A city-wide project celebrating Bristol’s film-making past, present and future has been awarded over £100,000 of funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Marking the centenary of the death of Bristolian inventor William Friese-Greene (1855-1921), a pioneer of early motion picture film-making, Opening up the Magic Box will include film screenings across the city, walking tours exploring cinema buildings, photography exhibitions, talks and panel discussions, and the launch of a special publication recounting people’s memories of cinema-going from the past 70 years. The project is part of the wider Film 2021 programme which was announced earlier this year.
‘Opening up the Magic Box will provide a variety of ways through which different audiences can engage with the story of William Friese-Greene, the film-makers associated with the city who worked with and were inspired by him, Bristol’s cinemas and cinema history, and the city’s contemporary community of film-makers, cinemas and film festivals. We are indebted to National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their support.’ Andrew Kelly, Director, Bristol Ideas
The funded programme will include:
• A new book of cinema-going memories, written by people from across the city and further afield including film-makers, former cinema usherettes, festival programmers, poets, novelists, performers and philosophers
• Community projects in Knowle West, St Paul’s and Easton
• Commissions for city film-makers
• A programme of screenings with musical accompaniment, introductions and panel discussions exploring early British film pioneers
• Archive footage of Bristol on film being shown at sites across the city
• Screenings in the city’s cinemas and film festivals – live and online
• A day of talks and panel discussions on the city’s links to film, past, present and future, presented as part of Festival of the Future City in October 2021
• Walking tours of the city’s film locations and former cinema buildings and places associated with William Friese-Greene
The whole programme of activity has been awarded £105,900 raised by National Lottery players.
‘We are delighted to support Opening Up The Magic Box, a city-wide project celebrating Bristol’s glorious film-making past, transformative present and exciting future. Thanks to National Lottery players, a substantial grant will help a wider and more diverse audience engage with the story of William Friese-Greene, a native Bristolian and pioneer in the field of motion pictures, the city’s iconic cinema history and its vibrant film-making community.’ Stuart McLeod, Director London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Follow Film 2021 on Twitter using the hashtag #BristolFilm2021 and on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/bristolfilm2021
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