Monday, January 11th, 2010
This is the studio recording of the ‘Mother India – 21st Century Remix’ performance piece.
Written and produced by Alvin Seechurn (DJ Tigerstyle), Matt Constantine and David Shaw.
Available for the first time as a download and on CD in a limited release. Get it now while stocks last!
Download prices: £1 per track or £8.50 for the album.
CD price: £10 + p&p (£1.50 UK/£3.00 international)
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Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Some exciting news for Kala Phool and Indy. Indy has been included in the WOMEN 2 WATCH 2010 list.
Featuring 50 female leaders, directors, producers and curators from across the UK, the CLP 2010 ‘Women to Watch’ list celebrates women who are already making a huge contribution to the rich cultural life of the UK, and have the potential to rise to the very top.
The 50 women were selected by a high profile judging panel chaired by Jenni Murray OBE.
The list celebrates the rich diversity of women in the sector, highlighting talent from a variety of backgrounds – from independent consultants to business directors and those working within some of our leading organisations – and aims to inspire future generations to be equally dynamic and ambitious.
Wanna see Indy’s profile……..hit here.
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Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Sorry we haven’t been in touch for a while, internet connection and finding the time has been hard.
The MI21 tour to Australia was a huge success due to the efforts of The Arts Centre in Melbourne and the Sydney Opera House. None of which would be possible without the support of British Council Australia.
We did 2 out of our scheduled 3 performances in Melbourne. The final day was cancelled as im sure some of you heard about the flooding that took place in the city? The flooding all started when we were delivering our workshop at Footscray Community Arts Centre and saw us holding up wires inside as the water was coming in at such a rate. Im pleased to say no one was hurt and we managed to deliver the workshop.
The performances at The Arts Centre were fantastic with gigantic projection of the Mother India visual up the wall of the National Museum. The crwod was really mixed and the response was fantastic, really supportive and lovely.
Heading to Sydney was great and to be in the iconic Sydney Opera House was immense. The show was a sell out and most people even stayed afterwards for the q&a which was chaired by Jaimie Leonander. We all has a blast in Sydney and took many silly photos of ourselves or tried to buy the most silliest bit of tourist tat – i think David won with his Kangaroo testicle cigarette lighter!
I am back in Melbourne now where i will be staying till i head to Singapore to meet further venues and festivals who are keen to link with MI21 and Kala Phool. Ill be working with the fantastic team at The Arts Centre and inputting from ideas, development and meeting loads of really interesting people/venues/festivals.
Ill keep you updated as soon as i can.
Indy.
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Friday, March 5th, 2010
Last night saw MI21 deliver its first show at Melbourne’s highly respected venue, The Arts Centre.
Picture this……stage set up in huge flower beds, film projected up against the National Gallery building behind the musicians…crowds sitting on grass hills, deckchairs laid out, people at every point of viewing as possible. The evening was warm and an ideal start to the Kenneth Myer Theatre Series at the venue.
The MI21 performance was met with applause all the way through with an extended round at the end. The teams received much praise which was well deserved too.
We all feel incredibly blessed to have this opportunity. The support from the British Council and The Arts Centre has been instrumental including Allens Music who even stepped in to help when we urgently needed some equipment.
We have two more shows in Melbourne before heading off to the Sydney Opera House.
Thank you to everyone who has been involved, who have attended and have supported us thus far.
Indy.
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Sunday, February 28th, 2010
And we’re off………in a few hours time the MI21 crew will be flying to Australia to start the tour. Thank you to everyone thus far in making it all a reality.
For updates, UK dates and how to get hold of a limited MI21 album check out www.kalaphool.com
See you on the other side 
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Saturday, February 27th, 2010
WOW we cant quite believe how fast the time has flown by and we’re two nights away from flying off to Australia on the MI21 tour.
Thankyou to everyone who has supported the team and the project during last years sell out UK tour and for every single person who has bought the album. We would be open to hearing your feedback on the music so do drop us a line.
