The Teddy Awards for queer cinema started life in the Prinz Eisenherz gay bookshop in West Berlin in 1987, and in the early years was run on a very right-on collective basis. True to the progressive spirit of Berlin behind the wall, all those attending the deliberations got to vote. Pedro Almodovar and Gus Van Sant were the first pair of Teddy recipients. The two winners received, by post, cute teddy bears bought on an ad hoc shopping trip to up-town shopping street Kurfurstendam by co-founder Weiland Speck.

Little did these first two Teddy Laureates realise that the cuddly toys, arriving with a Berlin post mark, were landmarks in queer cinema and building blocks in what was to become known as New Queer Cinema.

Among the other key players in Teddy History are  Britons Derek Jarman, John Maybury, Antonia Bird and Isaac Julien. All winners of gongs at “the most prestigious festival awards for gay, lesbian and transgender cinema”

On-screen talent honoured include Tilda Swinton who, in 1988, received the jury prize for her performance in the winning film, The Last Of England. Tilda has remained a stalwart supporter of the ceremony, most recently attending in 2008 to receive an award for honouring the memory of Derek Jarman. Javier Bardem was nominated for Second Skin in 2000 and was a Teddy presenter in 2007. John Hurt has likewise scooped a Teddy.

As the Awards prepare to celebrate thirty years of existence next year, their groundbreaking history mirrors the advances of queer cinema and the wider struggles of the LBGT community. Landmark queer films including Paris is Burning, Poison, Go Fish, The Celluloid Closet, The Iron Ladies and Water On Burning Rocks all feature in the Teddy Hall of Fame.

Brian Robinson, of London’s LGBT Film Festival, Flare remembers his Teddy jury service « The jury is chosen from programmers and film-makers from around the world and the jury discussions are often long and very heated.  No other festival has such an enduring award, which is rightly, internationally respected »

In 1992 the Teddys came in from the cold and became an official Berlinale prize, by 2008 began receive funding and is now an official festival event.

The cuddly toy gong might have upgraded to a metal sculpted trophy but the awards retain rebel roots. In keeping with the alternative spirit the Teddy Awards are inseparable from the Awards Ceremony, which is considered the party highlight of the Berlinale. This is not about guest lists and sponsors this is a People’s Party. No tuxedo and limo bash, all guests pay for their tickets and their drinks. In keeping with the alternative zeitgeist there is no VIP area.

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”Everybody is equal, that is the secret of the success,” Teddy producer Elser Maxwell said, “Big stars come, but we don’t know it. It’s a party for the whole family of filmmakers and the queer community.”

Rauch and debauch is on proud display as all ages and proclivities from lesbians to drag queens, from bears to divas of both sexes, party the night away. The most diverse show of colourful diversity at any big film festival, which truly captures the legendary zeitgeist of this city.

Venues have been various and capture the sense of place that is the Berlin party scene form underground to monumental, none more so than in 2012, year the Awards graduated to the spectacular setting of Hangar 2 at the Tempelhof airport building. « It’s was a dream of mine for many years that we conquer that place,” declares Speck. “It’s this amazing space and Nazi structure and I always feel like one has to take over the leftovers of the Nazis, drive the spirits out and put other spirits in. Take a little revenge!”

The Berlinale has been officially supporting the Teddy Awards since 1992, but it was not until 1997 that the festival director actually turned up.  Splendidly moustached Festival director Moritz de Hadeln joined the throng at steamy gay bar SO36 in Kreuzberg. Since 2006 the Franco-German TV channel ARTE broadcasts the colourful awards show across the two countries.

Partygoers continue to be a glittering eclectic mix. From Berlin’s first out gay mayor, Klaus Wowereit to Rufus Wainwright, who sang his signature song Halleujah in 2013. He went on to steal the hearts of the German host city singing For Me It Should Rain Red Roses in German.

For filmmakers in countries where official sanction is unimaginable and gays suffer legal discrimination, the Teddy Awards fly the rainbow flag of tolerance. A Teddy win for Philippine film, The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros, served as a major boost for the gay community in Asia. Director Auraeus Solito remembers that his win made front page news back home.

Though it is a carefree culmination there is no denying the real taboo busting nature of this celebration of queer cinema, which has played a role in taking same sex cinema mainstream. From the fringe, to taking a place in the front row of one of the world’s top film festivals, the Teddys are unique.

In a feverish party atmosphere on February 13th thousands will gather, dressed from wildest to mildest, to discover the winner of Best Film, Best Documentary, Best Short and celebrate the special jury prize honour going to Udo Kier – a fixture in the films of Lars Von Trier. The grand Komische Oper House, formerly the showcase of austere Eastern bloc high performance art, hosts this most alternative of nights.

Fifty Shades of Grey might be the movie grabbing the headlines at Berlin 2015, but there will be no better place to experience the novel’s racy libertine essence than at the Teddy Awards ceremony – where fifty shades of the rainbow flag is sure to hold its own.

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London Burlesque show, Wam Bam Club, invites you to a night of indulgence cabaret style at its newest burlesque supper club and show. Nestled in the heart of London’s iconic Piccadilly Circus you’ll find the fabulous Electric Carousel (formerly The Pigalle Club), a 1940s inspired supper club oozing charm and sex appeal.

Also back by popular demand Wam Bam reveal a new residency of weekly Saturday shows. Expect a sumptuous three-course meal, cheeky cocktails, lashings of champagne and an action packed burlesque and cabaret show and you have a Wam Bam night to remember.

Guests are invited to stay for the after show party where they can mix with the performers and dance the night away.

Wam Bam Club Teaser 2014 | Burlesque Supper Club from Lady Alex on Vimeo.

Free burlesque classes are available pre show at 6pm and 6.30pm. Pose for a photo with the dancers before the show and then sit back relax and enjoy the thrills and spills of Wam Bam, the original and still the best burlesque show in town.

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Seattle is laid back but, behind the slacker vibe, can be found a city at the very forefront of the global economy. Consumers the world over will be either sipping from a Seattle cup of coffee thanks to Starbucks. Ordering on line myriad goods in the Amazon warehouse, which also calls Seattle home, or flying Seattle in a Boeing which has its manufacturing roots in the premier American City of the North West. All this explains why you might find yourself sleepless in Seattle.

In keeping with its reputation as a 21st century city, Seattle has a thriving counterculture and no better example is the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival which this month celebrates its 20th anniversary. The festival is organized by the city same sex arts organisation 3 dollar bill. 

This takes its name from the expression “queer as a three dollar bill” and the colloquial quirk of the name is reflected in the accessible nature of this celebration of same sex cinema.

Heading up the team are Festival Director Kathleen Mullen alongside Three Dollars Executive Director Jason Plourde. The Programme reflects a diverse and rich selection of exciting films.

From Front Cover, the story of a closeted Chinese film star who comes to New York for a makeover and gets more than he bargains for when an agency assigns Chinese-American Ryan to take on the task.

Going back over decades of an incredible showbiz career was documentary Tab Hunter  Confidential. Better known to today’s cinema goers as the hunky retro star in John Waters’ films, it plots his rise from All American stable boy to All American Movie Star to All America Crooner. But his career faltered when he moved out of the protective world of a Warner Brothers studio contract. Though free to pursue his more serious acting ambitions he found that salacious gay rumours  about his private life beginning to surface, which had previously been suppressed by the powerful Warners publicity team. The film goes on to chart his struggle to balance caring for his aging mother, multiple career reinventions and finding happiness with his soulmate. 

