Word interview feature arrives at its inevitable conclusion, wrapping up ESLF’s coverage of the 56th BFI London Film Festival as we turn our attention to Jamie Kastner, whose film The Secret Disco Revolution was screened in the LFF’s ‘Sonic’ category. You have remarked that people often believe they know a subject. When you approached The Secret Disco Revolution, do you… Read More »
LFF – The Final Word: Greg Olliver
Britain’s own poet, writer and war veteran Mickey Burn is the subject of director Greg Olliver’s film Turned Towards the Sun, screened at this year’s LFF in the ‘Documentary Competition.’ Greg’s documentary captures the sadness of a ninety six year old confronting his own mortality, and despite such an ominous shadow, an extraordinary life is celebrated, a life story that spans the twentieth century. Turned Towards the Sun is therefore… Read More »
LFF – The Final Word: Antonio Campos and Brady Corbet
LFF The Final Word: Antonio Campos and Brady Corbet. High up in the penthouse of the Mayfair Hotel, I had the opportunity to sit down with director Antonio Campos and star Brady Corbet, following what can only be described as an entertaining question and answer session in the BFI’s NFT1 the night before. I spoke to them about the importance of creative inspiration, questioned the necessity of a sympathetic protagonist,… Read More »
LFF – The Final Word: Florian Habicht
The LFF Final Word feature continues as we turn our focus on documentary and fictional narrative filmmaker Florian Habicht, who’s creative and boundary blurring romantic comedy Love Story was screened in this year’s ‘Laugh’ category. Love Story stands out as a highly creative romantic comedy. Was it in anyway a response to mainstream romantic comedies and romantic dramas that have a tendency to be formulaic? I often love watching films… Read More »
