Wednesday, March 7, 2012

News and Events - 08 Mar 2012




NHS Choices
06.03.2012 20:30:00

A pill costing ?1.40 a day “could save the lives of thousands of heart disease patients”, according to the Daily Mail.

Several other newspapers have reported on the drug ivabradine, known by the brand name Procoralan, as European drug regulators have today approved it for the treatment of chronic heart failure. In heart failure, the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to the limbs and organs, causing a range of unpleasant symptoms such as weakness and breathlessness.

The drug is already used to treat some patients with a form of heart-related chest pain called angina. After an examination of evidence by the European Medicines Agency (EMA , ivabradine has also been granted a “marketing licence” for the treatment of chronic heart failure. This will allow ivabradine’s manufacturer to make the medicine available to patients and healthcare professionals in all EU countries. However, before it is available on the NHS, its treatment effects and cost effectiveness will need to be assessed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE .

Despite all the positive news coverage, prescribers will need to consider both the effectiveness and cost of ivabradine compared to other treatments for heart failure. It’s possible that other drugs could perform as well or better for less cost.

 

What is ivabradine used for?

Despite what some news reports suggest, ivabradine is not a new drug. It is already used to treat the symptoms of long-term stable angina. It is not the first choice for treating stable angina, and NICE guidelines recommend that it is only prescribed to people who cannot take beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers, which are generally preferred to treat angina.

The drug has made the papers because it has now been granted a licence for the treatment of some types of chronic heart failure. Although it has previously been approved for treating stable angina, drugs must be licensed for each of their specific uses. In August 2010, Behind the Headlines reported on a randomised controlled trial that looked at ivabradine for heart failure.

 

What is heart failure?

Contrary to what the term implies, heart failure does not mean that somebody’s heart has stopped beating or misses beats. Instead, it refers to a chronic condition where the heart can no longer pump sufficient blood around the body.

During each heartbeat, blood enters the heart and is pumped out towards the organs and limbs. In heart failure, the heart cannot cope with pumping the normal amount of blood in each heartbeat. This can be due to the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles not contracting properly so that blood is not completely pumped out of the heart (systolic heart failure or because the ventricles do not fill up with enough blood between each heartbeat (diastolic heart failure . It can be a combination of the two. It may affect the left or right side of the heart, or both sides. It can cause a range of symptoms, including breathlessness, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, nausea, swollen ankles and legs, enlargement of the liver, constipation and loss of appetite.

Risk factors or causes of heart failure include:

  • ischaemic heart disease (coronary heart disease
  • diseases of the heart muscle or heart valves
  • abnormal heart rhythms
  • high blood pressure (hypertension

Around 68,000 new cases of heart failure are diagnosed in the UK each year.

 

How does ivabradine work?

Ivabradine slows the heat rate. This may have a protective effect on the heart, and allow the heart to pump more efficiently at a slower rate.

 

Is it suitable for everyone?

The European Medicines Agency (EMA , which is responsible for issuing the authorisation, says that ivabradine is medically suitable for people with:

  • long-term heart failure with symptoms (a severity of symptoms called NYHA II to IV
  • the form of the illness involving systolic dysfunction (where blood is not completely pumped out of the heart  
  • a regular rhythm and a heart rate of 75 beats a minute or more

The EMA says that when treating heart failure, ivabradine can be given either in combination with standard therapies, including beta-blockers, or on its own when beta-blocker therapy is not suitable or not tolerated.

The EMA also states that ivabradine should not be used for patients who have:

  • unstable or acute heart failure, also known as “new onset” heart failure
  • a heart rate imposed exclusively by a pacemaker

Ivabradine is also unsuitable for people who:

  • react to any of the components of the tablets
  • have a heart rate below 60 beats a minute before treatment
  • have very low blood pressure
  • have various types of heart disorder (cardiogenic shock, a history of acute heart attack, rhythm disorders or unstable or acute heart failure or have unstable angina or a pacemaker
  • have liver problems
  • are taking certain other drugs
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding

 

Are there any side effects?