Right back up to date with more than a hint of John Waters trashy schlock was Capitol Hill 2 peopled by fabulous faces from the local gay scene. This uproarious romp is dayglo anything goes, fun with larger than life characters set in a febrile world of cross dressing world of municipal politics and local TV. Not for the faint hearted but a firm favorite for the home crowd who were whooping and shrieking with laughter at the carry on.

Also local to Seattle was Winning Dad. This searing and stark portrayal of a clash of values and generations was very much a Seattle project which was brought to the big screen by Kickstarter crowd funding. Many of those who had pledged money were in attendance for the film’s Seattle premier. Star, and creative force behind the film, Arthur Allen, was given a rousing acclamation from the audience who were left moved and shaken by the raw emotion of this portrayal of a family faced with the lifestyle choice of loved ones. 

This outward looking festival also brought to Seattle some of the most cutting edge of gay and lesbian titles, including an ambitious and exiting selection of shorts, but one in particular demanded to be served shaken not stirred. Jayson Bend: Queen and Country, from the UK gave the 007 franchise a very gay reworking. The imaginings of filmmaker Matt Carter in this visually impressive film was a tribute to his incredible CGI skills. Coming in on a budget of £8000 audiences got to see a little money going a very long way. The winning combination of a great film legend, hot guys and the big screen talents of digital whizz Matt Carter gave the Seattle crowd plenty to chuckle about.

Part of the secret of the success of Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is down to the backdrop of the festival’s home, the laid back Capitol Hill district. The main cinema venues are within easy distance of each other. A particular asset is the Egyptian cinema, a glorious picture palace with a wonderful sense of history and a fine place to showcase filmmakers. This historic space confers credibility and a sense of mainstream on works which, just twenty years back, when the festival started would have been considered subversive to the point of censorship. An Egyptian screening of a queer film is a symbolic stamp of approval which is  not lost on audience and filmmakers alike.

Aside from the social significance of the festival it is, of course, a chance to party. All the main screenings were celebrated late into the night at one of the many gay venues in the neighborhood. In this way, Seattle’s festival for same sex cinema is a very out and proud voice for diversity in the city. As out and proud as the brightly coloured gay rainbow flag on pedestrian crossings of Capitol Hill.

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On the quest for the ultimate off road RC car we stumbled across the Traxxas Slash VXL 4WD with On Board Audio. If you’ve not yet discovered this American brand, then you need to take note. Forget your Tamiya cars and such like, these guys rule the radio waves. Nope they’re not as cheap, but there’s a good reason for that.

Traxxas cars are built to last, designed to impress and gives the driver far greater control and stability on loose and slippery ground. The brand offers a range of options from affordable to professional RC toys, but seeing as we’re discussing ‘luxury’ on this site we wanted to bring your attention to Traxxas Slash VXL 4WD with On Board Audio.

Now this little electric thunderbolt is fully waterproof (all weather), comes complete with a 8.4V battery and DC charger and remarkably, an onboard sound system! Yup, you read that right. Now you’ll scare even more dogs away down the park with this beast of a car. Taken from an actual recording of the full size Short Course truck that is raced by Mike Jenkins the owner of Traxxas, you can hear the the turbines whir in the background as you rev the car up.

Buy here – RRP £429.99.

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The final hotel in our Visiting Jersey series features the charming Longueville Manor Hotel. Although, and this is sad for us to say, we didn’t actually stay at Longueville, it might just have been our favourite place to visit. If you are looking for a luxurious weekend away with lots of character in a wonderfully enchanting setting, then we would have to say Longueville Manor is the perfect spot.

Longueville Manor is the most highly rated of all Jersey hotels. It is the only AA Five Red Star hotel as well as the sole member of the exclusive Relais & Châteaux worldwide collection of luxury hotels and restaurants.

The hotel is set in a stunning 18-acre estate with winding woodland walks, a sculpted series of gardens and an adorable lake. The building itself has been lovingly developed by its owners over a series of years and now stands as one of the most exciting and unique hotels on the island. We were lucky enough to tour a series of rooms too, each of which bared hallmarks of the Longueville style, yet had a completely different and individual character. We were informed that guests who stay at the hotel request specific rooms due to the level of character and detail in each one. Having seen them all, we can see why guests get so fond of these wonderfully crafted spaces. Each room is simply wonderful.

What stood out for us especially is the high level of hospitality and care we were treated with at Longueville. Each member of staff seemed to genuinely take an interest in our visit and wanted to make it as effortless as possible. It was an example of customer care at its highest level.

Indulgence

On entering Longueville Manor, we were politely moved into a drawing room where we were met with a roaring log fire and comfortable surroundings. Here and throughout the hotel, you can enjoy a Traditional Full Afternoon Tea for only £25.00. Considering the high quality of this afternoon tea and the exquisite setting, this was astonishingly good value.

Take a look here

The afternoon tea offered a selection of finger sandwiches, with homemade plain and fruit scones, plus a healthy serving of Longueville’s own strawberry jam, Jersey “Black Butter” and clotted cream. One thing to note, Jersey is renowned for the distinct richness of its milk and clotted cream, which gave this afternoon tea a different dimension to us. Additionally, you can choose from a selection of teas and coffees Tea selection Longueville’s “day” blend Earl Grey, Darjeeling, Assam, Lapsang Souchong, China Keemun, Decaffeinated, Iced Tea. Service was amicable and yet attentive, therefore making for a truly relaxing experience. But, our opportunities for relaxing did not stop there…

Relaxing

One element we were not expecting to stumble on during our visit was the small, but perfectly formed, Cottage Garden boutique spa. Treatments incorporate a blend of Japanese influences and Swedish massage techniques, in order to address stress, tension and worries. Each treatment utilises REN products and has been carefully designed to ‘restore inner balance’ and give you a new lease of life. Our masseuse Lana carried out each treatment with care and with the typical Longueville Manor warm hospitality.

We hope to visit Longueville Manor in the future, it has all the hallmarks and signifiers of a world class hotel.

Taking its name from the surrounding gardens and kitchen garden, The Cottage Garden boutique spa embodies the purity of the location, the unique setting and the philosophy of all that is Longueville Manor. Many of the therapies and treatments are fruit and herb based and complete a unique circle of relationships between the kitchen gardener, the chef and the therapist.

Find out more about Longueville Manor here.

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With the festive season in full swing, right up there on our agenda is a special Christmassy afternoon tea in town to break up a day of Christmas shopping! Our destination was the London Marriott Hotel Park Lane.

When time is of the essence to hunt out those must-have gifts for loved ones or friends, beating the queues, and taking a pit stop to refuel is every bit important to make it a success. Priced at £45 per person with Champagne, this fabulous treat is available until 31st December 2015.

With so many afternoon tea choices to choose from in swanky hotels and famously renowned stores, the London Marriott Hotel Park Lane is an uncompromised location. With an astounding view of the two prominent Marble Arches and Hyde Park beyond, these pinnacle landmarks form a fantastic backdrop for diners whom choose the all day Lanes of London Restaurant within this newly refurbished hotel for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and supper.

