Wirral International Film Festival returns

Nov 25 2009 Birkenhead News

WIRRAL International Film Festival (WIFF) returns this week!

The free festival kicks off for its second year today, at Queens Hotel in Birkenhead, with a full schedule of almost 100 shorts, documentaries, music films and international efforts spread over six days.

The action begins with the music videos, from 2pm, and continues with nine movies collected from Gennevilliers in France, from 4pm.

The final showing on Wednesday, at 6.30pm, is documentary Who Does She Think She Is? from American academy award winner, Pamela Tanner Bell.

Day Two is devoted to documentaries, travelogues and productions from those aged under 16, between 2pm and 8pm, including On the Road with Robert Pirsig by Anthony McWatt, at 3.55pm.

WIFF co-organiser, Alan Veste said: “It’s about a guy going across America and was originally made in 1969, but has followed this guy right up to the present day.”

Shorts dominate the final day of the week on Friday, between 2pm and 7pm.

Last year’s short film award winner, Johnny Parker returns with Bag it, Bin it at 4.20pm, while 17-year-old Terry Cheung is picked up by Alan for special mention.

WIFF 2010 then jumps the weekend – and the beginning of the week – to continue again from Wednesday December 2, with the second day of short films, between 2pm and 5pm.

Thursday has now become Latina day, with a total of 20 films from Italian auteurs based out of Wirral’s twin town, on show between noon and 9.40pm.

Among them is Sophia...Ieri, Oggi, Domani (Sophia...Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow) by Massimo Ferrari, featuring legendary actress Sophia Loren talking about her life, past loves and hopes for the future, and showing at 1.30pm.

Alan said: “Because they’re a mix of genres, we decided to put them all as one. They’re pretty different, the Italians are very passionate about what they do.”

Italian dignitaries will descend on the festival for Latina Day, staying for the Awards Night which follows on Friday.

From 7.30pm, the best of each genre will be recognised, as well as those judged best actor or best cinematographer, while the Wirral News Award will go to the public’s favourite.

Alan added: “Get down and watch a variety of films for nothing.”

WIFF 2010 is sponsored by Out the Bag Productions, for a full schedule see wirralnews.co.uk