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Forthcoming Event

Birds Eye View Film Festival March 2008

Celebrating Women Filmmakers
6-14th March 2008 - BFI Southbank, ICA, Curzon

BIRDS EYE VIEW film festival presents nine days of inspiration and celebration across International Women's Week, showcasing the very best work from women filmmakers around the world, with over 70 events including screenings, workshops and parties at 7 London venues. See www.birds-eye-view.co.uk for more info & the complete line up.

Led by Rachel Millward, nominated a 'World Changing Woman' (The Guardian 21.08.06), Birds Eye View is a positive response to the fact that women make up only 7% directors in the most powerful medium in the world.

Opened by Maureen Lipman, Birds Eye View will be showcasing the very best in international female talent including film director stars Jennifer Fox, Kim Longinotto, Mira Nair, cutting edge musicians Zoe Rahman, Imogen Heap and Serafina Steer, and comediennes Jo Brand, Arabella Wier and Jessica Hynes (nee Stevenson).

Highlights at the Birds Eye View Film Festival

Thursday 6th March

Opening Night Gala: British Film Institute

NFT 1: 8.10pm - 10pm

Opened by Maureen Lipman, the very best work from women filmmakers around the globe - a powerful mix of styles and genres, alongside a taste of early silent comedy with live piano accompaniment by twice Grammy nominated Imogen Heap (Garden State soundtrack). Followed by a free filmcafé party with complimentary drinks for ticket holders.

**Documentary highlights**

Sunday 9th March

Special Event: Flying: Confessions Of A Free Woman + Q&A

Part one: Curzon Soho 8 March 12pm-3.30pm

Part two: Curzon Soho 9 March 12pm

To book, phone Curzon Soho: 0871 7033 988

A six part-journey that takes a personal, experimental approach to female life in the 21st century - epic new project from master storyteller Jennifer Fox

Friday 7th March

Lakshmi And Me (Nishtha Jain, India 2007, 59') + MIGRATION (Mira Nair, India 2007, 18')

ICA Cinema 1 6.30pm - UK Premiere

Nominated for the Silver Wolf Award at IDFA 2007. Filmmaker Jain explores the affable yet complex relationship with her 'servant' Lakshmi. Set in the mega-metropolis Mumbai, this film is thoughtful in its questioning of friendship, identity and caste. Director Q&A TBC

Screening presented in partnership with Tongues on Fire, Supported by ActionAid

Sunday 9th March

Three Times Divorced (Ibtisam Mara'ana, Israel 2007, 75')

ICA Cinema 2 6.30pm

The shocking story of a Gaza born Palestinian woman, divorced in absentia by her abusive Israeli Arab husband, her six children taken away from her, with nowhere to live and no papers to legally remain in Israel. But she won't give up.

Monday 10th March

Dinner With The President: A Nation's Journey (Sabiha Sumar + Sachithanandam Sathananthan, Pakistan 2007, 82')

ICA Cinema 1, 6.30pm

Dictator, democrat, defender or dummy - what do Pakistanis really think of President Musharraf? From the middle classes to the mullahs and Musharraf himself, this insightful and timely documentary explores issues of political power and human rights.

Monday 10th March

View From A Grain Of Sand (Meena Nanji, US 2006, 82') + Q&A

ICA Cinema 1 9pm

Compelling journey through the last 30 years of Afghanistan's history as lived by three Afghan women. A doctor, teacher and social activist tell how their lives were violently affected by war, religious fundamentalism and political chaos.

**Feature Film Highlights**

Saturday 8th March

Sleepwalking Land + Q&A (Teresa Prata, Mozambique/Portugal 2006, 103')

ICA Cinema 1 1pm

A heart-rending and fantastical tale about a boy desperate to find the family he lost in the Mozambique civil war, based on the popular novel by Mia Couto.

Monday 10th March

Persepolis (Marjane Satrapi & Vincent Paronnaud, France 2007, 97')

ICA Cinema 1 9pm

One of the best and most distinctive animated films for grown-ups in recent years, this Oscar-nominated film is a rare treat that offers a pop culture take on the Iranian Revolution and defies categorisation.

Thursday 13 March

Film: Caramel (Nadine Labaki, France/Lebanon 2006, 95')

ICA Cinema 1 6.30pm

A lovely little comedy-drama set around a Beirut beauty parlour, where director Nadine Labaki stars as feisty Layal and we get a glimpse of sisterhood at its best.

Comedy Film Retrospective - Throughout March

Clowning Glories & Screwball Women

BFI (see website for programme details)

Looking back through the archives of comedy film raises all kinds of questions about women's status in society. In Clowning Glories we get the chance to see fantastically funny flicks from the early days when women held their own in cinema (before it had become a money-making industry), and see women enjoying a foolish physicality we rarely glimpse today. From clowns to 'It' girls to feisty heroines, enjoy slap stick, cross dressing and flappers directed by Alice Guy, Florence Turner and Dorothy Arzner each film is accompanied by a live specially commissioned soundtrack by award winning musicians including and introduced by high profile special guest comediennes. Screwball Women is programme of brilliant classic comedies from Hollywood's Golden Era, starring the most glamorous and talented screen siren comediennes. Witty and wonderful, with fabulous outfits, but are they always playing the dumb blonde? Come marvel at Mae West, Katherine Hepburne and Marylin Monroe.

To Book

ICA Booking details:
Tickets £8.00/£7.00 concessions, £6.00 for members
Booking details: ICA box office 020 7930 3647 or buy tickets online http://www.ica.org.uk

BFI Booking details:
Tickets £8.60/ £6.25 conc, £7.60/ £5.25 conc members Tues (all shows): £5/ £4 concessions
Booking details: BFI box office 020 7928 3232 or buy tickets online http://www.bfi.org.uk

For full programme information, visit http://www.birds-eye-view.co.uk