Gain access to this intimate yet inviting restaurant via the lavishly refurbished Mayfair-inspired lobby or through the discreet and beautifully decorated Park Lane entrance. The one off festive afternoon tea menu inclusive of a glass of champagne naturally grabbed our attention (of course!). Initially we were guided through the tea menu consisting of twelve specially curated options. These cater for individual tastes, comprising different strengths and flavours to have with or without milk. As a connoisseur of English Breakfast tea it was a refreshing change to enjoy a light tea with a hint of peach without milk with such a combination of flavours to come.

The savoury choices were presented to us including a cucumber sandwich on basil bread, a ham, melted cheese and mustard on brown malted bread and egg mayo, topped with half a quail eggs and smoked salmon and cream cheese on beetroot bread. Surprisingly we were able to customise the sandwiches based on our preferences, which was a nice touch. The four choices were pretty standard but beautifully presented on a wooden board separate from the main cake stand, however the salmon combination was definitely our favourite.

After our sandwiches we moved swiftly onto the first tier and tucked into our warm, fluffy plain and sultana scones served with deliciously smooth clotted cream and homemade chunky raspberry jam. The jam was so divine and there simply wasn’t enough to enjoy so we asked for more! The second tier presented itself with two generous slices of German stollen dusted with icing sugar but neither of us had room for it so headed straight to the piece de resistance – the festive Christmas tree brownies and snowmen macaroons! The final tier was much more to my taste with rich brownies, crushed pistachio nuts and delightful chocolate and meringue touches to indulge in. Our doggy bag of unintentional left over treats was a welcomed solution due to the fact that we were full to the brim.

For those looking to hit the shops and make the most of their afternoon tea experience why not stay in one of the completely renovated modern yet sophisticated bedrooms or suites, brimming with amenities like marble bathrooms and luxury toiletries? And boasting the only hotel with a swimming pool in Mayfair (such a hidden gem to find!), this feature really makes for a place to truly unwind and relax away from the hustle and bustle.

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There are two rather splendid eateries we’d like to bring to your attention if you’re looking for somewhere to treat mum this Mother’s Day.

First up is the acclaimed Botanist in Marlow and secondly Australasia in Manchester.

The Botanist are laying on treats for EVERY mum! Yup, you read that right. Every mum will get a gorgeous floral gift when dining.

The bar and restaurant will be open from noon to midnight providing the ideal destination for a family gathering. The Botanist will be serving a sumptuous array of food and drinks on the day, including: botanical cocktails, delicious wines and craft beers along with deli and rotisserie inspired food. The venue provides something for the whole family to enjoy, from a relaxing daytime meal to the perfect atmosphere to enjoy an evening of drinks.

The impressive building combines Victorian and modern externals with striking yet cosy interiors – creating the perfect ambience to enjoy with mum. The stylish venue offers ample room across the restaurant and bar areas for over 180 guests. The unique destination in the heart of Marlow’s vibrant town scene has both heated outdoor gardens and a characterful indoor fire pit.

There will be live music in the evening, too, the soundtrack will be a variation of new and old, enthusiastically delivered live on piano, guitar and vocals.

Australasia is equally impressive and perfectly suited to those seeking a gastronomic afternoon treat. Situated in the heart of Manchester, your visit will start with a glass of Australian fizz followed by a hand-picked assortment of savoury and sweet treats. The special menu will be offered in the Bar & Garden from midday until 5.00pm, and to top off the occasion there will be a live saxophonist playing laid-back harmonies throughout the afternoon, with a DJ taking over into the evening.

The sumptuous Mother’s Day Asian High Tea, for £30pp, is unlike anything else on offer in the city. In addition to two glasses of fizz, it combines a savoury selection of sushi and salads, including salmon and prawn maki and Asian pork salad, followed by a variety of confectionary and pastries including coconut friands and berry meringues – all topped off with a warming hot drink of your choice.

Australasia’s cuisine is a million miles away from anything else in Manchester, it’s the perfect antidote to stuffy fine dining attitudes. Opened in June 2011, it isn’t bound by tradition or a set of ideas about how an ingredient should be cooked, what it goes with or how it should be served. Modern Australian cuisine combines Pacific Rim flavours with strong European foundations, and also includes a blend of Indonesian and Southeast Asian influences. Its strong ties with Japan have also helped determine the style of cooking, particularly their desire for perfection.

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The Victorious Festival is one of the South Coast’s largest and most adored family friendly festivals. The site takes over Southsea Common and Castle Field for 3 days (Friday night, Saturday & Sunday) on the August bank holiday weekend and promises something for everyone. Victorious is primarily a premium act music festival, but offers an entire area for kids to enjoy acts, bouncy castles, art workshops and so much more.

This year we were luckily enough to be invited along to enjoy the VIP experience, which is limited to press, guests and premium passes only. Sadly, we couldn’t make the Friday night and therefore missed Madness and The Charlatans, but our experience on Saturday made up for it. We made an afternoon of it and arrived around lunchtime. For a fee, you can pre-book parking right next to the site, which is super handy, especially if you want to come and go as you please. The VIP area is right next to the main, Common Stage, where most of the biggest music acts perform. It’s a tightly guarded area with a very cool, relaxed vibe about it. You have access to a complimentary flower headdress making experience, amazing face painting, relaxing games area, hammocks, bar (avoiding the queues), footstalls, covered chill out area, not forgetting the raised platform that allows you to look right across to the main stage.

Our passes allowed us to easily access the rest of the festival, free to roam around the 16 music stages and see hundreds of acts playing every genre of music all throughout the day. With our two young girls (aged 4 & 6) we had to go and see the Mr Bloom and Story Time with Peppa Pig. But what we loved so much about this festival is that within just a few hundred metres you can see some of the biggest bands on the planet, as well as keep the kids happy with some acts designed for them.

Another attribute to Victorious is that you don’t have to wait till too late to see the best acts, probably because the location is quite residential and therefore will have strict sound rules. This meant that we got to see Jake Bugg as well as half The Stereophonics set, who were just incredible. Deciding that we’d best get the kids back to bed to conserve their energies for the next day, we headed off to recoup our energy for an early start on Sunday.

Living just 45 minutes away has ensured that Victorious is firmly on our agenda for the foreseeable future. Getting there is simple and traffic is incredibly well managed for such a mammoth festival. The festival opens at 10am, so we even had time for a lay in on Sunday morning, preparing us for the fun-packed day ahead.

We arrived at 9.30am to ensure we skipped all the queues to get an amazing face paint and we were first in line to make a real flower headdress each. Job done, we were ready for the exciting day ahead.

We didn’t necessarily plan our day, although we had noted some key acts we were desperate to see. So, we ended up mooching around all day, kicking back in the VIP area for a few hours, then heading out to discover the amazing array of street foods at almost every turn. One thing is guaranteed, you’ll eat well – but be prepared to pay a handsome sum for a snack – festival prices are in full effect. On that note, whilst there are cashpoints available within the festival grounds (at a fee), we’d recommend taking a wad of cash to see you through the day. Many places do take card, but cash is quicker.

