Thursday, 11 July
Big Picture Festival
Film Schemes
Our Big Picture Film Festival is back and will be returning to Stratford-upon-Avon from 29th August â 1st September 2024Â with the generous support of Stratford Town Trust!
This year, the the film festival will be held at The Bear Pit Theatre in the town centre with additional screenings taking place at Holy Trinity Parish Centre and Snitterfield Village Hall.
Our fifth year promises to be the best yet with an exciting line-up of British and international feature films, more filmmaker Q&As than ever before, an exciting collaboration with Trash Film Club and a silent film with live music event! Not forgetting the return of some festival favourites such as our popular short film competition and special screenings curated in partnership with our friends at Stratford Youth Collective and Welcome Here.
Pay-As You Feel Tickets are now available for individual screenings or why not grab yourself a Pay-As-You Feel Festival Pass and enjoy as many screenings as you like?
Check out our full programme details below.
OPENING FILM:Â Â ATUEL (2022) + Q&A with Director Ben Cook
Thurs 29th Aug 7:30pm, The Bear Pit Theatre
Our opening film will mark the UK festival premiere of Atuel and will be followed by a Q&A with its Midlands based director, Ben Cook.
This record-breaking environmental documentary tells the fascinating story of the Atuel River, the longest river in Mendoza, Argentina. The film sets out to explore the Atuelâs relationship with the communities it flows through and raises awareness of the environmental and political threats to the river, the farming oases that it supports and the wider issue of water scarcity and habitat worldwide.
2022 | Not Yet Rated | Dir. Ben Cook | UK/Argentina | English Subtitles | 1h 40m
STRATFORD YOUTH COLLECTIVE SHOWCASE:Â The Red Turtle + Midlands Short Film Club + Local Animations by Young People
Fri 30th Aug, 1pm, Stratford Youth Hub
Studio Ghibli's The Red Turtle is an enchanting film that tells the story of a man who becomes shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and meets a giant red turtle. A series of unexpected twists and turns follow presenting a wonderful story about the milestones in the life of a human being.
Stratford Youth Collective host this bumper strand featuring a Young Audience package of short films specially curated by Film Hub Midlands from BFI NETWORK-supported films and features a variety of proudly Midlands-made work and some of the collective's own films made by local young people.
BAD MOVIE NIGHT:Â Â MIAMI CONNECTION (1987) + Live Commentary from Trash Film Club
Fri 30th Aug 7pm, The Bear Pit Theatre
Our bad movie night is ninja-smashing 80s mess Miami Connection!
Motorcycle ninjas are tightening their grip on Floridaâs narcotics trade, viciously annihilating anyone who dares move in on their turf. Multi-national martial arts rock band Dragon Sound have had enough, and embark on a roundhouse wreck-wave of crime-crushing justice. Dragon Sound canât stop until theyâve completely destroyed the dealers, the drunk bikers, the kill-crazy ninjas, the middle-aged thugs, the âstupid cocaineâ and a bad guy called Jeff! Miami Connection is a true wonder of bad cinema that Trash Film Club is very excited to bring to Stratford this summer! Itâs what Shakespeare would have wanted!
Trash Film Club hosts Luke and David will be providing live commentary during the screening, so if you want to enjoy Miami Connection in respectful silence, then you're in the wrong place!
1987 | 18 | Dir. Woo-sang Park & Y.K. Kim | US | 1h 27m
SIX INCHES OF SOIL (2024) + Director Video Introduction
Sat 31st August 11am, The Bear Pit Theatre
Six Inches of Soil is a story of courage, vision and hope.
This environmental documentary tells the inspiring story of young British farmers standing up against the industrial food system and transforming the way they produce food - to heal the soil, our health and provide for local communities. Telling the story of remarkable farmers, communities, small businesses, chefs and entrepreneurs who are leading the way to transform how our food is produced and consumed.
2024 | PG | Dir. Colin Ramsay | UK | 1h 36m
MARY POPPINS (1964)
Sat 31st Aug 11am, Holy Trinity Parish Centre
Celebrating 60 years of this timeless Walt Disney classic which memorably combines live-action and animation with outstanding musical numbers.
Julie Andrews stars as the eponymous Mary Poppins, a practically perfect and magical nanny who is sent to the Banksâ household to teach everyone valuable lessons about love, kindness and the power of believing in the impossible.
1964 | PG | Dir. Robert Stevenson | US | 2h 19m
METROPOLIS (1927) + LIVE MUSIC
Sat 31st Aug 2pm, The Bear Pit Theatre
Join us for this special presentation of Fritz Langâs seminal masterpiece Metropolis, with a Live Music solo performance by leading silent film pianist Jonny Best.
Best is a specialist in improvised silent film accompaniment, performing at BFI Southbank, around the UK, and at international festivals. His music for Metropolis evokes the nostalgic traditions of silent cinema music whilst also capturing the awesome spectacle and bracing drama of this timeless masterpiece. Set in 2026, Metropolis takes place in a futuristic city, divided between the working class and the wealthy elite. The plot follows the cityâs mastermind, Freder, who becomes obsessed with a prophet like woman named Maria who preaches equality and compassion and causes a rebellion among the subterranean workers. In a desperate bid to regain control of the city, Freder creates an android version of Maria but it soon becomes apparent that his robot cannot be controlled.
1927 | PG | Dir. Fritz Lang | German | 2h 33m
This event includes a short intermission.
