Want to know a little more about this year’s festival? This handy Q&A from a recent interview with MIFF director Mac Chakaveh should give you a little more information.
1. Any famous faces attending this year’s event?
I am regularly asked this question and my answer is yes, every year, they are all the talented film makers and actors who come to MIFF, whom you would be hoping to get an autograph from in few years time. We are nurturing the future talent of film industry and our record shows that this is working. Most film makers who attended the earlier festivals have moved to reach out further, Mark Warren who was the festival guest at 2010 went to become a much sort after Hollywood and TV actors on films such as Wild Bill, and TV series such as Good wife, musketeers, and Mad dogs, but when he was here few years back no one was running to take pictures with him. Hyun-won Kim, the young Animation artist who came all the way from Taiwan to support her film at 2011 MIFF, returned home as a celebrity status after winning the festival award for best animations, she became a TV presenter, party because they gave much credit to her recognition at MIFF, but mostly because she is talented, all we did was to give her the chance to shine out. Even dear Lez Dennis who represent his film at the same festival, has a comeback after many years, to be the loveable Michael Rodwell at “Coronation Street”, interestingly he is still playing the part of an ice cream man as he was in Marbella! This might not be what the local public expect from film festival, seeking and looking out for celebrities and big names, however we are an independent international, our objective is to bring the producers, directors and the decision makers from all over the world to see what Marbella has to offer and create Marbella as a Hollywood for the independent film makers. Never the less I am pleased to announce that the festival is hosting Brendon Foley, https://pro-labs.imdb.com/name/nm1726844/?ref_=sch_int an award winning Hollywood producer, who among many projects has directed Vienne Jones, Sir Derik Jacobi, Vanessa Redgrave and many others. Brendon, is giving a lecture to the film makers about making successful film “ From script to Screen”, also through the grape vine, he is looking for locations in Marbella for his next movie which shows the glamour side of Marbella, let’s hope it happens. We are also honoured to welcome Mary Hare a talented Film & TV producer with a long list of credits from BBC, ITV &C4 which includes TV series Bill, Bergerac as well as the latest block buster “Suspects” . Mary has a documentary in the competition, called “Ice Bear” and she would also be addressing the delegates on the art of movie making and how to get access to TV production. There are many more producers, directors actors and film makers coming over from as far afield as Japan and china, south Africa and Canada, as well as the UK, USA, Spain, Brazil, India, even a production company from the war thrown Kurdistan are arriving to Marbella to screen their film . so this is a truly international event.
2. Is there anything different happening this year compared to previous years?
The festival is always working towards innovative objectives, by being creative and exploring possibilities that not many have dared. MIFF took to the roads on 2006, taking the name Marbella and the films which won that year to be screened around the world thus created The World Tour of MIFF, by putting on a road show in London, Miami, Cannes & L.A. introducing the film makers from across the world to what is on offer in Marbella. It took “Sundance” another 5 years before following us, screening its winners in London, Now don’t get me wrong, I am not comparing ourselves with the biggest independent film festival which is the brain child of Robert Redford and has the backing of all and sundries, but I think it is refreshing have your idea copied by the biggest player in the industry. This year we shall be announcing, The birth of “United Independent Artist”. when Charlie Chaplin started “United Artist” in 1919, to support the independent artists and break away from studios, everyone laughed, they gave him few months to survive as a business . Tom Cruise sold his share of United Artists to MGM on 2011 for a tidy sum, so who was laughing then? Nearly 100 years after the launch of U.A, the industry finds itself on the verge of a revolution, with so many platforms to show films, from the screen, to TV to internet to mobile devices , and with many more gadgets on line to be introduced, the question remains as who is providing the contents? How many more times are we going to be amused by watching someone pouring ice over their head, or putting up with new versions of “Transformers”, “Batmans” and remakes of anything that the studio executives consider as profitable. The viewing public are fed up of watching TV programs showing “paint dry”, the time is approaching that the talented independent film makers can make, release and distribute their films to a public who is hungry for something different, quality that only passion of an real artist can deliver. We have been delivering such passion and presenting it to Marbella for 9 years, and this year we are going to announce the start of the revolution, we shall announce the birth of “United Independent Artists” on the conference tilted the same on Saturday 4th of October, in H10. Remember this day, in years to come you can tell your grandchildren, “I was there”.
