With the Edinburgh International Film Festival a sadly distant memory and a little while to go until the London Film Festival starts in October, Festival goers have a rather dry spell while waiting for their next Premiere fix.

But if you travel south to the charming Roman city of Chichester in West Sussex, you will find a 120 seater cinema that is ready to boast 13 European, 6 UK and 7 US Premieres alongside talent including Derek Jacobi, Ol Parker, Amanda Waring, Sarah Miles and Maximilian Befort.

Open Air screenings of Guys And Dolls and Brave opened the Festival, with Artistic Director Roger Gibson securing Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones’ Hope Springs as the Closing Gala on September 2. There are also retrospectives of Lewis Gilbert, Theo Angelopoulus and Chichester favourite, the late Ken Russell’s work, as well as a focus on Sir Laurence Olivier, his films and the world-renowned theatre he became the inaugural Artistic Director of – the Chichester Festival Theatre.

The city’s Cineworld also plays host to a FrightFest tie-in, showing special screenings of Berberian Sound Studio, Grabbers, [REC]3 Genesis, Elevator and V/H/S.

We will be covering the Festival, but you can read the Press Release below and see photos from the Brave screening (and a real life Merida) underneath.

 

The Chichester International Film Festival Comes of Age!

The 21st Chichester Film Festival opens its doors to films, glorious films, brand new and old, from August 16 to September 2 at its home at the city’s only independent cinema. Considered to be one of the major UK festivals, the first one 21 years ago screened 50 films which included 12 previews and 9 new British films.

The festival now offers 142 screenings and events including 13 European, 6 UK and 7 US Premieres, many Previews and new Releases, 14 Documentaries, 15 Special Events and Talks and Q & As by visiting film makers, producers, directors, actors and writers.

It is the most ambitious film festival yet programmed by Roger Gibson, the award-winning artistic director, who started the cinema 33 years ago. Over 5,000 people last year packed in the tiny cinema seating 120 in the main auditorium and 40 in the Studio, the film festival offers a vivid, wide range of films and other events to enhance Chichester, City of Culture’s rich arts pickings.

Opening (Aug 16) and Closing (Sep 2) Galas in association with Brasserie Blanc: Cloudburst, the opening comedy-drama preview from Canada starring Olympia Dukakis, Hope Springs, a comedy starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones, the closing Special Preview.

  • UK and English Premieres include: Belle du Seigneur starring Jonathan Rhys Myers and Marianne Faithfull, Shadow Dancer with Andrea Riseborough and Clive Owen, Now is Good starring Dakota Fanning and Happy Happy, the Norwegian Jury Award Sundance 2011 winner.
  • Previews:  Love Crimes with Kristen Scott Thomas, Jack Kerouac’s on the Road, stars Viggo Mortensen and Kirstin Dunst, Walter Sallis’ (Motorcycle Diaries) new film Page Eight, David Hare’s enthralling contemporary spy film with Bill Nighy and Ralph Fiennes
  • The Festival launches with 2 special Open Air Screenings at Chichester’s Priory Park on 11 and 12 August (Guys & Dolls and Special Preview Screening of Brave with the voices of Julie Walters and Billy Connolly)
  • Actors, directors, writers attending: Derek Jacobi, Ronald Harwood, Michael House, Virginia McKenna, Sarah Miles, Lisi Russell, Tony Palmer, Maximilian Befort, Daniel Rosenthal, Amanda Waring and many others.
  • Full programme now available (hard copy or digital).

Chichester Cinema at New Park, New Park Road, Chichester, West Sussex, UK, PO19 7XY.

Box office: 01243 786650

chichestercinema.org

For further information and pics contact Carol Godsmark, Press & Marketing
01243 538810 pressandmarketing@chichestercinema.org