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LONDON VOODOO: Manchester forged
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Commonwealth gems

Kevin Bourke
30/ 4/2004

THE Manchester-based Commonwealth Film Festival, or "Comfest", remains the largest single platform for Indian (which is, let us not forget, the world's largest film-producing nation!), Australian, Canadian and South African films in Europe, but it also offers a unique opportunity for British film-makers as well.

One of them this year is Robert Pratten, with his low-budget horror film London Voodoo, which has already picked up various film-festival awards in America where it has already acquired a distribution deal.

A British deal is almost certain to follow. The film's executive producer is Robert's wife, Helen, who was born and brought up in Manchester, and the two met when they were both studying at Salford University.

Five years ago, Robert was so determined to become a film-maker that he gave up his "proper" job to go to film school and learn to do just that.

"I was lucky that Helen, who was a chartered accountant, offered to support me while I was learning how to do that," says Robert, who made no fewer than seven short films - "I'm not that proud of them but each one of them taught me something I needed to know to make London Voodoo" - in the time it took to get London Voodoo together.

The pair mortgaged their house and, admits Robert, Helen managed to persuade lots of her contacts to put money into it.

Soundtrack

A key to getting the film financed, as well as a script which had been honed over years, was the involvement of Siouxsie and The Banshees guitarist Steven Severin, who wrote its original soundtrack.

"I was listening to their Join Hands album and I just thought he would be ideal, even though at that time he didn't know me from Adam!" Robert laughs.

"I e-mailed him the idea via the website and, amazingly, he got back to me a couple of months later, saying `this sounds interesting, let's get together and talk about it'."

The completed film is about an ambitious New York analyst Lincoln Mathers, played by Doug Cockle, who relocates with his wife Sarah (Sara Stewart, who'll be in the next Batman film) to London. There, she unearths a disturbing bit of the past and becomes hostage to a ferocious ancient spirit.

"We were respectful of voodoo but we tried to show it as your neighbour might be practising it," says Robert, who regretted not getting a voodoo priest to "bless" the set when they were plagued by a fire on the very first day of shooting.

"So many of the other people at film-school seemed to just want the supposed glamour of making films. I wanted to actually make films - and I'm proud of what we've done," says Robert, who'll be introducing the film at its European premiere at the AMC Great Northern next Thursday at 8.45pm.

Optimistic

The festival kicks off tonight with the UK premiere of the South African film, The Wooden Camera. This optimistic tale is the second feature from Ntshaveni Wa Luruli, whose Chikin Biznis screened at the first Comfest and who has worked with Spike Lee.

It screens at Cornerhouse from 7pm, followed by a reception at the Town Hall, hosted by the South African High Commission, to celebrate 10 years of democracy in South Africa.

Clearly, this is not to be confused with Woodenhead, another one of the more than 200 films on show. This intriguing affair from New Zealand, screening at Cornerhouse on May 6 at 8.30pm, might best be described as a "freaky musical fairytale", although Canadian Guy Maddin's The Saddest Music In The World, screening at Cornerhouse on May 4 (8.40pm) and starring Maria de Medeiros (a special guest at the screening) and Isabella Rossellini, offers an equally weird and wonderful take on the traditional musical melodrama.

For lighter fare, check out the feelgood Canadian comedy Mambo Italiano at AMC Great Northern next Monday at 6.15pm. This is a hugely enjoyable affair, although it will inevitably be compared with My Big Fat Greek Wedding, about an Italo-Canadian family who discover that the relationship between their son Nino and old family friend (and respectable cop) Angelo is more than as mere room-mates.

But with so many films on offer at the festival - some of which you might never get an opportunity to see again - over the next 10 days, the best advice is to try to see as many as you can!

The Commonwealth Film Festival runs at Cornerhouse and AMC Great Northern until May 9. Tickets for Cornerhouse can be purchased on 0161 200 1500; for AMC from 08707 555657. For up-to-date information on all festival screenings and other events, visit www.commonwealthfilm.com . You can also pick up a brochure from festival venues and other city centre sites.