After a two-year gap, the Stroud Film Festival organisers are excited to announce the lineup for this year’s festival which will be in person.
Now in its eighth year, ten independent venues will be hosting a broad range of events, starting with the exciting Festival Launch on Friday 4th March at the Sub Rooms.
Film director David Yates , best known for Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, is a supporter of the festival. He said: “As the Stroud film festival comes around this year, what a treat to be able to see and share stories on the big screen once more.”
Innovative local filmmakers are well represented, including award-winning director Elizabeth Stopford, Guy Davies, introducing Philophobia (As I Am), festival favourite Joe Magee and up and coming Hatty Frances Bell. Highly acclaimed drama titles from further afield Include La Mif (France), High Ground (Australia) and You Will Die At Twenty (Sudan).
More than half of this year’s screenings include a chance to meet the director of the film. It’s a tribute to Stroud that so many have agreed to take part in the festival, including the directors of Dying To Divorce,(at Lansdown Hall). Film Maker’s House (at Hawkwood) and Chasing Mandela’s Rainbow screened by the Film Society at the Sub Rooms.
“Compared to seeing a film at home, there’s something extra special about being part of a film audience when you also meet the director,” says Andy Freedman, one of the festival co-ordinators.
This year two young artists, Evie-Lola Minney and Jimmy Croft introduce films by young people on the big screen. They’ve also taken on the role of selecting one of the festival’s feature films. They said: “Being young is just as important as being old. Stroud Film Festival’s readiness to embrace different perspectives is what makes the lineup so special.”
For the first time, a ‘relaxed’ screening is on the programme, The Greatest Showma, in partnership with Stroud children’s charity Allsorts. Feature films for young people in schools and colleges will run at the Electric Picture House, Wotton, In collaboration with IntoFilm.
Another strand this year is music and sound in film. At Lansdown, there will be two silent movies with live accompaniment, while Joe Magee and Tom Jacob explore the art of sound in film while Martha Tilston introduces her brand new film The Tape and will close the evening with music. Making the Pelicantata documents a performance by the Minpins Choir and Stroud Choral Society. Sound is also the focus of the acclaimed Sisters With Transistors, the story of electronic music’s female pioneers, another film to be followed by question and answer with the director. This session will be chaired by Edith Bowman.
Films are often able to raise questions in a uniquely accessible way. This year, themes range from our health, through climate emergency and folk music to what it means to be black and British. Black Ark Media present two powerful yet contrasting films while Atelier has programmed four films on food, land and the environment, areas which are also the focus of screenings at two other partner venues, Stroud Brewery and The Long Table
The wide-ranging programme continues with the Last Cuckoo Night, a unique celebration of film, poetry and poets, with Stroud legends Dennis Gould, Elvis McGonagle and Jeff Cloves. Live or on film, a wide range of great poets will be on the Sub Rooms stage.
The organising team are keen to hear from the people who’d like to be involved in events, to contribute with publicity or front of house and, longer-term, shape the future of the festival.
For more information or to get in touch please see www.stroudfilmfestival.org
