Fourteen films will make their UK premieres at the inaugural Sundance London festival which takes place at The O2 from 26th to 29th April 2012 when Robert Redford’s independent film festival comes to London for the first time. For film fanatics travelling to Greenwich for the event, the website LondonTown.com offers a convenient way to book one of the nearby hotels in London. With the London 2012 Olympics just sixteen weeks away, now is a good time to visit London before everything gets booked up!
In bringing the non-profit festival to the UK, Robert Redford, aims to deliver the “very best in current American independent cinema” through panel discussions, screenings and special events. The Hollywood actor and director, who founded the festival in 1981, will be one of the well known industry experts hosting panel discussions. He shares the indigO2 stage with esteemed producer T Bone Burnett for a discussion on music in film hosted by British novelist Nick Hornby. Further panel discussions are hosted by John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival, and Clare Stewart, Festival Director of the London Film Festival.
On Saturday night, the HRH The Prince of Wales narrates a documentary film introduced by Robert Redford which will be followed by an extended Q&A with the filmmakers and invited guests who will talk about the environmental issues facing both the US and UK today.
In addition to film events the festival offers an exciting music programme which includes a performance by Tricky who will be appearing with vocalist/musician Martina Topley-Bird for the first time in 15 years to perform his award-winning debut album Maxinquaye. English rock band Placebo also perform live and are paired with filmmaker Charlie Targett-Adams for a screening of Coming Up For Air. On Sunday evening, Rufus and Martha Wainwright perform their mother’s work at the intimate indigO2 space following the world premiere of Lian Lunson’s loving homage to folk singer Kate McGarrigle.
All 11 screens at The O2 in Greenwich, including the largest screen in London, will be used for the film festival with eight short films adding to the 14 full length feature films. Among the short films will be the premiere of the winner of the Short Film Competition, a collaborative effort with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Ravensbourne College, in which UK-based filmmakers were invited to enter original pieces between three and five minutes in length around the theme ‘Story of Our Time’.
Sundance London Film and Music Packages are now available, individual film tickets, priced £11.50, will be on general sale from Wednesday 4th April. For more information about the Sundance London festival visit LondonTown.com, who offer a whole host of resources for London’s visitors, residents and tourists.