The most common side effect of ivabradine is a temporary brightness in the field of vision. Other common side effects (affecting 1 in 100 people or more include:

  • blurred vision
  • headaches
  • changes in electrical activity of the heart
  • heart or circulation problems
  • dizziness, tiredness, weakness, lowered blood pressure, general feeling of being unwell, fainting or brief losses of consciousness

 

Is ivabradine available now?

Ivabradine is available now for the treatment of long-term stable angina, having been approved for this use several years ago. It is in the news because it has now been granted “marketing authorisation” by the EMA as a treatment for heart failure. This allows the manufacturer of ivabradine to make the medicine available to patients and healthcare professionals in all EU countries. However, before it is available on the NHS, it will need to be approved by NICE.

 

What kind of things will NICE have to consider?

NICE will consider the cost effectiveness of ivabradine treatment (how its medical effectiveness relates to the cost of the drug . It should not be assumed that ivabradine will become the standard treatment for heart failure. Other drugs may be more effective or less likely to cause side effects, and therefore better options.

While several newspapers have reported that the drug is cheap at just ?1.40 a day, this is higher than many beta-blocker drugs currently in use, which may cost just a few pounds a month. If these existing drugs can provide similar or better results to ivabradine for a lower price, then it is likely they will remain the default option for prescribers.

Links To The Headlines

The ?1.40 heart pill lifesaver: 10,000 patients a year could be saved by newly-licensed drug. Daily Mail, March 6 2012

Ivabradine, the lifesaving ?1.40 heart pill, gets European approval. The Daily Telegraph, March 6 2012

Wonder drug hope: ?10-a-week treatment cuts risk of heart failure by 39%. Daily Mirror, March 6 2012

Heart drug approved by European regulators. The Guardian, March 6 2012




06.03.2012 23:48:00

Researchers are looking for women who took part in a Leeds-based trial of antidepressant drugs in 1983.

The study had to be stopped after the participants suffered extreme side effects - and now experts want to know whether they had long-term problems.

Psychiatrist Prof David Healy is leading the search for the 12 women who tested the drug sertraline.

He said: “If alive, the women would be between 56 and 72. They may be living near Leeds still.”

The study was carried out by the-then Human Psychopharmacology Research Unit at the University of Leeds in 1983 on 12 healthy women then aged between 27 and 43. It was testing sertraline, a type of anti-depressant which was later launched under the brand name Zoloft.

Half of the women on the trial were given the drug and the other half had a placebo.

However the planned two-week study had to be stopped on the fourth day because of severe side effects. The results were never published.

Now Prof Healy, director of the North Wales Department of Psychological Medicine of Cardiff University, wants to find the women involved.

He said he had seen a medical report from the trial in the archive of drug company Pfizer in New York.

“The side effects that seemed most clearly linked to sertraline were apprehension, insomnia, movement disorders, and tremors,” he said.

In 2003 drugs watchdog the Medicines and Regulatory Authority issued a warning about certain types of anti-depressants, including sertraline, saying they should not be prescribed to children and young people because of an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in these age groups.

Research psychologist Dr Joanna Le Noury, who is working with Prof Healy, said they now wanted to track down the Leeds participants.

Dr Le Noury said: “The idea is to get some interviews about what went on with the study and their experiences.

“It’s also to find out how things have panned out since. Because they had a strange reaction to the drug at the time, whether they have had similar drug reactions since.”

Contact:
jo.lenoury@btopenworld.com, call 01248 384452 or via:
http://davidhealy.org.

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07.03.2012 21:08:00

TRENTON, N.J. — Eight drugmakers are being sued by a consumer advocacy group that alleges their programs offering coupons that lower the cost of copayments for brand-name medicines are illegal.