We saw a number of amazing acts throughout the day, but some worth a mention were Rhythm Of The 90’s, who lifted the crowd with their array of live music, uplifting dance anthems from the 90’s (our era!), Turin Brakes, The Slaves, Franz Ferdinand and Elbow, who if you are going to see one band live in your lifetime, make it these guys.

The energy was electric throughout the day and wherever you roamed across the site, it truly is a very cool festival with so much on offer for every age and taste. We loved it and will be back in 2018 for sure.

Thank you Victorious, you made our summer!

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The Epicurean Club is the new, premium guild for luxury thrill seekers in the UK, and the perfect solution for both those seeking luxury daily escapes or weekend breaks to either the heart of the bustling city or the lush countryside. The club, which currently features 20 award winning boutique inns in some of the most picturesque parts of the country, allows its members to unlock exclusive benefits, including members’ rates on selected wines and champagne, midweek lunches, overnight stays and truly unique Epicurean Experiences, which vary according to the location.

Members can take advantage of offers through The Epicurean App, which is beautifully designed and incredibly easy to use. The app acts as a digital membership card, also allows Friends (free members) and Epicureans (paying members) the opportunity to collect Epicurean Crowns, which can then be used against future money-can’t-buy events and experiences. In fact, anyone who downloads it gets a FREE gin and tonic!

If the draw of exclusive rates on these beautiful properties doesn’t entice you, then the experiences that come with each one might; dependent upon location these include cycling or riding in the New Forest, enjoying a relaxing spa experience, cocktail mastery lessons, watercolour workshops or visiting a working distillery in The Cotsworlds, or even flying a WWII Harvard Warbird over the Dorset countryside. For us, it’s these experiences that truly differentiate The Epicurean Club. In a society where ‘unique life experiences’ are the new wealth, as a member you’ll never want for more and there’s never been a better time to try something new!

In terms of cost, The Epicurean Club annual membership costs a very reasonable £99 (or pay monthly), and once a member you can immediately start enjoying exclusive offers on unique experiences, food and drinks at all 20 member inns.

Epicurean director Ed Hill explained: “There is nothing else like the Epicurean on the market right now, which marries an impressive collection of traditional inns with brilliant countryside experiences that focus on country activities, culture and heritage, food and drink and nature. Our club also rewards members who visit our properties — whether it’s dinner in London or a weekend escape to the seaside — with exclusive members’ rates and other offers from carefully selected artisan and lifestyle partners.”

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The Fido Awards – For Incredible Dogs On Screen – awards standout dog performance of the year on the big screen. To mark this auspicious year the awards were presented at the Isle of Dogs exhibition at 180 The Strand.
This pop up display of breathtaking models from Wes Anderson’s stop motion picture of the same name, drew the crowds and goes “behind the scenes of ‘Isle of Dogs’, which was largely filmed at 3 Mills Studio in east London. « See original sets and puppets, all curated by the man himself – all set to the original score by Alexandre Desplat” –  Time Out told their readers enthusiastically.

The hugely popular pop up exhibition was the most suitable venue to witness the unveiling of the winning dog big screen performances of the year. Notable stand out turns included Bo at Harrison Ford’s side in Bladerunner 2049 who was awarded Blockbuster Bowser. Comedy Caine Fido went to Coco which had a spritely Mexican dog stealing the show. It was a Pixar wonder to behold. Then there was one of our most enigmatic ever Mutt Moment picks. This was for the spooky grey Italian greyhound which turned up in key moments in the Square. Truly an arthouse turn.

Plus there was the English Bull Terrier which stubbornly held it’s own in screens with screen idol Bill Nighy – most of time from beneath a restaurant table – no mean feat. “Their Finest has three story layers and each has its dog: The overall story about the film industry, where an English bull terrier is an English agent’s best friend. The propaganda film the characters shoot, where a small dog is rescued at Dunkirk and finally a beautiful retriever in a mock-up documentary about a Spitfire pilot. The third one I included to make sure even the little documentary film-with-the-film lived up to one of the character’s motto about what a good film should have: “authenticity, optimism —- and a dog”, said director Lone Scherfig.

But the stand out for the Fidos jury this year had to be Pheonix in Red Dog True Blue. This heartwarming winner of RomCom Rover was a popular win and then went on to scoop Best In World. Sadly this was a posthumous award as the canine actor has since died…but what a cinematic epitaph. This prequel of Red Dog told of the early day of this Aussie four-legged legend. Producer Colin Vaines picked up the award for his film with the immortal line. « What a night ! I am, for once, lost for words » said a dumbstruck Vaines.

To mark Year of the Dog in suitable style, the Fidos team created a special new award modelled on sister ceremony Palm Dog’s DogManitarian Award at the Cannes Film Festival. The Fi-Dogmanitarian Award is for outstanding contribution to the fellowship between mankind and dogs. Putting dogs stars front and centre screen in Isle of Dogs Wes Anderson and his team of voice talent – including Jeff Goldblum, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Bill Murray – were the unanimous and shoo-in choice for the first ever Fi-DogManitarian Award created in Year of the Dog.
The award was presented to Andy Gent, the Isle of Dogs master puppeteer who created the stop motion pack of hounds, including Chief, Boss, Spots, plus the ruthless mayor of Megasaki who makes Cruella de Vil look almost cuddly. Andy took the trophy collar on behalf of the entire Isle of Dogs team.

Winners Fidos 2018

Best In World 2018

Phoenix, the star of Red Dog True Blue. Not only was the original a smash at the Oz box office but this story of canine fortitude and loyalty merited a prequel. Such an honour to a most honourable hound is fully deserving of Best in World in the Year of the Dog.

Phoenix plays Red Dog in Red Dog True Blue. He was played in the first film by Koko, but was replaced after his death. Sadly since release Phoenix has gone to join Koko in the big kennel in heaven. RIP and bravo to them both. Colin Vaines, producer of Red Dog True Blue  was presented with the award, which he accepted with great pleasure. 

Historical Hound

WINNER:- Their Finest – The white English bull terrier under the table as Bill Nighy lays out the plans for his next career move steals scenes from a scene stealer.

Other nominees: 
– The Death of Stalin
 – Viceroy’s House

Comedy Canine

WINNER:- Coco – Winner is Mexican Xola dog in Coco the story of Miguel a young boy who loves music but is forbidden to play his guitar by his family. Dante is a typical Mexican Xola dog in animation style.

Other nominees: 
– Whisky Galore
– Going in Style

BlockBuster Bowser

WINNER:- Bladerunner 2049 The performance of Bo, the canine pal of Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), in the Ridley Scott movie showed the importance of the canine-human relationship even in a replicant’s world.

Other nominees:
 – Spiderman: Homecoming 
– Valerian

RomCom Rover

Winner:- Red Dog True Blue No greater tribute to the legend of Red Dog than that this film (which triumphed at the Oz Box office) merited a prequel.
Other nominees
– Wilson
– A Dog’s Purpose

Mutt Moment

WINNER:- The Square for the enigmatic and highly stylish grey whippet which appears at key moments throughout this Palme d’Or winning film.

