Stroud Film Festival’s eleventh festival starts today, Friday.
The event includes a fortnight of films, workshops and film connected events.
The award winning Io Capitano leads off the festival’s opening weekend at Lansdown Hall. The film traces the contemporary story of two teenagers making their way from Senegal through the Sahara to Italy.
The following day Life through a Lens explores the work and career of ground breaking street photographer Shirley Baker. Her iconic images give a vivid insight into the North of England in the 1960s, and the film is in tandem with an outstanding exhibition at the Museum in the Park.
Films without Barriers at Trinity Rooms is a set of short films made by Dramatic Change, a project run by Inclusion Gloucestershire. Following the films is a Q and A with the film makers.
Also on 8th March at Lansdown Hall is Femme Directions. Claire Levy one of the six festival directors says: ‘This is a great opportunity to meet professional female directors, see short films they’ve made and hear them talk about the creative process behind their work.’
The following day African Apocalypse explores from the perspective of indigenous peoples, the impact of colonial crimes committed in West Africa. Screened at Trinity Rooms in partnership with Stroud’s RYSE, a panel discussion will follow the film. Later that same day at Lansdown Hall the award winning Your fat friend is about fatness and what it means to be a fat woman in the world.
Stroud Brewery on 11th March is the venue for Maidaan which follows the real life world of the coach of the Indian national football team.
This week, the Film Festival launched the 90 Second Film Challenge. Andy Freedman, another member of the festival team, explains: ‘The people of Stroud are invited to make a film lasting up to 90 seconds. The challenge takes place over five days in March and it’s free to enter’ Registration is open from now until 10.00pm on Wednesday 5h March.
The short films will then be on the big screen at Lansdown Hall on Saturday 155h March when all the film makers have free admission.
Three film making workshops are also running this coming weekend where people can pick up tips from experts and find new ways of making films on a phone.
It’s all at www.stroudfilmfestival.org
And there’s much more, and at affordable ticket prices. People who would like to be involved in festival events or publicity should email admin@stroudfilmfestival.org
