How Pinter met Bacon

The life of one of Britain’s greatest playwrights Harold Pinter was celebrated earlier this month in a star studded celebration at the National Theatre.

Watch below to see how Pinter came to have dinner with the iconic painter Francis Bacon (from The Strange World of Barry Who?):

Artist Peter Howson appointed OBE

Glasgow based painter and war artist Peter Howson has been awarded the OBE in this week’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Watch how Howson paints Dawn French’s portrait in this clip from Kinmonth’s film:

Valery Gergiev named ‘Conductor of the Year’ in RPS Music Awards

Valery GergievCongratulations to Valery Gergiev who has been awarded the British Royal Philharmonic Society prize of Conductor of the Year.

The Foxtrot Films production Mariinsky Theatre was coproduced with The Valery Gergiev Foundation.

In Nutcracker Story, Tchaikovsky’s famous score is conducted by Valery Gergiev.

Watch clips from both films here.

The award goes to a conductor of unique talent and personality. A mercurial figure on the international musical stage, he chooses to devote a significant amount of time to music making in the UK, particularly with the London Symphony Orchestra. Intensity and passion – and a high level of risk taking – are the hallmarks of his conducting, and he pursues a single-minded advocacy of composers in whom he believes. He is a conductor who makes things happen – an inspiration to players and audiences alike: Valery Gergiev.

Source: RPS Music Awards

Coda – The Last Cigarette

Smoking Diaries

The late playwright Simon Gray’s last works – his final diary “Coda” and play “The Last Cigarette” are being celebrated with Kinmonth’s film “Smoking Diaries” on the upcoming Imagine series on BBC1.

Watch a clip here.