Editor

Sundance Institute and The O2 announced today the programme of Special Events and panels that will take place at the inaugural Sundance London film and music festival, from 26-29 April at The O2. These events and panels were programmed by Sundance Institute, which annually hosts the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah - the premier independent film festival in the United States.

Among the Special Events announced today are: ‘Rufus and Martha Wainwright sing Kate McGarrigle,' an intimate performance by Rufus and Martha Wainwright following the world premiere of Sing Me The Songs That Say I Love You ~ A Concert for Kate McGarrigle, Lian Lunson's film about the music of their mother, folk singer Kate McGarrigle; The debut theatrical screening of Coming Up For Air, a documentary about Placebo, which will be followed by an extended Q&A with the band and filmmaker Charlie Targett-Adams; Robert Redford will introduce a screening of Harmony, a documentary about the three decades of work by HRH The Prince of Wales to combat climate change and the global environmental crisis, which will be followed by an extended Q&A; the 25th anniversary screening of River's Edge, which first premiered at the 1987 Sundance Film Festival; and multiple panels on the creative process of independent filmmaking, reflecting the year-round work of Sundance Institute.

John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival, said, "In programming the Special Events and panels for the first-ever Sundance London, we were afforded total creative freedom, and what resulted are a number of unique events that we hope will broaden the experience of attending the festival for all to enjoy. The common element highlighted throughout the festival is a celebration of those who think creatively and independently about something in their lives."

Previously announced events and performances for Sundance London include the Opening Night event An Evening With Robert Redford And T Bone Burnett, Placebo perform a rare intimate concert and Tricky and Martina Topley-Bird performing Maxinquaye.

Programme information and ticket packages are available at  http://www.sundance-london.com/. Individual film tickets will be on general sale from 4 April.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Coming Up For Air / UK (Director: Charlie Targett-Adams) - This candid and intrusive film follows Placebo through different continents and cultures with footage compiled from many of the countries, shows and travels which the band undertook throughout the Battle For The Sun tour campaign 2009-2011. This Worldwide Theatrical Premiere screening will include an extended Q&A with the band and filmmaker Charlie Targett-Adams. It will be immediately followed by Placebo in concert.

HARMONY: A New Way of Looking at Our World, Inspired by HRH The Prince of Wales / U.S.A. (Directors: Stuart Sender, Julie Bergman Sender) - For more than three decades, The Prince of Wales has worked side by side with a surprising and dynamic array of environmental activists, government and business leaders, artists, architects and visionaries. HARMONY tells the story of how they are working to transform the world, address the global environmental and economic crisis and find ways toward a more sustainable, spiritual and harmonious relationship with the planet.  HARMONY is narrated by HRH The Prince of Wales and produced and directed by a team of filmmakers with Academy Award and Directors Guild nominations to their credit. Introduced by Robert Redford, this screening will be followed by an extended Q&A with the filmmakers and Tony Juniper and Ian Skelly, authors of the book that inspired the film. They will discuss the making of the film and the environmental issues it addresses.

River's Edge / USA (Director: Tim Hunter, Screenwriter: Neal Jiminez) - A high school slacker kills his girlfriend and shows off her dead body to friends. Their reaction is almost as ambiguous and perplexing as the crime itself. Cast: Crispin Glover, Daniel Roebuck, Dennis Hopper, Ione Skye Leitch, Joshua Miller, Keanu Reeves. The film celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, after premiering at the 1987 Sundance Film Festival. This screening is made possible by MGMHD. Screening followed by Q&A with actor Crispin Glover.

Sing Me The Songs That Say I Love You ~ A Concert for Kate McGarrigle / USA, Canada (Director: Lian Lunson) - In May 2011 family and friends gathered together at the Town Hall Theater in New York City to pay tribute to the late, great singer, songwriter Kate McGarrigle. This documentary is part concert, and partly an intimate look at a family coming to terms with the loss of a loved one. The screening will be followed by an intimate performance of their mother's work by Rufus and Martha Wainwright. World Premiere

PANELS

DOCUMENTARY FLASH LAB

This two hour immersion, fresh from Sundance Institute's Documentary Film Program, will cut right to the edge of the new global documentary movement. Like Sundance's signature Labs in Utah, leading doc artists from the US and beyond will challenge, inspire and present on all things non-fiction. Expect special guests, special treatment and special clips. A not-to-be-missed opportunity to co-create a trans-Atlantic doc community. Make a day of it and see the latest doc premieres.

Hear from leading American filmmakers Lauren Greenfield (The Queen of Versailles), Eugene Jarecki (The House I Live In) and Jeff Orlowski (Chasing Ice). Then join innovators Jess Search (CEO, Channel Four BritDoc Foundation) and other special guests as they dive into cutting edge funding and distribution possibilities. Come as you are, and leave with something more.

This Flash Lab will be hosted by Cara Mertes, Director Sundance Institute Documentary Program and Fund. 

FILM MUSIC FROM THE COMPOSER'S POINT OF VIEW: An Afternoon with Harry Gregson-Williams

Peter Golub, Director of the Sundance Institute Film Music Program, will lead us on a journey exploring the creative evolution of one of the most successful and prolific film composers working today. Join world renowned composer Harry Gregson-Williams (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia, Kingdom of Heaven, Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason, Team America, Life in a Day and so many others) as he shares his process from that first spark of musical conception through to its culmination in the final delivery of a film score.

Experience a live demonstration by electric violinist Hugh Marsh and a not-to-be-missed discussion with members of the Abby Road team. Participants will examine scenes from The Chronicles of Narnia, Veronica Guerin, Unstoppable, and Gone Baby Gone and learn how the music for each of these films was conceived and realized and ultimately discover first hand how music shapes and enhances the lifeblood of a film and the experience of the viewer.

This panel is co-presented with BAFTA.

THINKING INDEPENDENTLY - UK versus US

Independent film has become synonymous with original storytelling and a breed of cinema that comes from courage and personal vision. For over 30 years Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival have supported emerging filmmakers from around the world. At the same time Britain has a long history of being a leader in cinematic innovation and has launched some of the most exciting talent working today. In this panel we will hear from filmmakers from both sides of the pond as US filmmakers face off  with counterparts from the UK. How are we alike and how are we different?

John Cooper (Director, Sundance Film Festival) and Clare Stewart (BFI Head of Exhibition and Festival Director BFI London Film Festival) will be team captains. Representing the US will be visiting filmmakers Josh Radnor (Liberal Arts), So Young Kim (For Ellen) and Ry Russo-Young (Nobody Walks) and from the UK will be local indie heroes James Marsh (Shadow Dancer, Project Nim, Man on Wire), Gurinder Chada (Bend it Like Beckham, Bride & Prejudice) and other panelist to be announced.