On the train back to London after a splendid final day of the festival.

Attended the screening of ‘Benjamin Britten - Peace and Conflict’ along with five of the marvellous young cast: Alex, Chris, Jake, Jeremy, and Mykola. A very good film, which will be screening in festivals and cinemas around the country during this Britten centenary year.

Fascinating ‘In Conversation’ with Don Boyd and Tony Britten followed by a screening of Derek Jarman’s iconic ‘War Requiem’ which Don produced - as relevant now as it was when it was made 25 years ago.

Dinner with new and old friends was a perfect ending to a very successful festival.
-John

Time off on Saturday morning for a wander around Keswick, and as always, made to feel very welcome. Delighted to see that the profile of the festival has definitely risen within the local community.

Osprey Short Film Awards after lunch - not as many entries this year, which was disappointing. I hope that trend is reversed next year.

Exciting rugby (hurrah for Wales, too, from Anwen) and then back to the Alhambra (congratulations Tom on the successful transition to digital) for ‘Tulpan’ - a truly wonderful film, which I selected for screening . Delighted that everyone seemed to agree with my choice!

Quick introduction to the Richard Kwietniowski film ‘Owning Mahowny’ which unforgivably went straight to DVD in this country - a great pleasure to introduce such a fine film to a new audience.

-John

Another packed day at the Keswick Film Festival. Off to Carlisle first thing for a film workshop with my friend and redoubtable film maker, Don Boyd, for the Carlisle College of the Arts. Finally did a bit of ‘Lear’ which I have, until now, successfully avoided. Enjoyed it hugely, along with a fine new piece about Alzheimer’s, written by one of the students. The students were enthusiastic and full of promise; most encouraging for the future of the British film industry. Back to Keswick for the fascinating, ‘Men at Lunch’ - a long journey around that famous photograph. Then met up with Chris, Jake and Jeremy: three of the fantastic young actors from ‘Benjamin Britten - Peace and Conflict’, which I narrated and screens here on Sunday. Rounded off the day with Jan Komasa’s ‘Suicide Room’ - an extraordinary film dealing with virtual life. (Something that concerns me.) Wonderful central performance by Jakub Gierszal.
-John

Join us at the 14th Keswick Film Festival! John Hurt will be in attendance!

For more information on the film festival, click HERE.

There is a fabulous selection of films this year. See the entire list HERE.

To purchase tickets, visit the Theatre by the Lake ticketing office, or purchase them online HERE.

For information on travelling to Keswick, click HERE.

We hope to see you there!

Individual events including John Hurt are as follows:

21st Thursday 
18:30, Theatre by the Lake, Opening Party (For pass holders and invited guests only)

23rd Saturday
14:00, Alhambra, Ospreys Short Film Awards
19:00, Alhambra, Patron’s Choice Screening of Tulpan
21:15, Alhambra, John Hurt Film Screening of Owning Mahowny

24th Sunday
13:30, Theatre by the Lake, Peace and Conflict
15:30, Theatre by the Lake, Tony Britten and Don Boyd Q&A
18:00, Theatre by the Lake, War Requiem