Living legend Ray Harryhausen signing at Forbidden Planet London

RAY HARRYHAUSEN and TONY DALTON will be signing An Animated Life at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Saturday 24th October 1 – 2pm.

The last great animator before the introduction of CGI, Ray’s book takes us through sixty years of bringing dreams to life. From harpies and skeletons in Jason and the Argonauts to the six-armed Kali in Sinbad, Ray explains the films' journeys, from original concept through to the critics' reviews, as well as the basics of special effects and stop-motion animation. Now re-issued in softcover, An Animated Life is a wonderland guide through a golden age of SFX magic.

Mr Harryhausen is responsible for the barrier breaking animation in much loved classic films such as; Clash of the Titans, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, One Million Years B.C., First Men in the Moon, Jason and the Argonauts, Mysterious Island, The 3 Worlds of Gulliver, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad and many more.

Where
Forbidden Planet London Megastore
179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR

When
1-2pm Sat 24 Oct, 2009

SCI-FI-LONDON: OKTOBERFEST 2009 Festival

Every October SCI-FI-LONDON hold OKTOBERFEST, a Sci Fi based extravaganza. Arguably the most fun and varied Sci-Fi festival in the world. This year you'll be able to catch special events, screenings and their popular All-nighter events.

This year they have some really cool stuff happening including "a co-production we are doing with the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Yup, the home of GMT and all things astronomical, we have created SCI-FI-UNIVERSE, a planetarium show from an SF perspective. Also, at the Observatory we will have some talks and a writing workshop. And to celebrate the release of the DVD and Blu-ray, we will do an invite only screening of the new STAR TREK. Click here for details of how to register for this screening and how to buy tickets for this unique night at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park. Buy a planetarium ticket and you can attend on of the talks or workshop for free - places are very limited and on a first-come-first served basis, so get there early."

This years line up:
Friday 23rd October, 2009
Events held at the Royal Observatory Greenwich

6.30pm: Sci-Fi-Universe
8.15pm: Star Trek (2009)

Saturday 24th October, 2009
Events held at the Apollo Piccadilly Circus

9:00pm: SCI-FI-STAND-UP
Midnight: Anime All-nighter
11:00pm: Aliens and Predators All-nighter
11:30pm: MST3K All-nighter

Friday Film Location: Flashbacks of a Fool - Cape Town, South Africa

Takes me right back when you were young....

Flashbacks of a Fool
Stars: Daniel Craig, Emile Robert, Olivia Williams, Mark Strong, Claire Forlani





















Daniel Craig stars as Joe, a hedonistic British actor whose Hollywood career is starting to nosedive. The death of his best friend from his English childhood causes him to journey back home for the funeral, and prompts flashbacks to his teenage experiences - including the tragedy that forced him to flee to the United States and a new life.

As well as playing the lead role, Daniel Craig is the executive producer of this film. It has been a pet project for a while. With the success of his new Bond fame the money came into place.

The part of the bitter and twisted film star was written with Craig in mind by his friend, Baillie Walsh, before the Bond star got famous.

"When he wrote the part for me about five or six years ago, I certainly didn't have the success I did now," says Craig, keen to stress that the tale of a successful but arrogant film star is not about him.

The film was mainly shot in Cape Town, South Africa and Malibu, California.

For the scene where Joe meets his agent and director of his potential next role. He meets the two at an upmarket restaurant overlooking the sea. Both the interior and exterior scenes were filmed at Salt Restaurant at The Ambassador Hotel in Bantry Bay, Cape Town, South Africa.

Where:
34 Victoria Road, Bantry Bay, Cape Town, South Africa, 8005

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Clive Barker Signing 'Midnight Meat Train' in London today

The most terrifying ride you'll ever take

CLIVE BARKER will be signing his new DVD, 'Midnight Meat Train' at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Thursday 15th October 6:30 - 7:30 pm.