Other nominees: – Certain Woman – The Other Side of Hope

Further information please contact info@palmdog.com

Plus the special first ever award to celebrate the fellowship between dogs and the human race : – The Fi-Dogmanitarian Award

Fi-Dogmanitarian Award 2018
 Isle of Dogs (Wes Anderson)

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Both BFI Southbank and flagship Odeon Leicester Square are undergoing major renovation work as the BFI London Film Festival stature continues to grow apace. The 2018 edItion got off to a five star start – yes, the reviews were glowing – with Widows by Oscar winning British director Steve McQueen. Presenting his latest film to a home crowd was going to be a risk as the series on which the film was based was a much loved UK TV mini series. It was ahead of its time when it first aired in 2002 and here we see this groundbreaker updated.

The all star cast did much to bring sparkle to the Opening Night red carpet led by Oscar winning leading lady Viola Davis, joined by co-stars Black Panther actor Daniel Kaluuya and Fast and Furious regular Michelle Rodriguez.

One of the film’s stars was a notable absentee, Viola’s perky little Westie, who was a constant presence at her side in Widows, as she became embroiled in the dangerous and dirty business of a heist.

Closing night is also a significant coup in the shape of the premiere of Stan and Ollie starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly respectively in the titular roles. This British led biopic will close a lively 2018 edition of the festival. As Hollywood Reporter noted
“Thanks to Widows and Stan & Ollie, London looks like it is about to have its best festival in years”. Good news for headline sponsors American Express.

Talking US support for this leading UK Festival, made with the Yankee dollar by UK talent was the period piece biopic. Telling the compelling story of French literary legend, Colette. British director Wash Westmoreland enlisted one of Britain’s most luminous actresses, Keira Knightly, in the title role. Bang on trend the film portrayed a throughly modern mademoiselle who carved a name for herself in the cut throat and macho world of literary Paris in the Belle Époque.

This beautiful lush costume drama did not pull any punches. The gutsy actions of Colette in her pursuit of rightful recognition gave the film a modern flavour against the backdrop of the current struggle for woman’s rights playing out across headlines worldwide. Colette was a latter day champion of a ladies right to respect and equality and will give this exquisite period piece a fresh flavour for today’s audiences.

Among the sidebar events was a panel discussion chaired by former Times Chief Critic, Kate Muir entitled “Where are all the diverse voices in film criticism?”. Diversity was given a vocal platform at the afternoon session at Picturehouse Central. The animated discussion saw even the Guardian coming under attack for white male bias – this Q and A was not for the faint hearted. Clearly this is a red hot topic which excites passion and debate and is set to continue for some time to come.

Reflecting the drive to champion new voices and access for alternative viewpoints to the big screen was the edgy reflective and thought provoking Young and Alive.

This followed the events which have rocked Paris in the recent past which started with the attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices followed dramatically by the terrorist Bataclan killings. The film gave voice to young Parisians dealing with this new normal in which they enter adulthood. Much of the footage was captured in Place de la République which drew crowds for impromptu gatherings and protests which often turned violent. The footage of the street disorder was a unique insight into the troubled times of a city rocked by repeated terrorist attacks. There was a sense of 1968 but against a much gloomier and more menacing backdrop and the filmmakers acknowledged their debt to the style of the Nouvelle Vague.

Leicester Square continued its red carpet role for the big premieres to great effect – every night seemed to be witness the building of ever more lavish decor. Just round the corner the Picturehouse Central proved a lively hub for screenings and discussions notably in the busy cafe and bar areas. A special treat for festival goers was the upper level members bar with incredible dramatic view down Haymarket and across to Piccadilly Circus. So far so Iconic. The BFI London Film Festival boasts and showcases an iconic and world renowned backdrop. But even timeless scenery requires TLC from time to time.

Major building works are underway at the landmark Odeon Leicester Square. Meanwhile BFI Southbank was having a facelift which limited its use for this year’s festival. This did not prevent the venue playing host to a special afternoon gala screening of They Shall Not Grow Old. This WW1 film was in the hugely capable hands of Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson using colourised archive footage to great effect. Attending the screening was Prince William greeted on his arrival by BFI Chief Executive Amanda Neville.

The arrival of His royal Highness at the renovating BFI Southbank underscored how the festival is moving forward but remains committed to exploring the past. If London was the unbeatable backdrop to this evolving and involving festival the Prince William certainly shows that centuries of history remain alive and well treading the red carpet

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The four-legged have been making a very big impact on the big screen – who knows, it might have something to do with the cosmos – after all, it has just been Chinese Year of the Dog. Canines have seen their visibility grow in cinema over the last 12 months, even prompting one prominent broadsheet to call for a doggie Oscar. Their headline said it all: “Dogstars … is it time canine actors had their own Academy Award?” As they noted, “dogs of Hollywood captured our hearts in 2018?”. Hear! Hear! Which brings us to a typically English eccentricity – The Fidos awards.

Until the arrival of that long overdue doggie Academy Award, dogs can duke it out for a gong in their own dedicated big screen awards ceremony The Fido Awards – For Incredible Dogs On Screen.

Significantly Fidos 2019 awarded dog performances in films released during Year of the Dog – 12 months which started early 2018 and ended on March 5th 2019.

Performances are judged in five categories. Historical Hound, Comedy Canine, Rom Com Rover, Blockbuster Bowser and Mutt Moment from these sections winners is selected Best In World. Judging the dog turns of the year are Kaleem Aftab from The Independent, Anna Smith from Metro, Wendy Ide from The Observer, film journalist Kate Muir and the Morning Star’s Rita di Santo

Aside from gongs for the standout dog performances, The Fidos also rewards good works. The FI-Dogmanitarian Award is for outstanding contribution to the fellowship between mankind and dogs. The Fi-Dogmanitarian Award was created at the beginning of Year of the Dog is now a fixture which honours those who honour hounds. The worthy 2019 recipient was Nikki Tibbles, the lady behind the Wild at Heart Foundation.

The Fidos principal mission is to award dogs gongs for their big screen efforts – efforts endorsed, as mentioned – by no less an organisation than the Guardian. “Year of the Dog saw more standout big screen dog performances than ever before. Key roles like Charlie in A Star Is Born and the totally canine Isle of Dogs come to mind.” said this respected broadsheet. Fear not The Fidos to the rescue.

Year of the Dog saw more standout big screen dog performances than ever before. Key roles like Charlie in A Star Is Born and the totally canine Isle of Dogs come to mind.

Thankfully canines can also win awards for there screen efforts at the Palm Dog at the Cannes Film Festival and its sister ceremony The Fidos – For Incredible Dogs on Screen – which took place in London on 27th February Both British creations. Being ahead of it’s time the venue is, of course, Hackney at the suitably hipster Hackney Coffee Company. Guest of honour was a lifesize creation of Chief from Isle of Dogs created in a workshop in nearby Hackney Wick.

Canines performances were certainly a trend picked up by the Guardian. “From Dogs – a new Netflix series about our relationships with canines to Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs via Italy’s Oscar-nominated drama Dogman, shaggy-dog stories have been inescapable on-screen in 2018. And, accordingly, pooch-themed fandom seems to have soared, too. Take Olivia the dog, the adorable westie that Viola Davis cradles in between dalliances with the criminal underworld in Steve McQueen’s thriller Widows, and who has spawned countless memes about her illegibility for the Oscars. Since the film’s release, Olivia has been identified as the same dog from the Jason Bateman-starring black comedy Game Night, released in March, sending the internet into meltdown.” Enthused the serious paper.

