The Mancunian is Back!

Maverick pioneer of low-budget independent filmmaking in the region, Cliff Twemlow was writer, producer, soundtrack composer, and star of a series of startling straight-to-video exploitation classics, shot in locations ranging from Manchester and Salford to Ibiza, the West Indies - and even Outer Space! Characterised by droll humour, cartoonish violence, and a general sense that everyone involved is having a wild time, the films offer a snap-shot of the golden age of UK home video entertainment, and are a testament to the drive and ambition of a filmmaker working without a net, in an era before the digital film revolution.

 

Last year's exclusive tribute to Cliff, specially prepared for us by his long-time collaborator and friend the Director, David Kent-Watson, seems to have kick-started a bit of a revival, as well as sparking a lot of fond memories in our audience. We've had various of Cliff's friends and family, workmates and film associates get in touch, as well as many people who simply love his films.

 

This year sees the publication of THE LOST WORLD OF CLIFF TWEMLOW - KING OF MANCHESTER EXPLOITATION MOVIES(Hotun Press) - the first critical study of the great man and his work, by CP Lee and Andy Willis.

 

To celebrate, we're having a bit of a launch. Join CP and Andy, together with many of Cliff's creative collaborators and associates for what promises to be a lively and heartfelt tribute to CLIFF TWEMLOW: THE ORSON WELLES OF SALFORD!

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