Featuring Vinnie Jones and based on the short story by Clive Barker, Midnight Meat Train is the horrific tale of Leon, a New York photographer who saves a woman from being attacked. The woman then disappears and the police show no interest in Leon's story, forcing him to track down the killer on the subway system himself.

Please note that Clive Barker will only sign copies of 'Midnight Meat Train' and one other item per customer on the day. Due to time constraints, limits may change and Forbidden Planet cannot guarantee that every customer will be seen.

Where:
London Megastore
179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR

When:
6:30 - 7:30 pm, 15 Oct, 2009

A Christmas Carol Comes To London

Bah! Humbug!

Disney's A Christmas Carol World Premiere and London's Christmas Light Switch-Ons

London will celebrate the launch of a traditional festive season with one of the capital's biggest-ever Christmas events on 3 November. This year, the Christmas Lights across the West End and in the City of London will be switched on simultaneously.

There'll also be a fantastic Christmas concert, and a unique light show at St Paul's Cathedral.

All this will be followed by the world premiere of Disney's A Christmas Carol, attended by the major stars of the movie.

Where & When
Christmas Lights Switch-on and Street Concert

London's Christmas lights will be switched on alongside street concerts between 5pm and 6.30pm on 3 November. Three locations across the city will come together to create London's first ever co-ordinated street concerts and Christmas light switch-on.

• Oxford Circus – live concert with major performing artists from 5pm, switch-on of Disney's A Christmas Carol lights by Jim Carrey – finishes at 6.30pm
• Regent Street – live concert with major performing artists from 5pm, switch-on of Disney's A Christmas Carol lights by Colin Firth and Robin Wright Penn – finishes at 6.30pm
• St Paul's Cathedral – live concert with major performing artists from 5pm, light show on St Paul's Cathedral switched on by Bob Hoskins

All events are free to the public – get there early to grab a good viewing spot.

Sing Your Way into the Record Books
Following the Christmas lights switch-on, the three stages will be linked for Londoners to join together to break the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people carol singing at one time! The singing will be led by the St Paul's Cathedral Choir.

The World Premiere of Disney's A Christmas Carol: Leicester Square 7.30pm
After the Christmas lights switch-on, the focus will shift to Leicester Square for the world premiere of Disney's A Christmas Carol.

The film's world premiere will be one of the most glittering and star-studded premieres that London has ever seen, attended by all the major stars including Jim Carrey and director Robert Zemeckis.

The film will be screened in three of London's leading cinemas – the Odeon Leicester Square, the Empire Leicester Square and the Odeon West End, all in cutting-edge Disney Digital 3D – creating the biggest-ever 3D screening.

For more info click here!

Classic screening: Norman Jewison's Rollerball

In the not-too-distant future, wars will no longer exist...

Wha-hey! It's all happening this month. There have been loads of classic screenings from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Once upon a time in the west and 3 of my all time favourite films; The Warriors, The Thing and now Rollerball. Action overload!

One of the best dystopian sci-fi movies to come out of the 70s, Rollerball focuses on an ultra-violent sport used to keep an overpopulated planet under control and probes its links to politics, the media and big conglomerates. When a star player refuses to obey the owners of his team, the stage is set for a Gladiator-like confrontation between a rebellious individual and the corporate power that seeks to crush him.

Where
The Prince Charles Cinema
7 Leicester Place, WC2
Just north off Leicester Sq & up from Häagen-Dazs

When
8pm, Wednesday 7 October, 2009

Tickets for Monday's screening of Disney's Crimson Flight & QA available

One lake, a million birds, an incredible story

In a remote and forgotten wilderness, one of nature's last great mysteries unfolds: the birth, life and survival of a million crimson-winged flamingos. Against the dramatic backdrop of unforgiving, never-before filmed landscapes, we follow the birth of a tiny flamingo hatchling, and the perils and fortunes of her life in the extraordinary 'other world' of Lake Natron in northern Tanzania.