Community Catalyst alleges that the couponing programs violate federal bribery laws because they’re meant to conceal information about the payments from health insurance plans.

Such coupons generally reduce patient copayments for brand-name drugs to what they would pay for a generic drug. The group says that drives up health insurance premiums and can cause patients to reach benefit caps quicker.

The companies sued are Abbott Laboratories, Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca PLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Merck & Co. Inc., Novartis AG and Pfizer Inc. They did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Identical lawsuits, but with different defendants, were being filed Wednesday in federal courts in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Newark, N.J.

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ggoetz@foodsafetynews.com (Gretchen Goetz
06.03.2012 12:59:07
Today's leading cola beverages contain high levels of a substance linked to cancer in animals, according to new research. 
An independent study commissioned by the
Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI uncovered  4-methylimidazole, or 4-MI, in Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi and Diet Pepsi at levels 4.8 times greater than those allowed in beverages in California.
4-MI is a byproduct of the reaction that produces the caramel coloring in brown sodas. The chemical has been found to be carcinogenic in animal studies.   
The state of California has banned 4-MI in any amount that could potentially lead to one cancer case in 100,000 people. However the levels found in these 4 leading Cola brands indicated a lifetime risk of 5 cancers out of 100,000, assuming that people drink one soft drink per day. That risk rises to 10 cancers out of 100,000 people who drink only soft drinks containing caramel coloring. 
The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA sets an even more conservative risk limit for contaminant in food additives of 1 cancer in 1,000,000 people.  But the study reported rates of 4-MI that are associated with 48 cancers in 1,000,000. 
"Coke and Pepsi, with the acquiescence of the FDA, are needlessly exposing millions of Americans to a chemical that causes cancer," said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson.  "The coloring is completely cosmetic, adding nothing to the flavor of the product.  If companies can make brown food coloring that is carcinogen-free, the industry should use that.  And industry seems to be moving in that direction.  Otherwise, the FDA needs to protect consumers from this risk by banning the coloring." 
In a
letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg Monday, CSPI shared the results of its study. The document served as an addition to the group's petition of last year, which called on FDA to ban caramel colorings made with processes that generate 2-MI and 4-MI. 
The study also found 4-MI in Dr. Pepper and Diet Dr. Pepper, but at lower levels than the other 4 brands. A sample of Whole Foods' 365 cola had a concentration of 47 micrograms of 4-MI in a can, as opposed to the almost 150 micrograms found in a can of Coca-Cola. 
The beverage industry responded to the study by pointing out that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA , Health Canada and FDA have approved caramel coloring as safe for use in food and drink. 
"This is nothing more than CSPI scare tactics, and their claims are outrageous," responded the American Beverage Association. "The science simply does not show that 4-MEI in foods or beverages is a threat to human health. In fact, findings of regulatory agencies worldwide, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada, consider caramel coloring safe for use in foods and beverages. CSPI fraudulently claims to be operating in the interest of the public's health when it is clear its only motivation is to scare the American people."
Coca-Cola defended its product. 
"Unlike CSPI, The Coca-Cola Company deals in hard facts," said company representative Ben Sheidler in an e-mailed statement to Food Safety News. "Fact:  The body of science about 4-MEI in foods or beverages does not support the erroneous allegations that CSPI would like the public to believe.  The 4-MEI levels in our products pose no health or safety risks.  Outside of California, no regulatory agency concerned with protecting the public's health has stated that 4-MEI is a human carcinogen.  The caramel color in all of our ingredients has been, is and always will be safe. That is a fact."  
FDA spokesman Doug Karas said the findings of the report were not of concern to consumer health. 
"A person would have to drink more than a thousand cans of soda in a day to match the doses administered in studies that showed links to cancer in rodents," he told Bloomberg. 
The analysis was limited to 13 samples - 1 of Whole Foods' 365 and 2 of each other brand - all purchased in the Washington, D.C. area. 
This article has been updated since its original publication. 




