BRISTOL'S COMPASS OF DESIRE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2009 PROGRAMME
Festival dates: 26th September–4th October 2009
Desire – explored through the cultural lens of Cuba, Lebanon, America and France – represents the thematic heart of the fourth Compass Festival in Bristol. Using the conceptual points of a compass to navigate the festival’s narrative, the programme will offer up an impressive menu of film screenings, poetry, music, dance, magic and discussion, taking audiences from French burlesque cabaret to the island of Cuba; from the seedy depths of an American speak-easy to the eastern shores of Lebanon.
After an initial launch party on Friday 25th September, the festival kicks off with the first Compass point – America (West) – on Saturday 26th. Transporting audiences back to the era of sleazy 1920s Prohibition, the evening’s bill shows off dancers, singers, magicians and circus performers as well as some of the sexiest films of the day in a specially curated programme of silent movies in collaboration with Bristol Silents and the Watershed, accompanied by live piano.
Moving east, the festival swings its gaze to Lebanon (East) on Sunday 27th September, with a feature double bill screening. Caramel (Labaki, 2007) is served up first: a heart warming romantic comedy about a group of Lebanese women, whose respective turmoils in love and life are borne through the friendship that binds them. Following this, the widely acclaimed hallucinatory remembrance of the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon – Waltz with Bashir (Folman, 2008). Folman’s animation is a beautifully paced, exquisitely drawn masterpiece exploring themes of trauma and guilt through a soldier’s memory.
Onto the following weekend, and the festival turns the spotlight on France (North) on Saturday 3rd October, and the glittering lounges of cabaret and burlesque. Alluring acrobatics, sumptuous striptease and captivating can-can all recreate the raucous atmosphere of the Moulin Rouge, alongside a programme of cinematic delights including a feature screening of L'Invitation au Voyage (Dulac, 1927), and a programme of French shorts donated by the Institut Français-Ciné Lumière including animation Les Crayons (Barcelo, 2004) and French Kiss (Peretjatko, 2004).
Finally the axis swings to the exotic island of Cuba (South) for another double-bill film bonanza on Sunday 4th. First up, Memories of Underdevelopment (Alea, 1968). Set historically in the period between the Bay of Pigs offensive and the Cuban Missile Crisis, a middle-class Cuban, Sergio, tries to understand the new Cuba and his place within it through a serious of romantic relationships. After a lively interval showcasing local Cuban salsa talents, the final film of the festival is Fresa y Chocolate (Alea, 1994). Cast in the faded grandeur of Havana’s crumbling colonial facades, Fresa y Chocolate examines freedom of expression, tolerance, revolutionary watchfulness, and the flaws of revolutionary Cuban society.
ADDITIONAL FESTIVAL EVENTS
Launch Party – Friday 25th September
Bands, DJs, wandering performances, art and installations.
Rhymes Spoken Word Event – Wednesday 30th September
(Held at St Werburghs City Farm Café)
An evening of live spoken word and poetry, plus open-mic with food and drink provided by The Runcible Spoon.
Five Minutes of Fire Short Film Competition – Friday 2nd October
A night of five-minute cinematic treats, as entrants to the Compass short film competition explore the theme of desire in all its guises. Films will be judged by a panel of experts, with an audience award for the favourite.
OTHER COMPASS EVENTS
Compass at Shambala Festival – 27th–30th August
The Compass of Desire Tent presents a smorgasbord of weird and wonderful acts, surreal encounters and libidinous beats in the sumptuously sexy world of their late-night boudoir at Shambala Festival.
Highlights to include
• The words and beats of London-based lyricist Kate Tempest (plus live hip hop from Sound of Rum)
• Take a trip into wild world of Victorian micro-rave, smoke emitting gramophones and time machines with festival favourites, Vexkiddy
• Mr.Woodnote & the Bonobo Hobos take us on a musical journey of live hip-hop and instrumentation
• Dance 'til dawn to Chew Magna’s electro glam-pop riffs
• KaraUke – karaoke with a live Ukulele backing band. You sing, They play!
• Plus, burlesque, magic, and foodie treats provided by The Runcible Spoon
ABOUT COMPASS FILM CIC
Compass Film CIC is an established not-for profit organisation striving to present cultural events that are fresh and imaginative in Bristol. The company’s main activity is the preparation and delivery of the annual themed arts & film festival. Each year they choose a different concept through which to explore local and international cinema and wider arts.
Please visit the Compass website for all information on tickets, venue and directions: http://www.compass-film.co.uk
FOR ALL PRESS ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:
Tara Sachdeva
Tel: 0117 902 9554
E-mail: tara@compass-film.co.uk
Website: www.compass-film.co.uk