WELCOME HERE PRESENT: THE OLD OAK (2023)
Sat 31st Aug 2pm, Holy Trinity Parish Centre
Born in Nuneaton in Warwickshire and arguably, the most esteemed British director in the world, Ken Loach, has been making films for 60 years. Famed for his politically engaged body of work Ken Loachâs social realist directing style and socialist ideals has defined him as one of the most passionate and compassionate activist filmmakers in the world.
The Old Oak follows a pub landlord who strikes up a friendship with a Syrian refugee and sees his struggling community take a turn for the better.
This special screening is in partnership with Welcome Here, a charity based in Stratford-upon-Avon which helps refugees to rebuild their lives and achieve their full potential in safety and dignity.
2023 | 15 | Dir. Ken Loach | UK | 1h 53m
SHORT FILM COMPETITION + AWARDS
Sat 31st Aug 5pm, The Bear Pit Theatre
Join us for an unforgettable evening as we showcase the winning films from our annual short film competition.
This year's theme, "Beyond The Frame: Legacy on Screen", inspired a diverse range of captivating stories from seasoned filmmakers to rising stars with raw talent.
Come along and support some of the very best in short film making with the opportunity for a Q&A with this yearâs fantastic winners!
Our winners for 2024 are:
1st Place â âHeartlands: Earth and Bonesâ by Restoke and Junction 15 Productions: An awe-inspiring dance-film that delves deep into the layers of earth beneath us, uncovering a powerful connection between the land and the human body.
2nd Place â âLaura Living Backwardsâ by Kate Horlor: A captivating exploration of time and legacy, this film invites viewers to experience life in reverse through the eyes of Laura. With its unique narrative structure and poignant storytelling, it offers a fresh perspective on the choices that shape us.
Joint 3rd Place â âOut With The Oldâ by George Summers: A heartwarming film that masterfully blends stop motion with live-action. Follow the journey of a wooden doll, abandoned when its family moves away, as it embarks on an adventurous quest to return to its beloved dollhouse.
Joint 3rd Place â âThe Visitâ by Parmie Gill: A mesmerizing fusion of fantasy and reality, The Visit weaves together memory and dream to create a rich, cinematic exploration of two womenâs shared experiences of love and loss. Seamlessly moving between past and present, this poignant and life-affirming story captures the enduring connections that shape our lives.
Weâre also delighted to offer honourable mention to Hope Whittakerâs âBarney and His Buddiesâ, Matilda Hortonâs âButterflies and Skeletonsâ and Jacob Thomas McCleanâs âWhistling Dixieâ. These films will be available to watch via our website following the festival.
TYPIST ARTIST PIRATE KING (2022) + Q&A with Director Carol Morley
Sat 31st Aug 7:30pm, The Bear Pit Theatre
A fictionalised portrait of artist, Audrey Amiss, starring Monica Dolan and Kelly McDonald.
This tragicomic film is a dark and funny exploration of the blossoming friendship between Amiss and her psychiatric nurse and is filled with adventure, humour and compassion as the two women hit the road in an electric car looking for reconciliation with people from Amissâ past.
Following the screening, weâre delighted to be joined by the filmâs BAFTA nominated director, Carol Morley for a Q&A.
2022 | 12A | Dir. Carol Morley | UK | 1h 48m
GONE TO EARTH (1950) + ECHOES OF THE SOIL (2023)
Sun 1st Sept 11am, The Bear Pit Theatre
Powell and Pressburger's Shropshire set, Technicolour classic, Gone to Earth is a bracing neo-romantic tale about folklore and desire.
Based on the 1917 novel of the same name by author, Mary Webb, the story is set in the 1890s, and follows a young woman with an affinity for nature and spells, who finds herself caught up in an arch love triangle with two men with very different morals.
A new behind the scenes documentary from Flatpack called Echoes of the Soil: The Unsung Stars of Gone to Earth (16m) about the time Hollywood came to the Midlands, accompanies this screening.
1950 | Dir. Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger | English | 1h 22m
SON OF THE WHITE MARE (1981)
Sun 1st Sept 2pm, The Bear Pit Theatre
Considered the âHoly Mountainâ of animated films, Son of the White Mare is a Hungarian animated fantasy adventure directed by Oscar nominated Marcell Jankovics.
Using mesmerising hand drawn animation, it tells the Hungarian folk tale of Fehérlófia (Son of the White Mare), born to a horse goddess, who embarks on a rescue mission to the Underworld.
The film remains something of a rare, remastered gem and weâre delighted to showcase this mighty masterwork from a 4K restoration at this yearâs festival. Not to be missed!
1981 | Dir. Marcell Jankovics | Hungarian | English Subtitles | 1h 26m
CLOSING FILM:Â Â CHASING THE SUN (2024) + Q&A with Director Michael B. Clifford
Sun 1st Sept 5:30pm, The Bear Pit Theatre
Our closing film of the festival is Chasing the Sun, a brand-new documentary about endurance cycling followed by a Q&A with the filmâs double BAFTA winning director Michael B. Clifford.
This film follows riders as they participate in the annual Chase the Sun challenge, a non-competitive, coast to coast, sunrise to sunset adventure which takes place on the longest day of the year. Featuring inspirational narratives from the charity Life Cycle, the women's cycling club Kent Velo Girls and contributions from renowned figures like broadcaster Ned Boulting, writer/blogger Jools Walker, World Champion mountain biker Tracy Moseley and artist Richard Long.
2024 | PG | Dir. Michael B. Clifford | UK | English | 1h 10m
For Pay-As-You-Feel tickets and festival passes please click here.
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