07.03.2012 15:27:27
company’s interior design strategy. Manage branding, annual refresh and upgrades for 21 existing facilities. Utilize experience and knowledge of interior design principles, construction and building regulations to create upscale, state-of-the-art living experiences for our senior living residential facilities. Use hands on approach and collaboration to create new and exciting environments for new construction reflective of new facility locations.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
The Brand
Establish, support and update all interior standards.
Develop and maintain central records of Belmont Village communities including:
Finishes and Colors
FF&E
Artwork
Accessories


Capital Projects (existing communities
Coordinate annual review of interiors of all Belmont Village communities.
Recommend Capital Project investments in FF&E and budgets.
Create design specifications for all finishes including flooring, wall covering, and paint colors.
Create design specifications for all FF&E, artwork and accessories.
Present all selections for approval to the management team.
Support the in-house Purchasing Manager’s efforts in pricing, purchasing and installation of capital projects.


New Communities Design Phase
Create design specifications for all finishes including flooring, wall covering, light fixtures and paint colors.
Create design specifications for all FF&E, artwork and accessories.
Prepare a summary of all selected FF&E items (including artwork and accessories .
Present all selections for approval to the management team.
Support the in-house Purchasing Manager’s efforts in pricing, purchasing and installation of capital projects.
Inspect all installed finishes to ensure they meet specifications and notify Development Manager of any punch list items.
Inspect all FF&E to ensure it meets specifications, and order any repairs or replacements.
Verify that required attic stock has been supplied and inform Operations of its location.
Occupancy Phase
Update interior standards to incorporate feedback from Operations and Marketing.
Other Duties
Actively communicate health and safety information to employees and lead in accident, injury and illness prevention activities.
Research code requirements for FF&E and finishes in all active states.
Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:
7-10 years progressive experience in Interior Design Management.
College Degree.
Prior experience with new construction.
Knowledge of interior design principles, construction and building codes.
Ability to interpret, organize and execute the conceptual interior design of a project utilizing creativity and forethought through project completion.
Keen understanding of business strategy and hospitality trends.
Ability to work in a team environment with good collaborative skills.
Proven presentation and communication skills.
Ability and willingness to travel 25%.

Preferences:
Bachelor’s Degree.
Interior Design Management experience in the Senior Housing or Hospitality Industries.

Belmont Village owns and operates Upscale Senior Living Apartment Communities NATIONWIDE. Our Communities are designed for seniors who need some assistance with daily activities. We provide living space, meals, housekeeping services, recreational/social activities and personal support to our residents.

The only thing more beautiful than the surroundings at Belmont Village is the people with which you will work. COME FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BECOME PART OF THE FAMILY. Our goal is to provide seniors with a way to lead happy, self-directed lives.

We are seeking LOCAL APPLICANTS ONLY. Sorry, no relocation available.

COME BE PART OF AN INNOVATIVE WINNING TEAM!

To apply click here.

We Make Aging Better

Human Resources
Belmont Village, L.P.
8554 Katy Freeway, Suite 200
Houston, TX 77024

For more information regarding Belmont Village,
or for a virtual tour visit www.belmontvillage.com


Belmont Village, L.P. is an EOE/Drug Free work place.

See job description.



05.03.2012 15:03:52
Company Introduces HyQvia as Brand Name for Facilitated Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Therapy   DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE --Mar 2, 2012 - Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX today announced the presentation of additional long-term data...



07.03.2012 10:09:31

You can say anything to your best friend, right? Well, yes and no. Your close relationship gives you lots of leeway, but there's a fine line between honesty and insult. While you may think you've never said anything offensive to your BFF, there have likely been times when your words have inadvertently stung. Saying something as simple as "Hey, have you lost weight?" could elicit a different reaction than you expected, thanks to its loaded meaning, says Jill Melton, communication expert and author of The Power of the Zip. Read on for nine things you should never say to your best friend, plus learn better ways to get your point across.