And how can we forget the dramatic pursuit of Pippin the Yorkie in The Meg? Truly a year of four-legged star turns in Year of the Dog. All the performances highlighted by the Guardian were recognised by Fidos nominations. The big winner of the ritzy night was Isle of Dogs which was represented by Chief and scooped Rom Com Rover before walking off with Best In World the equivalent of Crufts Supreme Champion. Bravo that dog. Bravo dogs.

Fido Winners 2019

Historical Hound – Colette

Comedy Canine – Paddington 2

Blockbuster Bowser – The Meg

Rom-Com Rover – Isle of Dogs

Mutt Moment – Dogman

FiDogmanitarian – Wild at Heart

Recipient Nikki Tibbles ( acceptance video or photo)

Palm Dog USA – A Star Is Born

Best in World – Isle of Dogs

Further information: www.palmdog.com

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A dream has been posthumously realised for a child prodigy. That is what happened at the prestigious Barbican Hall on March 18 this year. This was the very space in which celebrated composer Roy Budd was to stage The Phantom of the Opera with his music created especially for this ghoulish and gothic black and white silent classic. Set for September 1993 it never took place because Budd died sadly and unexpectedly at the age of only 46.

Though he died so young he left behind a significant body of work, notably film soundtracks. The fact that his orchestral soundtrack for the silent classic was staged over 25 years after his death is a testament to the impact of his work.

A career which started very young, at the age of 6 in 1953 Roy Budd made his debut at the Coliseum. From there he went on to secure a recording contract with Pye records while still a teenager releasing his first single “Birth of the Budd”. From this impressive start, he went on to build a solid music career which saw him write music for such classic films as The Wild Geese and Get Carter.

But one film – a rather different beast – was to capture his imagination. Roy Budd was captivated by the classic big screen incarnation of The Phantom of the Opera, in the 1925 black and white film original. This was a gothic classic starring screen legend Lon Chaney, the first film adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s novel published in 1910.

A world away from the gangster world of Michael Caine in Get Carter but with plenty of its own menace, this black and film first brought the famous Phantom alive. Budd was captivated by the hoary old silent black and white classic and made it a mission to give voice to these timeless characters through music. The accomplished composer set to work and created a soundtrack – completed in the first half of 1993. The first live performance was scheduled for September at the Barbican Centre. On August 7, 1993, Roy Budd was struck down with a fatal brain haemorrhage at the age of 46.

Just over 25 years later this passion project has finally been staged at London Coliseum on October 8th 2018. The very venue which saw the West End stage debut at the age of six. Thanks to the devotion and hard work of Australian producer Nick Hocart the realisation of Roy Budd’s dream, was completed with a big stage show. Fulfilling his original plan Roy Budd’s Phantom of the Opera finally made it to the venue to which it was destined back in September 1993. At the Barbican his lush full orchestral score was staged in front of the restored 35mm print, which he had purchased in 1991, and which had driven his passion to give a musical voice to this classic melodramatic tale.

As the audience took their seats the voice of Budd’s widow was heard introducing the presentation of her late husband’s work. Her heartfelt words set a very special scene presenting the final work of her late husband. This was a rather dramatic opening.
The restored print then flickered into life on the big screen in the Barbican Hall and conductor Spencer Down, of the Docklands Sinfonia, raised his baton and the music filled the auditorium.

The opening was a suitably dramatic organ section which set the scene suitably as we plunged into the dark underground world of mythical Phantom in his shadowy world beneath the Paris Opera House. After the dramatic sound of the organ, the narrative took flight on the wings of Budd’s sweeping and swelling string arrangements. Though audiences have become used to the masterly prosthetics of Hollywood there was no doubting the fright factor of the ghastly face of the Phantom unmasked. The screen impact of silent screen star Lon Chaney remained undimmed and the drama of shock for leading lady Christine was enhanced by the powerful score – a score which gave power and drama to this powerful and dramatic film known the world over.

View the stage show below

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Flare film festival is a showcase of films with LGBTQ themes and for some it seems to have passed its sell–by date. Hey, these days, we have gay marriage and the Irish PM with his husband at the White House. Yet, as a diverse cavalcade of global filmmakers thronged at BFI South Bank, news came in that the Sultan of Brunei was tightening up sharia law which mandates death by stoning for gays. 

Diversity has made huge strides but equality still varies hugely country to country. Britain’s biggest celebration of pink cinema retains a necessary function as a space of tolerance. Visiting delegates from some certain countries find themselves in the warm embrace of modern values of which – for the moment – they can only dream. It gives delegates pause for thought. There is many a wake up call from visiting delegates who have a daily LGBT experience from a bygone age in the UK but is daily life in certain countries.

With this in mind, sponsors, who have put money and resources into Flare, do so in the knowledge they are supporting a tolerant and inclusive set of values. With perfect timing, ally George Clooney penned a strong message to boycott the Sultanate’s posh hotels to protect the repressive new measures. Flare might be flamboyant but it retains a role as a standard bearer of progressive values. 

Leading the charge for change was José which won the Queen Lion at the Venice Film Festival. It’s a rare insight into Guatemalan gay life and one of the lovers is a construction worker. 

While Flare retains a key role in promoting a gay-friendly agenda in more religiously conservative countries, films this year also put a more nuanced twist on the traditional coming out schoolboy film–Giant Little Ones.

Amidst the serious task of addressing tolerance and freedom of expression, Flare certainly stuck to the brief of rainbow community celebrations. The Opening Night Party at the May Fair Hotel was a cheery, colourful and camp gathering which got proceedings off to a suitably upbeat start.

In amongst the agitprop was a varied selection of films which brought to the big screen the huge variation of the world of gay, lesbian, and trans experience. Little Miss Westie saw a trans take on – some might say takeover of – that all American institution the beauty pageant. Director Joy E Reed recognised a nod to the quirky Little Miss Sunshine, as she shines a light on the trans prom experience.

Documentary is a key part of the serious business of Flare and they lifted the lid on the ups and downs of a maiden voyage on a lesbian cruise in Monica – Loose on a cruise.

Something rather more gritty and gory was Knife + Heart, which starred French siren Vanessa Paradis in her most edgy and lesbian role to date. This was a rather daring part to accept given her longtime association with the deluxe brand as the face of Coco. 

Fashion was very visible at Flare this year with the screening of Halston, a documentary about the legendary New York couturier. This small town big from Des Moines, Iowa, took the Big Apple by storm and hit the skyscraper heights of Manhattan as the go-to designer for the hedonistic set who flocked to Studio 54. He is still remembered in the Chic-produced Sister Sledge classic He’s the Greatest Dancer “Halston, Gucci, Fiorucci.”

Also putting the gay into the dance floor was a very special screening. Another most colourful of rainbow reminders of a quarter of a century ….which just slipped by….was the 25th-anniversary screening of Priscilla Queen of the desert. To present in NFT1, sporting a dramatic white shock mane of hair, was Terence Stamp who played veteran drag queen Bernadette. The Sixties hunk and heart throb’s decision to take on this rather outlandish role was a brave move at the time and the result has stood the test of time. The audience whooped and cheered their way through the antics of three drag queens who headed off into the outback in a bus called Priscilla and into cinema history. 