You can also follow us during our trip here on this site or the Kala Phool:
We will continue to feedback as much as possible on our trip so do stay in touch and keep on sending us your messages.
On the way back from Australia Indy will be staying on to work with the Arts Centre in Melbourne and the Sydney Opera House. After this time she will then be travelling to Singapore to be meeting potential future MI21 bookers, festivals and venues. All very exciting indeed.
We would also like to extend our thanks in making all of this possible to:
And an extra shout out to Arts Council England for awarding Indy the South East’s Leadership Bursary which is enabling her to continue the good work of Kala Phool.
Finally, if you havent already bought your copy of the limited MI21 album do so by clicking here.
Bye for now…….
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Thursday, February 25th, 2010
New Art Exchange is proud to launch a new exhibition by artist Harminder Singh Judge. The Inconsistency of Everything features many new works by the artist, and launches on 23 April 2010.
Harminder Singh Judge describes himself as an artist trapped in a perpetual love triangle with religion, art and pop culture. Over the last three to four years Judge has developed an interdisciplinary practice obsessed with romanticised fables within religious history, exploring the enduring appeal of spirituality within our postmodern and largely secular society.
He has a deep interest in the visual and conceptual mixing of religious mythologies with personal experience, pop culture and folklore. Judge also has a keen interest in the meeting point of East and West, both in culture and history, and how one can often exoticise and misinterpret the other.
“I always keep one eye on my personal history as a British born Sikh who loves rock music and Red Dwarf whilst also being genuinely fascinated and moved by the epic stories of religious history. I would site religious symbolism, mass conversion and the rituals of cults among my many influences, as well as Madonna, Coca-Cola & Jesus.’’ - Harminder Singh Judge
For New Art Exchange Judge will create an installation involving animals derived from mythical and religious histories merged with marketing techniques employed by corporate and commercial enterprise.
Alongside the exhibition Judge will also bring his new large-scale performance installation, entitled The Modes of Al-Ikseer to the gallery as a one off event. The Modes of Al-Ikseer is a one hour long show fusing contemporary pop culture, advertising aesthetic and tongue in cheek humour with epic symbolic imagery. It observes and locates the place of ancient religious symbolism and mythology into a world obsessed with capitalism, celebrity and marketing gimmicks. The work takes its basis from a Hindu myth concerning the creation of Amrit (the holy nectar of immortality) and Judge’s love of 80’s electro pop giants Depeche Mode.
He has a deep interest in the visual and conceptual mixing of religious mythology with personal experience, pop culture, marketing gimmicks and the meeting of East and West.
A partnership between New Art Exchange and 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning, the exhibition has been curated by Nottingham-based artist – Michael Forbes. The exhibition and accompanying events and educational programme will explore the themes around Judge’s work. The programme includes special talks, performances and workshops.
Schedule of Events For Your Diary
Friday 23 April 2010
Event: Preview of The Inconsistency of Everything.
Venue: New Arts Exchange.
Time: TBC.
Saturday 24 April – Saturday 3 July 2010
Event: Harminder Singh Judge’s The Inconsistency of Everything show.
Venue: New Art Exchange.
Time: Monday to Friday 10am – 7pm, Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday closed.
Wednesday 19 May 2010
Event: The Modes of Al-Ikseer performance.
Venue: New Art Exchange.
Time: 7:30pm onwards.
Tuesday 25 May 2010
Event: Nottingham Trent University Visual Arts MA students only Critique Session.
Venue: New Art Exchange.
Time: 2pm – 5pm.
Thursday 27 May 2010
Event: Artist In Conversation.
Venue: New Art Exchange.
Time: 6pm – 8pm.
Panel: Manick Govinda – Arts Admin, Matt Price, Writer/Art Critic/Curator, Barby Asante, Curator, Harminder Singh Judge, Artist.
