Postcards From London
The full programme for BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival is due to be announced soon, but ahead of that, the British Film Institute has announced the opening and closing films of the fest, which runs 21st March to 1st April at BFI Southbank. The UK’s premiere lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film fest will open with Tali Shalom-Ezer’s My Days Of Mercy on Wednesday 21st March. Powered by stirring performances from Ellen Page (Juno, Inception, Freeheld) and Kate Mara (House Of Cards, The Martian), Shalom-Ezer’s follow up to Princess is a poignant love story between two women from vastly different backgrounds and opposing political views.
The European Premiere of Steve McLean’s stylish and sexy Postcards From London will feature as the Closing Night Gala. The film tells the story of beautiful teenager Jim (Beach Rats breakout star, Harris Dickinson) who, having travelled from the suburbs, finds himself in Soho where he falls in with a gang of unusual high class male escorts ‘The Raconteurs’. Set in a vibrant, neon-lit, imaginary vision of Soho, this morality tale manages to be both a beautifully shot homage to the spirit of Derek Jarman and a celebration of the homo-erotic in Baroque art.
Michael Blyth, BFI Flare’s Senior Programmer comments, “It’s a pleasure to open this year’s Festival with My Days of Mercy, Tali Shalom-Ezer’s politically resonant and emotionally astute drama. This is bold and provocative filmmaking, featuring captivating performances from both Kate Mara and Ellen Page, the latter of whom continues to show such inspiring commitment to telling LGBT stories on screen”.
Tricia Tuttle, Artistic Director, BFI Festivals adds, “In recent years, the Festival has been developing links between the established film industry and the UK’s very exciting new generation of emerging LGBT identified filmmakers. We’re seeing a true strength in depth of talent in the UK and it’s a real thrill to see this in action with our Closing Night film, Steve McLean’s stylish and witty Postcards from London, a love song to European queer art and culture.”
BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival is the UK’s longest running LGBT film event. It began in 1986 as Gay’s Own Pictures. By its 3rd edition it was known as the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and since then has grown to become the largest LGBT film event in the UK, and its most anticipated. The Festival changed its name to BFI Flare in 2014 to reflect the increasing diversity of its films, filmmakers and audience. The festival is programmed by Jay Bernard, Michael Blyth, Zorian Clayton, Brian Robinson and Emma Smart, led by Artistic Director, Tricia Tuttle.
The full programme of BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival will include 56 feature films, an expanded industry programme, selected films on BFI Player VOD service, a series of special events and archive screenings. fiveFilms4freedom will see Flare offer five LGBT short films for free across the world and promoted through the British Council’s global networks. The full programme will be available on 21st February. The festival runs 21st March – 1st April. You can find more information at: www.bfi.org.uk/Flare
My Days Of Mercy
In a few weeks a new lesbian-themed movie is due to start shooting in Cincinnnati, which has gathered together a great cast including Ellen Page, Kate Mara, Amy Seimetz, Pablo Schreiber and Elias Koteas. Israeli filmmaker Tali Shalom Ezer (Princess) will direct.
Synopsis: ‘A corporate troubleshooter (Kate Mara) is sent to a remote, top-secret location, where she is to investigate and evaluate a terrifying accident. She learns the event was triggered by a seemingly innocent “human,” who presents a mystery of both infinite promise and incalculable danger.’
There have been rumours of trouble surrounding the production of the reboot of Fantastic Four, which has led some to write it off already. However reports from a couple of preview screenings have been pretty good, and it may end up surprising even the studio (which seems uncertain about the film).
There are still a lot of questions hanging over the reboot of Fantastic Four (rumours of extensive reshoots and problems with the original cut haven’t helped matters), but the trailer have actually looked pretty cool, and this ‘final’ promo is no exception.
Gone are Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans and co. and they’re been replaced by the youthful Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell and Michael B. Jordan. And now to give us a better look some character posters have arrived.
20th Century Fox had a fairly late start marketing their reboot of Fantastic Four and when the first trailer arrived, it didn’t show us much. However now a new one has arrived and it gives us a much better look at the movie, including a proper look at The Thing, Doctor Doom and the heroes various powers.