Film & Music: Bowiefest at the ICA

Who isn’t a fan of David Bowie’s music? But how au fait are you with his work on screen, all forty years worth of it? Thank goodness, then, for Bowiefest, a three day festival of screenings, talks and Q&As –  the first of its kind – dedicated entirely to Bowie’s film career. OK, so it’ll be die-hand fans who will want to take in the whole festival, but seriously, this is a rare opportunity to catch some amazing films and era-defining documentaries on the big screen. We’re dying to see Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, D.A Pennebaker’s behind the scenes documentary and concert film of the last ever Ziggy Stardust concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1973 (see it on Friday 31st August), and Alan Yentob’s documentary, Cracked Actor, which follows Bowie during his Diamond Dogs tour of America in 1974. Yentob will also be in conversation with artist Jeremy Deller about the film, after its screening, on 2nd September. Director Nic Roeg will be doing a Q&A after the screening of his hugely influential film, The Man Who Fell to Earth, on the afternoon of 1st September. Another must-see. And we’re definitely curious to see The Hunger, Tony Scott’s 1983 directorial debut, about a love triangle between a vampire couple (Bowie and Catherine Deneuve) and their doctor, played by Susan Sarandon. So many films to see. So many treats. All this and a chance to dress up as your favourite era Bowie when DJs will be playing in the bar on the Friday (31st) and Saturday (1st) nights. Fashion, anyone?