The EAST END FILM FESTIVAL has announced its full programme, revealing a line up of 75 feature films and dozens of live, immersive events for 3rd – 8th July. Flying the flag for British cinema, celebrating the Olympics; championing cinematic portrayals of activist culture from the Arab Spring to LGBT rights movements; and offering a line up of the brave, the bold and uncategorisable, the EEFF returns in its eleventh year for what will be its most vital edition to date…

EEFF 2012 FEATURES 14 WORLD PREMIERES, 35 UK PREMIERES, 17 LONDON PREMIERES & A FESTIVAL FRINGE WITH 1,000 FILMS AND EVENTS. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS.

OPENING AND CLOSING NIGHT GALAS

The 11th East End Film Festival officially opens on Tuesday 3rd July with the UK Premiere of a documentary probing the legacy of a music icon. Combining never-before-seen concert and archive footage, ARENA: AMY WINEHOUSE, THE DAY SHE CAME TO DINGLE(dir: Maurice Linnane, a BBC Arena/Other Voices co-production, UK) exposes her unique talent and explores her deep affection for jazz, soul and gospel legends including Mahalia Jackson, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles and the Shangri-Las. Screening in the beautiful St Anne’s Church in Limehouse, this will be the only opportunity to experience one of her most incredible live performances on the big screen. This red carpet gala screening will be accompanied by a post screening Q&A, plus live music from a choir, an orchestra and very special guests.

EEFF 2012 closes on Sunday 8th July with the UK Premiere of THE LAST ELVIS (EL ULTIMO ELVIS) (dir: Armando Bo, Argentina/Chile). Nominated for the Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize, this powerhouse feature sees a delusional Elvis impersonator in Buenos Aires (played by real-life impersonator Jon McInerny) who sacrifices happiness with his wife and daughter in his unstoppable quest for fame. Afterwards some rhinestone magic will take the audience to EEFF’s very own Graceland for a rocking Closing Night Gala Party.

JOIN THE EEFF FOR AN IMMERSIVE WEEK OF FILMS AND EVENTS, DROP IN TO OUR FILMMAKERS CENTRE, AND JOIN US AT THE FESTIVAL PUB

East London will be the only place to be in the first week of July as the EEFF takes over the area with cinema, special events, live music and industry activity. There’ll be plenty to keep you occupied from morning until night, aside from our huge line-up films in the main programme; you can enjoy FREE press and Industry screenings with our Filmmakers pass allowing you access to a phenomenal Industry line up featuring the likes of Asif Kapadia, Dexter Fletcher, Film London, Film4, BBC Films, Britdoc and BAFTA. In between you can pop over to the Mass Production -Video Art Loungefor some networking and artistic inspiration, before joining us long into the night in our private room at the official EEFF Pub, The Water Poet.

In honour of this years festival, the Waterpoet on Folgate Street will have a designated area for East End Film Festival delegates to meet, greet and be merry. And if you are concerned about travel or are visiting from afar, you can always crash out in the EEFF’s official hotel for 2012. TUNE Hotel is situated just opposite the Waterpoet on Folgate street and is offering all EEFF guests a very special rate.

Now, you have no excuse not to join us for what will be an immersive, fun and thrilling week of cinema, sound, education and socialising. See you on 3rd July.