When The Body Is The Last Resource For Protest – Hunger
Steve McQueen’s “Hunger” had its premiere at last year’s Cannes Film Festival opening the ‘Un Certain Regard‘ category. The movie had great reviews and McQueen won Golden Camera. Today, Steve McQueen, the first-time filmmaker, has its collection of 15 Awards for “Hunger” as director or co-writer (the screenplay was written by McQueen and Enda Walsh) and Michael Fassbender has 5 Awards for Best Actor for lead role (Bobby Sands) in the movie.
British artist Steve McQueen makes his big-screen debut with “Hunger,” an account of the 1981 hunger strike in Northern Ireland’s Maze prison. Take a look at video about making of “Hunger” and video interview with director Steve McQueen below.
The film follows the last six weeks in the life of Republican Bobby Sands, who died during the strike. It plunges viewers into the world of the early 1980s H-Blocks uprising and of republican prisoner Bobby Sands, who died 66 days into a hunger strike. The film depicts the hellish conditions in the prison, not only through the experiences of the hunger strikers but also through the prison wardens with whom they were in constant battle.
British Independent Film Awards Winners
The winners of the 11th British Independent Film Awards have been announced on Sunday, November 30, 2008 which were handed in London.
“Nominations and award winners prove that filmmaking in Britain is alive and well”, says Elliot Grove, the founder of Raindance and the British Independent Film Awards.
“Slumdog Millionaire” directed by Danny Boyle (“Trainspotting”) and Steve McQueen’s “Hunger” both won three honors at the BIFA.
“Slumdog Millionaire” won the top two awards – Best British Independent Film and Best Director.
Steve McQueen with his movie “Hunger” was nominated for both Best Debut Director and Best Screenplay and won Douglas Hickox award for debut director. Michael Fassbender who plays Bobby Sands in “Hunger” won prize for Best Actor. The third prize for this movie is for Best Technical Achievement for Cinematography – Sean Bobbitt.
“In Bruges” written and directed by Martin McDonagh won one but great, screenplay award, of six nominations: Best Actor – Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, Best British Independent Film, Best Screenplay – Martin McDonagh, Best Supporting Actor – Ralph Fiennes and Best Technical Achievement – Jon Gregory (for editing).
Israeli animated “Waltz With Bashir” written and directed by Ari Folman is the winner in Best Foreign Film category at the British Independent Film Awards.
It wasn’t a great night for director Eran Creevy’s low-budget “Shifty,” about 24 hours in the life of a crack dealer, with five nominations but without award.
Take a look at the list of the winners:
“In Bruges” And “Hunger” Lead BIFA With 7 Noms Each
The nominations for the 11th edition of the British Independent Film Awards, which takes place November 30, 2008 were announced Tuesday.
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson - "In Bruges"
Martin McDonagh’s drama “In Bruges” and Steve McQueen’s “Hunger,” lead at the British Independent Film Awards with seven nominations.
Next best with six nods is Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire” which closes the Times BFI London Film Festival this Thursday.
Eran Creevy’s low budget “Shifty,” about 24 hours in the life of a crack dealer, has garnered an impressive five BIFA noms.
Shane Meadows’ “Somers Town,” Garth Jenning’s “Son of Rambow” and Saul Dibb’s “The Duchess” hold four nominations each.
Other films with multiple nominations are “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” and “Happy-Go-Lucky,” both with three, and “Man on Wire,” “The Daisy Chain,” “Eden Lake” and “The Escapist” with two each.
Ralph Fiennes is double-nommed in the best supporting actor category for “In Bruges” and “The Duchess.”
Thomas Turgoose, becomes the youngest ever nominee for best actor for his turn as a mischievous teen
runaway in “Somers Town.”
New Hunger Poster
New poster for Steve McQueen’s drama “Hunger” starring Liam Cunningham and Michael Fassbender is online.
The first-time filmmaker Steve McQueen wrote and directed the movie. The screenplay was written by McQueen and Enda Walsh.
The film first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, opening the ‘Un Certain Regard‘ category, follows the last six weeks in the life of Republican Bobby Sands, the IRA hunger striker who died in the Maze prison in 1981.
