The local cinema drought is about to end as Walthamstow gears up to welcome a brand new film festival.
Walthamstow International Film Festival (WIFF), organised by E17 Films, was inspired by passion for film and the lack of opportunities to appreciate cinema locally. With the E17 Art Trail comes the chance to bring together the creative community and this year they are keen for film buffs not to miss out.
Once home to famous film studios and a functioning historical cinema, the presence of film in Walthamstow has now dwindled. In the 1920s, the area was an important site for the UK film industry as they tried to compete with Hollywood. Walthamstow had four major film studios which produced over 400 films before the outbreak of the second world war. One of the most famous was The Battle of The Somme (1916). The film sold over 20 million tickets in its first six weeks – a record that could only be smashed 60 years later by the the first Star Wars movie.
WIFF is offering the chance to see the very best short films created by both local and international independent film-makers. The 5-minute-long features will be available to view over the course of the E17 Art Trail’s 10-day run, between 3rd and 12th September. The films will span categories such as drama, documentary and experimental . Paul Fletcher, the festival’s director and an experienced short film-maker said: “The world knows Cannes and Sundance but Londoners can now celebrate cinema excellence just around the corner”.
The lack of a cinema will be compensated for by a specially-made giant retro television, built by local craftsman, Mike Cox. The screen will sit outside the Beyca furniture shop in Grove Road and the shop’s owner, Boma Blackduke-JaJa believes “it’s going to show our local films at their very best”.
Not only will the films be entertaining East Londoners, but also competing for ‘best in category’ and ‘best overall’ prizes. The competition will be judged by a panel that includes local MP Stella Creasy, Time Out critic David Calhoun and Director Dominic Stinton. Stella Creasy, who actively supports strengthening the arts in Walthamstow, said: “This is a real opportunity for local film-makers to show their talent and compare it to what is being produced internationally.” Dominic Stinton created a Documentary that received rave reviews in 2009 at Cannes film festival entitled: ‘A portrait of Walthamstow Market’.
E17 Films will also be running workshops on documentary film-making and short film production. The organisers hope the non-funded festival will encourage film appreciation and re-establish a film community in an area that has been historically so important to the art-form.
Check back here for the latest information on the Film Festival.
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