Admission to the exhibition and all events is FREE and is open to all ages and accessible to all (except 25.5.10 which is only open to NTU Visual Arts MA Students).
For more information on Harminder Singh Judge visit:
For more information visit the NAE website: www.nae.org.uk
New Art Exchange
39-41 Gregory Boulevard
Nottingham
NG7 6BE
T: 0115 924 8630
F: 0115 970 1102
Facebook group click here.
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Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
Projections by Lorenzo Madge, Night Light at New Art Exchange, Nottingham. Some interesting interior footage, something to watch.
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Sunday, February 21st, 2010
Walt Disney Pictures and Tim Burtons Alice in Wonderland coming to theaters in Disney Digital 3D March 5 2010.
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Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
An absolutely magical short by Guilherme Marcondes of Brazil, based on a William Blake poem. Tyger blends puppetry, illustration, photography and CGI. Dreamy, mesmerizing, brilliant.
Beautiful to the max
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
WOW! What more is there to say about this melodic, transient, fast paced, BEAUTIFUL album Heligoland……its divine. Top top it all off the Massive Attack boys are on a fantasticle tour so make sure you get to see them when they come to a venue near you.
Im still in a daydream from listening to it……..
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Just a reminder that the first special MI21 album is available to buy now.
This is the studio recording of the ‘Mother India – 21st Century Remix’ performance piece.
Written and produced by Alvin Seechurn (DJ Tigerstyle), Matt Constantine and David Shaw.
Available for the first time on CD in a limited release. Get it now while stocks last!
CD price: £10 + p&p (£1.50 UK/£3.00 international)
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Friday, February 12th, 2010
Creatmosphere lit up the iconic West Pier in Brighton for the launch of the Tiger Lucky Eight events. It is the ‘Year of the Tiger’ and Tiger Beer has sponsored a unique series of collaborations to take place across the UK for a fortnight from the 10th February.
Witness a spectacular moment in time as the charred remains of this historical pier reappears on the landscape again.
TIGER BEER LAUNCHES THE ‘TIGER LUCKY 8’ TO CELEBRATE 2010 –
THE YEAR OF THE TIGER
Tiger Beer has sponsored a unique series of collaborations, The Tiger Lucky Eight, to take place across the UK around the Chinese New Year celebrations, which run for a fortnight from February 10th.
Five of these will represent the elements of the Chinese zodiac: Earth, Wood, Metal, Water, and Fire, bringing each to life in engaging, interactive installations. These are being curated by dynamic young artist and creative Josef Valentino, who most recently hit the national media with his Worthless Art pop-up store in Covent Garden.
Josef comments “When Tiger Beer invited me to curate ‘The Tiger Lucky 8′ I was adamant to work with a collection of talent who would revolutionize the way people interacted with Chinese New Year. The end result is a series of diverse and engaging exhibitions that respond intuitively towards the five elements of the Zodiac, whilst also demonstrating a rich breed of talent from across the UK”.
Water – Brighton West Pier – February 10th – 6pm-10pm
Founded by French artist Laurent Louyer, lighting studio Creatmosphere will use cutting edge projection technologies to light up the charred remains of this much loved British icon, as a interplay between art, architecture, space and Water.
Earth – Manchester – February 13th – 6pm – 8pm
LUXOR – William Orbit is part of the art collective Luxor, alongside former English National Ballet dancer Anna-Mi Fredriksson and the artist Pauline Amos, heading the collaboration.
Luxor is a collaboration of 3 elements that create new work improvising in the moment. The work takes the form of a provocative array of visuals. It is extreme, energetic, inspiring and challenging. Performance Artist Pauline Amos will create a series of unique paintings live over the evening using natural Earth minerals and based around the form of her own body and movement of Anna-Mi Fredriksson reflects and interacts with the paintings and actions; this presents a unique exhibition and performance, set to a previously unheard track by Grammy Award winning producer William Orbit.
