BBC Norfolk Music Video Festival launches in Norwich

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This year's festival is showcasing the best local and national videos

The BBC Norfolk Music Video Festival takes over Europe's biggest HD digital screen from 28 June to 10 July 2010.

The free event will run on the 60-ft wide Fusion screen inside The Forum, Norwich.

It will feature 50 music promos from national and local bands and has been put together by the team behind radio's BBC Norfolk Introducing show.

One-off shows, gigs and masterclasses have also been added to the festival bill at The Forum.

Artists from around the county will play acoustic sessions in the Millennium Library and a special Sigur Ros film screening has been lined up.

There will also be a masterclass by the founder of the Radar Music Videos website and media workshops.

During the festival film-makers and musicians will get their work seen and heard by thousands of people in Norwich.

The three-and-a-half-hour programme will run twice a day, starting at 10am each day and then again at 1.30pm each day apart from Sundays.

Norwich band Sargasso Trio entered their video into the first festival

It's the second year the festival has taken place, but the first time it's been open to acts from across the UK.

Live events

It's also hoped that the addition of live events, both in the lead-up to the main event and during its run, will help to spread the word

BC 6 Music presenter and fim-maker Adam Buxton has already hosted one of his popular BUG nights, taking a wry look at the world of music videos and online comments.

Top Norwich band The Lost Levels also played a storming gig during which they unveiled some new songs, ahead of the festival.

BBC Norfolk Introducing producer Gary Standley, who is putting together the event, said: "We're delighted that The Lost Levels have performed for us - they're a talented band who have been supported by BBC Norfolk Introducing from the start and took part in last year's festival when it was only open to local acts."

EVENT DETAILS Video festival open from 28 June to 10 July 2010, 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday at Fusion in the Forum, Norwich. Free entry 16 June - Adam Buxton's BUG. 19 June - The Lost Levels 5 July - Heima: A Film by Sigur Ros of their home-coming tour of Iceland. From 5.30 to 7pm. Free entry 8 July - Inside The Industry - Caroline Bottomley from Radar Music Videos hosts a masterclass between 3.30 and 5.30pm. Free entry but spaces are limited. Call 01603 617411 to reserve your place 30 June - Want To Make a Bad Video? Hopefully Not! Workshop for students at 10.30am and 2.30pm. Sessions are free but reserve your group's places on 01603 617411 Acoustic sessions at the Millennium Library in The Forum on 30 June from 12 to 1pm; 2 July from 7 to 8pm to be broadcast live on BBC Norfolk Introducing and 8 July 5.30 to 6.30pm. Free entry 10 July - BBC Norfolk Introducing stage at Chapelfield Music Festival for Lord Mayor's Celebrations with The Kabeedies, The Great Shakes, The Deets, Console Wars and Brooke Sharkey. From 12.30 to 4pm. Free entry

At this year's event, there's also a chance to learn from the professionals. Caroline Bottomley, who launched the respected Radar Music Videos website, will give a talk on the commissioning and promotion of videos on Thursday, 8 July between 3 and 5pm.

Those interested in or studying media at GCSE level and above can also find out how not to make a bad music video with staff from BBC Voices, who have clocked up the hours trawling the best and worst videos in preparation for the festival.

Two free sessions at 10.30am and 1.30pm will be held on Wednesday, 30 June for group bookings only.

BBC Norfolk Introducing, who goes out on BBC Radio Norfolk, between 7 and 8pm each Friday will be hosting three free acoustic gigs in Norwich's Millennium Library on 30 June, 2 and 8 July.

National appeal

The decision to open out the video festival to the nation was based on the standard of last year's entries from Norfolk.

"The submissions last year were so fantastic, and from such a small area of the country," said Gary.

Networking

Apart from the opportunity to show their work to a new audience, the festival also gives musicians and film-makers the chance to appreciate one another's work and make contacts.

Ryan Stone is creative director of Norwich-based Lambda Films which submitted videos to last year's festival.

"As well as supporting the local music industry, it allows us to experiment and get a little more creative with our productions - everyone benefits!

"We're really proud to be part of the BBC Norfolk Music Video Festival and to see so many people actively enjoying our videos."