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The Olivier Theatre Awards opened in rather regal style this year. The Royal Box was in service for the arrival of a very special guest, HRH Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The evening opened with the National Anthem suitably revamped with a West End makeover and majestic sweep. Beverly Knight of this realm took up position in a semi-choral circle of young performers from the Arts Education and raised the roof. The rendition was suitably ritzy and throaty and took the lid off the Royal Albert Hall. A rousing start to the 41st Oliviers, which celebrates the works of Britain’s world-class theatre industry.

In the past two years, the evening has been somewhat a tale of two juggernauts. In 2017 it was Harry Potter and then in 2018 sweeping all before it was Hamilton. This year saw a more even handed distribution of gongs. The three big winners of night were The Inheritance, Come Away and Company, which had the boost of the leading lady’s Leading Lady – Broadway legend – Patti LuPone

Standout moments included the rendition of River Deep Mountain High by Adrienne Warren, nominated as Best Actress in a Musical for her title role in Tina. The show also received a nomination for Mastercard Best New Musical.

Proof that we were in a world of world class performances, this was then edged off the top of the podium by a stunning performance by Sharon D Clarke who boomed out a song from Caroline, which held the room spellbound. A merited standing ovation followed as the room still reverberated from the power of this vocal performance, which pipped Ms Warren to the post for Best Actress in a Musical. Two powerhouse performances which underscored the quality of stars jostling for gongs.

And power was evident in the messages of two of the big winners. The Inheritance was a big winner, with its story of gay life post-AIDS. Stirring stuff. The monumental show won best new play and best director for Stephen Daldry.

Diversity was on show not least with presenting talent which most flamboyantly included Billy Elliot actor Layton Williams, the new lead in Jamie – best known as the campest in the classroom in TV comedy, Bad Education.

The other universal theme sharing the spotlight and the awards was the open heart of the little town of Gander which opened its hearts and its doors to diverted flights on the day of 911. The performance by the cast of Come From Away riveted the room and was a prelude to the show scooping four Oliviers including best new musical, outstanding achievement in music, and best choreography.

An even-handed evening which saw statuettes going to wonderful shows from across a very diverse spectrum. The evening came full circle when the lady honoured with the National Anthem walked onto the stage to present the honorary lifetime achievement award to dance maestro Matthew Bourne. Guests found out that he tied with none other than Judi Dench in pocketing the biggest number of Oliviers – eight. As the Duchess of Cornwall left the stage a flock of dancers took their positions to perform an excerpt of Swan Lake. No more powerful symbol of the progress of the 130 years in this world-famous venue opened was the proud prancing of this all-male troupe.

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Looking for a tech treat or an exhilarating experience as a gift this Father’s Day? We have collected some of the very best ideas out there on the market and here are some of our favourites, including a cutting edge Nextbase Dashcam, a ground breaking cooking probe with tech up its sleeve and a pair of our favourite experiences from BuyAGift.

Nextbase 522GW Dash Cam

Nextbase are renowned across the UK for providing some of the best, most reliable and most technologically advanced Dashcams on the market. The 522GW Dashcam is there flagship model, offering top tier specs, a sleek look and a price tag just around £150. Although, you may have seen Dashcams cheaper than this, this top end model is worth every penny, thanks to it’s raft of features.

Firstly, the 522GW offers crystal clear 1440P Quad HD recording at 30fps or 1080P recording at 60fps. There are not many Dashcams out there that can compete with this stunning quality of recording – the result is an industry leading standard in quality that is somewhat unrivalled. Also, just to make sure as much action on the roads is captured, there is a 140° ultra-wide viewing angle capturing the entire road ahead. This makes a big difference to ensuring your Dashcam captures each and every moment either on the road or in the surroundings.

Using the devices 3 inch HD touch screen, you will discover a range of different tricks that make this one of the best Dash Cams on the market. As an example, you have SOS technology, which, in the event of an accident, can alert emergency services to your location using the devices GPS. There is also Intelligent Parking Mode, where the device will begin to record if motion is detected, keeping your car safe while parked. There are also your typical functions on the device, including accurate GPS tracking, which monitors your precise location and speed.

Lastly, the device is also Wi-fi and Alexa enabled, allowing you to find parking (a great feature), get directions and send Dashcam videos to your phone, where you can view, edit and share content using the free dedicated app.

There is a LOT of superb tech in this little package that makes it a perfect gift for Father’s Day 2019.

Find out more on the Nextbase website.

Meater+ (£99)

If your father is a tech lover and a wannabe chef, the Meater+ will give him the tools to achieve perfectly cooked meat every single time.

Sat within a real wood block you will find the Meater+ probe, a stainless steel device packed with sensors that allow you to perfect any type of meat. Whether you are looking to cook steak, chicken, salmon on either the oven, BBQ or on the stove the Meater+ probe will allow you to keep track of how well cooked your food of choice is. The probe slips neatly into the meat of choice and gives a real time representation of inner temperature via the free Meater smartphone app.

But that’s not all, the app is full of pre-set food types, which makes cooking a doddle. For example, pick sirloin steak in the app, the Meater+ will then use its ambient and inner temperature sensors to judge how long your meat will take to cook. The ambient sensor tracks how hot it is outside the meat and this combines with the inner sensor to check your food is cooked to spec. This means that no matter where you are cooking, the Meater+ adapts to surroundings, gives you the correct time required to cook and results are perfect each time.

The Meater+ comes with an astonishing range, when you compare it to previous models. In fact, the original model has a range of 10 foot when inside a smoker, whereas the Meater+ has a whopping range of 165 feet. This means you can easily put your feet up away from the BBQ or even head inside.

Plus, the Meater+ connects to Alexa, for the ultimate in-home integration.

Find out more here.

Triple Supercar Driving Blast Experience

The ideal luxury experience for any petrol head dad! Fasten your seatbelt and prepare for an exhilarating ride with this triple supercar driving experience at a location of your choice. Available at 31 circuits, you’ll also be able to choose three supercars or American muscle cars from the world’s top motoring marques which include Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Chevrolet and more. Once you’ve arrived at your selected location, you’ll receive a warm welcome, introduction and most importantly a safety briefing so you’ll feel confident when you take on the circuit. Put the pedal to the metal as you take each chosen supercar for a three mile drive in each car so you can really show off your driving skills. To wrap up the day, you’ll enjoy a high speed passenger ride with a qualified instructor. A fantastic gift for your favourite driving enthusiast! Details of the experience include:

• Drive 3 supercars of your choice for 3 miles each
• High speed passenger lap
• Full introduction and safety briefing
• Choose from a range of great locations across the UK, including the ‘Home of Top Gear’, Dunsfold Airfield
• Expert guidance from the ARDS qualified race instructors

Available at BuyAGift for £79 (43% off the normal price)

Bateaux Three Course Lunch Cruise with a bottle of Wine on the Thames for Two

Take delight in a wonderful afternoon in the capital with this delicious Bateaux lunch cruise on the River Thames. Enjoy a voyage down the iconic river and savour views of The Globe theatre, the Houses of Parliament, The Shard and The Gherkin whilst relaxing in a comfortable chair or strolling up on top deck. You can then indulge in a delectable, freshly prepared three course lunch with a bottle of wine to share. After you have finished, a refreshing cup of tea or coffee will be served. The experience includes:

• 1 hour 30 minute cruise on the River Thames for two people
• A delicious three course lunch for two from a set menu
• Bottle of house wine to share
• Bottle of mineral water for the table

Available now at BuyAGift for £98.