Wood – Birmingham – Feb 15th to 19th – 6pm – 8pm
Birmingham born artist Chu proposes to construct a bespoke 3 dimensional Wooden cube, which will be filled inside with his unique 3-d art. The audience will view the work by stepping inside the cube wearing hologram glasses.
Fire – Glasgow – Feb 18th
Artist John McFaul of McFaul Studio proposes to create a mural wall at an iconic location in the heart of Glasgow city centre, exploring the element of Fire.
Metal – London – Feb 23rd to 27th 6pm – 8pm
Founding member of MuTATE Britain, Joe Rush proposes to create a structural installation comprising of crushed cars and mechanical components arranged to create a natural landscape with a metal tiger crouched on top, providing a frightening yet awe-inspiring Metal experience. This provides a fitting finale to the program as 2010 is in fact the year of the G?ng-yín (Metal Tiger).
The remainder of the Tiger Lucky Eight will be curated by Dazed & Confused around London’s Chinatown, featuring a series of three exciting exhibits by a talented Asian filmmaker, photographer and artist, ending with an exclusive after party featuring the latest Far Eastern musical talent. Check out www.dazeddigital.com
As part of the wider campaign, Tiger Beer is also launching an iPhone application on January 15th, which will incorporate an Augmented Reality tool to point you to the best restaurants and bars to celebrate Chinese New Year in the main UK Chinatowns, plus a free themed game that will have you addicted from the start…
For full details on all of Tiger Beer’s Year of the Tiger Celebrations visit www.tigerbeer.co.uk/yearofthetiger
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Sunday, January 31st, 2010
Haitian Mayor Requests More Langgar (hot meals) for Victims.
UNITED SIKHS AID increase hot meals distribution in Haiti.
Port-au-Prince: UNITED SIKHS’ volunteers today increased their langgar (community hot-meal) distribution to 5000 meals a day following a request from the Mayor of Carrefour, Yvonne Gerome. UNITED SIKHS AID volunteers served in three different locations at Carrefour, one of the worst earthquake hit cities in Haiti . In these difficult times the situation is getting desperate.
1500 hot-meals alone were served in Cite Soleil, the poorest section of Port Au Prince. City police force helped UNITED SIKHS AID volunteers during distribution. Volunteers chose the location based on information from Dominican Republic ’s Medical Post Representative, Mr Alphonso, that more than 1000 children at that location were in dire need of food and water. ‘It was heartbreaking to see so many hungry children in line for the food’, said Harcharan Singh, UNITED SIKHS volunteer from Toronto .”I express my gratitude for your most needed efforts to provide hot-meals to the Haitian people affected by the Earthquake” said Administrador General of Comodores Economicos Estados Dominican Republic, Mr Nicholas Calderon, who visited the UNITED SIKHS base camp.
A team of 4 Langgar sevadars ( hot meals volunteers) are flying from Guru Nanak Gurudwara, Surrey , Canada to join the UNITED SIKHS AID team in Haiti on Thursday.More doctors for the UNITED SIKHS Medical teams are flying from Chicago, Charlotte, Dayton, and Seattle in the following weeks, to help survivors. The team would have rehab doctor, primary care doctors and occupational therapist
Hundreds of thousands earthquake affected people are living in makeshift camps made out of bed sheets and are without water and electricity. UNITED SIKHS is sending food and supplies from Miami using all possible means of air and sea routes. “We believe in serving the needy and feeding the hungry. Haiti is in desperate need of food, water and supplies. The generous support from worldwide community would help us sustain our commitment to serve the survivors ” said Kuldip Singh, President, UNITED SIKHS, USA .Your donation of any amount could help save lives by providing food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support to people in need.
Issued by:
Harpreet Kaur
Director
UNITED SIKHS
email: sikhaid@unitedsikhs.org
Ph: 1-905-672-2245 ( Canada )
Ph: 1-888-243-1690 ( USA )
Ph: 1-646-688-3525 ( USA )
Ph: +44 8701993328 (UK)
You can help those affected by countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the UNITED SIKHS, which will provide immediate relief and support to those in need.
