The Branchage Festival in Jersey has been going for 4 years and in that time has become known for its live music & film events, which take place all across the Island. The first Festival in 2008 saw The Memory Band perform a live soundtrack to The Wicker Man on the battlements of a medieval castle, and since then the Festival has seen Zombie Zombie perform live to Battleship Potemkin, projected on the back on a tugboat in the harbour, and has hosted a number of spectacular live events in the majestic Opera House including British Sea Power (with Man of Aran) and Simon Fisher Turner (with The Great White Silence). The Festival has also worked on original commissions with a number of artists such as Amiina, Euros Childs & Richard James (of Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci) and Bo Ningen.

In 2011 the Festival invited Teeth of the Sea and Serafina Steer to create new live film events. At the 9th London Short Film Festival we offer the chance to see the London premiere of both soundtracks….

Serafina Steer and Sam Steer: This Side of the Moon

Originally commissioned for the 2011 Branchage Jersey Film Festival, we present the London premiere of harpist and songwriter Serafina Steer and animator Sam Steer’s performance, inspired by Kenneth Anger’s 1950 short film Rabbit’s Moon.

In their bizarre, astounding new animation, Postman’s Familiar, the Steer brother and sister team have re-interpreted the archetypal characters of Anger’s avant-garde clown fantasy. Anger’s original soundtrack features mainly doo-wop pop, juxtaposed against his surreal, classical, silent take on ‘commedia dell’arte’.

Serafina Steer (Stolen Recordings) creates a live sonic interpretation of this mythical story, using the new sound of ‘psychedelic harp’. There will be a programme of classic and recent animations, including other Steer brother and sister collaborations.

There will be also be a full supporting programme of live music, and a late bar until 1am with guest DJs.

Serafina’s live soundtrack event is supported with a grant from PRS for Music Foundation’s ‘Women Make Music’.

serafinasteer.com

Tickets: £8, £7 conc., £6 members