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London Film Festival 2019 opened auspiciously with The Personal History of David Copperfield which famously chronicles the highs and lows of a young man making his way in life. The film showed The Thick Of It satirist, Armando Iannucci, bringing his satirical skills to bear on this Dickens crown jewel. To add to the sense of occasion a cavalcade of a cast of top British talent walked the opening night red carpet to enter the newly refurbished UK cinema flagship – Odeon Leicester Square. This film and the sumptuously refurbished venue served notice that UK cinema was pumped up.

Copperfield was a period piece costume drama peopled with the best of British screen talent who brought a contemporary twist to time-honoured characters. The title role is handled with human warmth and wit by Slumdog Millionaire Dev Patel. Tilda Swinton was formidable as Betsey Trotwood plus a very fine turn by Peter Capaldi as the incurable optimist, Mr Micawber. And a very special treat was the deliciously smarmy Uriah Heap in a star turn by Ben Whishaw.
When the film up sticks to the seaside we got to meet Paul Whitehouse as mutton-chopped Mr Peggotty in a most whimsical beach boathouse. This was truly a Grand Designs winner habitat and at the same time gave the tale a very modern visual twist.

This was inventive and light touch British cinema at it’s best which, with wit and skill, revitalised a story already told countless times. The opening film choice underscored the audacious agenda of incoming Festival Director, Tricia Tuttle. “Filmmakers are tackling burning issues of our time – often in surprising ways…..diverse work from a new generation of filmmakers who reside in the UK. They join a thrilling selection of work from 75 countries around the world,” said Tuttle.

After post-war years of struggle and doubt the UK film industry is basking in something of a golden age in a year when Britain’s film industry rose tall and was even credited with staving off recession as the UK wrestles with Brexit. Yes, roll up roll up, the UK Film Industry is credited as the surprise factor preventing a tip into recession “ Britain is likely to avoid recession with help from the film industry.” wrote top financial website, This Is Money “The economy grew by 0.3 per cent between June and August as weak manufacturing was offset by booming TV and film production, according to the Office for National Statistics. The UK film industry has grown by 27 per cent in the past year. The latest James Bond movie is among those currently being made.”

The Copperfield re-boot was proof that the UK industry can confidently supply top-quality cinema with local talent both in front and behind the camera.
This year the festival also attracted some of the biggest names to its side as festival partners and sponsors. From Principal Sponsor American Express to The May Fair Hotel to Facebook who all featured among an impressive array of brands nailing their colours to the London Film Festival mast.

There were plenty of other big pictures wowing audiences including the visually stunning hot air balloon adventure The Aeronauts starring Oscar-winning Eddie Redmayne. A madcap comedy called Jojo Rabbit which portrays a Nazi Youth lad and an imaginary Hitler as a comic star turn and a petrolhead treat in Le Mans 66. In other sections, there was a wealth of cinema talent on display and many tackled current issues and social ills. Rocks was a low budget look at a schoolgirl who finds herself solo parenting her young brother and gritty Country Lines tells the story of a young lad ensnared by the lure of easy cash.

From outside the UK, there was plenty to enjoy and digest including South African film Moofie which tells of gay love amongst South African conscripts as apartheid breathed its last gasp. A particular treat was vibrant Naples-set Piranhas which tells the story of young challengers to established crime lords. There were plenty of other indulgent goodies for cinema goers including Greed the new Michael Winterbottom which stars Steve Coogan in a thinly veiled satirical send up of Phillip Green of Topshop fame. Hope Gap was a delightful British drama showcasing Bill Nighy and Annette Benning who play a couple who split in later life. The finely nuanced performances show the pain and heartache of binning decades of marriage for a last hurrah.

The bookends of the festival spoke to the status and aims of the London Film Festival. Kicking off with a refreshing retelling of David Copperfield it signed off with The Irishman which was heavy with Hollywood A list ballast. This vintage Scorsese marked his ninth collaboration with Robert De Niro. The film returns to the story of the fate of Teamster Union leader Jimmy Hoffa who met an untimely and mysterious end. Joining De Niro in this muscular story of unions and the mob it sees Joe Pesci come out of retirement and Al Pacino in a Martin Scorsese picture for the first time. What a red carpet line up of De Niro and Pesci and their director. This is the dream team cinema and a fitting way to end the London Film Festival. A celebration of UK cinema earning a place in an increasingly global industry. With this lineup, LFF can justify the UK’s claim to centre stage in world cinema.

https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/

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The upmarket shops of Coal Drops Yard in the newly groovy King’s Cross are committed to making the space a dog-friendly destination. Expect to see local dogs out for a walk around the minimalist Christmas tree, Centre stage the tree is festooned with silver spheres and terrarium baubles created by local shop Botanical Boys. Local folks and their doggies are a close-knit community and every day is a play date for King’s Cross canines.

With an eye to the pulling power of local pooches local plant merchants, Botanical Boys gave over their store to a doggie grotto for some suitably seasonal snaps. Kicking off the socially distant photo shoot was a little darling who was not even born when the pandemic broke out. Gigi is a French Bulldog pup who is the mascot of Lower Stable Street charity shop Pop Up 38. All agreed that the lovely grotto photoshoot could not have got off to a cuter start. Three illuminated Dalmatians – best buys at this charity store – made the setting brighter and very bowser.

Next up was neighbourhood dachshund Wolfie – short for the rather grander sounding Wolfgang – who made a loud barking entrance. He may be small but there was no way that he was getting overlooked. With his mistress Konstance, he took up position in the dingly dell. Sporting a rather dapper blue jacket Wolfie posed up for the cameras with Hollywood skill.

The Botanical Boys is a dog-friendly enterprise in keeping with their green mandate. Coal Drops stores offer many doggies items. Leading the pack in the dog-friendly stakes is the swanky Paul Smith boutique. Front and centre of the 50th anniversary celebrations for the brand is Paul Smith’s dog, Homer. This very stately Afghan hound an assistant at the very first Paul Smith shop in Nottingham and gave the store that style edge. Homer returns with a bespoke range of shirts and even socks emblazoned with his likeness. Proof that dogs truly are man’s best friend.

On the lower level of Coal Drops is a very doggie destination, Morty and Bobs.

super dog friendly and has woof on the iron pillar next to the counter as you enter.

Meanwhile back to Botanical Boys and bowsers. Their trademark terrariums can be customised with doggie figurines plus, and most excitingly, the store offers artisanal handcrafted beaded dogs. These are created individually to order from photos in Johannesburg. Should anyone want to immortalise their pooch contact Darren. Turn your dog into a work of art! A remarkable and indisputably original Christmas gift.

After the photoshoot finished the owners enjoyed mince pies and mulled wine at a suitable social distance. And there was one more surprise – a canine carol! With leading lady Savvy Clement reading from her iPhone the select group of locals and pooches were treated to God Rest Ye Merry Dobermans. Rousing and uplifting at a time when spirits need to be raised. And here is the adapted chorus which was sung in honour of our canines friends.

Oh doggies bring comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

Oh doggies bring comfort and joy.

I think we can all agree with that seasonal sentiment.

https://www.coaldropsyard.com

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