Malmo and Back Again

I havent been back to Sweden for almost 4 years now.

Every since I was young, my family would pack up the big, old Volvo and depart from Harwich on a long journey to the forests of Smaland. It was pretty much a dream scenario when I was little. We owned a dericlic house by a lake (and I mean really run down - no heating, TV, phone and barely a flushing toilet!) which was miles from what seemed to be any civilization. I just used to run through the forests and swim everyday. A pretty typical Swedish summer really. When I got a little older, I found this dark forest a little oppressive and stopped going on holiday with my family to Sweden. I felt kind of guilty that each year I chose not to go ( I mean, look at how nice it is now!).

So it seemed very fortuitous that the Watershed asked me to represent them at the BUFF Film Festival this year in Malmo. I left Thursday 18th March in the morning and got to the city of Malmo by 7pm. It is a beautiful city to stroll through at dusk and I felt very excited about attending the festival. I havent been to Malmo since I was a teenager and it felt great to be back. The next 4 days were exhausting, and some of the films not to my taste, but the best thing (aside from the award ceremony in the Town Hall) were the people I met from all over the world. Oh and yes, I wasnt just there to network and watch films but to also promote and present the amazing event that is Electric December.

Presentation didnt go toooo well, as technology broke at the Spegeln cinema. However, I fell back on being a teacher and just imagined it like a lesson (this really helps me when I am in a professional situation when I give a presentation!) and boomed my voice across the cinema. Got lots of great feedback and some real interest in the event. Do note, young film makers, the call for entries will start in the summer!

Back from BUFF!

The last few days have been something else! I just got back last night from the BUFF Film Festival (I only realised how dubious that sounds to English ears once I got back to Brisol...) in Malmo and feel pretty zonked. A wonderful time was had but the last few days have hardly been restful. NOT that I am complaining. How many other teachers are legitimately get to go abroad for 4 days in term time?

I have been kind of quiet about it in school as I didnt want people to think I was just swanning off and leaving my job behind. This is something that has been on my mind recently - teaching is what I truly love doing and what propells and inspires me but I feel so excited by all the recent Media developments. However, it has been a struggle to carefully to balance two very different ways of working. I feel utterly grateful to Fairfield and the English department for being so supportive and to the Watershed for enabling so many great opportunities but sometimes it is a bit tricky to explain to the students why I am on another trip or working on a project and that they will have a cover.

Anyway, it is good to be back and I will update this Blog soon with more details of my trip back to the Motherland of Sweden...

Apologies...

Sorry about the prolonged time away - January and February turned into the busiest months of this academic year so far! Lots of exciting things to up date you about, some amazing films, Art and some fantastic work done with the BBC. Fingers crossed this type of work with them can continue after all those potential cuts. What a real shame...