The first title to be released under the new Disneynature label, THE CRIMSON WING will take you on a breathtaking and beautiful journey through a story that only nature itself could tell.

To download tickets simply go to www.seefilmfirst.com and enter code: 482610

The film starts at 6.30pm. Seefilmfirst tickets must be changed for cinema tickets at the cinema Box Office by 6.15pm. There will be a Q&A with the films producers and director at the end.

Where
Cineworld Haymarket
63-65 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4RL

When
6.15 for 6:30pm, 21 September, 2009

Classic Screening: The Prisoner (All Nighter)

No Man Is Just A Number.

Become a part of world history! To mark the Blu-Ray release of The Prisoner the first 125 Network customers who pre-order the Blu-Ray edition from the Network web site will receive a pair of tickets to "The Prisoner All Nighter", an all night extravaganza taking place at the Prince Charles Cinema in Central London on Saturday 26th September 2009 starting at 8.30pm, where every episode of The Prisoner will be screened in High Definition for the first time anywhere in the world. Will you still feel like a free man after being subjected to 17 TV hours in the village plus special guests who appeared in the show?

To obtain tickets you simply need to purchase a copy of The Prisoner the Complete Series (RRP £59.99) fromwww.networkdvd.co.uk.

• Tickets to this event for the pre-order DVD will be issued on a first come first serve basis.
• As well as these special tickets each attendee will also receive a 1967 reproduction ITC brochure exclusive to this event.


The Prisoner All Nighter will be opened by Prisoner Loudspeaker Announcer Fenella Fielding and closed by an additional special guest. Attendees will also be entered into a prize draw t win some unique Prisoner merchandise.
Please note the Prince Charles Cineme are NOT taking any bookings for this, to obtain a ticket you MUST go via www.networkdvd.co.uk


Where
The Prince Charles Cinema
7 Leicester Place, WC2
Just north off Leicester Sq & up from Häagen-Dazs

When
8:30pm, Saturday 26 September, 2009

Preview: Fish Tank and Q&A with director Andrea Arnold

Curzon Cinemas is proud to welcome ANDREA ARNOLD in a post screening discussion along with the film on Sunday 13 September 3pm at Curzon Soho.

Justly picking up another Cannes Grand Jury Prize, Andrea Arnold’s follow-up to Red Road is an intense and surprising story of love, lust and family.


Fifteen-year-old Mia (Jarvis) is at war with everything: her family, her school, and the girls on her estate. Her one release is dancing, a passion that she practices in secret. Things change when her mother (Wareing) introduces charismatic new boyfriend Connor (Fassbender, Hunger) – but Arnold’s subtle and unpredictable script keeps us guessing as to just what influence the newcomer will bring to bear. Drawing a fantastically raw and yet immensely accomplished performance from newcomer Katie Jarvis, Arnold, who draws on her own background growing up in London’s East End, has crafted a potent and poetic British film that places her at the vanguard of world cinema.




Where
Curzon Soho
99 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 5DY

When
3pm, Sunday 13 October, 2009

Hitchcon'09 - Celebrating 30 Years of The Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy

Get yourself a ticket for the biggest party the unfashionable end of the galaxy has ever seen and join best-selling author Eoin Colfer – creator of criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl – and actor Simon Jones, the original Arthur Dent, in a celebration of 30 years of the late, great Douglas Adams’ classic British comedy. This’ll be your first chance to see, hear and buy the sixth instalment, And Another Thing... by Eoin Colfer.

With other out-of-this-world entertainment throughout the day – including special free screenings of the Hitchhiker’s series in The Clore Ballroom – this is one event no self-respecting lover of classic British comedy will want to miss.

One of the best dystopian sci-fi movies to come out of the 70s, Rollerball focuses on an ultra-violent sport used to keep an overpopulated planet under control and probes its links to politics, the media and big conglomerates. When a star player refuses to obey the owners of his team, the stage is set for a Gladiator-like confrontation between a rebellious individual and the corporate power that seeks to crush him.

