“It's fantastic news for Manchester's cultural calendar that Kinofilm has returned. The festival provides a vital platform not only for local filmmakers but filmmakers from across the UK and Europe and it presents its audiences with access to the best short films around. I am honoured to be involved”, says Maxine.
With credits including SHAMELESS, RED RIDING and CRIMINAL JUSTICE, gifted RADA-trained actress Maxine Peake is becoming one of the most respected actresses working in the UK today. Peake first starred in DINNERLADIES before winning her role as Veronica in the acclaimed series SHAMELESS. In 2006, she embarked on one of her greatest career challenges so far, starring as Myra Hindley in SEE NO EVIL: THE MOORS MURDERS. Peake then went on to appear as Tracy Temple in the TV drama, CONFESSIONS OF A DIARY SECRETARY, which told the story of John Prescott's affair with a co-worker. In 2008 she won rave reviews playing opposite Ken Stott in HANCOCK AND JOAN, a riveting drama in BBC Four's CURSE OF COMEDY series. Her gripping portrayal of this part resulted in Maxine being nominated for 'Best Actress' at this year's BAFTA Television Awards. Last year she starred in two landmark television dramas- the brilliant RED RIDING with Paddy Considine and Warren Clarke for Channel 4, which later won a South Bank Show Award for Best TV Drama. In November 2009 she gave a powerhouse performance in the BBC’s extraordinary drama, CRIMINAL JUSTICE. She will next be seen starring in THE SECRET DIARIES OF MISS ANNE LISTER, a bold and passionate new drama from the BBC written by Jane English and directed by James Kent.
PAST PATRONS
STEVE COOGAN
Born and raised in Manchester, Steve Coogan trained as an actor at the Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre. Whilst studying, he decided to turn his hand to stand-up comedy, was spotted and given a break into TV, with a slot on First Exposure. Steve has appeared at many big events including the Prince’s Trust Gala and his stand-up talent, has been recognised with numerous awards, including the prestigious Perrier Award. In addition to his live performances, Steve is renowned for his television work. Having been a regular voice on Spitting Image, he has gone on to create some of British comedy’s best known characters. He is possibly most famous, as the multi-award-winning Alan Partridge, although he has a host of other comedy creations to his name, including both, Paul, and Pauline, Calf. More recently, Steve has starred in a number of films, even playing the part of fellow Kinofilm patron, Tony Wilson, in 2002’s, 24 Hour Party People. In conjunction with his business partner Henry Normal, Steve wrote, and starred in, one of the top grossing British films of 2001, The Parole Officer. Whilst, in 2004, he starred alongside Jackie Chan, in Frank Coraci’s, Around the World in 80 Days. His latest part is the starring role in, A Cock and Bull Story, which was released on the 20th of January 2006.
HENRY NORMAL
Henry Normal is an award winning writer and producer. Henry has strong links with the Northwest, having been a long time resident of Crumpsall, during which time, he set up the Manchester Poetry Festival. After starting out writing and performing on Channel 4’s, Packet of Three, Henry’s career reads like a “best of” list of recent British comedy and is littered with television programmes which are now household names. With writing credits such as, The Fast Show, Mrs Merton and The Royale Family, Henry has written for some of British comedy’s brightest stars, including, Steve Coogan, Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash. Henry’s film work includes co-writing, The Parole Officer and being Executive Producer of, 24 Hour Party People, which were nominated for, a BAFTA and at Cannes, respectively. Also as a producer, Henry has been behind numerous television programmes. With credits to his name like, The Mighty Boosh, Nighty Night and Sensitive Skin, it is little wonder he has won many awards, including multiple BAFTAs and the Silver Rose of Montreaux.
TIM FIRTH
Tim Firth has lived all his life in the North West of England on the border of Cheshire and Lancashire. Tim is the writer responsible for the massive box-office hit, Calendar Girls, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. In addition to Calendar Girls, Tim’s film work also includes writing the box-office hit, Blackball, starring Paul Kaye, Johnny Vegas and Vince Vaughn. Tim has also created many popular television programmes, including, All Quiet on the Preston Front and his 1993 Screen One Film, Money For Nothing, which won the Writer’s Guild Award. His work for children includes the BAFTA winning cult hit, The Rottentrolls. Tim’s initial success came in theatre and he has written extensively for the stage, throughout his career. Whilst at university, all of Tim’s plays were directed by his friend, the Oscar winning director, Sam Mendes. In fact, Tim has often worked with some of British theatre’s biggest names, including, Willy Russell and Alan Ayckbourn. However, music was Tim’s first love; his musical, Our House, containing the songs of Madness, won an Olivier award in 2003 and he has recently released his first album, Harmless Flirting.
