Ken Loach supports Glenrothes Film Festival
Glenrothes Community Cinema's first-ever film festival has won the support of award-winning British director Ken Loach.
- By Aileen Robertson
- Published in the Courier : 26.08.10
- Published online : 26.08.10 @ 10.10am
Since screening its first film in November, it has gone from strength to strength and on October 9 will stage the inaugural Glenrothes Film Festival, at Rothes Halls.
The festival, supported by the British Federation of Film Societies (BFFS) and Celebrating Fife 2010, will include screenings of family friendly films and a movie-making contest, open to children, adults, amateurs and professionals.
Mr Loach, the BFFS's first patron, said such community projects were helping to keep cinema alive. He said, "Local film festivals are very important. The multiplexes show a very narrow range of films, but cinema has so much more to offer.
"It is those who share a real enthusiasm for films and who put on festivals like Glenrothes who are our hope for the future. Good luck to the festival."
Greenock-born actor Robert Harrison, who appeared in Loach's gritty film Sweet Sixteen in 2002, also endorsed the festival.
He said, "I'm sure the Glenrothes festival will grow and grow. I believe it can be so big, but you have to get it off the ground first.
Amazing
"The festival is a good opportunity for Fife to publicise what it can offer. The competition is a great idea as it is amazing the quality that is out there.
"Digital is giving more people the opportunity to make film. Local aspiring actors should get involved. If people can get out there with low-budget and the right idea, it's amazing what you can do."
Closing date for the short film competition is September 10.
Entries should be two to three minutes long, excluding titles and credits.
There are no restrictions on subject matter or genre, as long as the end product is suitable for family viewing.
More details are available at www.glenrothesfilmfestival.co.uk.
The BFFS is supported by the UK Film Council, set to be axed by the Westminster Government.
The Community Cinema chairman Gavin Howe said it could see other places miss out on such projects.
He said, "Abolishing the most successful film support organisation the UK has ever had is a bad decision
"People will rightly look back on this decision as a big mistake, driven by short-term thinking and political expediency."
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