Another day, another Tarantino google news alert in my in-box informing me that QT has been accused of eating one of my superb chocolates…. Over the past few days I have received 25 e-mails that he’s been accused by the Italian press of favouritism. However that’s all everyone is saying – no further analysis or investigation has been performed, so, I’m going to give my opinion on it - From one perspective you could say I am biased as I’m a fan, but this is a purely neutral v...

I’ve been having loads of google news alerts flooding into my inbox over the past few days with regard to QT denying ‘nepotism’ charges (or in other words that he didn’t award the top prize to Sophia Coppola because they used to date). To be honest, this is all that is happening with this conspiracy; QT is denying it and no-one else involved with the jury or connected with the Venice Film Festival has commented on it. To be honest it s getting slightly boring now – it wi...

Well, it looks like Tarantino's decision to award his ex-girlfriend and other best friends some of the big awards at this years Venice festival has caused an even bigger controversy than 'I'm Still Here'... I mentioned yesterday the odd co-incidence of the Coppola and Tarantino connection but looks like the Italian press are not happy, and worse still Venice staff have used the old 'no comment' get out of jail card when asked to comment on the situation. Obviously, it does look very ...

Well, one thing you can always guarantee with Tarantino is to expect surprises. I'd have never thought in a million years that he would award Sofia Coppola's 'Somewhere' the top prize at Venice (one wonders if its because she and QT used to date?!!)... but then again maybe its because she has made an amazing film similar to'Lost in Translation'. This film is now top of my to see list alongside the 'I'm Still Here' doc. Oh and another surprise, Vincent Gallo won best actor prize for 'Esse...

When someone asks you ‘what your day has been like today’ have you ever replied with ‘Well, we managed to recuit 154 zombies (and counting) for the upcoming Zombie Diaries 2 shoot’? Didn’t think so. This blog might sound a little self (Abertoir)-promotion but in all hoensty its not intending to be, as my day today has literally been tracking how many people have signed up to play a zombie in an upcoming film shoot…. However, this is no ordinary film shoot as its a rather speci...

So, Britain’s biggest FF; ‘The Times BFI London Film Festival’ announced its programme yesterday. The Guardian were not overly-impressed as they criticised it for, essentially, just being a hybrid of Sundance, Cannes, Tribeca, Venice & Toronto’s key films. Although this is true from the looks of their big films, I can guarantee you that there will be a few hidden gems somewhere within their schedule – you just have to find them. Its a bit like a treasure hunt I guess! (Al...

I hate it when I wake up early for no reason whatsoever and have no choice but to get out of bed… 5.18am I wake up thirsty, so I have a drink and try to get back to sleep – not happening, so I check the Blackberry’s (yes 2 I’m afraid oops) for e-mails and get through them; still can’t sleep though so I decide I might as well put the radio on and face the day earlier than planned. Wouldn’t all of this material make an amazing  documentary? Whereas Casey Afleck’s is-it-or-isnâ...

Well, in-between zombie administration, its taken me a lot of thought over the weekend to come up with my ‘Fantasy Film Festival’ programme - plus I don’t think that title should change either (despite the porn film festival connotations)! It would be a three day long film festival. The opening night would start around 9.00pm with a premiere of an auteurs new feature film (Ok maybe not Tarantino’s new one or maybe it could be, since we’re in fantasy world now…) The midnigh...

I think my eyes have gone weird - as I have literally been sitting in front of my laptop all day. I have been tied to the chair as had some really busy Zombie Diaries 2 adminstration work to do today which is all very exciting but seriously my eyes have changed... Anyway, during my 10 min pause for lunch I spent it studying all of the news pages re film fest gossip. Unsurprisingly Sophia Coppola's new film has been received with mixed reviews but she is very love or hate. I'm hoping for ...

I have been awake for the past 40 minutes and am still not ‘awake’ if you see what I mean. I know I managed to sleep well last night but I feel like… well a zombie! Oh, but no mention of zombies today as yesterdsay was horror day  I actually had some cracking meetings yesterday! You can’t beat a productive meeting Anyway, I hear Black Swan is supposed to be great, can’t say I’m surprised as the trailer looks fab, and Requiem for a Dream is a superb film of the directors....

One of the new and surprising talents of Italian cinema, actress Isabella Ragonese, recently acclaimed in Venice for the film-revelation of Controcampo Italiano 2009 Ten Winters (Dieci Inverni) by Valerio Mieli, winner of the Nastro d’Argento 2010 for her performance in La nostra vita by Daniele Luchetti and One Life, Maybe Two (Due Vite per caso) by Alessandro Aronadio, will be the godmother for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 67th Venice International Film Festival. T...

Hello, my name is Rebekah and I am currently working towards a PhD in film and audience studies, which is a case study on Quentin Tarantino. Since the age of 17, I have been a P.A. to various different types of company directors and a C.E.O. I began working for the Abertoir Horror Film Festival four years ago, shortly after it was created. The festival has recently become (which we are very proud of) a member of the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation. Since then I have gain...

A one-off fee of £400 per film, per client + commission to be negotiated in good faith if a sales or distribution contract is secured directly through work undertaken by the film festival doctor. Bank Transfer & Cheques accepted. PayPal is not accepted. I also offer my services to sales agents. Please email me at rebekah@thefilmfestivaldoctor.co.uk for more information. For any more additional information that you may require, please email me. Telephone: 07530 953676 ...

How the Service Works               Festivals are great events to attend and get your film screened, as a successful festival run is often an essential first step in proving the film’s worth. It may even win an award and/or, most importantly, get picked up by a sales agent. It is very beneficial to attend festivals, as they are the perfect places to network, attend workshops/seminars and understand how they ...

Today’s blog is a horror special, partly because I’m having an ‘Abertoir Horror Festival day’ as I’m meeting up with the other members of staff today so I thought before the Tarantino-Venice news kicks in, lets have a full-on horror day. Frightfest finished on Monday 30th and word on the internet of some of the films screened has been pretty good. I hear that 13HS was ‘cheap and cheerful’ (always a good thing), Cherry Tree Lane was an improvement from The Cottage, whereas The Tortu...

Venice kicks off tomorrow, however, I’m hearing things that the big festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin and Toronto etc are being called the falling stars of the festival circuit and that the whole star-studdied red carpet routine is getting rather dull and boring. This is an interesting point, but not one that I fully agree with – based on my experience of last years Cannes. Although I didnt see many of the in-competition  films as I was doing my research around the film market...

Well ‘summer’ is nearly over here in the UK which means children are going back to school and Winter looms (so wolly hats and mittens are in order), but what also happens during this time is that lots of Film Festivals take place, including some of the biggies; Toronto is first followed by Venice at the beginning of September, (oh and ofcourse Abertoir in November! ;) ). Further to my previous blog, I’m very excited about Venice for several reasons 1. Machete is opening th...

Well, I'm not exactly going to the Venice Film Festival but I'm more excited about this one because I can't wait to hear how well Machete goes down as it looks like its going to be something special.   Plus I'll be following this one very closely as Quentin Tarantino, my favourtie film maker and topic of my phd study, is on the jury I wonder what he will decide should win the Golden Lion... exciting times ahead. :) Marco Muller and Tarantino!   ...