Events include:
Photo Call
Start the day at a photocall of the largest number of Hitchhiker's fans ever.

Session 1: The Douglas Adams Chat Show
A full panel of Hitchhiker’s experts and friends of Douglas Adams discusses the great man and his work.

Booksigning: Mega-signing of the fantastic new edition of the first five Hitchhiker's novels.

Sessions 2 & 3 (And Another Thing... & Hitchhikers Live On Stage!)
The sixth book in the series, special guests and a live gig – Sessions 2 & 3 of our day-long celebration of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

Booksigning: Eoin Colfer
Buy the new sixth book in the series a day before everyone else and get it signed by Eoin Colfer.



Where
The Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX

When
Sunday 11 October, 2009

Action Overload! IP Man finally comes to the ICA

Everyone needs to choose his own path

An exclusive ICA release. A huge hit in China and Hong Kong, Yip Man or Ip Man is the semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the first martial arts master to teach the Chinese (as well as Bruce Lee) the martial art of Wing Chun.

The charismatic Donnie Yen plays the lead in this period tale set against the backdrop of the second Sino-Japanese War during the 1930s, and Johnnie To favourite Simon Yam also stars. Director Wilson Yip brings his customary dynamism to proceedings, although the man who really pulls it all together is the legendary Sammo Hung. His work here as action choreographer won a Hong Kong Film Award, as did the film itself.

In the scene above a Japanese General is giving out white rice to any Chinese person who defeats the Japanese fighters at a ratio of 1 bag per 1 defeated fighter.

Prior to this scene the General has killed Ip Man's friend (Sifu Liu) in a duel. Ip Man demands a fight with 10 of the black belts. Upon his victory, he refuses to take his reward, the 10 bags of rice and says "I did not come here for the rice". The General asks for his name and Ip Man replies "I am just a Chinese". The interpreter tells the General, "He is Ip Man".

Where
The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)
12 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH

When
2 - 22 Oct, 2009

The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival: Clive Owen Talk

Held in the highest regard by everyone he's worked with, Coventry's favourite son comes to the BFI for a discussion about his career.



Straight out of drama school, Clive Owen landed a starring role in his first feature Vroom (LFF 1988) and within two years he was starring in TV crime drama Chancer. Concerned that he would be stereotyped into television roles, he chose to take a controversial role in Stephen Poliakoff's Close My Eyes which fed his desire to explore a more interesting career path in both film and theatre. Since then, Owen has taken particular care to work with scripts that he feels passionate about, and has the highest regard for the actors and directors that he works with. This strong work ethic has seen repeat collaborations with director Mike Hodges on Croupier and I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, and he has enjoyed working more than once with Julia Roberts and Paul Giamatti. The hard work was rewarded with both a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for his performance in Closer, and Owen went on to impress as anti-hero Dwight McCarthy in Sin City. His work on Children of Men was also highly acclaimed, and writer-director Alfonso Cuaron has personally credited Owen with contributing to the script. The Boys Are Back sees Owen in a very different acting role (as well as Executive Producer), and working once again with a wonderful script. We are very pleased to welcome such a dedicated actor to take part in the BFI Screen Talks series. Timothy Smith







Where
BFI NFT1

When
18:30 Thu 22 October

Film Networking : FILM NETWORKING PARTY @ The Kingly Club

You are cordially invited to THE KINGLY CLUB'S FILM NETWORKING PARTY on Tuesaday 15 September, 2009. 9PM till late.

An event exclusiverly for film creatives who want to hobnob & mingle. Come network & make exciting connections in film.


Staged at the chic and illustrious Kingly Club, the event is designed exclusively for film creatives who want to hobnob and mingle. It will be attended by some of the leading aficionados of the movie industry from directors to writers, producers to investors, actors and many others. This will be your chance to come network and make exciting connections that could lead to new and inspiring projects. Or just meet like minded individuals and have a laugh over a cocktail or 2. Or 3.Whilst listening to Fabulous superstar DJ Kris Di Angelis who will be spinning some movie themed tunes.

