Author: Stephen

International Medieval Film Festival

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Rose Sawyer from Leeds University Union’s Medieval Society is one of the organisers of the Medieval Film Festival taking place this week. We invited her to tell us more about the festival and medieval studies in Leeds…

Did you know that Leeds is a major centre for Medieval Studies?

No really, despite the fact that during the medieval period, Leeds (or Leodis as it was called) was the sort of town that existed solely because there is only so much land you can have before you have to have something else; nowadays, Leeds attracts medievalists like honey attracts hand drawn bears. This is partly due to the Institute for Medieval Studies at the University (so good that Oxford copied it), but during the summer the main draw is the International Medieval Congress. The IMC is the second largest medieval conference in the world and Europe’s largest annual gathering in the humanities. Over two thousand medievalists converge on Leeds to give papers and cadge free wine, usually they huddle in the familiar confines of the University, but this year they might just be tempted outside of the academic bubble….

This is because the inaugural International Medieval Film Festival will be taking place from Saturday the 4th to Thursday the 9th of July in order to coincide with the International Medieval Congress.

The LUU Medieval Society is working in association with the Hyde Park Picture House and the International Medieval Congress, as well as with Leeds for Life Foundation funding, to present six diverse and fascinating medieval films from around the world. The intention of the festival is to explore how the medieval world has been represented through the modern medium of film in the past century. Rather than point to anachronisms, the intention is to encourage discussion about these visual portrayals and how they influence the public perception of the Middle Ages. In particular, we want to emphasise the breadth and scope of international cinema and its ability to advance cross-cultural understanding.

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The Act Of Killing

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As The Look Of Silence starts it’s run at the Picture House, Friends committee member Bill Walton takes a look at Oppenheimer’s earlier companion piece The Act Of Killing.

The Act Of Killing poster
 Truth can be stranger than fiction. This is my favourite film documentary of all time … but maybe it will take second place in my heart after I have seen its follow-up The Look of Silence showing daily from Friday 19th June.

A military dictatorship took power in Indonesia in a coup in 1965. The new regime gave its blessing and protection to death squads who massacred over a million communists and other activists, particularly among the ethnic Chinese population. With Western assistance, the Suharto dictatorship kept its grip on power and ensured that their propaganda version of their rise to power remained largely unchallenged.

What is a radical film director to do?

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The Music of Mali

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As TIMBUKTU starts it’s run at the Picture House, projectionist and music aficionado Mike Shapowitz , gives us a brief overview of the music of Mali.

The music of Mali is as rich and varied as the country itself. Consisting of eight regions and a number of ethnic groups, local languages and cultures supersede colonial borders which preserves a distinct regionalism. Much of the cultural heritage can be traced back to the West African empires that controlled vast areas of the region for several hundred years in the early to mid 1000’s. Musical tastes also transcend some expected divisions both ethnic and political; songs of Tuareg rebellion alongside Bambara hip hop.

Many cultures in the region are traditionally attached to a birth caste system. The Griot caste was a repository for oral tradition and they were expected to be historians, storytellers, praise singers, poets and/or musicians. Griots would also use their vocal expertise for gossip, satire, or political comment. Most villages had their own Griot, who told tales of births, deaths, marriages, battles, hunts, affairs, and hundreds of other things. There are many great Griot families that trace their ancestry back for many generations. The Kouyaté line of Griots that exists to this day has its roots in the Mali Empire. Continue reading →

Contributors Wanted

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We started this website because we realised that there were a lot of things happening with the Friends (such as registering as a charity) and we wanted a place to be able to share things with all the members. We also wanted this to be a place where you could have your voices heard. We’re open to ideas about the type of things we should be including but we thought it would be good to hear your views on the films showing at the Picture House. Perhaps there’s a classic film coming up that you think more people need to see, or you’re excited about a new release, or the latest critically lauded film left you cold.

We’re not expecting any literary masterworks or much commitment, so if you are interested in writing something then please use the Contact Us page to get in touch.

This week at the Picture House

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Listings for week commencing Friday 29th May

Another interesting week at the Picture House starting with a final chance to see A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night (Fri 6:10pm). One of the biggest surprises of the year has been the critical reaction to Mad Max: Fury Road and there are many other reasons for it to be shown:

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Nominations For The Committee

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There are still a few days left to nominate someone to join our committee and become a trustee of the Friends. If you do not know anyone within the Friends and would like to be considered for the committee yourself, please contact us so we can discuss things further.

All nominations must be received by Sunday 3rd May, two weeks before the AGM.

We will be looking for a new Treasurer this year as sadly our long term treasurer and founding member of the Friends, Xavier Chevillard, moved to Belgium in December of last year. Additional information on the responsibilities of a trustee can be found here.

Hello Friend

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As the Picture House starts thinking about the next 100 years, the Friends committee thought it was about time to have it’s own website — and here it is. Over the last few months we’ve been thinking about how we can best use this site and we’d love to hear your thoughts. For now we’ll be bringing you news from the committee such as details of the AGM, previews of films and encouraging you to get involved with other members who regularly meet up at the Picture House.

AGM 2015

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Sunday 17th May at The Hyde Park Picture House

The Annual General Meeting is an opportunity for members to meet and find out what’s been happening within the Friends and at the cinema in general as well as our plans for the future. It is also an opportunity for members to have their say. And there’s a buffet. Which is always worth mentioning.

Members are invited to start arriving from 12.45pm for a 1pm start.

  1. Register of attendance and apologies. Please bring your membership card along and show it upon arrival at the Picture House.
  2. Minutes of 2014 AGM (to be mailed out to members nearer the time of the AGM) including matter arising.
  3. An update on the application to register as a charity.
  4. Chair’s Report
  5. Treasurer’s Report
  6. Election of committee and officers
  7. Report of the General Manager of the Picture House and an opportunity for questions from Members.
  8. Any Other Business

The meeting will be drawn to a close around 2.30pm and members are invited to join us for a buffet followed by a screening at 3.30pm of Louis Malle’s 1987 drama AU REVOIR LES ENFANTS about a French boarding school which seems to be a haven from World War II until a new student arrives. He becomes the roommate and rival of natural leader Julien but a special bond quickly forms and a secret is shared.