The big excitement today: The Surprise Movie! Given the amazing line-up of movies at the festival, one hardly expects the Surprise Movie to be the best. It's probably something that will go on general release very soon afterwards. We've had (famously) Pulp Fiction, The Usual Suspects, L.A. Confidential, My Name Is Joe, Spirited Away, The Bourne Identity, Lords Of Dogtown, although I admit to feeling slightly underwhelmed by Tim Burton's Planet Of The Apes.
Fortunately tonight's film is one already eagerly anticipated. The Kingdom is an action movie about terrorists in (The Kingdom of) Saudi Arabia and stars Oscar winner Jamie Foxx as government special agent Ronald Fleury. When he and his team arrive in the Middle East to hunt down the terrorists, they find themselves strangers in a strange land.
The other welcome surprise of the day was the launch party announcing the theme of next year's Glasgow Film Festival. The retrospective section will focus on icon and legend Bette Davis. Expected screenings include Jezebel (for which she won one of two Oscars), All About Eve, and Now Voyager.
Allan Hunter, co-director of the Glasgow Film Festival, said, "I was fortunate to meet Bette Davis towards the very end of her career and can't think of a better person to honour at Glasgow in 2008. She was larger than life, a highly individual performer and dedicated artist who left an indelible impression on screen history." (The Glasgow Film Festival runs from 14th-28th February next year - full coverage on Eyeforfilm of course!)
My day otherwise was business as usual. Press screenings squeezed in at the Cameo at 9am. All three screens busy as we piled in to appreciate Shrooms, Once and Weirdsville. The projectionist went missing in screen three so we had time for a quick nap first.
Only a few days left, so make the most of the Fest! Lots of fabulous films still to open, and second or third screenings of favourites, as well as the marathon 'best-ofs' on Sunday. And if you are an autograph hunter or just want to get some memorable photos, check out the red carpets tomorrow for Jim Broadbent (7.15pm outside the Dominion) and Chris Cooper (6.15pm outside Cineworld).
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