The 2005 Sunderland Film Festival runs from  21-28 January, based at the new Cineworld cinema in the heart of the city. And just look at the goodies coming up!

North-east premieres, archive favourites, Oscar candidates and world cinema. There will also be a Bollywood evening, workshops, (including an evening with a stuntman!), and a sidebar at the Cafe Vivaldi, showing cutting edge digital films and hosting an Iranian evening and an awards night for our short films competition. Here first is the final lineup for the main programme at Cineworld, High Street West. Tickets available at cinema, or on booking line 0871 220 8000. Don't miss it!

Then check out the Kino Vivaldi Sidebar details below.

MAIN SCREEN

Friday 21 January

1.15 Playtime (U) (1972) critic's choice - Alistair Robinson
This is Tati with a surreal edge, as M Hulot wanders around a shiny, modernistic, sharply angled Paris. (In fact much of the film was made in a specially constructed set known as 'Tativille') Certainly the world looks a harsher place than the rural and seaside idylls of his earlier films, but the humour is still that great mix of laugh-out-loud and inner smile, with human foibles still at its centre.

6.00 The City of No Limits (12A) (Spain) thriller
The secret at the heart of a dysfunctional family comes slowly to light as the father lies dying. Victor, the son, travels to Paris and decides to help his father towards some kind of resolution before his death.

7.00 Gala opening followed by Maria Full of Grace (invitation only)

Saturday 22

1.30 The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (U) (USA) animation
What need we say?  A whole full length feature of Spongebob and his mate Patrick the Starfish, hunting for the stolen Neptune's crown after his boss Mr Krabb is framed. The kids will never forgive you if you don't get them to this one. So good we're showing it Sunday too!  

8.30 Shall We Dance? (12A) (USA) romantic comedy
Richard Gere is a lawyer with everything he wants in life - he thinks -  but still yearns for that little bit extra. When he spots beautiful dance teacher Jennifer Lopez, he signs up for classes, and soon finds he's lost his heart... Is he in love with her, or the raptures of the dance? Can he rekindle her lost joie de vivre?  Come to the Sunderland Film Festival and find out!

Sunday 23

1.30 The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (U) (USA) animation
see Saturday

4.00 Aitraaz (12A) 160 minutes of Bollywood at its very best. The masters of thrillers, Abbas-Mustan, are back with a bang, with this tale inspired by Hollywood's DISCLOSURE.

8.30 Somersault ((15) (Australia) drama
This first feature debut for Australian director Cate Shortland won an amazing 13 awards at the recent Australian Film Awards ceremony. It's a girl's coming of age drama, with amazing cinematography, set in a part of Oz, the Snowy Mountains, that we rarely see.

Monday 24

1.15 Adventures of Baron Munchausen (PG) (1988) critic's choice  - Adam Maxwell 
Terry Gilliam does it again - a crazy, heart-thumping dash through the outrageous, gorgeous 18th century universe of fantasist Munchausen. Disquieting and exhilarating, it's a sunshine romp with touches of a dark soul, a delight for all ages.

6.00 Mean Creek (15) (USA) drama
Young teenagers set off on a river trip in Oregon, from which, Deliverance-like, none will emerge unscathed. An impressive array of young talent that we'll be seeing much more of in years to come and a director who has the guts to show adolescence in an honest, no-frills way. Outstanding.

8.30 The Woodsman (15) (USA) drama
Intelligent, hard hitting drama starring Kevin Bacon in amazing, possibly Oscar-winning, form as a paedophile trying to regain a normal life. Demanding subject, not an easy film to watch, it's another film they'll all be talking about.

Tuesday 25

8.30 Maria Full of Grace (15) (USA/Columbia) drama
A Columbian girl seeks escape from poverty by becoming a drug 'mule'. A hard-hitting film that pulls no punches in its depiction of the real, sordid world of the lucrative (for some) drug trade. At times difficult to watch, but totally engrossing, it is ultimately a positive portrayal of the human spirit and its resilience.Stunning central performance by Catalina Sandino Moreno looks set to be Oscar nominated.

Wednesday 26

8.30 Masterclass by Roy Alon, stuntman. You name it, he's worked on it - from Bond films, Indiana Jones, and  Superman to East Enders and Calendar Girls. He's even doubled O J Simpson and - wait for it - Sophia Loren! Roy will talk about his career, with clips, and reveal some of the tricks of the trade. This evening will be a sell-out - book now!

Thursday 27

1.30 Kes (PG) (1970) SFF treasurer's choice - Keith Seacroft
Everyone's favourite Ken Loach movie. The years have not dulled the impact of this shattering and lyrical story of the raising and then crushing of a boy's spirit in a deprived Yorkshire pit village. It will break your heart and stir your anger.

6.00 Daybreak (15) (Sweden) drama
Three interlinking stories set in Swedish suburbia look at jealousy, despair, and betrayal - the usual Swedish stuff, then. Nobody does it better.

8.30 Shakespeare In Love (15) (1996) Introduced by producer David Parfitt
David Parfitt, Oscar winning producer and local lad, introduces this opulent tale of heady romance, beautiful people, gorgeous frocks & well-filled tights. All that and Gwyneth Paltrow too. Brush up your Shakespeare.

Friday 28

1.30 Don't Look Now (15) (1973) critic's choice - Sheila Seacroft
Venice in winter, grief, danger, menace, decay, the randomness and inevitability of death, the precariousness of life and love, Julie Christie at her most beautiful, and a little figure in red running, running along the canal edges. This is a horror film for grown-ups, with one of the most shocking of all film endings. Maybe the best British film of the 70s.

6.00 Head-On (18) (Germany) drama
A dark love story set in the world of second generation Turkish immigrants in Germany.

8.30 The Door in the Floor (15) (USA) drama
The wonderful Jeff Bridges stars with Kim Basinger in this adaptation of a John Irving novel, as a blocked novelist with a wife who is emotionally frozen by a family tragedy. A young student enters their lives, with emotional and erotic consequences. Brilliant performances, great script, intense and engaging story. Oscar nominations, anyone?

Meanwhile, at the Vivaldi Restaurant, Tavistock Place...
 
CINE VIVALDI SIDEBAR

A feast of cutting edge digital film-making and special screenings

Sunday 23

A Home for the Bullets World premiere for Grangetown's own Steven Sibley's hard hitting action thriller.

Monday 24

Bullets Miss the Fool Quirky Slovenian cult movie, followed by
Yasmin the much praised UK film shown recently on C4, showing the life of a young British Muslim woman in West Yorkshire after Sept 11.

Tuesday 25

7 pm Iranian night A night of Iranian music, snacks and a talk on Iranian cinema, with the showing of The Day I Became a Woman.

Wednesday 26

Here & There (Slovenia) and The Plague (UK)- hip hop flavoured youth movie.

Thursday 27

Short Film Competition A showing of the best of the films in the competition, and the awarding of the prizes.
Slepilo More innovative film-making from Slovenia
 
NB Kino Vivaldi will be showing uncertificated films and therefore operates as a members only club - tickets are available on the door along with membership. Over-18s only. Several of the films contain strong adult content.
For details and times of these events, or any information about the festival, please check out www.sunderlandfilmfestival.com or phone Neil Young 0796 7606 831