Subterranean Cinema
We launched Difference Screen on Friday 5th July in sweltering temperatures, an absurd moment putting on winter clothes to enter Clearwell Caves’ constant underground temperature of 11C.
Film makers Atousa Bandeh and Sophie Nys joined us. Atousa flew from Amsterdam to be with us for the UK premiere of her film The Day I Disappeared. She was joined by her sister Alaveh, the first time the sisters have seen the film together. The film gives the chance to imagine what being smuggled over borders and separated from your family and younger sister might be like. Atousa confirmed that Alaveh is the younger sister in the film. A real privilege to have them both with us for the occasion.
Sophie is in England on a mission, a whistle-stop investigative tour of plague stones. The programme opened with her film Lénine en pensant in which the largest Lenin head in the world at Ulan Ude, acts as a focus for Lenin’s thoughts on the place of women in society. The subtitles record correspondence with Clara Zetkin, a conversation that eventually led to International Womens’ Day being founded.
Bruce Allan, Jonathan Wright, Ben Eastop
Thanks to everyone who came to the first screenings, to Jonathan and Heather Wright for their enthusiasm and support in allowing us to use the caves, Heather for providing delicious refreshments and welcome hot food, Bruce Stinson for the photographs on this page, Hugh and Jem for stewarding and Novvy for her work behind the scenes’. And to Arts Council England for supporting the project.
….next screening Meantime Cheltenham, Saturday 13th July 7 – 10pm for the films we didn’t show at Clearwell
www.differencescreen.net/tickets/
A great opportunity to be able to see such a diverse and interesting selection of international films . . . and in such a fantastic setting. I very much enjoyed both evenings – thank you !