Holmfirth Film Festival returns this weekend with its new autumn programme of 30 films.
Now in its 17th year, the festival returns to its ‘quirky’ roots with a wide-ranging selection of films from around the world.
The festival returns to Holmfirth’s historic Picturedrome with the UK’s top satirist Chris Morris introducing his classic film Four Lions.
It will also screen its new series of short films on Holme Valley residents including artists Ashley Jackson and Celia Kilner, and a specially commissioned film of the controversial demolition of Holmfirth Market.
Screenings of newly-released music documentaries include Harder than Rock, the story of the UK’s first reggae band, The Cimarons; Since Yesterday: the untold story of Scottish girl bands; and ‘Have You Got It Yet?’ the story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd.
The festival’s first film – on Sunday September 29 (7pm) – is Radical directed by Christopher Zalla at The Civic, Holmfirth, and tickets are £5.
The winner of the Sundance audience award, it’s an uplifting drama based on the true story of a teacher with a new radical approach to teaching in a deprived and violent border town.
Festival director Stephen Dorril said: “The climate for arts events is not good with increasing cuts to funding budgets.
“This means that choice, diversity and experimentation are being curtailed. But the festival is determined, in our own small way, to bring the very best of independent and world cinema to the Holme Valley.
“We have husbanded our finances and are keeping ticket prices as low as possible in order to give people the opportunity to see things which, even with streaming, they would not otherwise have the opportunity to do.
“Film is best seen in the company of others, as a communal experience.”
The festival is committed to environmental issues with films on rewilding, cycling, the threat of pylons and other issues.
The full festival brochure and ticket details are available at www.holmfirthfilmfestival.co.uk
Images of the demolition of Holmfirth Market Hall by: Huddersfield Hub photographer SEAN DOYLE
