Acclaimed film fare

SUPERHEROES and extra-terrestrials might be dominating the local multiplexes now as part of Hollywood's summer blockbuster season but cinephiles needn't feel sidelined, thanks to two film festivals next week which will more than satisfy their discerning tastes.

The Endeavours Documentary Film Festival (EDFF) kicks off first next Wednesday after its successful debut last year; while the 24th European Union Film Festival (EUFF) follows suit a day later. Both will feature highly acclaimed works that seldom get a commercial run in cinemas here due to their niche appeal.

Documentary-lovers can pick from 10 films presented over five days at EDFF. These include Class of 92, about Manchester United legends past and present such as David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs; The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne, which centres on a recalcitrant 83-year-old whose career as a jewellery thief spanned six decades; Kismet, a behind-the-scenes look at the phenomenon of Turkish television soap operas and the role it plays in the debate about women's rights; and 12 O'Clock Boys, about a teenager's growing obsession with a dangerous band of dirt bikers.