[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Sundance London film festival is rolling into town near the end of the month, with London, temporarily at least, set to become a movie Mecca.
Yes, for the second year running, the O2 will play host to a four-day indie film jamboree. An abridged version of the original ten-day American Sundance festival, which has been held annually in Utah for the past three decades, the programme will still contain a selection of the finest flicks.
It looks like Sundance London is to be a permanent fixture in the UK, and indeed global, entertainment calendar. Of course, when you have Hollywood legend and Sundance founder Robert Redford presenting, how could it be anything other than a roaring success? Rock veterans The Eagles will also be on hand to discuss the screening of History of the Eagles – Part One, which should at least make up for the presence of Jimmy Carr.
The O2’s Cineworld will, for the duration of the festival, be screening films back-to-back. There will be special Q&As after each one, where the hot topics of discussion will be based around the issues that today’s independent filmmaker encounters, whether he or she is based here in Britain, or stateside.
As for the pictures themselves, it’s hard to pick out highlights from such a prestigious bunch, but the award-winning Blood Brother, the true story of a US tourist who dedicated his life to an HIV-ravaged Indian orphanage, is certainly one. Mud, which features star names Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon, should also be worth a watch, while festival director John Cooper has tipped Upstream Color for big things.
The one drawback in all of this is that the whole shebang, as previously mentioned, will last a mere four days, which means that some great movies will be conspicuous by their absence. April 25th-28th, however, will still be one hell of a party.
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