Stars celebrate the 50th Cinema Days
by Annika Pham
To celebrate the 50th Cinema Days held at the Cineworld multiplex in central Milton Keynes from October 6-9 and organised by the UK Film Distributors Association (FDA), the main trade body for UK theatrical film distributors is going to offer to the hundred regional film critics and writers invited an exceptional line-up of preview screenings with top talent associated with most films.
Among this year’s celebrities attending the trade gathering are actress/scriptwriter Emma Thompson who will be on stage with co-star Kelly Macdonald and director Kirk Jones to present UIP’s Nanny McPhee, ahead of its UK release on October 21; Actor Rufus Sewell and director Martin Campbell will present The Legend of Zorro, a Sony release; Terry Gilliam will introduce his latest Brothers Grimm to be released by BVI on November 4, actor Bob Hoskins will attend the press conference for Mrs Henderson Presents to be released by Pathé on November 25, and director Saul Metzstein will discuss his festival winning film Guy X to be released by Tartan Distribution on October 14.
Also to celebrate Cinema Days’ golden milestone, the FDA has conducted a special poll among UK regional film writers and critics, inviting them to choose the film that had the most atmospheric use of British locations and Bill Forsyth’s 1983 film Local Hero won, followed by The Full Monty and Trainspotting.
The regional critics were also asked to vote for their all-time favourite screen icons of any nationality and among the favourite female stars were the Swedish Ingrid Bergman at number 2 and the French Catherine Deneuve at number 10.
Commenting the critics’ poll, FDA chief executive Mark Batey said: "with three-quarters of UK cinema admissions taking place outside the London area, it’s vital that films are as salient as possible in the nations and regions, which is why Cinema Days events -held three times a year- retain their value…As the 50th Cinema Days falls in 2005, DFA’s 90th anniversary year, we’re looking forward to a double celebration in October."
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