BRUNO COPPOLA
Bruno has worked in film, theatre, radio and music in the US, England, and throughout Europe. Early credits include Ass't Director to David Fincher (music videos), music producer in Italy (“Godfather III”), and for three years chief radio drama writer at the BBC World Service in London (“Crisis” and “Mazen”). His short Rules of Love” was shot in Los Angeles, came top ten in the Turner Classic Shorts Section of the London Film Festival, won Best Short at the Alaska Panhandle Film Festival, the Silver Open Award at the Cotswold Film Festival, Best of the Fest at the Manchester KinoFilm Festival, and Film of the Day at the Int’l Festival do Algarve in Portugal. It is distributed by Shorts Int’l (in the UK) and Amaze Films (in the USA). His short “Stuff That Bear!” was shot in Bucharest, Romania. As Winner of the Kodak European Showcase for New Talent, it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2003. The UK premiere was at KinoFilm and, since then, the film has played at more than 65 festivals in 12 countries, winning 15 awards including Best Director (twice), Best Cinematography (twice), Best Actress, and Best Short Film six times. His 82-minute tragic-love thriller “Unknown Things” stars Saskia Reeves, Paul Rhys and David Hayman. It was shot by Ken Westbury (“Pennies From Heaven” and “The Singing Detective”) and edited by Tariq Anwar (“The Madness of King George”and “American Beauty”). It was selected by Mike Newell for his Berlin Masterclass, and will open in UK cinemas later this year – possibly having its world premiere at Manchesters Corner House.
CHRIS DAVIES
Chris Davies was born in Lancashire and grew up in Cheshire; he has served the people of Merseyside, as a Councillor, Greater Manchester, as an MP, and now, the entire Northwest of England, as an member of the European Parliament. Prior to becoming an MEP, in 1999, Chris ran his own business as a Marketing Consultant, however his political life began a long time previously, having joined the Liberal Party, whilst at Cambridge, in 1974. In the intervening years, Chris has held a number of political positions. Initially he worked in local government being elected, in 1980, as a Councillor, for a previously Labour dominated ward, on Liverpool City Council. As Chairman of Housing, between 1981-83, Chris developed a housing co-operative, giving many Liverpudlians, an, otherwise impossible, opportunity to take control of their own homes. In 1985, Chris was selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Littleborough and Saddleworth. After spending a number of years working to build up the local party, he was duly elected as MP, in the 1995 by-election, in the process, defeating the, previously unstoppable, New Labour election machine. In 1997, following boundary changes, the Littleborough and Saddleworth constituency disappeared and Chris left Westminster. However, in 1999, he was elected as an MEP for the Northwest and he is now, leader of Britain’s Liberal Democrat MEPs. He is happily married to Carol, a teacher and former Councillor; they live in Greenfield, Saddleworth and have a 14 year old daughter, named Kate.
KINO ALSO EXTENDS OUR THANKS TO OUR EXISTING PATRONS, WHO HAVE SUPPORTED US SINCE 1999
ANTHONY H WILSON (20 February 1950 - 10 August 2007)
Kino would like to pay a mark of respect to the late Anthony H Wilson who sadly passed away on 10th August 2007.
The local Media personality, was the man behind Factory Records, the Hacienda, much of Manchester's music scene which became known as 'Madchester', and the inspiration behind Michael Winterbottom's "24 Hour Party People".
In the year 2000, David wrote and directed his first short film entitled "Chinese Whispers", one of three films commissioned by MFV in Liverpool as part of the city's Millennium celebrations. Prior to this he starred in, and helped to produce 'Blue Funeral' a short film shot on 35mm, inspired by the death of his father. Other writing credits are for documentaries, two for television and two for radio. As an actor David has worked in the theatre, radio, television and film in a career spanning twenty-seven years. Film credits include: Entrapment, Fast Food, Hamlet, A View To A Kill, Empire of The Sun and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
ALEX COX
Writer, director, actor, television presenter Alex Cox has made and starred in many feature films including Repo Man, Sid & Nancy, Walker, Revengers Tragedy, Highway Patrolman and Straight to Hell. From 87-94 he presented Moviedrome for BBC TV.
JOHN SHRAPNEL
Born Birmingham, brought up in Stockport. Theatre: Granada Stables Theatre, The NationalTheatre, Royal Shakespeare Company (many leading roles, most recently The King in Ken Branaghs 'Hamlet'). Most recentWest End, 'The Hothouse' with Harold Pinter "I'm passionately keen on the idea of the Short Film: its an extremely important seeding ground for new talent, and I'd like to see more shorts in mainstream commercial programmes. Television: Includes Between the lines, GBH, Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders, Invasion Earth, Bodyguards, Steve Coogan, Jonathan Creek, Hornblower etc. Film: Most recently, Two Deaths, 101 Dalmations, Notting Hill, Gladiator, The Body, Claim. Currently filming 'Alone' in Wales.
