Interview: 'Troll Hunter' director André Øvredal

Norwegian filmmaker André Øvredal's Troll Hunter is one of the most original films I've seen this year. The film follows a group of students who set out to make a documentary (this mock-doc is what the viewer actually sees) about a bear poacher who turns out to be a troll hunter officially appointed by the government.

Feauting amazing CGI for the recreation of the trolls and a memorable performance by Otto Jespersen, the film is a pitch-perfect combination of classic monster horror and black humour.

Here is the interview I held with director André Øvredal.

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Kenneth Lonergan's 'Margaret' gets September release date after six years of legal battle

It´s been quite an eventful fortnight in terms of cinematic news since I last posted an entry here and jumped on a flight in search of two weeks of self-inflicted isolation. Some of the news were expected (the announcement of the lineups of the Venice and Toronto film festivals), some were sad (Silvio Narizzano's death), but the piece of news that has truly cushioned the always painful end of my holiday has been the announcement of a September release date for Margaret, Kenneth Lonergan's sophomore effort, after six years of seemingly never-ending post-production wrangles, including countless film cuts and two lawsuits.

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Interview with actor Timothy Spall

Timothy Spall is an English actor. Born in London in 1957, Spall studied drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company.
A five-time BAFTA nominee for his work in film and television, Spall has earned international recognition as a regular Mike Leigh actor. His collaborations with the filmmmaker include Secrets and Lies, Topsy-Turvy and All or Nothing.
He has reached wider audiences thanks to his roles in films like Enchanted, Alice in Wondeland and the Harry Potter series.
He has recently received the Best Ensemble Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the cast of last year's Oscar-winner The King's Speech, where he played the role of Winston Churchill.
Interview held by Alberto Ramos at the 2011 BIFFF, where Spall presented the film Wake Wood (clip after the interview).

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BIFFF 2011 review: Wake Wood, a film by David Keating

I just got back from the BIFFF where I caught the international premiere of Wake Wood, one of the latest additions to the legendary Hammer Film Productions, which has been brought back to life from over two decades of hibernation.
I'll get back to the film more thoroughly tomorrow, as I'm meeting director David Keating and actor Timothy Spall, a Mike Leigh regular who plays here a friendly but menacing local vet.

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BIFFF 2011 interview: The Last Circus director Alex de la Iglesia

Alex de la Iglesia is a Spanish filmmaker. Born in Bilbao in 1965, de la Iglesia has established himself as one of Spain's most original and internationally acclaimed filmmakers. Ever since his film debut Acción Mutante in 1993, produced by Pedro Almodóvar, his path-breaking, visually stunning films have acquired cult status.
His latest film The Last Circus, which he presented on Thursday at the BIFFF, was awarded the best director and best screenplay prizes at the 2010 Venice Film Festival.
We met Alex de la Iglesia two days after his film opened this year's BIFFF.
Interview held by Alberto Ramos.

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