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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Martin Robinson

London festival makes rallying cry for cinema: 'Indie film isn't dead!'

CIFF founders Tamer Hassan, Kirsty Bell and Ben Charles Edwards - (Dave Hogan/Hogan Media)

Speaking at the Cine International Film Festival at the weekend, actor and director Asia Argento said, “Cinema isn’t dying, the fire is still alive, burning underground, in the hearts of those who refuse to ask for permission. The industry may have forgotten how to take risks, but the filmmakers haven’t – and that’s where the revolution begins.”

It was quite a rallying cry, one which perfectly surmised the spirit of a London’s newest film festival which is aiming to be a punk rock Cannes and turning Soho back into a buzzing hub for filmmakers. Launched in collaboration between DREAMTOWN Entertainment, Karma Sanctum Soho Hotel, and Goldfinch – the Academy Award and BAFTA-winning production company – CIFF was packed with exclusive world premieres, must-see screenings and thought-provoking panel talks.

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