06/10/2006

It was a quiet week for European films after last week’s busy schedule: the UK rock mockumentary Brothers of the Head [+see also:
trailer
film profile], winner of this year’s Michael Powell Award for Best new British feature in Edinburgh, is the only major new European title making it on UK screens, launched with15 copies by Tartan Films.

To tap into the 18-25 year-old and 45-55+ punk generation, as well as male-oriented audiences, the distribution company put together an intensive publicity campaign with twin brothers Harry and Luke Treadaway and famous scriptwriter Tony Grisoni. According to marketing executive Jule Hartung, the promotional campaign also relied on flyer posting, giving out badges and records at music festivals during the past summer, talker screenings, a website, intensive online blogging to create a buzz and national press ads.

Also opening today on two screens is the Mexican/UK co-production Rabbit on the Moon by Jorge Ramirez Suarez, released by Guerilla Films, and the Austrian/Dutch/UK co-production The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema, platformed at London’s ICA Cinema. The documentary in which world-renowned philosopher and psychoanalyst Slavoj Žižek talks about his love for film will be introduced tonight at the ICA by filmmaker Martha Fiennes, sister to actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes.

Meanwhile, the two Pathé releases The Queen [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andy Harries
interview: Stephen Frears
film profile] and The Wind That Shakes the Barley [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ken Loach
interview: Rebecca O’Brien
film profile] have now grossed over £4.3m and £3.7m respectively and Stormbreaker, distributed by Entertainment, is still holding well after 11 weeks with over £6.6m at the box office.