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Courtesy Everett Collection
MBDZIGI EC001
ZIEGFELD GIRL, Hedy Lamarr, 1941
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Dawn Jutton
A sensational celebration of everything celluloid takes place on Dartmoor this September, as the town stages the seventh Chagford Film Festival.
It’s rare enough to hold this type of event in major towns or cities - to produce a full six-day, packed programme of events with a budget of some £20,000 in a tiny rural town like Chagford is an incredible feat!
Expect top quality entertainment across a wide range of film genres in venues such as Endecott House, the Jubilee Hall, The Globe, the parish church and in pop-up cinemas. The hard-working volunteers organising the festival strive to include something to please everyone - and amazingly, at each and every one since its inception, they have managed to entice an Oscar-winner to come along. Gareth Unwin, the award-winning producer of The King’s Speech described Chagford Film Festival after his attendance in 2011 as ‘The best small film festival in the world’.
This year’s special guest is Chris Dickens, who won an Oscar for his editorial work on Slumdog Millionaire. Chris will talk about editing on the Friday evening of the festival, to be followed by a showing of another of his films, Suite Francaise.
The festival’s nominated charity this year is Deaflink - the organisation which works to ensure inclusion and equal access for persons with sensory disabilities. In recognition of this, the Oscar-winning short film The Silent Child, along with a specially recorded introduction by its writer and star Rachel Shenton, will be shown several times during the week.
Sara Squire, a member of the organising committee, said: ‘With around 17 films to see, an amazing special exhibit, top guests, free events, themed nights in restaurants and local businesses getting involved, it’s really generating quite a buzz in Chagford.
‘We are aiming to bring people into the town from quite a wide area - it should be a real showcase for Chagford and most importantly, provide brilliant entertainment for everyone, whatever their age or taste.’
The Grand Opening Night on September 24th sees the innovative, much loved and internationally renowned theatre, film, exhibition and animation company Forkbeard Fantasy performing their first live performance for five years. These riotously funny actors present The Brittonioni Brothers in The Jubilee Hall.
For the first time the festival is working with the University of Exeter and presenting a Pedro Amoldovar Day on September 25th - when the work of the renowned Spanish film director is celebrated with showings of three of his films. Appropriately, eateries in Chagford will be offering tapas-style meals to complement the Spanish vibe.
Another stunning sight in Chagford during the Tuesday and Wednesday of the film festival will be a Bristol Scout aircraft, originally flown by F D H Bremner in the Gallipoli campaign during World War I. Bremner’s grandsons Rick and David have re-built the plane to the exact specifications of the original from design drawings found in their grandfather’s garage and the film Bristol Scout - Rebuilding History showcases in St Michael’s Church. In commemoration of the 100 year anniversary of the end of the First World War, producer Stephen Saunders will be returning to Chagford with his new film, War Above the Trenches, which details the desperate battle for air supremacy on the Western Front. Stephen will attend a Q & A session following the film showing in the The Globe Cinema, which also hosts a showing of the Oscar-winning A Fantastic Woman the same day.
When the organisers say they want to provide entertainment for all - they really mean it! On the afternoon of Thursday, September 27th there will be an exclusive pet screening of the animated comedy Isle of Dogs at Endecott House, to which man’s best friend is cordially invited - complementary dog biscuits and water will be provided! With a star-studded voice cast, it’s a film not to miss . . .
The extraordinary life of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr comes under the spotlight on the Thursday of the festival, at a special screening of Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story in Endecott House. Produced by Susan Sarandon, the film follows the life story of Lamarr from her youth during the Second World War in Nazi-ruled Austria, her six marriages, her landmark inventions and her work with the eccentric Howard Hughes.
For dance lovers, during the evening, you can see a screening of 1984 by the Northern Ballet Company in the beautiful setting of St Michael’s Church.
And if you are interested in the work of the British Board on Film Classifcation, the organisation will be making the journey to Devon to give an oversight of their work.
For youngsters, Saturday, September 29th sees Brick and Mix, an independent Lego shop, encouraging creativity in the Jubilee Hall before a screening of The Lego Movie. Rounding off a brilliant week of films is the larger than life, smash hit musical The Greatest Showman - a special sing-a-long version being shown at Endecott House, alongside the original at the Globe Cinema and including a champagne reception and after show entertainment.
To echo the P T Barnum story, during the afternoon there will be a circus workshop which will be followed by the grand parade at 6pm before the film screening - expect riotous colour, music and fun all the way!
One thing is for sure, Chagford is THE place to be during the week of September 24th to 29th - for the most up to date programme information, go to www.chagfordfilmfestival.com
The organisers would like to thank their funders West Devon Borough Council, Devon County Council and The Elmgrant Trust for their support and all local businesses which have got involved with the festival.