Classic movies are shared by all generations at a six-day film festival in Bradford
Broadcaster and campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen launches this year’s Golden Years Film Festival in Bradford. The festival, aimed at an older audience but open to all, has a top billing of films, events and discussions with broad appeal. Most events will be held at Picturehouse, Bradford but there will also be screenings at the Bradford Club and Delius Arts and Cultural Centre in the city.
Festival director, David Wilson from Bradford UNESCO City of Film, said their programme was designed with older people in mind but they were also keen to have something for everyone at the festival. ‘I am very pleased to be presenting a specially commissioned film by Bradford filmmaker Suman Hanif on how loneliness affects people in the city.
‘This year’s festival really does have something for everyone - from film classics, musicals, documentaries, comedy, talks, discussions and even some jiving.’
Dame Esther said the programme was really diverse adding: ‘It’s wonderful to see a city embracing older audiences while at the same time inviting all generations to come together and share some really great moments inspired by film.’ ‘An Audience with Esther’ takes place on Saturday, September 30th from 1pm-2pm at Picturehouse, Bradford. She will talk about her long career in television and touch on some of the work close to her heart, including her role as patron of a charity designed to combat loneliness.
The six-day festival hosted by Bradford UNESCO City of Film in partnership with Picturehouse at the National Science and Media Museum runs from Saturday, September 30th.
The line-up for the rest of the week starts on Sunday, October 1st with a special event celebrating the work of Bradford author JB Priestley. This includes a screening of the film written by him, Look Up and Laugh which will be shown in the Pictureville Cinema at Picturehouse Bradford.
On Monday, there is a free screening of the moving portrait of the Bronte sisters, To Walk Invisible with a question and answer session beforehand with Ann Dinsdale, principal curator of the Bronte Society and the Bronte Parsonage Museum. Ann also played an advisory role for the production team as they filmed around Haworth.
On Tuesday at Picturehouse there is an archive session on Life on the Home Front hosted by Bradford and District Age UK before a sing-a-long screening of the musical classic Calamity Jane. Staying with musical comedy, The Band Wagon, starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charrise, is screened on Tuesday afternoon by the Creative Stroke Recovery Group at the Delius Arts and Cultural Centre.
Wednesday is jive day with a screening of Jailhouse Rock - dementia friendly, but open to all - and a lively jiving session hosted by Marie McCahery from the local Lindyhop to get everyone into the 1950s mood, all at Picturehouse. This is followed in the evening with classic comedy at the Bradford Club. The historic venue is opening its doors to the public for a triple bill of slapstick fun from Laurel and Hardy.
Bradford’s film heritage is profiled on Thursday with a talk from Bradford UNESCO City of Film director, David Wilson before the festival finale feature film, Goodbye Christopher Robin shown at Pictureville Cinema. The film gives a rare glimpse into the relationship between children’s author A.A Milne and his son Christopher Robin whose toys inspired the magical stories of Winnie the Pooh.
For more information, prices and venues for the Golden Years Film Festival go to bradford-city-of-film.com/enjoy/golden-years-film-festival
