Thursday December 8^th

'FESTIVAL OPENING' SHORT AND FEATURE FILMS

All Afternoon film screenings include Q & A on stage with director and film cast.

1:30 (13H30) 'OPEN PRESS CALL' AT THE ART NOVO PRESS LOUNGE!

'CINEMA ANGELS GIVE A TOY' Announced by Festival Director - ROSANA GOLDEN, tied in with Dame of Honour – Musician & Writer VICTORIA AITKEN & French Artist-Painter - SYLVANA GAINIER.

2:30 PM (14H30) 'World Premiere' 'THE WILL TO WIN' short documentary film (USA), 17 min.
Directed by Paul V. Petersen & Written, Produced & Cinematography by Tamara Sumner Petersen – Director & Producer attending. Story line: A heart warming behind the scenes look, at what it takes to make the British Equestrian. With Special Thanks to: The British Equestrian Federation and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

2:50 PM (14H50) 'BRUSHSTROKES' short film (USAHungary), 11 min.
Written, Directed, Cinematography & Choreography by Zoi Florosz - director attending - cast: Laura Lamberti, Debra Zalkind, William Thompson, Margaret Scure, Inna Yureneva – Director and Cast attending. Story line: Gifted painter suffers debilitating strokes, her flamenco daughter is trying to find creative ways to heal her.

3:00 PM (15H00) 'World Premiere' 'TAMARA’S SACRED JOURNEY TO TIBET' feature documentary film (USA), 69 min.
Written, Directed & Produced by Tamara Sumner Petersen – director & crew attending: Executive Producer- Paul V. Petersen, Cinematographer and Editor- Tamara Sumner Petersen Special Note: With Special Thanks to: The People of Tibet & Tibet Emergency Center and Brent Sumner. Story line: Shot entirely with a single hand held camera, the intimate first person story of one woman's sojourn to a sacred land - a humble window into spiritual transformation, and ultimately the odyssey within herself.

4.00 PM (16H00) 'European Premiere' 'SIMILAR' short documentary film (UK), 3 min.
Directed by Dr. Shamaela Munir, Cinematographer Peter Ralley, cast Ali Munir – Director, Crew & Cast attending. Story line: This film is about experience of people with severe learning difficulties.

4:10 PM (16H10) 'European Premiere 'GUS' short animation comedy film (Australia), 8 min.
Written, Directed & Animated by Andrew Martin – Music by Lisa Cheney & Liam Flenady – Director and Crew members attending. Story line: A “cave boy with disruptive flatulence and his father live a cold life in the Alps, until the boy is send outside and changes life forever.

4.30 PM (16H30) 'World Premiere' 'HOW TO BOIL A FROG' feature documentary film (Canada), 58 min.
Written & Directed Jon Cooksey - Director attending - Co-Produced by Jon Cooksey, Shelley Gillen, Teri McArter, Cinematographer/DP Patrick Williams, Original Score by Michael Richard Plowman. Story line: movie about saving civilization…with comedy.” Synopsis: An everyman dad (Jon Cooksey) gives a satirical overview of our global situation, and five surprising ways we can save civilization while making our own lives better.

5.30 PM - AFTERNOON BREAK – Time to get a bite and change for…
RED CARPET GALA EVENING EVENTS AND GALA EVENING PARTY!

Official Selection Thursday December 8th

8:00 PM (20H00) 'European Premiere' 'DEEP BLUE' short film (Japan), drama, 27 min.
Written & Directed by Kazuhito Nakae –– Director, Actors & Crew attending. Cinematographer Tomohito Tanaka Original Music Kazuyoshi Tonami – Cast: lead actors: Yukiko Nihei (stage & real name), Haruki Nihei (stage & real name), Tatsuhiro Ito (Syunichi Nihe), Sanshirou Rai (Iori Nihei), Yumiko Kojima (Kazuko Hihe), Daisuke Masuyama (stage & real name). Story line: Twenty-year old Yukiko returns to her hometown with her 3-year old son, for the first time in a decade, to attend the memorial service of her grandmother. On her return she finds that her father and brother, their hands stained blue from the thread dying business they run, are ignoring her. Half fiction - half documentary 'Deep Blue' was filmed with amateur actors who relived their real-life experiences.

8:30 PM (20H30) 'Monaco/France Premiere' 'A SPRINGTIME MELODY' short film (Sweden), drama, 10 min.
Written & Directed by Aase Hoegfeldt – Director Attending. Cinematographer/DP Andra Lasmanis, Music by Karin Turesson – lead cast: actors: (Maria) Gunilla Johansson, (Maria as a Child) Olivia Johansson, (Doctor) Hedborg. Story line: A short philosophical reflection, based on a true story..

8.45 PM (20H45) ‘GALA WORLD PREMIERE SCREENING’
'MY ANGEL' feature film (UK) drama, 88 min.

“A British feel good family film of hope”

Written & Directed by Steve Cookson, Executive Produced by Peter Keegan -cast starring: Brenda Blethyn (Headmistress), Timothy Spall (Mr. Lambert), Joseph Phillips (Eddie), Janet Dibley (Mom), Angus Harrison (Steward), Celia Imrie (The Libraian), Mel Smith (Uncle Richard), Cinematography /DP Oliver Downey, Composer Vince Pope. The Lead Actors Brenda Blethyn, Timothy Spall & (Director, Producer attending festival. Story line: When 15-year old Eddie's mum is left critically ill after a road accident, he and his brother face Christmas alone, without food or electricity. In a dream Eddie's mum asks him to find an angel's halo so that she can be saved. Eddie will try anything - but who will believe him?

10:45 PM (22H45) ’MY ANGEL’ OPENING GALA EVENING