The hidden history of our rural heritage captured on screen for ‘Britain on Film’

Arts and community development charity Creative Arts East is inviting audiences across the county to climb aboard for a nostalgic outing to our region’s rural and social past and celebrate our Rural Life on film. Creative Arts East is presenting part of this latest collection from the BFI’s (British Film Institute) ‘Britain on Film’ initiative – Rural Life – with a series of screenings of rare and extraordinary archive films, specially made to offer modern audiences a glimpse into the hidden histories of everyday life of people at work, play and leisure in Norfolk and Suffolk. The events are funded through the BFI Film Audience Network (FAN).

A chance to see one of the four films, comissioned by Creative Arts East and compiled from East Anglian Film Archive footage, will be offered to audiences attending their local Village Screen event at a number of venues across the county during September and October. Three of these new compilations feature the great voice of the popular and renowned actor Bernard Hill (Lord of the Rings, Golden Years) who resides in Suffolk.

Alongside the ‘main event’ of the latest big screen hit, which Village Screen promoters present in their village halls and community venues, one of these enchanting films will also be shown.

The extraordinary footage has all been lovingly restored and compiled into four fascinating films as part of the BFI’s ‘Britain on Film’ project, with films from the BFI National Archive and the UK’s Regional and National Film Archives.

It is one of the largest and most complex national film projects ever undertaken with thousands of film titles digitised including home movies, local news reports, documentary filming and early amateur cameraman-ship all available to view on BFI Player.

In addition to the chance to see a single film as part of regular Village Screen events, there is a special opportunity for audiences to watch all four of these amazing films in the atmospheric setting of Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse on Sunday 25th September 2016.

Visitors to Gressenhall will be able to watch the films included as part of their entrance fee to the museum site.

For further information on this and other Creative Arts East events please go to www.creativeartseast.co.uk/whats-on or contact Sophie Clouston on 01953 713390 or [email protected]

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Event details Feature screening

Sunday 25th September – Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse Screening all day, and included in admission to the museum

Archive film will be screened at the following venues before the feature

16th September: Alburgh Village Hall, Brisley Village Hall
17th September: Hindolveston
20th September: Filby Village Hall, Walsingham Parish Hall
23rd September: Sparham Old School Room
24th September: St Mary’s Church Banham
25th September: Hethersett Village Hall
30th September: Ludham Church Hall

1st October: Palgrave Community Centre (Suffolk), New Buckenham Village Hall
4th October: Thornham Village Hall
6th October: Loddon Lecture Hall
7th October: Shotesham Trinity Hall
8th October: Aylsham Town Hall
9th October: Three Holes Village Hall
11th October: Mundesley Coronation Hall
13th October: Dilham Village Hall
14th October: Great Moulton & Aslacton Village Hall, Welborne Village Hall
15th October: Great Barton Village Hall (Suffolk)
18th October: Filby Village Hall
20th October: Gorleston Library
21st October: Aylsham Picture House, Brisley Village Hall
25th October: Walsingham Parish Hall
28th October: Ludham Church Hall
29th October: St Mary’s Church Banham