FILM: TWIN PEAKS UK FESTIVAL 2015

Twin Peaks originally aired on our TV screens 25 years ago in 1990. Since then it has grown into a huge cult success and is widely seen as one of the best TV shows of all time.

In 1992, director David Lynch released the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me to show the final days of Laura Palmer in the lead up to her untimely death.

The Twin Peaks UK festival has been running since 2010 first at The Riverside Studios, Hammersmith and then at The Genesis Cinema in Mile End. Each year sees the festival get bigger and better and this year promises to be no different.

To celebrate the 25^th anniversary of Twin Peaks and the imminent return of the series, this years festival will offer Peakies a fully interactive world in which to immerse themselves.

There will be special guests appearances from some of the show’s key cast members including: Dana Ashbrook (Bobby) Madchen Amick (Shelly), Kimmy Robertson (Lucy), Al Strobel (The one armed man) and Laura Palmer herself, Sheryl Lee! They will be answering questions about their experiences making the show and perhaps even offer a few exclusives on what to expect in the new series.

This year the festival also welcomes Twin Peaks’ resident chanteuse Julee Cruise, for a very special performance supported by singer/songwriter Mina Tobias – who also happens to be cast member and festival guest Madchen Amick’s daughter.

As in previous years, the 2015 festival will feature screenings from the show alongside exciting performances from Lynch-inspired Burlesque and Cabaret act ‘The Double R Club’. The Genesis’ Bar Paragon will be transformed into the Twin Peaks Roadhouse, while the foyer will become the iconic RR Diner, replete with damn fine coffee, donuts and some signature cherry pie.

For the first time, fans will also be able to stroll through an ominous pine forest, which will house an American train car where you can watch a terrifying re-enactment of the murder of Laura Palmer.

The festival takes place on October 3^rd and 4^th with the first day dedicated to Twin Peaks and its success. This will include a 35mm screening of Fire Walk With Me with an exclusive introduction from Sheryl Lee including readings from Laura’s secret diary.

The second day will focus on Twin Peaks and the Legend of Lynch, paying homage the incredible filmmaker and his daughter, Jennifer Lynch, whose work is inextricably bound up with the world of Twin Peaks. On day 2 attendees will get a chance to see Lynch’s seminal Blue Velvet on the big screen.

Every year the Twin Peaks UK Festival hosts a charity auction and this year the auction will benefit Macmillan Nurses and the David Lynch Foundation. This year David Lynch himself has donated the charity auction centrepiece: two copies of his 2008 Lime Green Box Set containing unseen footage, short films, soundtracks and much more. Already something of a rarity, Lynch has personally signed both sets.

The world of Twin Peaks continues to be influential and thanks to the numerous repeat showings, new generations of Peakies are discovering the show each year.

Niki Alexandrou
@nikialexandrou