SOLO FILM SHOW - THIS WEEK!

Well this week this the most exciting one EVER for Roundeye - and that's a fact.

And it's all because coming this Friday 8th July is Ben Barton's first ever solo film night, all being held for the fantastic Folkestone Triennial 2011.

Part retrospective, part avant garde film night, the evening promises our usual blend of scratchy, imperfect super-8 films, found footage and great music from Roundeye regulars Jennifer and Robert Harris.

We'll be showing virtually every single film we've made over the past three years, including the first ever screenings of new works Little Red and 5,000 Miles From Hollywood.

So if you can get to Folkestone's fab Quarterhouse this Friday - please come down and support us - the more the merrier! The films start at 7.30pm and entry is a teeny-tiny £3!

You can read more about the short film night here at the Folkestone Fringe website, or here at Benny's very own homepage.

We hope to see you there!

WE'RE IN A WHIRLYGIG...

Roundeye favourite The Return of Ellen Love is getting something of a makeover this weekend - with a brand new live soundtrack - all part of Whirlygig Cinema's new 'Making Tracks' event.

Whirlygig describe themselves as "an ongoing project working to expose the talents of lesser known and up-and-coming filmmakers... helping them to find their feet in a daunting and murky art world".

Our film's new soundtrack will come courtesy of The Cabinet of Living Cinema, a collective of artists working exclusively in music and film. The idea behind the night is quite simple: Whirlygig Cinema seek out top-quality short films, strip them of their original soundtracks and The Cabinet rescore them live on the night.

Entry to this special event is £8 - this Friday 20th May - at the coolio Rich Mix arts venue - in the heart of London's East End on the Bethnal Green Road.

Addendum: It also seems our film will be repeated for the August 2011 event - so we'll post again nearer the time...

KOMING SOON AT KINOKULTURE

There's something of a Benny B retrospective coming up this month at the KinoKulture Short Film Night in Shropshire, with four Roundeye films being screened in one sitting. That's Getting Ready, The Return of Ellen Love, Initial Prospect and our little-seen art film The Lighthouse.

KinoKulture is an independently-run boutique cinema in Oswestry, which offers a varied programme of film screenings and events throughout the year. Our films will be shown at The Ironworks on Sunday 27th March, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are a bargain £3!


UPDATE... We've just heard that Getting Ready and Initial Prospect have been moved to the next Short Film Night, being held sometime in May. We'll keep you updated!

THE NEW VOLTA FILM CLUB

It's over to the Emerald Isle for some Roundeye films tomorrow...

Yes, yes it's super short notice, but no matter, because Dublin's New Volta Film Club are holding a special screening of FIVE of our films!

The celluloid delights on the menu are Getting Ready, Ellen Love, Uphill for Jesus, Initial Prospect and The Lighthouse - all part of their special evening of new independent short film.

So if you're up for the craic, place yourself at Bewley's Cafe Theatre, Tuesday February 1st at 8.30pm. It's FREE!

¡VIVA ESPANA! - INCINERACION IS THIS WEEK...

A quick reminder that Uphill for Jesus and The Return of Ellen Love are screening later this week from 21st-22nd April at the InCINEracion Independent Film Festival, Spain.
The 2010 event is being held in Granada at the Afrodisia Club, beginning at 8:30pm.

Screenings are free but seats are limited!

POLE POSITION (x 13)

Aye our Ellen Love is a popular lass. As I’m sure you’ll remember, last year our film The Return of Ellen Love was part of the official selection for Euroshorts, Poland’s premier film festival. Organised by the Foundation for Young Cinema and now in its 18th year, it’s the only festival in Europe which brings together screenings of short films and creative advertising.

Following the main event in Warsaw last November, our film has now been chosen to go on tour all round Poland, visiting more than a dozen towns and cities, stopping off at art galleries, cinemas and public buildings.

Ellen Love is one of just six films in the ‘experimental category’ to be screened up and down the country… We’re in very good company too - some of the directors who are also screening work include Guy Ritchie and David Fincher I kid ye not!

Here is the current line-up for the regional screenings. Obviously we can’t be there in person, but there in heart yes we will be! It all sounds so exciting a teeny bit of wee just leaked out! Seriously!

Koszalin – January 27-29 / Wrocław – March 3-4 / Bielsko-Biała – March 11-12 / Olsztyn – March 22-26 / Toruń – April 22-23 / Elblag – April 28-29 / Gdańsk – May 22-23 / Zielona Góra – June 8 / Kutno - June 18 / Lublin – June 21-22 / Szczecin – June 24-25 / Warsaw – June 24-25.

Check out the Euroshorts website for more information.

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED...

It seems it wasn’t just good old Britain that was brought to its knees by the snow – but China too. The Electric Shadows screening in Beijing last month coincided with a whacking great snowstorm, which left the audience a tad thin on the ground, apparently.

With this in mind, Vicky and the team have decided to re-run the entire January programme again – which means both The Return of Ellen Love and Uphill for Jesus will be getting a second shot, along with a sumptuous collection of other experimental, hand-crafted films from around the world. The screening is this Sunday 7th February, 2pm, at the Peng Hao Theatre.

So fingers crossed the weather will be kinder this time – no skis required!

INCINERACION TAKE 2

Some advance notice here - and Incineracion, Spain's super 8-friendly independent film art festival, is gearing-up for another screening. Ben Barton's Jesus and Ellen Love films are back on the programme, with screenings this April 20th at the Afrodisia Club in Granada.

ROUNDEYE BEHIND THE BAMBOO CURTAIN

First off the bat for 2010 - and two Roundeye films du jour - The Return of Ellen Love and Uphill for Jesus - are going to make their Chinese debut in Beijing (which Benny B was lucky enough to explore on a tour of China a couple of years back).

Electric Shadows is a multi-platform film and music venture designed to promote experimental and art house cinema in the Chinese capital. Run by a team of passionate volunteers, they hold a screening every month aiming to "showcase the finest short works from around the world which challenge the conventional labels of documentary and fiction, and blur the lines between narrative and experimental film".

The inaugural event of the new decade will be tomorrow, January 3rd, at the Peng Hao Theatre, Dongcheng. This exceptional new theatre and coffeehouse is one of the first privately-owned theatres in Beijing. Located in the centre of the performing arts district, it is a beautifully-restored hutong house with a bohemian feel, chill-out zones and rooftop bar.

The screenings begin at 2pm and entrance is 30 yuan.

Benny B in Tiananmen Square, 2007

MADRID CALLING... INCINERACION 2009

We'd just returned from some tapas, funnily enough, so it was with belly's full of Spanish Shiraz when we found out that España loves us back! Why? because two of Ben Barton's finest cuts: The Return of Ellen Love and Uphill for Jesus have been selected for InCINEracion, Spain's long-running cult art film festival. [Myspace is HERE]

With a renowned penchant for super 8 film, this year's is the 14th edition of the festival, featuring the work of 21 artists from Spain, Argentina, Canada and the UK... and in our humble opinion the line-up is looking champion.

Our two flicks will be screened at the Elipa Cultural Centre, Madrid, on Tuesday 17th November (earlier than originally advertised). Projections start at 7.30pm and entry is 100% gratis!

A big muchas gracias to Julio Juste for this one.

EUROSHORTS HERE WE COME!

The Ellen Love juggernaut just keeps chugging on... and we are very excited to reveal that our Gothic underground pièce de résistance is part of the official selection for Euroshorts, Poland's best short film festival.

Courtesy of the Kino Lab, the film is part of the 'experimental' competition selection being screened at Wasaw's Centre for Contemporary Art, Ujazdowski Castle, on November 15th @ 8pm.

BACK AT THE LAB

The Halloween magick is rolling on, and The Return of Ellen Love, our moody Gothic super 8 film, is going to be screened at the Picturedrome in Northampton for The Film Lab.

[Facebook] [myspace]

It's our sophomore screening at the lab - this coming Thursday, November 5th. 9pm. Entrance is free.

TRICK OR TREAT - HALLOWEEN SCREAMINGS!

Well it's that time of year again, and for her first ever All Hallow’s Eve our undead heroine, Ellen Love, has been selected for a trio of great Halloween screamings, I mean screenings.

First up is the Halloween Happening at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield. On Halloween night, Saturday 31st October, the whole theatre will be opened-up for a night of partying, entertainment and live performance across the building, including spooky films on the big screen and a nightclub in the ‘crypt’. Fancy dress is required to get in – and it’s 7pm-2am folks. Tickets £15.

Second is Caligari's Movie Extravaganza, where, of course, October’s event is a horror night, combining short films with music and live Vjing. This one’s at the Green Dragon, Croydon on Friday 30th – so that’s All Hallow’s Eve Eve, I guess? Either way, kick off is at 8pm. Tickets £4.

And last but most definitely not least is the Son of Movie Bar, Brighton's sequel night to the cult Movie Bar. Actually a little late for Halloween - it's on 3rd November – but the whole night will be horror themed and sounds like it’ll be a ripper. It's all happening at the usual place – The Cornerstone on Elm Grove. 8pm. Entry is free.

* * * * * * * *

A little addendum here - we've just been told that Ellen Love will also be part of the line-up for the Destructors' Manifesto night, being held over the water at Dublin's Tivoli Theatre this Friday 30th October. This promises to be "a one-night festival of music, theatre, short films and live graffiti, celebrating the dark, the weird and the wonderful". 7pm. Tickets 10 euro.

So that turns our Halloween trio into a foursome... oo-er!

SZEGED 2009 - HUNGARY LOVES ELLEN

We're no stranger to the Szeged Super 8 Festival, which definitely sits in the Top Five Super 8 fests in the world (last year our film-poem Uphill for Jesus was premiered there). And while we're on it, Ellen Love is no stranger to the beautiful baroque country of Hungary either - as Ben Barton's Roundeye film The Return of Ellen Love was premiered in Budapest this May...

Now in it's eighth year, the Szeged Festival keeps getting bigger and better - rumour has it that several hunded films (from no less than five continents) were submitted this time around... So when the Competition programme was announced earlier today, it was a great surprise to see that Ellen Love is included!

Our film will be screened exactly one year to the day as last year's festival - 11th September. And quite fitting for our spooky lass, Ellen will be part of the late evening showing, beginning at 9pm. For the low-down with the hoedown and all the nitty-gritties, see the festival website.

GOOD REVIEW ALERT!

Following a screening of Ellen Love last Wednesday at Manchester's 24:7 Theatre Festival, we've stumbled across a rather splendid review, so felt compelled to share...

"Forming part of the Manchester 24:7 Theatre Festival, 'Visual Pleasures' provided an evening of clips from both Mancunian and national contributors and turned-up more than a few lovely surprises...

It was back to art school as Ben Barton’s ethereal Gothic sonnet The Return of Ellen Love hit the screen. Filmed on super 8, the film served as a great video to the accompanying score of Jennifer Harris’s 'Black Eyes', and was a welcome respite from the drama that had gone before. Described by its creators as a 'dark and romantic visual poem', this was five minutes of alternative fun that served the crowd well."

Excerpted from The Rattle

PREPARE TO LAUNCH - THE 24:7 THEATRE FEST

Ellen Love returns to Manchester next week, this time for the city's 24:7 Theatre Festival. It's part of The Hub After Hours line-up - a kind of fringe event to the main festival, with music performances, films, lectures and more...

The Return of Ellen Love is one of eight films selected for 'Visual Pleasure: An Evening of Short Films' held at New Century House next Wednesday 22nd July 2009. It's a late one folks - doors at 9pm - but admission is free!

"Accompanying the unveiling of Heartless, a new short film by Pylon Pictures, will be other delicacies from the world of filmmaking and art. So, grab your beverage of choice, sit back and let your senses be tingled…"

For more info visit the 24:7 Theatre festival website, then click on The Hub.

WORKING IT IN WALES, OUR LATEST FESTIVAL...

The Roundeye films have found their natural home - screenings at music festivals!

Yes 'The Cinema of Small Gestures' - the swooping title for all the films directed by Ben Barton - have been very popular of late in the cinema tents of various fests from Athens to Cambridge.

The latest is the Workhouse Festival - a three-day event which runs from 10th to 12th July in Powys, Wales. They will be screening a hand-picked selection of the films, including The Return of Ellen Love, Uphill for Jesus and Insects.

This year the cinema tent promises "a variety of shorts, feature and documentary films from around the globe, offering a portal into new worlds from some of the best young, up-and-coming and radical film making talent."

For all the details, visit the Workhouse Festival website [HERE]

or read the BBC profile [HERE]

STRAWBERRY SEASON

This Friday is the first night of the Strawberry Fair Film Festival in Cambridge, where Ellen Love will screened in the Big Top Tent. Our section starts at 9:45pm and is being sold as the "best new short films from around the world". That's what I call hype!
And yes I know I've said it before, but admission is free!

B:FEST THIS SATURDAY

B Involved, B There, B Inspired, B Fest!

Starting at 4pm this Saturday 6th June, our dark and moody little cine flick The Return of Ellen Love will be part of the B:Fest film screenings, which are described thus:

“More innovative and experimental work - a perfect alternative for those fed up with formulaic Hollywood blockbusters! An opportunity to see short films submitted by filmmakers from all over Europe”

See the Luton Arts Festival website for all the info.
Screening held at Manhattans, Cumberland Street, Luton. Admission: £5.

FRISCO FEVER!

We’ve just had late notice of two screenings over the pond in San Francisco, for the Cinematheque Avec night, a new event held at the Hotel Utah, 400 Bryant Street.

Both Uphill for Jesus and The Return of Ellen Love will be shown later today, Thursday May 28th at 8.30pm.

It’s described as “a mingling of indie films with original music from SF-based songstress, Brittany Shane” whose new album Have Heart Live Young comes highly recommended!
Ms Shane will introduce each film as well as providing the musical entertainment with her band.

Plus, continuing the (accidental) trend for the Roundeye film screenings – they’ll be free popcorn too!