If you are passionate about the film industry, then this event is not to be missed.

NB: These networking events work via recommendation and word of mouth so do forward this email to anyone else you think might be interested.

Where
The Kingly Club
4 Kingly Court Soho London W1B 5PW

When
Tuesday 15 September from from 9pm

Preview of Thirst and Q&A with Park Chan-wook (Old Boy) in London

Curzon Cinemas is delighted to welcome director and writer Park Chan-wook to discuss his latest film in this post screening Q&A.

A priest becomes a vampire… another man’s wife is coveted… a deadly seduction triggers murder. Sang-hyun (played by top Korean star Song Kang-ho, The Host) is a priest who cherishes life so much that he volunteers for a secret vaccine to eradicate a deadly virus. In the process however, he becomes infected by vampire blood and his faith is tested further when a childhood friend’s wife, Tae-ju (Kim Ok-vin), comes to him asking for help. Sang-hyun soon plunges into a world of sensual pleasures, finding himself on intimate terms with the Seven Deadly Sins. The new film from acclaimed director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy) was jointly awarded the Cannes 2009 Jury Prize.




Where
Curzon Soho
99 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 5DY

When
6:10pm, Monday 5 October, 2009

Film Networking : Raindance Boozin' N' Schmoozin" this Monday

Raindance hold an informal networking drinks on the 2nd Monday of each month called Boozin' n' Schmoozin'.

Talk is cheap!


As always, our popular and informal networking event featuring film related chit chat, an opportunity to catch up with old buddies from past RD courses and a damn fine way of connecting with like minded filmmakers.

And much beer drinking... (cash bar!)

Who should attend:
Anyone interested in filmmaking!!

Where
Downstairs at the Royal George
Goslett Yard, 133 Charing Cross Rd, London, W2CH 0EA
Nearest tube Tottenham Court Road.

When
Monday 14 September from 6:30pm

Classic screening: John Carpenter's The Thing

In a windswept Antarctic research facility, a group of American scientists are terrorised by a shape-shifting extra-terrestrial.

After a helicopter from a neighbouring Norwegian camp is destroyed pursuing a dog and the crazed pilot shot, MacReady (Kurt Russell) and a small team set off to investigate. A grisly discovery awaits them: the camp is populated by mutilated corpses and there's evidence of a long-frozen UFO. Back at the base the stray dog wreaks havoc, undergoing a grotesque transformation and killing the other hounds before being burnt to death. An autopsy on one of the bodies from the Norwegian camp reveals that a chameleon-like alien that can take the form of whatever it kills is at large - and any one of the team could be its host. In an astonishing finale, bodies are ripped apart and limbs are lopped off as paranoia breeds hysteria and the crew are picked off one by one...




Where
Cineworld Cinema (TBC)

When
15 September, 2009

Play: The Shawshank Redemption at Wyndham's Theatre

Based on the 1982 Stephen King novella, The Shawshank Redemption tells the story of Andy Dufresne, who is sentenced to life in Shawshank Prison after being convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. Stripped of his freedom, Andy is forced to endure a spirit-crushing routine, but with his quiet strength and inner courage there is one thing Andy never loses: hope.

Andy Dufresne is convicted of murdering his wife and his lover and is sent to the notorious Shawshank Prison to serve two life sentences.

Stripped of his life, family and freedom, Andy is forced to endure a spirit-crushing routine. But with his quiet strength and inner courage, there is one thing that Andy never loses - and that is hope.

This unforgettable story of courage, friendship and daring to hope stars Kevin Anderson (Sleeping with the Enemy, member of the acclaimed Steppenwolf Theater Company) and Reg E. Cathey (from cult US television The Wire).

Where
Wyndham's Theatre
32-36 Charing Cross Road
Leicester Square, London, WC2H 0DA

When
4 September 2009 onwards

Screening of MOON and Q&A with director Duncan Jones this Friday in London

On Friday 11th September The Prince Charles Cinema (Leicester Sq) have a VERY Special Q&A with Duncan Jones, Director of Moon!

