Bristol-based cultural events organisation, Compass Film are taking an annual festival of cinema and arts in a new and mysterious direction�
Inhabiting a space at the top of Mivart St. Studios, Easton, Bristol, The Compass of Mystery Festival will transform the venue into a world of creativity, bringing the South-West an exciting month of film, poetry, visual art and theatre.
Culminating in a culturally angled programme of international cinema over the weekend of 17�19 October, this year's Compass takes in all points on the compass with an intriguing selection of films from Poland (North), Pakistan (East), Somalia (South) & Argentina (West). The filmsare made by migrant communities in Britain, as well as from the host countries themselves.
In the run up to the festival a series of creative workshops will allow
community members to lend their hand at making this magical space,
transforming it into the mysterious urban world that will house the
festival and bring art and culture to the heart of the community of
Easton.
The festival will kick off with two poetry slam events, open to local
schools and to the wider community, and hosted by some of Bristol's top
wordsmiths.
Five Minutes of Mystery, the festival's international short film
competition (open for submissions until 15 August), will allow
up-and-coming filmmakers the chance to showcase their work on the
silver screen. Also on the cultural menu are visual arts, incorporating
a VJ event as well as the Mivart St. artists' own work; a run of
home-grown theatre; a mystery-themed kids' matinee; and a series of
musical events.
The main Compass film weekend will see a host of diverse international
and local screenings supported by critical discussion and a series of
workshops, seminars and talks.
"The theme of mystery allows us to explore myth, mythology and
suspense,� says Festival organiser Tara Sachdeva, �and dipping into a
diversity of ideas, from alternate worlds, the occult and film noir to
sci-fi, the conspiracy theory and the old-fashioned detective story, we
will push against the borders of mystery and unveil some new truths!"
The Compass of Mystery Festival is arranged by Compass Film in
partnership with Swedish-based organisation, Film International. For
the main Compass film programme, the festival uses the imaginative
framework of a compass axis to direct audiences across the cinematic
globe. Each year focuses on a different genre or theme (2006 Horror;
2007 Resistance), and cinema from four countries.
More:
http://www.artistsandmakers.com/article.php/20080709115418594