Projects in genres: Music

Synopsis

Five former breakdancers reflect on their youthful rites of passage through the vibrant UK Hip Hop scene of the early 1980s and how it allowed them to escape the confines of life on inner city council estates. As the wild energy of the scene burned out their adolescent dreams met the realities of adulthood. But the scene had a lasting legacy on their lives - once a B Boy, always a B Boy... and then a tragic event gives them an unexpected chance to recapture the past. Previously unseen archive footage shines the light on a forgotten era in British youth culture in this humorous and poignant character-driven documentary. Winner of Best Documentary at the Hip Hop Film Festival New York

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"Passionate about music from a young age, Rodrigo and Gabriela were lucky enough to discover each other as teenagers in Mexico City, forging one of the most successful musical duos performing today. Music journalist turned filmmaker Alexandro Franco takes us through their fairytale rise, as they leave Mexico to prove themselves in Europe, arriving in Dublin in the late 90s as the Celtic Tiger was roaring. Whilst their phenomenal talent was obvious from the start, they had to prove themselves through old fashioned hard work... But they soon attracted a huge raft of admirers, drawn to their distinctive acoustic style - a blend of flamenco, heavy metal, and rock. An uplifting story of how talent and hard work can fulfil your wildest dreams." Sheffield Doc/ Fest

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808 is a documentary film about the inspiring story of the Roland TR-808 drum machine. It's the tale of the birth of electronic music, and how one small machine changed the musical landscape forever... by accident. It's the story of a sound that has been embraced by the world's top producers and performers, and has been name-checked on a whole host of hit records. Associated with numerous musical styles crossing both time and genre, its defining sounds are as relevant now as they ever have been. It defined hip hop and modern dance culture and its sound continues to deliver dancefloor-smashing beats today. SXSW 2015 - World premiere

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'The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson' confronts our worst nightmares of impending death and turns them upside down. It tells the extraordinary, yet universal story of legendary musician Wilko Johnson who, diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given a few months to live, accepted his fate with uplifting positivity and embarked on a farewell tour, capturing the imagination of the world as he went. But like every good story Wilko's has a damn fine twist in its tail. Two years later and confounding the odds, Wilko wakes up in a hospital bed, unexpectedly sentenced to live, having now to integrate those enlightened lessons learnt under sentence of death into the unexpected and ongoing future of his life. SXSW 2015 - World premiere

Synopsis

A portrait of the artist’s uncle Steven. Filmed over two years, whilst Steven is involved in restoring an antique grand piano inherited from his grandmother, Isabel. Steven’s inventive experiments dictate the action, but as the instrument unravels into thousands of pieces, it gradually takes over his material and psychological landscape.

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The remarkable, forgotten story behind David Bowie's biggest-ever hit record – and how the birth of MTV, and an unlikely journey deep into the Australian outback led to its unprecedented success. Official Selection Berlinale 2015 - Generation 14plus - World premiere

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A behind-the-scenes look at the popular boy band, Backstreet Boys. Directed by Stephen Kijak (Stones in Exile, Scott Walker: 30 Century Man, Cinemania).

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Imtiaz, a rickshaw driver, gives a ride to Tameena, a hotel call girl, and begins waiting for her daily; he falls in love with her and tries to rescue her from the horrors of poverty and prostitution.

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Take It Back and Start All Over is a relationship drama with music following 33 year old mum Jennie who attempts to recapture her past as a successful singer/songwriter while dealing with a marriage that is falling apart.

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The Collector's Case was produced during Yelena Popova’s residency at Upton House, a National Trust property in Warwickshire. The video records the time Popova spent working with the collection of paintings at Upton House and reflects on the temporality of a painting collection.

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Verbal and physical slapstick suggests darker truths behind love, sex, and relationships. This dance monologue is an interpretation of a classic performance piece taken from the archive of the late performer and choreographer Nigel Charnock.

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A witch conspires to teach important lessons to various characters of popular children's stories including Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel.