Shetland’s first ever film festival (is now /will be) officially underway as of 6pm on Thursday 6th September. The festival is curated by celebrated film critic and writer Mark Kermode and despite the unforeseen and enforced absence of star attraction, director Ken Russell, promises to be a marvellous event for cinema lovers and film enthusiasts of all ages.

The festival programme will continue as publicised (with one minor alteration) and the screenings will feature introductions and question and answer sessions with the festival guests and the curator. Shetland Arts are delighted to welcome Michael Bradsell to the festival. Michael is regarded as one of the great film editors and has been a long term collaborator of Ken Russell’s having worked on Women in Love and The Boy Friend. He also worked on the restoration of The Devils, and has an extensive knowledge of that film and a deep understanding of Mr Russell’s ideas and methods.

The festival will kick off with an exhibition of films by the Shetland Young Media club, who have made a number of films over the summer, making use of Shetland Arts new filming and film editing equipment. This will be followed by a free screening of the BBC drama, Reichenbach Falls, which will be introduced by Mark Kermode in conversation with John Mackay who directed the film and followed by a question and answer session with John Mackay and the producer Gaynor Holmes.

On Friday night there will be two films, the first of which is The Flying Scotsman, starring Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Boyd and directed by Douglas Mackinnon. Douglas is delighted to be taking part in the festival and very keen to come to Shetland as his mother and his mother’s family are from Yell. Douglas will introduce the film. The second film of the evening is The Ninth Configuration directed by William Peter Blatty (The Exorcist) starring Stacy Keach, Jason Miller and Scott Wilson and introduced by Mark Kermode.

Saturday and Sunday will be an absolute feast of film including two absolute classics of popular music film. Yellow Submarine will be followed by a discussion with animator Mike Stuart and Mark Kermode. Come and hear the Beatles play at the Garrison! Saturday evening’s screenings will begin with a special talk given by Mark Kermode on Tommy, setting the film in the broader context of British Pop Music films, which is his specialist subject. The talk will be accompanied by a free screening of the film in surround sound. Providing a spoonful of sugar between these classic rock films is a special screening, for children of all ages of the 1964 Disney classic, Mary Poppins, starring Julie Andrews, and Dick van Dyke.

Saturday’s late evening screening, presented in association with Shetland Film Club is the specially restored director’s cut of The Devils which will be introduced by Mark Kermode with the film’s editor Michael Bradsell. The film stars Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave in a shattering historical tale of political and religious redemption in 17th century France.

Sunday 9th September features a look at different aspects of Ken Russell’s work and features a rarely seen director’s cut of the upbeat adaptation of Sandy Wilson’s musical, The Boy Friend. The screening will be introduced by Michael Bradsell with Mark Kermode. Continuing the musical theme of the festival will be a chance to see Ken Russell’s ground breaking documentary on the life of the great British composer Edward Elgar, on the big screen. Unfortunately the planned discussion of Russell’s TV work cannot happen as planned but there may be an alternative rare screening of Ken Russell’s shorter works in addition to the advertised feature.

The festival will end with a screening of Ken Russell’s ground breaking adaptation of Women in Love. The film version of DH Lawrence’s classic novel features an Oscar winning performance by Glenda Jackson and mesmerising work by Oliver Reed and Alan Bates and will be followed by a question and answer session with Mark Kermode, Michael Bradsell and film lecturer, writer and critic Linda Ruth Williams who is also Ken Russell’s biographer.

Shetland Arts Film Development Officer said, “it has been a privilege to have a part in organising the first Shetland Film Festival and I think that it is great for Shetland that we have such a variety of screenings and that we are able to offer Shetland’s film enthusiasts the opportunity to hear and speak to such a fantastic and knowledgeable array of guests.”

Wordplay and Screenplay festivals are supported by the following: The Scottish Arts Council, the Shetland Charitable Trust, The Co-operative Membership, Shetland Islands Council, Shetland Child Care Partnership, Shetland Family Centre Services, Shetland Fisherman’s Association, Brudolff Hotels, HIE Shetland, Busta House Hotel, Shetland Film Club and BP. For further details see the festival programme or contact Donald Anderson on 01595 743 843. donald.anderson@shetlandarts.org  

Tickets are still available for all screenings, from Islesburgh Box Office, 01595 692114.