Ania Trzebiatowska has curated a diverse selection of fiction and non-fiction titles for the third annual Sands International Film Festival, which commenced on Friday in St Andrews, Scotland. Apart from being a full-time programmer at Sundance, Trzebiatowska is also involved in running the festival with a team of part-time student programmers from the University of St. Andrews. The festival has Joe and Anthony Russo’s AGBO as a partner, with the Russo brothers themselves being present at the event.
The town of St Andrews provided a warm and energetic ambiance for the festival. Joe Russo, one of the filmmakers behind Avengers: Endgame, expressed his admiration for the town’s atmosphere during the opening ceremony. He highlighted the enthusiasm of the students and the overall welcoming nature of the community. The festival’s setting in an academic environment, surrounded by curious students, added a unique dimension to the event. The Russos themselves emphasized their roots as film students and how being in such an environment was crucial to their development.
The festival saw the presence of actor Tom Holland, who attended the event with his brother Harry to present their collaborative project, “Last Call.” The short film, starring Tom Holland and veteran Scottish actress Lindsay Duncan, received positive feedback from the audience for its ambition and storytelling. Harry Holland shared that the theme of mental health was a significant inspiration behind the film, reflecting on his personal struggles during its creation.
In addition to “Last Call,” the festival featured other notable films such as Naqqash Khalid’s debut feature “In Camera” and Anna Hints’ Sundance-winning documentary “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood.” The lineup also included Daisy Ridley’s “Sometimes I Think About Dying” and the Russo brothers’ lesser-known comedy “Welcome to Collinwood,” starring George Clooney, William H. Macy, and Sam Rockwell. The presence of acclaimed filmmaker Steven Soderbergh added to the festival’s appeal, with a scheduled Q&A session involving the Russos and Soderbergh.
The Sands International Film Festival serves as a tribute to the world of filmmaking, highlighting the contributions of various talents in the industry. The festival not only showcases an array of films but also provides a platform for discussions and interactions between filmmakers and audiences. It celebrates creativity, diversity, and the power of storytelling to connect people from different backgrounds.