Call 1-905-672-2245 or 1-888-243-1690 for more information. Contribute to UNITED SIKHS through local chapter in your country http://unitedsikhs.org/contact.php . Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting http://unitedsikhs.org/donate.php. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.
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Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
The Guardian – “A powerful and moving glimpse of a challenging, unwieldy masterpiece”
The Telegraph – “We think the cinematic experience of the summer has to be Mother India 21st Century Remix…one not to be missed”
Time Out – “Audacious”
London, UK – Following a hugely successful sell out UK tour in 2009, Mother India 21st Century Remix (MI21) is moving onto the international stage with a tour in Australia, launching at the famous Arts Centre in Melbourne from March 4-6 2010 and then on to the Sydney Opera House on Sunday 7th March 2010.
Attracting a culturally and socially diverse audience, critics, fans of the original film and everyone in between have all raved about MI21 and praised its boldness to successfully rework one of India’s most beloved films.
With the music receiving as much acclaim as the concept, the specially composed soundtrack, produced by DJ Tigerstyle has been adapted and the album is now ready to purchase via the Kala Phool website.
A stunning adaptation of the 1957 Oscar-nominated classic Mother India, MI21 remixes, re-edits and rescores the original 3-hour epic into a 45-minute silent film, over which top turntablist, Tigerstyle has composed a contemporary electronic and strings based score to convey the myriad of actions and emotions expressed on-screen. Tigerstyle is accompanied by Matt Constantine on the keyboards and electric cello and David Shaw on the drums, with Josh Ford as MI21’s visual editor.
Producer’s Kala Phool, continue to showcase and pioneer contemporary culture.
Indy Hunjan, Founder and Director of Kala Phool said: “Touring to Australia, working with the incredibly innovative Arts Centre in Melbourne and the famous Sydney Opera House is just amazing. We are over the moon to have MI21 supported at this magnitude by the venues and the British Council and can’t wait to get going. Working with two of the worlds most prestigious venues that showcases the best in cultural arts and entertainment and for MI21 to be given this platform speaks volumes for the critical acclaim that the show has earned for itself.”
MI21 is also performing at the Southbank Centre’s Alchemy Festival on Saturday 10th April and again at Birmingham Town Hall on Sunday 11th April 2010. Both UK dates are exclusive events and continue reaching different audiences.
For further information on all events, dates, ticket information and how to buy the MI21 album, go to www.kalaphool.com
Here’s a 10-minute preview of MI21.
For more information, hi-res images and interview requests, please contact:
Puja Vedi - LiveStyle Media
07949 573065
- AND -
Pedro Carvalho – FNIK PR
07831 556951
For more on DJ Tigerstyle visit www.djtigerstyle.com
For more on David Shaw visit www.myspace.com/daveshawdrums
For more on Josh Ford visit http://therenderghost.blogspot.com
For more on Matt Constantine visit www.myspace.com/mrthursday
About Mother India
Directed by Mehboob Khan, India’s screen icon, Nargis plays Radha, an inspiring villager who raises her two small sons on her own after her husband (Raj Kumar) is maimed in an accident, and becomes the catalyst for the townspeople to fight for their land.
Years pass and while one of her sons (Rajendra Kumar) has become a hard working farmer, the other (Sunil Dutt) has become bitter with rage and committed to vengeance. Radha, caught between her rebel son and the survival of a community she has been instrumental in building, is faced with a decision that forces her to make an impossible choice between honour and blood.
About Kala Phool
Indy Hunjan is founder and director of Kala Phool, an arts events and development agency with a focus to celebrate, support and develop high quality diverse arts and artists through regional, national and international projects, initiatives and events.