"Don't you want children?"

Sure, there are obviously offensive comments you wouldn't make to childless friends, like what a pal once told Helen*: "Good thing you never had kids—you can hardly take care of yourself!" But even the mild-sounding Don't you want children? makes assumptions about what's going on in another person's head and life, says Melton. What if your friend desperately wants kids but is
struggling with infertility? Or what if she doesn't want to be a mother but would rather avoid an awkward conversation about her decision? When it comes to discussing kids, let your friend take the lead. "If she wants to discuss her choice, she'll bring it up herself," says Melton.

ON WOMAN'S DAY:
How to Handle Tricky Friend Situations

"You've lost weight!"

"Weight is a dirty word—period," says Lillian Glass, Ph.D., body language expert and author of The Body Language Advantage. if you're trying to give a compliment, this statement can confuse, or even insult, your friend. What if she lost weight because she's been depressed? Or perhaps she didn't think she'd lost any weight and now worries that you thought she was overweight before.

If you suspect that your friend has slimmed down, just say, You look wonderful! advises Glass. Who knows? She could look great thanks to a
fabulous haircut or new outfit; there's no need to make assumptions about what changed. That said, if a friend has dropped an alarming amount of weight and you're worried about her health, then bring it up in a way that conveys your concern, says Melton. Try, I've noticed you're looking thinner lately. Is something going on that you want to talk about?

ON WOMAN'S DAY:
What Your Best Friend Won't Tell You

"That guy you're dating? Not marriage material!"

Lisa's* friend asked her opinion about a new beau, and she gave him the thumbs-down—with friendship-fizzling results. "My pal ended up marrying the guy, and now she's distant," says Lisa. "I thought I was being a good friend by pointing out the facts, but I should have listened to my dad's reminder, 'Everyone chooses their own sweetheart,' and kept my mouth shut."

If your friend's guy seems like a bad choice to you—but she hasn't asked your opinion—then keep your judgments to yourself. Aside from having hard evidence about serious stuff (like he has a wife and kids in another city, or is a drug dealer, for example , you really don't know if he's "wrong" for her. If she does ask what you think, then "turn it back to her," suggests Melton. Try, I don't know him as well as you do. Tell me what you like and don't like about him. Then you can base what you say on her response, so your thoughts don't seem out of the blue.

ON WOMAN'S DAY:
Marriage "Rules" You Can Break

"You bought what?"

If your best friend constantly complains about tough financial times before showing up with a trendy designer bag, then it can be tempting to call her out on her spending. But a judgment-riddled Are you kidding me? What did that cost? is decidedly the wrong thing to say, because "you're not in charge of her budget. She is," says Melton. Consider, too, that you may not know where her money's coming from, says Glass: "What if she's spending a gift from someone else?" So if you notice something brand-spanking new and expensive, then just say, Wow, cool boots or What a great new car. That said, if she asks you for help managing her money (or to borrow some of yours , then gently point out ways she can trim her costs.

"Congrats on a well-deserved promotion! You've been in that position for so long."

What's the problem with a congratulatory remark? A lot, if it's actually a backhanded compliment. The above implies that your friend didn't quite earn the promotion. Instead of suggesting that anyone in her (worn shoes would have gotten a bump at work, try a hearty, Good for you! Very impressive! suggests Melton. And if your friend suspects that she, say, got that promotion because she'd been in that job so long it would've been embarrassing not to, then leave the door open for her to discuss that with you. You should be a sounding board for your friend, not a sniper.

"How dare you not tell me [you bought a new car/got a new job/met a new guy]!"

On the one hand, says Glass, "It's reasonable to feel slighted if your good friend doesn't share news with you." It's expressing your anger over being left out that's a no-no. "Some friends don't keep you posted on everything for reasons that have nothing to do with you," says Melton. Saying something like this makes the situation all about how you feel excluded, not about what's happening in your friend's life.