3. Can you give me a quote about why people should come and see the festival and what they can expect to see?
1st to 5th of October celebrates the 9th edition of MIFF, being held at Palace the congress with industry networking events at H10 Andalucia plaza hotel. our objectives have always been to promote Marbella and generate potential long term investments for the region. To this end we had aimed to be the Europe’s “Sundance”, and as it happens we are doing rather well. Now ask yourself, with average cost to produce an independent film in access of $2M, you don’t need many production companies working here to boost the economy. We have been doing this for over nine years and rely on the local population who have a passion to see the positive face of Marbella being put on the map. We therefore need the support of the local people to welcome the producers and film maker to Marbella, they could be the next “boom industry” in Marbella, they come from all over the world, not to sit on the beach, but to assess the opportunities that the “coast of sun” and the town called “beautiful sea” has to offer. For how much longer do the local industry have to rely on real estate business to pick up, what do workers in tourist industry do after September? The place has the name it is beautiful, it is on the sea and its sunny. Everything that a film producer needs to make a movie, but no one knows about it! and what is worth no one besides us is shouting about it either. The film makers primarily come to Marbella because of the importance of Marbella International film festival, they seek to win the coveted MIFF awards, but while here surly the commercially minded public, the businesses with view to develop or expand, must grab this opportunity to come and meet the potential investors, to convince them that Marbella is the place to make movies. Now the trick is for the film maker to win the award they rely on the public vote, So to make sure that the producers get the public vote, and to give the public the chance to meet the film makers and convince them that there is potential of investment and business in Marbella, this can be achieved by meeting and supporting and cheering them at their screenings. To make this even more attractive, the festival has decided to offer prizes to the public, if they can pick the award winners, they have a chance to win a round trip to London for two and to stay in a London hotel for two nights, attending the MIFF world tour of London in 2015. The catch? No catch , just turn up and vote for a film which you consider worthy of the awards, and give yourself a chance to win the trip and other prizes. The cost? Free! Click here to register today! If that is not enough to get the public interested, how about coming to see old movies at late night screening at Palace the congress, in English with Spanish sub titles you can catch “Westside Story”, “Some Like it Hot” , and “Shinning” on selected nights from 9.00pm to 11.00pm. For your free ticket and to find out about all films showing at 2014MIFF, screening programs and much more, visit www.marbellafilmfestival, or pick up a program from the regular places.
4. How many films are there this year?
There are around 60 films taking part in the competition, shorts, features, documentaries and animations, as well as number of world premieres, such as the latest gangster movie from UK “Two days in the Smoke” in the style of “luck stock & barrel” with many of its cast doing it differently. “05red 04 Clay” is a Documentary from Argentina celebrating the life and works of famous tennis players, which is likely to attract many tennis fans. “Se o se pol” a heart breaking feature film from Germany about an Iranian refugee looking to find a new life in Europe. “Child Star” from Japan shows the extent of sexual exploitations one has to submit to, to become a star, and “Deep in yolk” is the funny story of a man addicted to eating egg, guess what? eggs are no longer available, panic! Considering that this year festival has received over 1000 submissions, and only being able to screen 60, you must agree that every film worth watching. With over sixty movies to watch, late night classics, and the chance of winning a weekend in London all for free, workshops, conferences, seminars, after parties and the glamorous gala night awards ceremony on Sunday 5th October, I can’t think of a better place to be from 1st to 5th October, Palace the congress, Marbella. For further information and a full screening list, please download this year’s screening brochure.