Behind all of the work Kala Phool develops and delivers is a passion to make art as accessible as possible. The focus through all the projects is quality of experience, innovation and excellence. When commissioning or creating new work, Kala Phool seeks to ‘challenge, excite and engage audiences/participants in an accessible, flexible and sustained way.
You can also join the MI21 Facebook Group by clicking here.
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Monday, January 25th, 2010
Oscar-nominee Sophie Okonedo brings the life of one of the most extraordinary and controversial figures in recent history to the screen.
Mrs Mandela is a triumph, a tragedy and an unravelling love story, charting Winnie Mandela’s progression from innocent country girl to politicised fighter against apartheid; from adoring wife to revolutionary firebrand.
Shot on location in and around Soweto, the film focuses on the development of the relationship between Winnie and her husband, Nelson Mandela, from their brief courtship in the Fifties to the aftermath of Nelson’s release from prison in 1990. It is a subtle exploration of a remarkable relationship set against the backdrop of one of the greatest political struggles of the 20th century.
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Monday, January 25th, 2010
A dramatisation of the tensions that exist between first and second generation West Indian immigrants in the Notting Hill area of London.
Thursday 28 January, 7.30pm
Admission: £3 (£2 concessions)
35mm, colour, 110 mins
Director - Horace Ové
Producer - Robert Buckler
Screenplay - Horace Ové + Samuel Selvon
Photography – Mike Davis
Cast - Herbert Norville (Anthony ‘Tony’ Watson); Oscar James (Colin); Frank Singuineau (Lucas); Lucita Lijertwood (Bopsie); Sheila Scott-Wilkinson (Sister Louise)
Set in Ladbroke Grove, West London, an area with a large Caribbean population since the 1950’s, Pressure explores the assimilation (or otherwise) of Caribbean people into British society.
The film focuses on one black teenager, and his attempt to find his way in a white-dominated society. As Anthony’s initially high hopes are repeatedly dashed – he cannot find work anywhere; potential employers treat him with suspicion because of his colour – his sense of alienation grows. While his family come from Trinidad, Anthony was born in Britain and is British. When a Black awareness meeting is violently raided by the police, and Anthony sees these ‘organised forces of repression’ at work, his political awakening begins.
Pressure is a product of its time, but the issues and themes it explores remain relevant to the black experience in Britain today, including the cycle of educational deprivation, poverty, unemployment and antisocial behaviour. The depiction of police harassment and the controversial ’sus’ (suspicion) laws is echoed by the similar, and equally controversial, ‘Stop and Search’ policy of today. The film also explores media under-reporting and misrepresenting of black issues and protests.
The film is shot in a gritty realist style, with an often documentary feel. It convincingly captures the spirit of the 1970’s, a pivotal period for race relations in Britain and the politicisation of a generation. The performances – from a cast including many non-professional actors – are also excellent.
What is surprising is how forthright and critical the film is of the British system, in what were very sensitive times. The police are presented as corrupt and overtly racist, indeed a casual racism seems to permeate all aspects of society. It is also critical of the black response, and isn’t afraid to show friction within the Black community between those who are disillusioned, with little hope and content to exist on the dole and those who are politically active and fight for change, and between the older generation, content to know its place, not wanting to ’stir up trouble’, and a younger generation willing to fight for its rights. Pressure remains a key Black British film, which helps to demonstrate how modern multi-cultural Britain was shaped.
Synopsis courtesy www.screenonline.org.uk
Be sure not to miss this iconic film! Tickets for the screening are on sale now, and can be purchased at the Box Office on 0115 924 8630
New Arts Exchange
39-41 Gregory Boulevard
Nottingham
NG7 6BE
T: 0115 924 8630
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Monday, January 25th, 2010
On Sunday 13th of June 2010 at 2.30pm, a memorial service will be held at the Chattri in Patcham (Brighton), for the Indian soldiers who died while in hospitals in Brighton and Hove during (1914- 1918). It is believed to be the only service of its kind in England.
