City to welcome big film festival
HOPES HIGH FOR INTERNATIONAL EVENT
MORE than 2,000 entries from 82 countries around the world have been received by the Newcastle Film Festival.
The Festival is set to get its big debut in the city centre next spring and those working behind the scenes are hoping it will be a huge success for the region.
One submission features film producer Hugo Nicholson, of County Durham, in a film called Skim For England.
It’s about the World Stone Skimming Championships, which actually took place on Easdale Island, near Oban, last weekend.
Jacqui Miller-Charlton, MBE and President of Newcastle Film Festival, said: “We never know what film entry we will get day to day and we are constantly surprised and delighted at the completely fascinating film entries we receive.
“We had absolutely no idea that there was a World Stone Skimming Championship so hopefully this will raise awareness of this sport, that no doubt most of us have tried in our lives.”
Plans for an international film festival to be held in Newcastle were unveiled in March.
The project was launched from a yacht docked at the celebrated Cannes Film Festival in France.
It is set to take place from March 29 to April 1 next year.
Jacqui added: “Of the entries we have received so far, around 242 are from the UK.
“If you are involved in making a film and want to enter please visit the website and submit your entry.
“The film festival is set to be a truly international celebration of films from across the world, including several world premieres, classics featuring cast and crew and new films from all genres of movies.”
There will be a series of movie-related events during the festival.
This will include masterclasses and question and answer sessions from legendary names on the silver screen.
Winners of all categories will receive a Victorem Award at a star-studded ceremony recognising film makers, actors and creative talent, covering all aspects of film. The directors and ambassadors of the festival include Kirsty Bell from Gosforth, Managing Director of Goldfinch Entertainment, who has raised over £200m for the industry; Graeme Scott, owner of Dover Street Entertainment who will hold the world premiere of documentary The Last Hope at the festival; renowned Geordie actor Craig Conway, producer and director TJ Gill, Jacqui Miller-Charlton, international actress Caroline Goodall who starred in Schindler’s List and Australian director and television star Anupam Sharma.
The film festival is set to be a truly international celebration of films from across the world...
Jacqui Miller-Charlton