The other night I met documentary maker Ian Thomas Ash. He’s a nice guy, with some interesting stories, and an award winning documentary under his belt – filmed in St Pauls, Bristol,  just down the road from where I lived in 2003-2004.

The Ballad of Vicki and Jake is being shown at Nakano Zero Hall from 19:00 (doors open 18:30) this Sunday, 4th October 2009. Tickets 1,200 yen on the door. Invitation tickets for press available.

Care to join me?

Here’s the press release (click here for bilingual version):

Hard-hitting British documentary The Ballad of Vicki and Jake which won the Prix du Canton Vaud (best first film) at the international film festival in Nyon, Switzerland in April of 2006 in what the jury described as “honest and intelligent” will be shown on Sunday, October 4 at Zero Hall in Nakano (Tokyo).

The Ballad of Vicki and Jake is filmmaker Ian Thomas Ash’s first feature documentary. The film tells the story of Vicki, a single mother struggling with addiction, and her son Jake. Vicki and Jake combines uncompromising interviews, scenes of drug use and moments of touching intimacy between the filmmaker and his subjects.

Vicki and Jake is a truly international film. American Director Ian Thomas Ash and Singaporean cameraman Ken Kwek filmed in Bristol, a city in the South West of England, over a period of nine months. The production brought together new international filmmakers and experienced British professionals; Michael Croucher (Executive Producer), who sadly died shortly after the film was awarded the Prix du Canton Vaud, had a long career in British documentary, from his first films for the BBC, among them The Bashers (1962) to directing major documentary and drama series.

The screening of The Ballad of Vicki and Jake will take place at Nakano Zero (sho hall) on Sunday, Ocotber 4. Doors will open at 18:30 and the screening will begin at 19:00. The 84 minute film will be followed by a Q and A session with the director. Tickets are ￥1,200 and are available on the door. The screening will be subtitled in both English and Japanese. Minors under 18 wilBallad of Vicki and Jake Press Releasel not be admitted without a parent or guardian.