When you do hear your pal's good news, just tell her, I'm so happy for you. If this happens often and you worry that your friend is keeping updates from you, then open up a discussion about it. Could it be that you haven't been that enthusiastic about her news in the past, or that you've shared her info with others without her permission? See what you could do differently before scolding her for not filling you in.

"I wish my husband were as great as yours!"

Why wouldn't it be wonderful to hear you've scored big in the life-partner department? Because the friend who says this is subtly (or not so subtly downgrading her own spouse, which can be awkward for the person on the other side of the conversation. "A friend said that to me about my husband when she was
going through a divorce," says Shelly.* Feeling uncomfortable and unwilling to bash her friend's spouse, Shelly's taken to responding with, "Yep, he's a good guy," and changing the subject.

While occasional compliments are completely fine, avoid making comparisons: "They reveal jealousy," says Glass. If you're having problems with your partner, then you can certainly ask your happily married buddy for advice, adds Melton, "but since every relationship is unique, a comparison isn't a good way to start that conversation."

"Your wedding was so tiny!" or "You're so much bigger than I was when I was pregnant!"

What may seem like a harmless observation to you can actually come across as a cruel comparison. Anna's* friend once said, "It was good you got married first; now I know what I don't want at my wedding!" Anna was floored. Before you say something like that, examine your motives for wanting to do so, suggests Melton. Anna's friend, for example, may have wanted planning advice, and she could have told Anna what she loved about her wedding instead of cutting down her friend's choices. "Try to figure out what exactly your friend's wedding [or pregnancy] triggered in you," says Melton. Are you having second thoughts about some of your wedding choices? Worrying about how much weight you've gained by your second trimester? Once you uncover what's at the root of your observations, you can express your feelings without sounding snarky.

"Don't worry. It'll be fine."

Shelly still feels the sting of friends' trite platitudes when her mother was terminally ill, because, of course, things weren't fine. In situations like this, your friend might be worried for good reason, so saying Don't worry is dismissive, explains Melton. Instead, use your judgment based on the situation. In some cases, saying It'll be fine in a loving, sincere way can show your compassion, says Glass. But much of the time, it's better to use words that show your friend that you feel her pain, that you're pulling for her, and that you may not know what it's like to, say, lose your mother, but you're in her corner as she goes through the worst of it. A simple I'm here if you need me goes a long way, especially if you follow that up with concrete ways to help her through her rough time, whether that's picking up her kids from soccer, bringing over dinner, or just sharing some wine and company.

*Name has been changed




2012-03-06 14:39:39
The Obama administration has launched an appeal against the ruling of a U.S. court which found that a mandate requiring tobacco corporations to place large, grisly images as health warnings on cigarette packages violates the First Amendment right to free speech. In his ruling on February 29, D.C.
District Judge Richard Leon found that the attempt by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA to force cigarette makers to display graphic pictures of blackened lungs, rotten teeth and sickly patients on their products was unconstitutional. Carefully pointing out that the burden of proof lay on the side of the federal regulatory body, Leon stated that: “The government has failed to carry both its burden of demonstrating a compelling interest and its burden of demonstrating that the rule is narrowly tailored to achieve a constitutionally permissible form of compelled commercial speech.” Leon also noted that the proposed warning labels, which aim to deter tobacco use, were exaggeratedly large. He also pointed out that the government already has a variety of more effective and targeted weapons for reducing smoking in its arsenal such as cigarette taxes and labels that contain factual medical information rather than macabre images. The Obama administration announced Monday that it would challenge the court’s decision, filing an appeal Monday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. According to legislation passed in 2009, the FDA is charged with the task of making sure that cigarette packaging is equipped with color warning labels in addition to the well-known written warnings from the Surgeon General. The label must cover 50 percent of both the front and back of the cigarette pack as well as 20 percent of advertisements in magazines. A handful of major tobacco companies challenged the law, which was scheduled to go into effect in September of this year. Tobacco giants R.J. Reynolds, Lorillard Inc., Liggett Group LLC and Commonwealth Brands have alleged that the legislation would essentially force them to advertise against the purchase of their own entirely legal products. --- On the Net:



07.03.2012 15:02:00

Inaugural festival in April looks to win new audiences for US independent cinema with a focus on movies linked with music

The inaugural
Sundance London film festival is set to sound a declaration of American independence on the banks of the Thames, showcasing 14 features that premiered at the event's regular Park City, Utah base in January. Potential highlights include 2 Days in New York, Julie Delpy's follow-up to her 2006 hit 2 Days in Paris, and Eugene Jarecki's award-winning drugs documentary The House I Live In.

John Cooper, director of the Sundance film festival, explains that London was the obvious choice. "We're a mission-driven organisation, so we are always looking to extend the audience for American independent films. London is the perfect venue. We have a long history with UK films, and probably show more British titles than any other films from outside the US. So there's a natural affinity. But I'm also interested to explore the differences between UK and US independent cinema." Assuming the London event is successful, Cooper isn't ruling out the prospect of rolling the Sundance brand out to other international venues.

Sundance London kicks off on 26 April with an onstage conversation between Sundance founder Robert Redford and the musician
T-Bone Burnett. The opening event sets the tone for a festival that offers a mix of movies and live performance.

"That was our one specific principle in arranging the schedule," says Trevor Groth, director of programming. "We looked for films with a specific association with music. So we have
Under African Skies, about Paul Simon's return to South Africa, and
Shut Up and Play the Hits, the documentary about
LCD Soundsystem." The schedule also makes room for a concert by Placebo as well as
Tricky and Martina Topley-Bird's performance of their classic 1995 album Maxinquaye.

Other films on the bill include Nobody Walks, Finding North, the acclaimed documentary The Queen of Versailles and
An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, an eccentric psychological love story by the New York artist Terence Nance. Groth admits that the latter is one of his personal favourites. "It's the film that truly shows what an independent voice can say," he says. "Nance has taken live action and animation and he's merged all these styles to wonderfully good effect."

Launched in 1978, the Sundance film festival remains the world's premiere showcase for independent cinema and has helped launch the careers of directors such as Steven Soderbergh, Paul Thomas Anderson, Darren Aronofsky and Quentin Tarantino. Despite criticism that the event has occasionally risked becoming a victim of its own success, the organisers feel that
Sundance has largely managed to stay true to its roots.

"If you show interesting work, the rest corrects itself," insists Cooper. "It really is that simple. I've been working at Sundance since 1989 and we've obviously seen a lot of changes in that time. But the mission has always stayed the same. It's a festival for artists who are outside the mainstream. Despite all the changes in exhibition and distribution, there is still something great about just getting people together in one place. That's why festivals still matter. It has to happen on a bricks-and-mortar, person-to-person basis. That's where the fresh ideas take root."

The inaugural Sundance London film festival runs 26-29 April at the O2 arena.

Sundance London full lineup

2 Days in New York (Director: Julie Delpy

Chasing Ice (Director: Jeff Orlowski

Filly Brown (Directors: Youssef Delara, Michael D Olmos

Finding North (Directors: Kristi Jacobson, Lori Silverbush

For Ellen (Director: So Yong Kim

The House I Live In (Director: Eugene Jarecki

Liberal Arts (Director: Josh Radnor

LUV (Director: Sheldon Candis

Nobody Walks (Director: Ry Russo-Young

An Oversimplification of Her Beauty (Director: Terence Nance

The Queen of Versailles (Director: Lauren Greenfield

Safety Not Guaranteed (Director: Colin Trevorrow

Shut Up and Play the Hits (Directors: Dylan Southern, Will Lovelace

Under African Skies (Director: Joe Berlinger



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