“Hunger” is expected to start hitting US theaters on December 5th, in limited release. Continue Reading…
Steve McQueen’s “Hunger” Poster
The first poster for Steve McQueen’s drama “Hunger” starring Liam Cunningham and Michael Fassbender is online.
The first-time filmmaker Steve McQueen wrote and directed the movie. The screenplay was written by McQueen and Enda Walsh.
“Hunger” first premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, opening the ‘Un Certain Regard‘ category, follows the last six weeks in the life of Republican Bobby Sands, the IRA hunger striker who died in the Maze prison in 1981. You can read full synopsis and see some photos HERE
“Hunger” is expected to start hitting limited US theaters later this year.
“Hunger” First Trailer
The first trailer for Steve McQueen’s drama “Hunger” starring Liam Cunningham and Michael Fassbender is online.
The first-time filmmaker Steve McQueen wrote and directed the movie. The screenplay was written by McQueen and Enda Walsh.
“Hunger” first premiered at the
Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, opening the ‘Un Certain Regard‘ category, follows the last six weeks in the life of Republican Bobby Sands, the IRA hunger striker who died in the Maze prison in 1981. You can read full synopsis and see some photos HERE
‘Hunger’ – Steve McQueen – Cannes 2008
‘Hunger‘ is showing at the Cannes Film Festival 2008, opening the ‘Un Certain Regard‘ category, from British director Steve McQueen, the artist who hit the headlines recently with his design for a postage stamp that replaced the Queen’s head with the faces of soldiers killed in Iraq.
Turner Prize-winnng British artist Steve McQueen makes his big-screen debut with Hunger, an account of the 1981 hunger strike in Northern Ireland’s Maze prison.
The film follows the last six weeks in the life of Republican Bobby Sands, who died during the strike.
It plunges viewers into the world of the early 1980s H-Blocks uprising and of republican prisoner Bobby Sands (played with formidable force by Michael Fassbender), who died 66 days into a hunger strike.
The film depicts the hellish conditions in the prison, not only through the experiences of the hunger strikers but also through the prison wardens with whom they were in constant battle.
McQueen is best known for his film installations, which are usually projected on to gallery walls. One of the most famous of these is ‘Deadpan’, a recreation of a Buster Keaton stunt.
Synopsis:
Raymond Lohan wearily follows his normal routine: an ordinary man doing the job of a prison officer in the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland, 1981. Working within one of the infamous H-Blocks, where republican prisoners are on the Blanket and No-Wash protest, is a living hell for both prisoner and prison officer.
A young, new prisoner Davey Gillen is brought into this environment for the first time. Although terrified, Davey resolutely refuses to wear the prison uniform – he is no common criminal. So joining the Blanket protest, he shares a filthy cell with another ‘non-conforming’ republican prisoner Gerry Campbell. Gerry, hardened to the horrific realities of Maze life, guides Davey through the daily routine, he trains him how to smuggle items and exchange ‘comms’ (communications) with the outside world, passing them on to their H-Block leader Bobby Sands at Sunday Mass.
‘Blindness’ Cannes Film Festival Opener?
Fernando Meirelles’ drama-thriller about a city succumbing to a blindness epidemic.
‘Blindness‘ stars Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo is being eyed to open the Cannes Film Festival, while ‘Hunger,’ from Brit director Steve McQueen, is the leading candidate to kick off Un Certain Regard.
The source of many press reports identify ‘Blindness’ as the May 14 Cannes opener.
According to Variety, Cannes declined to comment on the rumors regarding ‘Blindness.’
More than one option Meirelles’ pic was one of the most glaring absences from the Official Selection lineup unveiled by delegate general Thierry Fremaux last Wednesday.
Fremaux’s announcement left both opening and closing film slots open.
Steve McQueen’s ‘Hunger’ appears clearer.
McQueen’s feature debut is strongly expected to open Un Certain Regard.
Reportedly powerful, but very out-there, ‘Hunger’ is an impressionistic interpretation of the last six weeks in the life of Bobby Sands, the IRA hunger striker who died in the Maze prison in 1981.
