BFI London Film Festival

 JAR CITY

Wednesday, October 24--------Although it is not on the radar of the public attending the London Film Festival this week, there has been a low key parallel event that has unspooled at the Curzon Soho Theater, where film sellers had the opportunity to showcase their newest films for industry buyers and programmers. The Industry Screenings is one of several resources available to industry delegates at the Festival, which combine with the excitement of the public screenings to highlight films looking for UK and international distribution.

In all, over 40 films were screened for industry attendees only, including HONEYDRIPPER, the latest film from US indie director John Sayles; BOY A, dynamic new UK indie; JAR CITY, the Icelandic hit of the Toronto Film Festival; THE LAST LEAR, the well-received Indian drama; CARGO 200, a suspenseful Russian thriller;; A SECRET, the award-winning period film by French director Claude Miller; DAYS AND CLOUDS, the hit of the Rome Film Festival; and CHOP SHOP, the latest film from Ramin Bahrani, the director of MAN PUSHCART.

Nearly 500 industry delegates were registered at the Festival, with the largest contingent from the UK, the US, France, Germany and Spain. By also organizing a number of social networking events, the Festival is attempting to resurrect some of the more positive elements of the late lamented London Screenings, which provided international buyers with an opportunity to screen new films days prior to the MIFED Film Market (also gone from the industry calendar). With more buyers attending the London Film Festival to find available new product, the Festival is becoming more important as a place for industry to meet and sample the latest films from the festival circuit.

Sandy Mandelberger, London FF Dailies Editor