Founded in 2008 by Seattle filmmaker Craig Downing, this unique worldwide festival has built a passionate following thanks to its reliably high quality, entertaining film programs, and its open-minded “do it yourself” ethic. Couch Fest Films are typically still playing at some of the top film festivals in North America and Europe
Says Downing: “I’m excited to provide others the chance to watch grand short films whilst sitting on their rump in living rooms all over town! What better way to get out and meet your neighbours?” No wonder Wired.com describe it as ‘arguably the world’s most cozy film festival’”.
Rather than in someone’s house, in Bitterne Park’s case local media producer and advisor Tim O’Riordan has organised Couch Fest in the intimate surroundings of the Baptist Church Hall in Wellington Road, which has a cozy capacity of just 50.
Around 20 films, mostly “appropriate for families and teenagers but probably not children”, will be screened, including: ‘The Pub’, an eight-minute short depicting “life at the pub it really is”; ‘Parachute’, in which a couple discovers a particular parachuting club where you probably won’t die (6 mins); and ‘Thumb Snatchers from the Moon Cocoon’ in which “a short-tempered Texas sheriff uses his cowboy logic to recklessly defeat a race of condescending, cocoon dwelling critters” (7 mins).
For the full line up and more information about Couch Fest in Bitterne Park, click here. The films aren’t available to view online.
Details
Couch Fest
Saturday, November 10, 7.30pm
Duration: 90 mins
Bitterne Park Baptist Church Hall, Wellington Road, Southampton, SO18 1PH
Cost: free
Website: http://www.couchfestfilms.com/films-2012-Southampton1.html
• There is also a 90-minute Couch Fest programme running at The Art House, 178 Above Bar Street, SO14 7DW on the same day, which is screening a different set of films. There are two screenings at 5pm and 8pm - so it could be possible to catch the 5pm Art House show, and then the 7.30pm Bitterne Park programme.