Moon is playing upstairs all week on their brand new screen, however grab this chance to talk to the man who made this spectacular film.


MOON
Sam Bell has a three year contract to work for Lunar Industries. For the contract's entire duration, he is the sole employee based at their lunar station. His primary job responsibility is to harvest and periodically rocket back to Earth supplies of helium-3, the current clean and abundant fuel used on Earth. There is no direct communication link available between the lunar station and Earth, so his only direct real-time interaction is with GERTY, the intelligent computer whose function is to attend to his day to day needs. With such little human contact and all of it indirect, he feels that three years is far too long to be so isolated; he knows he is beginning to hallucinate as the end of his three years approaches...



Director: Duncan Jones
Starring: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey (voice), Matt Berry, Robin Chalk

Where
The Prince Charles Cinema
7 Leicester Place, WC2
Just north off Leicester Sq & up from Häagen-Dazs

When
21:00 Fri 11th Sep Moon plus Q&A
Tickets onsale 5pm Today (Tuesday 8 September)

Preview of Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee and Q&A

Preview of Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee and Q&A with Shane Meadows, Paddy Considine and Mark Herbert.

Rock roadie, Le Donk, has lived, loved and learned. Along the way, he's lost a classy girlfriend but gained a sidekick, Scorz-Ayz-Ee. He sets out to make Scorz a star with a little help from the Artic Monkeys.

 A freewheeling, no-budget experiment by one of the UK’s most prominent and successful producer/director teams, LE DONK was born out of Shane Meadows’ and Mark Herbert’s frustration at the sheer expense of time and money required to get a new project off the ground. Why not just get together an enthusiastic team (including the actor often cited as the De Niro to Meadows’ “Scorsese of the Midlands”, Paddy Considine), cobble together a skeleton script, and simply play for a few days? So, Considine broke out an earlier comic creation of his, an endearing/repellent rock’n’roll roadie known as Donk; an Arctic Monkeys gig provided the backdrop; and Meadows played himself, as a documentary-maker seeking to capture the secrets of a life lived just beyond the reach of the bright lights. Irrepressible fun.

When:
Curzon Soho
99 Shaftesbury Avenue, London ,W1D 5DY
Where:
Sunday 11 October, 4:00pm

Curzon Screen Salon: Special Preview of The Imaginarium Of Dr Parnassus

THE IMAGINARIUM OF DR PARNASSUS AND THE FANTASTIC WORLDS OF TERRY GILLIAM

This Curzon Screen Salon will look back over Terry Gilliam’s career, which has featured as many tragedies and disappointments as it has successes. The Curzon Screen Salons are a series of illustrated lectures before our regular screenings hosted by Ian Haydn Smith, Editor of the International Film Guide.

Dir: Terry Gilliam Starring: Christopher Plummer, Heath Ledger, Tom Waits,

A director seemingly affiliated with bad luck, that Terry Gilliam got to complete this at all is a minor miracle. A fantastical morality tale set in present-day London (for the most part at least), the alternate realities Gilliam spins will be more than familiar to fans of TIME BANDITS and BRAZIL. With more than a hint of Doctor Faustus, the film’s kernel is an ambitious travelling magician whose ambition has caused him to enter a number of deals with the devil, the most personally damaging of which has seen Parnassus (played impeccably by Plummer, THE NEW WORLD) trade immortality for his daughter (Lily Cole) on the occasion of her 16th birthday. A characteristic feast for the senses, the film is a fitting epitaph to Ledger, whose character is also ably portrayed in its transformative states by Jude Law, Colin Farrell and Johnny Depp. Extremely entertaining, the film also has at its heart a larger than life turn from Tom Waits as the devil

Where:
Curzon Soho
99 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 5DY

When:
Sunday 11 September, 5pm