29/09/2006

Zidane: A 21st Century portrait, carrying the Artificial Eye logo, will try to fight off strong competition from nine other new titles opening today, including four European films.

The experimental sports documentary film about French football star Zinedine Zidane is being released on 15 prints and four digital copies, carried by a TV campaign, press ads, an upbeat trailer expressly put together by the distributor and a website. "The film is not only about football but also a portrait of a tragic hero, which is why it should appeal to a wide range of people", stresses Robert Beeson, Co-Managing Director of Artificial Eye.

According to Beeson, the UK press has been very receptive to the film and a series of previews (15) around the country should help spread word of mouth. The directorial debut of visual artists Philippe Parreno and Douglas Gordon was co-produced by Anna Lena Films in France and Naflastrengir Production in Iceland

Two UK first feature films are also opening today: Life & Lyrics by TV veteran filmmaker Richard Laxton is set against the backdrop of London’s rap music scene. It was produced by Fiesta Production/Goldcrest Post and released by UIP. Nina’s Heavenly Delights is an original family comedy by documentary filmmaker Pratibha Parmar, inspired by her own life experience. Written by Scottish born Andrea Gibb (Dear Frankie), the film was produced by Chris Atkins and Marion Pilowsky. Verve Pictures is releasing it on 40 screens.

On a smaller scale, the Hungarian/French film Johanna [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by the young maverick Kornél Mundruczó is being platformed at the ICA Cinema by Tartan. The modern version of the Passion of Joan of Arc toured numerous festivals since its successful launch at Cannes 2005’s Un Certain Regard.

Krišana by German filmmaker Fred Kelemen is an existential, B&W fable set in Riga. The German/Latvian co-production is being launched by BFI Distribution at the French Film Institute’s Cine Lumière and at the Tate Modern as part of the first London retrospective dedicated to the filmmaker’s work at the London museum.