Features

LONDON SYMPHONY

My second feature, LONDON SYMPHONY, was nominated for the Michael Powell Award for Best British Film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2017. It was released theatrically in the UK in September 2017, internationally on Blu-ray and VOD through Flicker Alley in October 2017 and on R2 DVD through New Wave Films in February 2018. It was released on the BFI Player in November 2017, when it was selected as Mark Kermode's choice of the week. It was also the winner of four categories in the Silent London Poll of 2017: Best Silent Film DVD/Blu-ray release, Best Silent Film Theatrical Release, Best Modern Silent of 2017 and Silent Hero of 2017 (for me personally). Previously, the film simultaneously completed two successful crowdfunding campaigns in October 2014, reaching 116% of its target on Kickstarter, and becoming the first project ever to reach its target on new crowdfunding platform CrowdShed. Three special screenings, featuring live performances of the film's score, were supported by the Arts Council England.



Synopsis: LONDON SYMPHONY is a brand new silent film - a city symphony - which offers a poetic journey through the capital. It is an artistic snapshot of London as it stands today, and a celebration of its rich diversity of culture, architecture and religion.


What people said about the film...


"a seductive parade of striking images"
– Kim Newman, Sight & Sound

★★★★
"rapturous, compelling and inventive"
- David Jenkins, Little White Lies

★★★★★
"utterly breath-taking"
- Samuel Love, FilmJuice

★★★★
"This virtuoso display of editing weaves together a staggering volume of footage of contemporary London, addressing a wide spread of themes and geography with knife-sharp monochrome cinematography"
- Rachel Brook, One Room With A View

★★★★
"lustrous"
– Neil Smith, Total Film

★★★★★
"an essential document about London at a pivotal point in its history"
- Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall


To find out more about LONDON SYMPHONY, please visit the film's official website.



LIFE JUST IS

My debut feature, LIFE JUST IS, was nominated for the Michael Powell Award for Best British Film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2012, where it was selected for the 'Best of the Fest' screenings and a special 'highlights' series. It won the 'Jury Award' at the Mexico International Film Festival 2013 and a 'Gold Kahuna Award' at Honolulu Film Awards 2013. It was selected for the Arizona International Film Festival 2013, and nominated for Best Feature at the Van d'Or Awards 2012. It was released theatrically and on home video in the UK and Ireland in December 2012 through Independent Distribution, and was acclaimed as Mark Kermode's 'DVD of the Week' in both The Observer and on BBC News 24.



Synopsis: Pete, Tom, Claire and Jay are university graduates having trouble making the move into adult life. Beneath the hanging out and the daily routines simmers Pete’s desire to find a spiritual answer to life’s meaning, Jay’s desperate need not to get hurt again, and Tom and Claire’s ever increasing mutual attraction. A thoughtful character drama, LIFE JUST IS is a film about love, death, and, most importantly of all, life itself.


What people said about the film...


'One of the most promising debuts in contemporary cinema'
- Brad Stevens, Sight & Sound contributor & author of Abel Ferrara: The Moral Vision

'A truly thoughtful British debut... The young cast shine'
- Tim Robey, Film Critic for The Telegraph

'Explores the emotionally fraught lives of its young characters with humour, intelligence and compassion' – Philip Concannon, Phil on Film

'Existential growing pains, angst & understanding, Alex Barrett's characters walk a tightrope of emotions into adulthood, a fraught balancing act of interpersonal negotiations and resignations along which this brilliantly assured new voice in British cinema doesn't miss a step' - Matthew Thrift, Cinephile

'Witty, moving, charming and well-paced'
- James B. Evans. Contributor to Electric Sheep, Little White Lies and Cinema Scope

'Watch it, and you’ll feel like you’ve made some new friends'
- Tom Roberts, Manager Gate Cinema, Notting Hill and writer for Cinetalk.

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To find out more about LIFE JUST IS, please visit the film's official website.




All content and material on this website is Copyright © Alex Barrett 2017, unless otherwise stated.