Review by Jennie Macfie
Cromarty Film Festival 2010
8 Dec 2010 in Film, Highland, Showcase
Cromarty, Black Isle, 3-5 December 2010
THE COLD SNAP prevented many from further south getting to Cromarty, though intrepid actor/director David Hayman successfully escaped from snow- and ice-bound Glasgow on the bus. But what is a spell of bad weather to a man who annually dons salwar kameez and pakol in order to pass as an Afghan and visit the school he set up in Afghanistan? For sheer passion, nothing in the weekend outdid Hayman’s brief Sunday lecture on his charity, Spirit Aid.
The fifth festival started as usual with an outdoor screening, snow and ice notwithstanding, using a whitepainted gable end next to the Londis store, with glowing brazier and mulled wine to warm the heart. Cromarty lighthouse also acted as a screen over the weekend, allowing those walking from one venue to another unexpected glimpses of glowing images under the stars, taken from films made by a party of visiting international students from Napier University whose skills – disclosed during the closing party – extended to being able to play the guitar, didgeridoo and hang drum.
Douglas MacKinnon's The Flying Scotsman
Friday night’s treats included ex-Dr Who director Douglas Mackinnon introducing his 2006 biopic of record breaking Scots cyclist Graham Obree, The Flying Scotsman (sponsored appropriately by Strathpeffer’s Square Wheels). One of this film festival’s strengths is that it entices audiences to films outside their comfort zone. Even though usually indifferent to sport in general and cycling in particular, this reviewer was won over by the story, the filming, the riveting performances by Jonny Lee Miller and Brian Cox, and Mackinnon’s deprecating charm.
Akira Kurosawa's classic Seven Samurai
Saturday’s cinematic treats ran the gamut from Where the Wild Things Are to the Kurosawa classic Seven Samurai, while Karen Krizanovich’s talk on Film Criticism was fascinating, producer Iain Smith’s prescient choice of Airplane turned into a tribute to the late Leslie Nielsen, and the late night showing of underrated zomromcom Zombieland won it new fans.
David Hayman
Sunday highlights included Iain Smith’s masterclass on film producing, a glimpse into the vast unseen world that labours to produce screen magic which added resonance to the closing gala screening of Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element, which he co-produced. Lashings of delicious curry (Gabi’s in Avoch ) and free wine supplied by the Co-Op, and music from Stornoway’s Willie Campbell, ensured that Resolis Hall was packed out for what turned out to be the most memorable, exhilarating evening ever at this delightful, quirky festival. The raffle raised over £200 for Spirit Aid, enough, said Hayman, to feed 20 Malawi children for a year.
The (free) bus back to Cromarty through the darkness and deepening snow was enlivened by the sound of locals, visitors and guests alike singing “You Cannae Shove Yer Grannie” with gusto. At a guess, they don’t do that at Sundance.
© Jennie Macfie, 2010
Links
