(MENAFNEditorial)
Mumbai 3 May 2016
Shakespeares legacy across theatre and film has been unparalleled. It has transcended borders and has been adapted represented and celebrated globally. 2016 is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeares death. To mark the occasion the world will pay tribute to the greatest playwright of all time.
Shakespeare Lives a global programme launched by the British Council and GREAT Britain Campaign will celebrate Shakespeare''s works and his influence on culture education and society. As a part of this programme the BFI (British Film Institute) has curated a special international touring programme of British Shakespeare adaptations spearheaded by world famous actor Ian McKellen. Celebrating the iconic playwrights legacy in film the Shakespeare Lives on Film programme explores on an epic scale how filmmakers have adapted been inspired by and interpreted Shakespeares work for the big screen. The selection includes 18classic British Films that will travel to 110 countries across the world with the British Council. Over a period of a year 11 of these titles will be screened across the 9 British Council Centres in India. Mumbai is the first stop on Ian McKellens global tour as the BFIs ambassador for Shakespeare Lives on Film. As part of the international tour Ian will be presenting Richard III (1995 dir. Richard Loncraine) the film he co-adapted for the big screen and starred inwhich is currently enjoying great critical acclaim in the UK due to its re-release on DVD and at BFI Southbank as part of its season BFI Presents: Shakespeare on Film.
MAMI Film Club is partneringwith the British Council the BFI GREAT NCPA and Fountainhead MKTG to bring Ian McKellen and the incredible Shakespeare Lives on Film programme to India. Ian McKellens first stop will be a public conversation with a undisclosed Indian superstarscheduled on Monday 23 and will mark the debut outing of MAMI Film Club which will soon roll out an exciting year-round programme of activities for the denizens of Mumbai. In its seventeen-year history Mumbai Academy of Moving Image will for the first time be opening its doors for a year-long engagement with its patrons. Tuesday 24 May will see the launch of the Shakespeare Lives On Film screenings with an exclusive screening of McKellens Richard III introduced by its star.
Ms. Kiran Rao Chairperson MAMI feels I am a great admirer of Sir Ian''s work and it is an honour for the Jio MAMI Film Club to be able to partner in this master class. Shakespeare has seen rich and varied interpretations in cinema over the years. This is a chance for film lovers to hear one of the most iconic actors of Shakespeare speak in our city. We could not have asked for a better launch for our Film Club!
In addition on Wednesday 25 May Ian will be the guest of honour at the launch of the 7th Kashish Mumbai International Queer Festival at Liberty Cinema. On Thursday 26 May he will host a schools education event at BD Somani International School and be the guest of honour at the Queens Birthday Party organised by the British High Commission.
Sharon Memis Director West India British Council said It is wonderful to work with the BFI MAMI to celebrate the ever contemporary William Shakespeare with one of our finest actors internationally renowned and award winning theatre and film actor Ian McKellen. Shakespeares stories are universal; they transcend cultures society and time. The many translations and adaptations of his work across the world are a tribute to Shakespeares enduring relevance and appeal. We are thrilled that Ian McKellens first visit to Mumbai will be to launch Shakespeare Lives On Film!
Ian McKellen has been awarded over 6o international acting awards for his half century on stage and screen. He has appeared in more than half of Shakespeares plays all over the world.On film he has starred in Gods and Monsters as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings as Magneto in the X-Men movies and most recently as Sherlock in Mr Holmes.
Ian McKellen said I have been aware of Indiass passion for Shakespeare ever since I saw Shakespeare Wallah (1965) and more recently the outstanding Bollywood versions of the plays. This is my first visit to Mumbai when I look forward to hearing local reaction to the Shakespeare on Film season and to meeting with colleagues in theIndian film industry.
BFI Head Curator Robin Baker said No writer has had greater impact on cinema or inspired more films than Shakespeare. At the latest count IMDb lists Shakespeare as the writer of 1120 titles. For me the best adaptations of Shakespeare are those that have taken his themes situations characters or language and presented them in ways that are purely cinematic: from the thrilling re-imagining of Loncraines Richard III to the intimacy of the close-ups used in the love scenes of Zeffirellis Romeo and Juliet and bleakly stunning landscapes of Polanskis Macbeth. Film and TV makes Shakespeares work more accessible than any other medium and the BFI National Archive looks after the worlds largest collection of film adaptations of his work so Im delighted that so many of the British adaptations are going to be shared with audiences in Mumbai in this year-long celebration MAMI are staging and who better to present these films to audiences around the world than one of Britains finest Shakespearian actors Ian McKellen.
