Film Agency News
May 2008
Wales to host first ever International Film and Music Festival
Film Agency for Wales announces ‘SOUNDTRACK’: The International Film and Music Festival for Wales
The Film Agency for Wales has today (6th May 2008) announced the first international film and music festival for Wales to be held in venues across Cardiff this November.
SOUNDTRACK supersedes Cardiff Film Festival and will be based on film music. Running from 26 – 29 November 2008, the annual event will give the Welsh public and filmmakers the opportunity to interact with major international figures in the film and music industry. More than 7000 people are expected to attend the three day event.
Celebrating the relationship of music in film, the SOUNDTRACK programme will have a mix of complementary events including film screenings, live music, master classes, seminars, keynote speeches, workshops and an emerging talent competition.
A line-up of directors, composers, producers and on-screen talent will be announced over the coming months along with the details of spectacular live music performances; both classical and contemporary music, from live orchestras reproducing film scores to rock and roll gigs.
Formally launching the first ever international film and music festival for Wales, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, the Minister for Heritage, said: “I look forward to seeing this exciting new festival in Cardiff in November and I hope the Welsh public take advantage of opportunities it provides”
Award winning film writer and director Danny Boyle, Director of the 1996 hit Trainspotting starring Ewan McGregor and Ewen Bremner and the 2002 thriller 28 days later…, will host a master class.
Manic Street Preachers James Dean Bradfield is also lending his support to the event: “SOUNDTRACK is an exciting and innovative event that I am proud to be a part of. It is an opportunity to draw worldwide film and music industry focus and media attention to Wales whilst also celebrating the best in film and music talent from here, as well as in the rest of the UK and worldwide. I’m pleased to be supporting a festival that strives to achieve that.”
Project managed by Barry-based P4Music Limited, the programme will be led by an established team of music, filmmaking and event specialists including film curator Mark Cousins. As a filmmaker, author and broadcaster, he is renowned for having revived the Edinburgh Film Festival and written the book on movie history titled ‘The Story of Film’, described by The London Times as ‘the best book we’ve ever reviewed’.
"There are far too many film festivals in the world today, so new ones have to be distinctive. SoundTrack is very much so. It's not so much about new movies, as the crucial creative relationship film has with music. And in the coming years it intends to be really international. And it's not about the boring old middle-brow. And it's taking place in a shape-shifting city, Cardiff. I love working on it. What's not to like?" commented Cousins.
“ No British filmmaker has better understood how music energises and underscores film than Danny Boyle. He emerged in a trancy, dancy musical moment and made classic films as varied as Trainspotting and Sunshine that express that moment. He understood what is rapturous about music and injected that rapture into his filmmaking. His use of music as varied as Underworld and Iggy Pop not only helped structure his films, but changed the way film in the west looked at music. No filmmaker since Martin Scorsese or, perhaps, Quentin Tarantino, has so completely combined the worlds of film and music. That’s why we invited him to the inaugural SoundTrack and that's why we are delighted that he will be there to do a masterclass, to explain his approach and to introduce his films.”
“What a fantastic opportunity this event is for Wales; for all those that are involved with the world of film and music and for members of the general public who appreciate and value the great talent that we are so fortunate to have here,” added Peter Edwards, Chairman of The Film Agency for Wales.
“SOUNDTRACK will be a unique and exciting event that will put the Welsh film and music industry firmly on the map. Indeed, we very much hope that this festival will have a real, tangible long-term benefit to the film and music industry in Wales. With an international audience, the content will be innovative, entertaining and appealing to the industry and public alike.”
Further information on SOUNDTRACK is available at www.soundtrackfilmfestival.com with patrons and advocates to be announced over the coming weeks.
For further information please contact Lisa Jenkins on 0790 873 8763 or use our contact form.
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