Alastair Mackenzie Hikes and Bikes for Maggie's Centre

Alastair Mackenzie is meeting another Monster! This one however is a much more real and much more serious monster than his recent family film. It's a Monster Bike & Hike over the gorgeous highlands of Scotland, all in an effort to raise money to combat an all too real monster and horrible one at that -cancer. This year, Al joined in with some friends to take part in the annual Maggie's Centre Monster Hike and Bike where he and his team, the Almost Whites completed the grueling course in 12 hours, in hopes of raising some money and awareness for this charity. Al finished the event as noted here-------------------------->
but this battle and ongoing efforts by the charity continues. If you can and are able and willing, YOU CAN HELP NOW AND DONATE HERE AT AL'S OFFICIAL BIKE & HIKE DONATION PAGE where Al wrote the following:

I'm heading to Fort William to take part in the Monster Bike and Hike Challenge in aid of the remarkable and inspiring Maggie's cancer charity and I need your support if you can give it. I have recently seen two young friends suffer horribly from cancer and I'm sure we all know people who are affected. Maggie's is such a worthy cause and do so much extraordinary work in helping cancer sufferers and I am very keen to help them as best as I can. I'm mountain biking for 30 miles and then hiking for 22 miles. It will take about 12 hours and I'll have some blisters. It'd be great if you could help me by donating some hard earned cash if you can.

We are hoping to see some photos of Al at/during this event and will update if possible ( Im sure he's off now having a well earned rest nursing some blisters) Cheers and Kudos to you Alastair, your teammates and all who took part in this event!!! Mostly however good thoughts and continued good support to wonderful charities like Maggies, Eilidh Brown and St. Jude (charity near and dear to me) who effort and work ceaselessly in the ongoing battle against cancer.

David Mackenzie's "Perfect Sense" to Screen at Seattle Film Festival

Another bit of cool news now, as Variety is reporting that David Mackenzie's "Perfect Sense" will be screening next month at the Seattle Film Festival. This is all part of a series of films due to be screened as part of a tribute to Perfect Sense star EWAN MCGREGOR who will be honored at the film. While no ticket or exact time is yet available, these seems to be taking place on May 22; updates to follow as possible. Congratulations to Ewan!

Here is the press release via the official SFF website:

In recognition of his illustrious career, Ewan McGregor will receive this years’ Golden Space Needle Award for Outstanding Achievement in Acting at a special tribute event featuring a screening of his new film, Beginners (USA), on Sunday, May 22 at the Egyptian Theatre. A special tribute dinner for Mr. McGregor and 75 guests will take place immediately following the screening and interview at Prava Studios and will be prepared by James Beard Award-winning chef, Thierry Rautureau of Rover’s and Luc Restaurants in Seattle. Tickets for the dinner are $250, which includes reserved seating to the tribute event, and are available for purchase at SIFF.net.

Special retrospective screenings of Moulin Rouge! and Peter Greenaway’s The Pillow Book, and the Seattle premiere of another of Mr. McGregor’s new films, David Mackenzie’s Perfect Sense, will also be featured at the Festival.

Tickets Remain for Advance Party Screenings at East End Film Festival

Reminder: Once the excitement of the royal happenings have swept by, London will also be the setting for another equally exciting event: Back to Back screenings of Sigma's acclaimed Advance Party Series at the East End Film Festival! :)
Saturday, 30 April, will see the London premiere of Morag McKinnon's DONKEYS with JAMES COSMO, KATE DICKIE AND MARTIN COMPSTON due to take part in a Q & A after the event at the Rich Mix! CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS while you still can. Then, on Sunday 1 May, its a special showing of the critically acclaimed film that started it all-Andrea Arnold's "Red Road" Yep back on the big screen; tickets for this event at the Aubin Cinema are HERE. GO. ENJOY! (and pls tweet pics :D)

New Report: Kevin McKidd to Star in Colin Kennedy's "Atlantic Bridge"

More fantastic news today, this in the form of news regarding Sigma's own Colin Kennedy and his first feature film "Atlantic Bridge." As readers here already know, Colin has been working hard developing this film, written by the excellent Andrea Gibb (Sigma's hit Dear Frankie) Today, Brian from the Daily Record was kind enough to let me know of his new interview with acclaimed Scottish actor Kevin McKidd (current star of ABC's mega hit Grey Anatomy). In the interview, Kevin brought us some wonderful news that he hopes to star in Atlantic Bridge! AWESOME! Quotage:

"I'm hoping to do a low budget film for Sigma Films with Andrea Gibb, who I did Afterlife with and who has written an amazing script - like The Big Chill but in Scotland. "

Colin has confirmed that yes indeed the script is done, and they are working hard on getting all the pieces in place (financing etc) before possibly SHOOTING THIS SUMMER! FINGERS CROSSED this will work out, just excellent news for Sigma and Colin Kennedy fans! You can learn more about Colin via the website for his multi award-winning short film I LOVE LUCI, here.

New Video Interview: David Mackenzie at SXSW

Check it out! A brand new video interview from I think the Washington Times with Sigma's own DAVID MACKENZIE, as he discusses the US premiere of his newest film YOU INSTEAD at the SXSW film festival held recently in Texas. In the interview David not only discusses the challenges of filming at a rock concert, but also WORKING WITH HIS BROTHER ALASTAIR MACKENZIE yay! :) (bonus she totally does NOT mention Monarch but another part for Al which was way cool to hear mentioned in an interview!)
ENJOY!




Also be sure to check out this second new interview with You Instead stars LUKE Treadaway and Nat from the film festival! :)




Finally, before anyone fusses at me, NO I still have no idea on when the new trailer is coming out sorry :((

Advance Party Hits London with East End Film Festival Screening of "Donkeys"

If you are going to be in London at the end of April/begining of May there is a great chance to see BOTH ADVANCE PARTY FILMS with the new announcement from Sigma. Film two in the series, "Donkeys" will make its premiere in London on 30 April as part of the East End Film Festival on 30 April at 8:30pm (Festival page for the film here). Tickets for the showing at Rich Mix can be found right here at this link. There will be a Q & A with director MORAG MCKINNON and an actor from the film (not sure if its James, Kate is off filming Ridley Scott's new film so dunno who will be there; will update on this asap) VERY COOL NEWS

Reminder then the VERY NEXT DAY ON 1 MAY, the first film in the Advance Party trio RED ROAD will screen over in Shoreditch at The Aubin Cinema, with tickets STILL AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE AT THIS LINK (Morag Mckinnon will also be there discussing the differences/similarities to her film and that of Andrea Arnolds Red Road, should be FANTASTIC opportunity for true film fans to get some great insight into this ground-breaking series from Sigma Films)

"Red Road" to Screen in London Sunday, 1 May

Very cool news today from Sigma as their award-winning film "Red Road" will be seen in theatres again. For one day only in an event called "Advance Party Revisited" fans can catch Andrea Arnold's excellent film Red Road when it screens at The Aubin Cinema Shoreditch London on Sunday, 1 May. This special event will feature a very special Q & A session following the showing of the first in the three Advance Party series (ie a set of characters who are seen in three different films/storylines but are the same character). Due at the Q & A are Sigma's own super producer Anna Duffield, along with star Kate Dickie, plus in a very cool happening, director Morag McKinnon will be there to discuss the differences and similarities between film one (Red Road) and her film in the series, "Donkeys" AWESOME!
TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE HERE VIA THIS LINK. Go, enjoy!
Red Road stars the superb Kate Dickie, Tony Curran and Martin Compston. Trailer for this excellent series drama film can be seen below.