Exhibition and Refreshments afterwards from 3.30pm, venue to be confirmed. If it is wet on the day please wear sensible gear, approx. 1 mile walk from A27/A23, motor vehicles are allowed to travel to the Chattri on the day.
Everyone is most welcome. Please circulate to your contacts.
In Remembrance to the Brave Indian Soldiers who died so far from home, preparing to defend and die for our freedom and liberty, fighting side by side with British soldiers.
In total India provided 1.27 million men to the fighting in Europe during the Great War, over 12,000 wounded Indian soldiers returned to “Doctor Brighton” to be cared for. Many buildings in the City were converted and specially adapted for the wounded Indian soldiers, including the Royal Pavilion, The Dome, Corn Exchange, Brighton General Hospital, and York Place School.
While the Indian soldiers were in Brighton and Hove, every religious rites were respected as would be in India. 53 Hindus and Sikhs bodies were cremated at the Chattri. 21 Muslim bodies were taken from Brighton to a mosque in Woking for burial.
The Chattri unveiled by the Prince of Wales in 1921. This year marked its 89th anniversary.
The Chattri bears the following inscription, in Urdu, Hindi and English. The inscription, reads:
“To the memory of all Indian soldiers who gave their lives for their King-Emperor in the Great War, this monument, erected on the site of the funeral pyre where the Hindus and Sikhs who died in hospital at Brighton passed through the fire, is in grateful admiration and brotherly affection dedicated”.
The Chattri means umbrella in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
To view the Chattri memorial service in June 2004:
For more information contact the Chattri corodinator Davinder Dhillon 01273 852275
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Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Notorious street artist Banksy, whose work has decorated his home town of Bristol and Israel’s West Bank barrier, has turned his hand to film-making.
Exit Through The Gift Shop will have its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, his agent told the BBC.
It will be the first time the elusive artist, who has never revealed his identity, has spoken on camera.
Billed as “the world’s first street art disaster movie”, its inclusion in the festival has been shrouded in secrecy.
Sundance organisers are due to announce its inclusion at a press conference on Thursday.
Unexpected stunts
Exit Through The Gift Shop was left off the official programme, but speculation about the festival’s Spotlight Surprise turned to Banksy after four stencils, believed to be by the artist, appeared on walls in Park City, where the festival is held.
Banksy is known for teasing his audience, toying with authority, and continually pulling the wool over people’s eyes to stage unexpected stunts.
Last year, he installed 100 of his artworks in Bristol’s council-owned museum under the noses of top officials, and once smuggled a blow-up figure of a Guantanamo Bay detainee into Disneyland.
Exit Through The Gift Shop will have its world premiere at the festival on Sunday.
It is described as the story of how an eccentric French shop keeper turned documentary maker attempted to locate and befriend Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on him.
Infamous artist
Banksy said: “It’s the story of how one man set out to film the un-filmable. And failed”.
The film contains exclusive footage of Banksy, and many of the world’s most infamous graffiti artists at work.
But until the film is shown, it is not known whether Banksy’s identity will be revealed.
In the past, the artist has both mythologised and subverted his own image, so the film could raise as many questions as it answers.
John Cooper, director of the Sundance Festival, said the story was so bizarre that he questioned whether it could be real.
“Exit Through The Gift Shop is one of those films that comes along once in a great while, a warped hybrid of reality and self-induced fiction while at the same time a totally entertaining experience,” he added.
Exit Through The Gift Shop is due to open in UK cinemas on 5 March.
Watch it and have a giggle here.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2010
A film by Lee Daniels. Based on the book ‘Push’ by Sapphire.
Claireece Precious Jones endures unimaginable hardships in her young life. Abused by her mother, raped by her father, she grows up poor, angry, illiterate, fat, unloved and generally unnoticed. So what better way to learn about her than through her own, halting dialect.
PRECIOUS is coming to a cinema near you – don’t miss it.
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