Comedy on a small-scale.

watch clip from
harold the amazing contortionist pig

“There’s loads of fantastic British comedy on TV at the moment. But it’s not really filtering through to the cinema,” says director Carl Prechezer. He’s got a point. And he’s trying to do something about it, in a minor way at least, via the small but perfectly formed Harold The Amazing Contortionist Pig, one of four new comedy shorts being shown at London’s Curzon Soho Cinema on Thursday 13 March, under the banner Reasons To Be Cheerful. Monday’s premiere sold out within days, so book your tickets now.

Harold and his three short friends (The Early Days, Hello Friend and Post) are all part of FilmFour Lab and The Film Council’s initiative to inject a bit of life back into the British film industry. So does Carl think it will work? “As long as the films are pushed and they’re distributed properly. That makes a difference because then thousands of people see them.”

All four films will be shown at various cinemas around the country throughout the year, and C4 is planning to screen them in the autumn. “As long as they don’t stick them on at 2 o’clock in the morning,” insists Carl. “Then nobody’s going to see them. And if nobody sees them, well…” Exactly. Jonathan Carter 07 March 03

Reasons To Be Cheerful is at Curzon Soho Cinema, London, on Thurs 13 March. Tickets £3.