The Sands International Film Festival kicked off on Friday evening, celebrating its fifth anniversary, a significant milestone for this Scottish cultural event.
“At the outset of any new venture, the delicate nature of beginnings is often underestimated,” remarked Ania Trzebiatowska, the Festival Director, during her opening address. “Not every new initiative survives past five years. It has not been a smooth journey, but every year, the festival has seen moments of inspiration, like a novice curator’s debut on stage or the unforgettable afternoon we spent with Alan Silvestri some years ago.”
Trzebiatowska added, “Each year brought something special that reaffirmed the town’s desire for the festival and motivated us to forge ahead. And so, we continue.”
This year, the festival opened with John Carney’s latest film Power Ballad, featuring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas. After premiering at SXSW and showing at the Dublin Film Festival, the musical comedy made its way to Sands.
The plot centers around Rick (played by Rudd), a once-popular wedding singer, and Danny (Jonas), a declining boy band star. The two connect over a spontaneous late-night music session that leads to an unexpected hit song, prompting Rick to seek the fame he feels he deserves.
Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu, and Jack Reynor also star in the film, with Anthony Bregman, John Carney, Peter Cron, Rebecca O’Flanagan, and Robert Walpole as producers. Gary Clark, a Scottish musician who has previously collaborated with Carney, composed the movie’s music and attended the Friday screening in St Andrews for a post-show discussion with Trzebiatowska.
Clark explained the intense process of music creation for Carney’s films, noting that the film’s pivotal song was composed just days before shooting began. “We finalized it merely three days before Paul Rudd arrived,” he mentioned.
Clark praised Rudd’s musical performances in the film, revealing his initial concerns about Rudd’s singing abilities which were pleasantly dispelled during the recording sessions. “Paul was brilliant in the studio. I was surprised at how good a singer he turned out to be,” he said.
Power Ballad is currently showing in the U.S., with a UK release scheduled next month by Lionsgate.
The festival will run through April 19, featuring prominent events such as an on-stage Q&A and performance by BAFTA and Grammy-winning composer Craig Armstrong in an event titled An Afternoon with Craig Armstrong. Accompanied by music scholars from St Andrews, Armstrong will discuss his career and creative insights with Edith Bowman.
Additionally, the festival’s renowned “This Much I Know…” series will return, hosting discussions with industry leaders like John Sloss, Angela Russo-Otstot, and acclaimed production designer James Price, who will share insights into their crafts and the current industry landscape.
Charlie Kaufman, the esteemed screenwriter and filmmaker, is set to explore the interplay between film and poetry in a session titled Moving Pictures: The Poetry of Cinema and Vice Versa, alongside poet Eva H.D.
Furthermore, a notable Q&A session will feature Joe Russo and Angela Russo-Otstot of AGBO, moderated by Deadline’s Mike Fleming, promising additional surprise guests.
The festival is slated to conclude with the screening of Rohan Kanawade’s Cactus Pears.
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