Innovate, don’t imitate!

12 October 2009

Manchester prides itself on being “The City of Innovation”. Benjamin Disraeli famously stated that “What Manchester does today, the rest of the world will do tomorrow

But round here we know that what Manchester does today, Salford already did yesterday, or maybe even the day before. Salford Film Festival is not content to live in the past and dwell on former glories. We’ll be focusing on new work, in shorts and features - on what is happening NOW.  We have no less than SEVEN feature film previews and premieres this year, and have a strand dedicated to the exciting new wave of micro budget feature filmmaking in the region - the so called North West Underground.

But as ever we retain our strong sense of history. What we were will always determine who we are. We’ve a tribute to the great Robert Donat, the local boy who took Hollywood by storm, the return of cult legend Cliff Twemlow, and a special programme of films selected by DJ and author Stuart Maconie, exploring Northern Identity.

Whether you’re in search of the latest cinematic trends, a clearer understanding of the culture and history that produced them, or you just want to experience an entertaining selection of films, we’ve got it covered.

STARRING…THE PEOPLE OF SALFORD

Born in 2003 the Salford Film Festival paid special attention to the huge variety that Salford communities are famous for, and in encouraging their involvement in film-making both on screen and behind the camera, paved the way for five more seriously succ

STEVE BALSHAW INTERVIEW

My primary role is to select, source and secure the films, and to build these into a programme of screenings and related events that will hopefully attract an audience - so I deal with filmmakers and producers, and often with the various screening venues,

INNOVATE, DON’T IMITATE!

Manchester prides itself on being “The City of Innovation”. Benjamin Disraeli famously stated that “What Manchester does today, the rest of the world will do tomorrow

THE ORSON WELLES OF SALFORD

He was Salford's Welles and King of Manchester Exploitation movies. He was a pioneer of independent filmmaking in the region. And now there's a book. You should own it.

UNDERSTANDING THE PAST

In our past is our future. Understand one, and you can better visualise the other. This selection of films from the North West Film Archive offers a glimpse of the world that was, here in Salford - some of it now lost forever, some of it simply altered be