Salford goes to North Manchester next weekend, as the Handmade Film Festival features films that have strong connections with the city.
If you are a film buff or old enough to remember the 'kitchen sink' dramas of the 60's, on Saturday 25th October from noon at the Small Cinema in Moston, there is a real feast of such films including A Kind of Loving (1962), A Taste of Honey (1961) and Billy Liar (1963) - BAFTA winning films that introduced the themes of class, poverty, prejudice and even local dialects, subjects previously avoided.
Some scenes in A Kind of Loving were shot in Heathland Road, just by Kersal Moor. Hilda Dawson, who has recently died, told Salford Star that her little dog, who wouldn't move, became a star for the day. There are also shots of the Kersal Hotel, demolished in 2004, as a backdrop to star Alan Bates. A Taste of Honey, with script by Shelagh Delaney and classic performance by Rita Tushingham, is also showing - along with Billy Liar, starring Tom Courtney and Julie Christie in the story of a bored young man who escapes his humdrum life to enter an imagined life of excitement and fantasy.
On the same bill is the short film about Agecroft Colliery, The Last Pit in the Valley, made last year. All in all, Saturday will be an afternoon and evening event with a finale of great music.
Sunday 26th October again features Salford, with the Bee Movies, being shown in the Harpur Mount Oasis Academy from 6pm. These films feature the star of our survival; the honey bee, which is the emblem of Manchester because of its industry and co-operation, and the premier of the film, Up on the Roof, is a demonstration of co-operation between Manchester and Salford bee keepers.
They have come together to film the bee hives, up high, on the Cathedral, the Art Gallery, the Print Works and the Museum. Harry Davies, of Littleton Road allotments, will represent the Salford bee keepers and together with the Manchester film makers and beekeepers will serve us samples of the real `taste of honey'! A sweet finale.
There are lots of other events and films happening too, with a Manchester theme. On 24th October from 6:30pm there's Friday Night is Music Night, an evening of film music at the Manchester Communication Academy, which features music played by the Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra with soloist Laura Harrison and illustrated with films from the Manchester Film Archives.
The weekend is all organised by volunteers, is supported by Steve Coogan, and all events are free.
Handmade Film Festival
Friday 24th - Sunday 26th October
For full details see http://handmadefilmfest.org.uk/
Words by Alice Searle
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