08/04/2009 by McAllister.

PLAY DOC, TUI. a small documentary film fest in Spain, the “local produce” led me astray for a while… but this was the best fest of the year so far for me. sweet and friendly small enough to still care passionately about films their makers and the audience. it reminded me of what sundance film fest must have once been like. can’t wait to go back!! check the theatre, full at 10.30pm screening before a night of madness. my kind of festival.

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30/03/2009 by McAllister.

hi Sean san

i’m sorry i could not see the previews that you say.

coud you send me?

and i red the mail to you from first object who lived in tokyo which mail you sent me as last e-mail.

i think my “openness”…i have nothing openness even now.

i had been openned my mind and expressed my mind just for you.

i believed you.

and now i do believe you,of course.

if people say that they feel my openness..it is not my openness.

it was result of your struggle to open my shadow and shadow of rich japan for 2 years.its great!

now i am very proud of you and your film “Japan:A story of Love and Hate”.

its our new family treasure.

and must be our heirloom.

i miss you and your family and Sheffield people and Londom people!

see you soon on BBC4 tonight!

Naoki

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27/03/2009 by McAllister.

Sean will show his 1998 iraq film THE MINDERS at THE FRONLINE CLUB in Paddington London 7pm friday eve,  17th april 2009. Afterwards there will be a discussion/talk about Sean’s work. The Chair for the evening will be announced closer to the date..

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20/03/2009 by McAllister.

I was at the wonderful one world festival in Prague last weekend. It’s great to see how big it has grown since my film ‘Settlers’ opened it in 2000.

Sadly on my arrival I got an email from Samir (the Liberace of Baghdad) from my last film. He is now living in USA but wrote to say he has prostate cancer and is going for 42 days radiation treatment.

That evening I sat by the grand piano in the foyer of the beautiful 1930s cinema and missed him dearly.

The Japan film was packed and was voted 4th fav film by the audience the next day. Not bad out of 300 films.

Today I arrived in Porto, Portugal, heading to small village festival just over the border in Spain. A place called Tui. But no-one has come to meet me. So I’m on a bus trying to make my own way there.

It gave me horror memories of my last time showing a film here in Portugal in 1996, I was with with Kev from ‘Working For the Enemy’ no one showed up to meet us and no one came to see the film

Well at least this festival is over the border in Spain. Let’s hope there is an audience at 22:30 for the film tonight. If I make it.

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11/03/2009 by McAllister.

I am told that the JAPAN season which ‘Japan: A Story of Love and Hate’ is part of, is now being trailered on TV, my film will be the final film on Monday 30^th March, 9pm BBC4. To be repeated on BBC2.

I’ve been away researching recently, this time in Dubai, and Damascus, I am also awaiting a response from the BBC about my ‘next’ project – and have also put in new idea about Hull, having been asked to so by BBC4 who are planning a season of films called ‘The North’.

Had 2 great screenings in Helsinki; One World Festival, very great fest, great people, great country one of my favs. I talked about going back and doing a workshop.

Enjoyed hot sauna’s and jumping into icy lake, sadly Nick Broomfield who I was naked with failed to jump in; I later caught him lying about his bravery in the shower. And gave him a lesson in documentary truth.

He was having a retrospective there, it was great to spend time with him and Barney his son, also the great master Ricky Leacock was the special guest with the funny and quite crazy Valarie who I went shopping with and bought a few vodka’s with.

Tempo festival Sweden, http://www.tempofestival.se/english/  film plays soon. I have no invite.

Friday 7.30 One World Festival Prague, Japan… plays Friday night, I always look forward to this one, I remember Settlers opening the festival there one year and playing to a great vibrant audience.

Will also take part in a documentary discussion on Sat 4pm with another film maker Joe Berliner about ‘truth’ in film making.

Following Friday night at 10.30 film plays in gorgeous little fest in Valencia Spain, film fest called Play Doc fest. http://www.play-doc.com/English/ seems very select, only 6 films in competition, and very politically aware, careful to choose films that matter.

Did 2 master classes’ couple of weeks back at Cardiff University.

Will do a talk soon at Salford university media school.

Beldocs is 8 - 12th April

Oxdox - Oxford doc fest, film showing Friday eve 7.30 24th April. Getting all prime time spots.

Showing a favourite film and mini retrospective at the frontline club, Friday 17th April, 7pm, hosted by Nick Fraser, BBC Storyville Editor… (I’m thinking of showing Settlers, a much unseen film of mine)

21 - 26th Norwegian documentary film festival, screening to be confirmed.

One day open-to-all master class and film in MAY, dates to be confirmed, at the London Film School in Covent Garden London.

2 screenings of Liberace of Baghdad in May (dates to be confirmed) in a series of the best of British doc at the Cinematheque / Danish Film Institute.

Docaviv in tel Aviv is 7 - 14th may, Japan is in competition, another great fest in great place. I love Israel despite its problems, great friends either side of the wall.

7th edition of Escenarios / Sights 2009 International Documentary Conference in Mexico City has selected Japan: a story of love and hate, 3rd - 11th July, invited to do a master class and maybe also show settlers.

http://www.flahertiana.ru/eng/2009/ International documentary film festival at Flahertiana Perm city in Russia. Invited to show Japan in competition. 16-22.october 2009

Ok, think that’s it for now.

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15/11/2008 by McAllister.

Sheffield was great. 2 sold out screenings. Had famous doc film maker D.A. Pennebaker who made 1960s bob Dylan doc ‘Don’t Look Now’ at one screening. He said “you took a loser and made him a winner”. Naoki was humble in Q & A.  The audience loved him. One of them suggested he write a book, another said he should have his own show on NHK.

He was the link that allowed them to see inside Japan.

Many said they’d never seen anything like this before. Especially the poverty aspect. They thought all japanese were rich, they were curious to know how Japanese people at home would receive this film.Naoki had drinks bought for him all weekend.

We got back to London and he said he missed being famous, which was funny.

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05/11/2008 by McAllister.

I will be off to the Sheffield International Documentary Festival on thursday to take part in some discussions and for the world premiere of my new film ‘Japan: A Story of Love and Hate’.

If you are going then please get yourself to Showroom 3, Friday November 7, 6:30pm.

we can have a party.

If you cannot make friday then we are also on on Saturday, same place, at 12:15pm when i will also be taking part in a Q&A with Naoki from the film.

and if you go to my website you will see that it has been rebuilt, with more space and much more content. www.seanmcallister.com

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