Welsh cinemas and film festivals invite audiences to experience the world’s coastline on the big screen and take action against local pollution.
Film Hub Wales (FHW), with Chapter as Hub Lead Organisation, are working with eight Welsh venues to bring special events to extraordinary coastal settings, during Visit Wales’ Year of the Sea, placing film at the heart of Wales as a 21st Century coastal destination.
A host of partners will be on hand to help audiences connect with their local environment, from Ocean Guardians to Ocean Sciences. They’ll also get a chance to see some Welsh sea-themed favourites from Film Hub Wales’ top ten list.
Hana Lewis, Strategic Manager of Film Hub Wales explains:
“Film has a powerful message to share about the ever growing need to protect our planet. With beach clean-ups and coastal walks planned, audiences will be able to tackle environmental issues on their doorstep, such as plastic pollution.
It was no surprise to find connections to Wales’ iconic coastal landscape in close to 30 Welsh feature films and hundreds more from across the world. What better place to celebrate these stories during Year of the Sea, than in cultural spaces that are integral to Wales’ rich coastal history.“
Emyr Williams, Cinema Coordinator explains the significance of the programme at Pontio, Bangor: ‘
“These world cinema masterpieces ( L’Avventura and Breaking The Waves) illustrate perfectly how the sea has always provided film artists with its greatest visual representation of the unknown, the divine and allowed audiences direct access to the chaotic natural side of humanity, in an age of environmental crisis.
Pontio hopes to be able to ally these screenings with talks and introductions that investigate the way intellectual creation and Ocean sciences can come together through narrative film art to highlight the link between humans and the sea.”
The film programme is brought to you supported by the BFI with National Lottery Funding as part of the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN), creating opportunities for audiences to see and enjoy a broader range of films.
YEAR OF THE SEA SCREENINGS
THEATR GWAUN (August 17th)
On Fishguard and Goodwick’ Land of the Sea Day, Theatr Gwaun partnered with Ocean Guardians to screen The Island and the Whales (2017) and Smog of the Sea (2017). Visitors could catch a glimpse of Small World Theatre’s Cragen sea monster and join Wildlife Trust’s roadshow.
theatrgwaun.com
PORTHCAWL PAVILION & MAESTEG TOWN HALL (September 6th – 23rd November)
Audiences in the seaside town of Porthcawl, will have a host of films to choose from, from Andy Irons: Kissed by God (2018), on Sept 6 to Blue Hawaii (1961) with Kitsch n Sync Collective usherettes on September 27th, as well as Welsh stories with Submarine (2010) on October 26 and Twin Town (1997) on November 23. There will also be a screening of cult classic, Jaws (1975) (TBC).
grandpavilion.co.uk | maestegtownhall.com
WICKED WALES INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL, RHYL (September 8th)
As part of the International Youth Festival, Wicked Wales will offer free pop-up screenings of Moana (2016) and Song Of The Sea (2014) at the White Rose Shopping Centre in Rhyl. With the support of Balance Innogy renewables and FHW, there will be free popcorn, sea themed decorations, workshops and a special appearance from the Mayor of Rhyl.
wicked.wales
GALERI, CAERNARFON (September 11th – 13th)
Galeri prepare to open their brand new cinema screen, with some special sea themed screenings. Both parent and baby and relaxed screenings of Moana (2016) will open up the space to audiences with additional needs. Screenings of Welsh made Twin Town (1997), will be accompanied by STAMP, sea themed films made by local artists.
galericaernarfon.com
PHOENIX, TON PENTRE (September 21th – 27th)
BFI Britain On Film: Coast and Sea, will bring back memories for the community in Ton Pentre. The Films have a sharp tang of sea salt as they drop in on beaches, promenades, harbours and islands for a glimpse of Wales’ coastal life through the 20th Century. There will be a special beach themed quiz.
facebook.com/The-Phoenix-Ton-Pentre-885041058258257
PONTIO, BANGOR (October 6th & 16th)
Pontio Arts Centre will screen two sea themed films that arguably changed the future of European cinema, in partnership with Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences. Lars Von Trier’s proto Dogma masterpiece, Breaking the Waves (1996) will be followed by Michelangelo Antonioni revoluntaiary L’avventura (1959). Pontio will also be programming Welsh coastal themed shorts, which highlight Welsh coastal industry and culture.
pontio.co.uk
MAGIC LANTERN, TYWYN (October 19th – Sun 21st)
Working in partnership Tywyn Beach Guardians, The Magic Lantern will screen Deep Blue (2003) alongside a local beach clean-up. As a matinee for families, Song of the Sea (2014) will be accompanied by some special coastal craft activities. Red Turtle (2016) will be followed by a sea-themed quiz on Friday night, Jaws (1975) on Saturday, followed by a 70’s night and on Sunday evening there will be a screening coastal archives from BFI Britain on Film: Coast and Sea.
tywyncinema.co.uk
SEE MôR FILM FESTIVAL (October 20th & 21th)
SeeMôr Film Festival is dedicated to showing films about the sea and celebrating island life – with a special category for an Anglesey film called Môn Made Film, which is made by an Angleseyonian or featuring Anglesey.
facebook.com/SeeMorFilms
