Current Shows

Now in it's eighth year, the East End Film Festival takes place over a week until Thursday 30th April and promises something for everyone.

There's home grown, East London talent on show - but as you'd expect in an area of such cultural diversity, there are also films from around the globe, including Eastern Europe, India, Iran, and Turkey.

"The East End of London is as much of a character in my film as the guys are. It (the festival) couldn't be a more perfect setting."

Nicola Collins, Film Director

Screenings were launched at the Genesis Cinema on Mile End Road, with a gala showing of THE END.  It's a documentary made by the Collins twins, Teena and Nicola.  Brought up in the East End, and daughters of a self-confessed villain, their background guaranteed unique access to a number of underworld figures, who speak candidly about their lives in the film.  

The twins made their name originally as models before dipping their toes into acting when they were recruited by Guy Ritchie to star in his movie Snatch.  They later moved to Los Angeles, where Nicola has found her niche as a director, and Teena is her producer.

The twins appeared 'in conversation' at a recent special preview screening of The End, at Rich Mix (another East London cinema taking part in the festival).  Members of the public were invited along, and it was hosted by Rod Rhule, who runs the Rich Mix Cinema.  You can hear the edited highlights of that evening, by clicking on the link below. 

Fans of British gangster movies will get a surprise in the festival, with a screening of new movie CITY RATS, by Steve Kelly, which takes a number of staple names from the genre and moves them out of their comfort zone. 

The festival showcases the work of a number of debut film-makers.  Sarita Siegal's first documentary is FIRE BURN BABYLON which follows a group of Rastafarians from Montserrat living in exile in the East End.  While HELEN, is the first feature to be made by established East London film-makers Joe and Christine Molloy, and follows a troubled girl who plays a missing teenager in a police reconstruction, and thereafter immerses herself into the missing girl’s life.  Directors' Q&A sessions follow both those screenings.

Another important element to the festival are the master-classes and talks, as well as outside screenings and musical performances.  Music is a crucial element to the week's climax, with the UK Premiere of Jamie Jay Johnson’s feature debut SOUNDS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT, a behind-the-scenes look at the teenage Eurovision Song Contest. 

For full details, log onto the festival website - the link is at the top of this page.