Brand new Fakenham Film Festival coming to the big screen this month
People will be able to see themselves on the big screen as part of the new Fakenham Film Festival.
As well as full length feature films with a connection to North Norfolk, the festival will include screenings of local events such as the popular Riverside Festival, duck and raft races, cycle events held in and around the town, and the 2014 Fakenham Shopkeepers Olympics.
The festival will take place in the Central Cinema Fakenham, on the Market Place, over four Tuesday evenings from September 17.
Active Fakenham has organised events and activities over a number of years, and during that time has worked with and supported young local filmmakers and musicians.
This will be an opportunity to showcase some of their work, as well as to see some feature films made in the area.
The first film shown will be ‘Seaside Special’ on September 17 - a funny, bittersweet documentary about the town of Cromer filmed in 2019.
It will be preceded by a short new film of the 2024 Fakenham Riverside Festival, Duck and Cardboard Raft races, by young Fakenham filmmaker Oliver Woodgate. This film also features music by local musicians Rowan Yaxley and Anto Morra.
An Active Fakenham statement said: “This is an exciting development for Fakenham and an opportunity to showcase not only North Norfolk but also some local talent.
“Throughout the four weeks, we have some top-class films and also some short films that feature many local residents. We hope people will come along and they may see themselves on the big screen.
“We are very lucky to have such a good and affordable cinema in the town – it needs supporting.”
There will also be a ‘red carpet’ event at the cinema on the first night from 5.30pm where people will be encouraged to dress up and have their photo taken. This is included in the £5 ticket price.
On September 24, the main feature is ‘Glorious 39’ - a mysterious drama starring Julie Christie, Bill Nighy, David Tennant and Eddie Redmayne.
Locations include Castle Acre, Walsingham Abbey and Salthouse. The short films, made by local videographer Hannah Brodie for Active Fakenham, include Fakenham Music Festival 2017, the Fakenham Easter Sunday Fun Day 2019, and other short films from the archive.
‘Chicklit’ will be shown on October 1, featuring the Hunny Bell, Holt Bookshop, Blakeney and more. Short films include a new film of the 2024 Ride North Norfolk and the 2014 Fakenham Shopkeepers Olympics.
The final performance on October 8 has a fascinating documentary about Norfolk’s love of cinema. ‘The Final Reel’ is narrated by John Hurt and features footage from the East Anglian Film Archive.
Before this, there is a film by local filmmaker and Norfolk-based sound effects editor Chris Richmond - ‘A night at the pictures: Fakenham Central Cinema’.
It looks at the history and idiosyncrasies of the venue, while there will also be other films from the archives on show too.
Tickets for the festival cost £5. Further details are available on the Active Fakenham website www.activefakenham.org.uk and tickets can be purchased in advance.
The festival is being supported by local groups, including the Fakenham Film Society and the Fakenham and District Community Archive.
The main feature films are subsidised by Creative Arts East and the festival is sponsored by Aldiss and Stephenson Smart Accountants.
