Oxford Mail to host Spielberg film festival

7:23pm Wednesday 16th April 2008

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The Oxford Mail and Phoenix Picturehouse have teamed up to stage our very own celebration of the world's greatest film maker.

It comes just before the release of Steven Spielberg's latest blockbuster, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of The Crystal Skull on May 23.

In the week leading up to it, we will be setting the big screen alight with eight of the movie maestro's greatest hits - including ET, Jaws and Schindler's List.

And you'll be able to enjoy all of them for half price.

Jeremy Smith, Oxford Mail entertainment's editor, said: "It's fantastic that we have been able to stage this festival. Just mention his name and it conjures up images of some of cinema's most unforgettable moments.

"It should be a brilliant week of brilliant films - and at half price, twice as enjoyable."

The festival kicks off on Friday, May 16, with the screening of Spielberg's first ever theatrical release - Duel, a tense and exhilarating ride in which a trucker stalks a motorist along a lonely stretch of desert road.

It continues with Jaws, ET, Close Encounters, Saving Private Ryan, Colorok Purple, Empire of the Sun and Schindler's List.

Suzy Sheriff, manager of the Phoenix in Walton Street, Jericho, said: "Anyone who loves going to the movies will think this is movie heaven - eight stunning Spielberg classics, and all on the big screen. I just can't wait."

One of the films will be introduced by Keith Hopper, a film author and lecturer in Film Studies at Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education.

He said: "In pure box office terms, Steven Spielberg is the most successful director of all time.

"One of the great advantages of the forthcoming festival at the Phoenix is that the chosen films will give viewers a chance to chart the evolution of the filmmaker and judge Spielberg's career for themselves."

Ken Palmer, a teacher in English and drama at Cheney School in Headington, is planning a series of studies to coincide with the festival.

He said: "The beauty with Spielberg is he has, at times in his brilliant career, moved all of us. I'm really looking forward to introducing the drama students I teach to the magic of Spielberg in the next few weeks in anticipation of this great festival."

The Spielberg Season will run from Friday, May 16, to Thursday, May 22, at the Phoenix cinema.

Details on how to get your half-price film festival coupons will be printed in next week's paper.

For further details, call Jeremy Smith at the Oxford Mail on 01865 425435 or the cinema on 0871 704 2062.