Mr. Khusroo Suntook Chairman NCPA said We are delighted to welcome Sir Ian McKellen to the NCPA Mumbai. His dazzling performances are legendary and we are privileged to host him in our theatres. We eagerly look forward to his talk and the screening of his film.
Ms. Anupama Chopra Director MAMI said We are very honoured to launch the club with a conversation with the iconic Ian McKellen. We are also thrilled to partner with the British Council and British Film Institute Fountainhead and GREAT to celebrate Shakespeare on film."
Notes to the Editor:
ABOUT SHAKESPEARE LIVES
Shakespeare Lives is a major global programme for 2016 celebrating Shakespeares works and his influence on culture education and society on the 400th anniversary of his death and is possible due to the unprecedented number of partnerships and collaborations between the British Council the GREAT Britain campaign partners and organisations including the BBC the BFI (British Film Institute) the National Theatre the Royal Shakespeare Company the Shakespeare 400 consortium the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Shakespeares Globe. For more information please see www.shakespearelives.org.
About the MAMI Film Club
The MAMI Film Club is a platform for filmmakers and film lovers which is dedicated to igniting and cultivating a passion for cinema. Through year-round activities such as screenings masterclasses in-depth conversations with talent and workshops the Club aims to inspire and fuel creativity. There will also be activities designed to engage children and young adults with the vision to nurture our future audiences.
Cinema educates transforms and broadens sensibilities. The charter of the MAMI Film Club is to seed and grow an eco-system for cinema and to champion cinema from India and around the world.
About the BFI
The BFI is the lead organisation for film in the UK with the ambition to create a flourishing film environment in which innovation opportunity and creativity can thrive by:
Connecting audiences to the widest choice of British and World cinema
Preserving and restoring the most significant film collection in the world for today and future generations
Championing emerging and world class film makers in the UK - investing in creative distinctive and entertaining work
Promoting British film and talent to the world
Growing the next generation of film makers and audiences
The BFI is a Government arms-length body and distributor of Lottery funds for film. The BFI serves a public role which covers the cultural creative and economic aspects of film in the UK. It delivers this role:
As the UK-wide organisation for film a charity core funded by Government
By providing Lottery and Government funds for film across the UK
By working with partners to advance the position of film in the UK.
Founded in 1933 the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter.
The BFI Board of Governors is chaired by Greg Dyke.
About the British Council
The British Council is the UKs international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and build trust between them worldwide.
We work in more than 100 countries and our 8000 staff including 2000 teachers work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year by teaching English sharing the arts and delivering education and society programmes.
For more information please visit www.britishcouncil.org and for our work in India www.britishcouncil.in You can also keep in touch with the British Council through http://twitter.com/britishcouncil and http://blog.britishcouncil.org/.
The British Council Film department links UK films and filmmakers to new international audiences profiling the innovation diversity and excellence of British films around the world and finding opportunities for creative exchange.
For more information please see www.britishcouncil.org/film
About NCPA
The National Centre for the Performing Arts Mumbai is Indias premier arts centre hosting more than 600 events each year. The first multi-venue multi-genre cultural centre to be built in South Asia the NCPA has been committed since its inception to preserving and promoting the country''s rich and vibrant artistic heritage in the fields of music dance theatre film literature and photography as well as presenting new and innovative work in the performing arts. The NCPA is also home to the Symphony Orchestra of India the countrys first and only professional orchestra.
About Fountainhead MKTG
Fountainhead MKTG part of Dentsu Aegis Network is one of Indias leading experiential marketing agencies. We combine brand insights and innovation with on-ground expertise. With business divisions ranging from Events & Activation Exhibitions MICE Digital Intellectual Properties In-film branding Rural Marketing In-stadia advertising and PR we create memorable & impactful experiences for brands that help them cut through the clutter.
Fountainhead MKTG is a global lifestyle marketing agency that builds impassioned engaged communities around brands through a strategic mix of marketing services rooted in experiential sports and entertainment. Through experiences content generation and distribution the agency is committed to reaching and positively affecting peoples lives. Headquartered in New York City MKTG employs over 1400 marketers and 7000 brand ambassadors in 14 countries and produces more than 80000 brand experiences each year.
In short we are truly the only 360 degree brand solutions company and offer our clients a one shot stop for all their brand needs from ATL to BTL.
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