![Drizzledance](http://www.philgardner.net/mulledwhines/cinecity.gif)
Anyone who's recently been to the Brighton Hip-Hop Festival, the Brighton Food & Drink Festival, the Brighton Comedy Festival and the Brighton Festival of World Sacred Music (or maybe it's just me) will know that we love a good festival in Brighton. So for the past ten days we've been
Before last night I hadn't been to any of the screenings so far, not because I'm picky when it comes to art films, but because I can't afford the ticket prices. I'm tempted to make an exception on Wednesday, however, when they're showing a French film called 'Water Lilies', which is described as "a coming-of-age tale set amidst the world of synchronised swimming". It can't be easy going through adolescence with a peg on your nose, so that's got to be worth a look.
Anyhoo, the good news is that in an attempt to drum up interest (or possibly just to show stuff that no one would pay for) the film festival organisers put on a free screening at the Sallis Benney Theatre last night, so like a poverty-stricken rat up a cinematic drainpipe, I was straight down there. Here's how the evening was described on the leaflet which I found on my seat:
![Welcome to the future.](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGpxiFH6muUiTyQxtxlgHewzXKQMF-9r_nx_3WtlxrJt311-gHTNgf8sZIoh4xC01rEqASXek8AhK5ZvhqxkrzordNIKKBLJUw5EwgqchXoXW2TjLiKHovWZTM3WO5uSf6RY9V/s400/cinecity+brighton.jpg)
Obviously it's not 2008, but that doesn't mean the organisers don't know what day of the week it is; it just means they're ahead of their time.
Anyhoo, having embarrassed myself on page 16 of the current issue of The Kemptown Rag (that's what you call a shameless plug), I plan to redeem myself by writing an insightful analysis of last night for the next issue, so rather than going over it here, I think I'll skip the interesting first half of the evening, and move straight on to slagging off the second half.
Back in September, I seriously considered entering a film competition organised by the council which invited residents to create "an eye-catching, jaw-dropping, heart-stopping, 60-second ultra-short promoting Brighton as a tourist destination". In the end I decided against it on the grounds that Brighton is full of talented film-makers and I don't even own a camcorder. But I'm well and truly kicking myself now. Last night's entertainment included the screening of the three prize-winners and six runners-up, and the good news is that all nine are on YouTube for the world to enjoy.
They asked for "eye-catching, jaw-dropping, heart-stopping" films. They got this. My jaw certainly dropped. Then there's this one which seems to have been made by a production team of about twelve, and has nothing whatsoever to do with "promoting Brighton as a tourist destination". At least this one tries, but if you can stay awake through all sixty seconds of it, you're doing quite well. This one doesn't even include any film.
![B Right On](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Xfdrtwq17G4TBWRAxx0hDKgHvZej2EeMYxowPqjkWPIfBxjYYDfYI5HO6ruYelE6l60FYckIYlWfz0O8gIc0LpLYw3JrkrXeIFyQtynT9tmW2Qi9XCym_N8hBkTEVhGkwPVH/s200/b+right+on.jpg)
Mind you, that wasn't the only let-down. According to the competition website, "the prizes will be presented by a well-known Brighton TV and radio personality". Given that Steve Coogan is listed as one of the CineCity patrons, my hopes for a celebrity encounter were quite high. So who did we get? Councillor David Smith, chair of the council's tourism committee. I wonder what TV shows he's been on..?
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