Every summer, more than a thousand people go looking for themselves and a soul-load of enlightenment at the No Mind Festival in northern Sweden. Deep in the forest, seekers divide into small, random 'sharing groups' and submit to a two-week intensive program of pseudo-shamanic-tantric reiki rituals.
We follow the comical-come-karmic adventures of one sharing group made up of a middle-aged mojo-worn lothario, a Swedish pop star, the requisite Hawaiian hippy, an emotionally fragile Finnish grandma and the audience's sounding board, Nick, an Australian rugby coach who doesn't buy a second of their 'find your inner power animal' antics.
As the fire-walking and tree-hugging exercises continue, however, channels are opened into the very real issues that brought the characters there, including Nick's. In a completely free and honest environment, the camera captures the intimate conversations, startling breakdowns and defining confrontations that pave each of their remarkable journeys towards love, loathing, hilarity and themselves.
Sex, Drugs, Music. That's life.
This film is a mixture of genres; thriller, horror, comedy, romance, drama, musical, surreal, fantasy, sci-fi, noir and everything else.
The film is essentially about reality, the perception of reality and repression. It's about a young man, John, trying to stave off the feelings of belonging and notions of madness. This narrative runs through the heart of the film whilst others intertwine with it. A serial killer, a futuristic agent, a psychologist, a lover, a friend and a transvestite all add to the confusion and mayhem that create this onslaught on the senses. Is his girlfriend real? Is his best friend real? What is real? And as John finds out:'You can't keep running!'
The habitual dreamer can't seem to discipher his dreams. Is the mysterious transvestite the key? All this and more awaits the viewer in this original and confused film.
But the final revelation might be too much for some. Or does it all fit? It's up to you.
Or is it?
Proud and determined, astride a beautiful white horse, Lady Godiva rides through medieval streets to protest against high taxes levied by husband, Leofric, Earl of Mercia.
Into modern day Oxford where Jemima Honey, an attractive but quirky young school teacher, fierce and independent, sets out to resurrect her dead brother's memory through the 'Art Factory'; the place she has founded where youngsters can forget their troubles and enter the world of their imagination.
Through a chance encounter, she meets the gorgeous Michael Bartle and is very much taken by his charms until she discovers he is the 'Godiva' man, a notorious play boy. Through his persuasive talents and high level contacts, Michael persuades Jemima to make a stand for her soon to be closed down art factory. However Michael is forced to lie to Jemima and is found out at the point of proposal. In a big turn-around Jemima takes the reigns and plans a publicity stunt to attract a five-year sponsorship deal for the art factory-riding naked on a horse over Magdalen Bridge on may morning. this culminates in a reuniting of all, laying to rest of family ghosts and 'the' proper proposal.
Set on and around the poorest place in the USA, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Rez Bomb is a love story/thriller about a Lakota girl and a white guy who are very much in love but get into trouble with a brutal money lender and must bail themselves out.
In the middle ages there was an outbreak of dancing manias in Europe that lasted hundreds of years. In the 20th century thousands of Chinese men and some women thought that their genitalia were vanishing, while schoolgirls in Belgium thought that they were being poisoned by a certain brand of fizzy drink. Looking at these various cases, and more, the professor takes us on a musical journey through mass hysteria.
A Documentary on Women’s experience of Punk.
The present media interest in the 70’s is a pre punk; US dominated vision of the era. The UK experience was of a decadent hippie movement and the apolitical skinhead movement being swept aside by punk. This programme reassesses from a punk women’s perspective, women’s role in this dynamic movement that irreversibly changed the face of society, politics art and music.
Director Zillah Minx – Lead singer with punk band rubella ballet since 1976.
Described variously as, "a tour de force of Zizek's fascinating interpretations of fine cinematic moments," and "a rare documentary of unabashed intellectual aggression," this collaboration between director Sophie Fiennes and philosopher and public intellectual Slavoj Zizek represents the first film in a trilogy. Fiennes inventive direction places Zizek within the film moments he is analysing. He is "a genuinely interesting thinker" and "Oh what a brilliantly entertaining host Zizek turns out to be." The brings Zizek's post Freudian psychoanalytic interpretations to some of the more celebrated work in the history of cinema, including David Lynch, Tarkovsky and Hitchcock.
Official Selection Sydney Film Festival 2006
Official Selection Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2006
Official Selection Toronto International Film Festival 2006
'Like Me, Only Better' is a laconic comedy about Neuroses, Catholicism and Prozac.
Clive tries to become a better person and to overcome his various Obsessive Compulsive disorders. The film establishes a link between his Catholic upbringing, his childhood imagination and his adult phobias and compulsions.
A hand-drawn animation in pencil, it moves between the inner and outer worlds of the main character.
Mini Mayor is a short film focusing on the issues of power and popularity through the eyes of London's youth. The main character goes through a rollercoaster-like experience with authoritative powers as he finds himself in the shoes of the Mayor of London for a day. As he soon discovers, power and popularity have their pros and cons as he experiences the trials and tribulations of dealing with the public in various situations. With it's fresh take on a modern mayor, Mini Mayor hopes to educate both the viewers and filmmakers on what would could happen if today's youth were in the shoes of big decision-makers.
A drama. A comedy. A romance with an edge. Your life can be turned upside down in a day.
One ordinary morning, young struggling musician Ashley Branstead (Lorraine Pilkington) suffers a shocking encounter with a stranger.
This disturbing assault inadvertently triggers what becomes a very intriguing day with another stranger, her apparent knight in shining armour, seemingly genuine - but odd - Michael (Finlay Robertson).
By his subtle and not so subtle persuasions Ashley finds herself spending an enchanting but unusual day with the spontaneous Michael, quickly becoming captivated by his generosity and charm. But all is not as it seems.
Ashley begins to suspect that his actions might have an ulterior motive. Who is the mysterious stranger? What are his true intentions and who is he acting for?
When his secret is eventually revealed the truth threatens to destroy their whirlwind romance.
Some days you wish had never started, then along comes one you hope will never end. Anything can happen in a day.
An immigrant taxi driver reluctantly takes his female passenger through a number of unplanned stop-offs during a long night-time journey. Various revelations along the way gradually reveal that each struggles with a different side of the same issue. The final location at dawn leaves the two characters changed forever.
'Hello, Night-Wolf here. When I was asked to take part in this documentary about my life I thought 'Yes' I've got a lot to give - let's let the public into the life of a full time costumed crime fighter, however I was not quite prepared for exactly what was involved. Rather than concentrate on my war on evil the film makers saw fit to delve into my past. I mean, sure, I've had 37 (or is it 38?) kid side-kicks die whilst on various missions. And, yes, sometimes the police aren't that enamoured when I offer to assist them. And, well, perhaps I did inadvertently help my arch nemesis escape incarceration and reap bloody carnage on the city, but really - everyone has bad days. I'm also displeased about how much screen time my former partner Wolf-Boy gets (as if he's not on TV enough!), then there's the somewhat candid interviews people give about my effectiveness in halting the criminal element. Until I can put an injunction on the release of this film I urge you to take everything with a pinch of salt - I mean they can do anything with editing nowadays'
(Night-Wolf, Cardinal City, 2005).
