7inch no.18

Andrea Arnold, Desperate Optimists, Andrew Kotting...

After a flurry of strong West Mids animation last time, the programme for May will be looking a bit further afield. One of the picks of the bunch is WASP by Andrea Arnold, a terrific 20-minute drama about the efforts of a single mum (Natalie Press from My Summer of Love) to sustain some kind of love-life. When I saw it earlier this year I couldn't believe that Oscar-voters had voted for something so good - then it won!

Other stuff to look out for:
> another attempt to screen WHO KILLED BROWN OWL?, a community film with a difference made by Desperate Optimists in an Enfield park a couple of summers ago;
> WILGOC, a short by Polish filmmaker Daniel Wawrzyniak - recently transplanted to Wolverhampton;
> a short film by ANDREW KOTTING, in honour of the BFI's tasty new double-DVD featuring twelve of his shorts and inspired round-Britain ramble Gallivant;
> a lovely (or nauseating, depending on your disposition - see argument here) new video for Bright Eyes, made by Hedwig director John Cameron Mitchell...

...and plenty more besides, including a live visual spot by Chris Keenan, DJs out the back, music vids and animation, and possibly a barbeque.

After a flurry of strong West Mids animation last time, the programme for May will be looking a bit further afield. One of the picks of the bunch is WASP by Andrea Arnold, a terrific 20-minute drama about the efforts of a single mum (Natalie Press from My Summer of Love) to sustain some kind of love-life. When I saw it earlier this year I couldn't believe that Oscar-voters had voted for something so good - then it won!

Other stuff to look out for:
> another attempt to screen WHO KILLED BROWN OWL?, a community film with a difference made by Desperate Optimists in an Enfield park a couple of summers ago;
> WILGOC, a short by Polish filmmaker Daniel Wawrzyniak - recently transplanted to Wolverhampton;
> a short film by ANDREW KOTTING, in honour of the BFI's tasty new double-DVD featuring twelve of his shorts and inspired round-Britain ramble Gallivant;
> a lovely (or nauseating, depending on your disposition - see argument here) new video for Bright Eyes, made by Hedwig director John Cameron Mitchell...

...and plenty more besides, including a live visual spot by Chris Keenan, DJs out the back, music vids and animation, and possibly a barbeque.