Not sure if it’s Poland cold cool. The obvious retro cool. The ice cold Vodka cool! The restored architecture cool….. I think it might just be the people! Bardzo cool! So lively and culturally hungry/ interested/ edgy/ super smart. It’s been one of the best audiences thus far in the three sold out screenings. It’s…. dare I say…. very cool…. that the film seems to be cross-culturally touching people’s hearts and moving them to ask the big life questions. And most importantly…with some relief…. it’s uber cool the humour seems to be translating too! The hospitality and crazy late nights in smoked filled bars has meant I no longer have a voice but it’s been worth it just to share stories with amazing talent from all over the world. There’s a huge attendance of film-makers (including our DOP Carlos Catalan in the top photo) all staying at the one Sofitel Victoria. Luckily most people I’ve met aren’t teetotalers or vegatarians. I think it would be a difficult if you were. My favourite bar by far is the “Corner Bar” or Przekąski Zakąski. Run by an old, very dapper dude in a waistcoat. It was either the many shots of Vodka or the jetlag from NY that made me feel I was in the “The Shining” bar scene. Five star festival!! Dziękujemy Warsaw! Hx

The festival kicks off tonight – and you can catch screenings of Third Star on Sunday 10th at 7pm, Monday 11th at 2pm and again on Friday the 15th at 9pm in our big gala screening.

The festival has been going for about 25 years, and has honoured some of my favourite films – including Waltz with Bashir, The Lives of Others and Control.

Bring it!

Today Adrian Grenier surprised us with his take on celebrity culture and his film Teenage Paparazzo.  Heartening to see a fresh challenge to the thick soup of corporate celebrity culture which is so pervasive. And from the inside as well.

Other films which have been highlights of the festival for us include The Woman with the Broken Nose which won last night – and Beijing Punk which is both frightening and courageous.  It was great to get the chance to see The Balibo Conspiracy – the story of a six Australian reporters killed during the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975 and largely, and conveniently, forgotten by the Australian and Indonesian governments since that time. With the return of exhiled leader Jose Ramos Horta to the country in 2006 the film makers were able to tell the story of these brave men who made their way to the front line of the East Timorese defence to hold on and paid for it with their lives.  The filmmakers have struggled to make the  film and it’s reflected in the brave pragmatism of Horta who went into exile and took his place in the UN and never gave up.  A lesson in that for all of us.

From Zurich. Auf Wiedersehen xx

..and Third Star is sold out both nights…

…loads of laughs from the audience, added to by the subtle nuances of translation…

Wir lieben Zürich!

Third Star has been selected in the prestigious Zurich Film Festival later this month. Director Hattie Dalton will join a master class panel with Milos Foreman and Jeremy Thomas.. and the film will be up for the Best International Feature Film category. As well as enjoying some amazing films, we will also get time to experience festival audiences reactions to Third Star.

http://www.littlewhitelies.co.uk/interviews/hattie-dalton/