The 58th BFI London Film Festival 2014 begins tomorrow, and while we've already run a preview of the festival, we figure it's worth highlighting some more of the music-related films on offer this year. There's an entire thematic ("Sonic") strand dedicated to sound, including a Gala screening of concert documentary 'Bjork: Biophilia Live', but we've plucked some efforts outside of that area also.
'The 78 Project Movie'
Alex Steyermark and Lavinia Jones Wright travelled across the States with a 1930s Presto recorder, which allowed them just three minutes to record music from an array of musicians, including John C Reilly. In a world of increasingly overbearing digital production techniques - not all bad - this sounds like a refreshing and reflective documentary.
'Austin To Boston'
Communion Records have become a pivotal part of the modern folk revival, with acts like Mumford & Sons on their roster. Back in 2012, they piled several of their acts including Ben Howard and Bears Den into a series of old school camper vans and let director James Marcus Haney follow them around as they play everywhere they can in the wake of Austin's SXSW Festival.
'Nas: Time Is Illmatic'
Nas remains one of the most widely respected names in the rap game, and his 1994 record 'Illmatic' is considered a seminal offering. Directed by One9, this documentary takes in both the wider societal difficulties faced by black Americans and Nas's own rise out of the housing projects.
'Tender'
Nick Cave and Warren Ellis provide the music for this love and death examination of an Australian community centre, which hopes to set up a not-for-profit funeral service. Let's hope the film as heartfelt as its title suggests. (Cave and Ellis are also scoring the Viggo Mortenson-led 'Far From Men'.)
'Whiplash'
Feverish. Breathless. Gripping. Just some of the plaudits landed at the feet of this year's Sundance Festival Grand Jury and Audience Award winner, which sees JK Simmons take the role of a ruthless music instructor who pushes a young jazz drummer (Miles Teller) to breaking point.
Find more info and purchase tickets at bfi.org.uk/lff.
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