New film festival comes to Oswestry this Summer
The Maona Cinema in Oswestry is set to host the inaugural Oswestry Film Festival, celebrating features and short films from Shropshire and the Welsh Borders. Starting at 10am on the 18th of July, films will run until 8.20pm, with three features, a host of short films and Q&A sessions with the cast and crew.
After the final film, a networking after party will take place in the cinema bar, running until 10.30pm.
The day will start with the Lettermen at 10am, based on the true story of love letters sent during World War 2, with an introduction from the Oswestry historian who is possession of the letters.
Continuing the war theme, Piotr Szkopiak’s feature, The Last Witness will screen at 10.40am, with a Q&A, followed by the first batch of short films. At 1.45, Coch Bach Y Bala will screen, with a Q&A at the end. This documentary follows John Jones, a notorious Welsh outlaw and folk legend known as the "Welsh Houdini”.
A second batch of short films will then screen, followed by Keith Wilhelm Kopp’s Translations. A feature partly shot in Welsh. Members of the crew will be on hand for a Q&A, and before the networking party, a final series of short films will be screened.
According to Jack Davies, who set up the festival, the event will hopefully address the imbalance in representation between the West Midlands and Welsh Borders, and the film community developed in the East Midlands.
"The East Midlands have built a community to bring creatives together and provide platforms for them to showcase their work and learn from their direct peers and rather than waiting for that I decided to be the one to create that.”
He goes on to add that the Oswestry Film Festival will be completely free for new creatives to submit their work, recognising that submitting to festivals can quickly become expensive.
“I hope they enjoy our great lineup and feel inspired in some way to indulge in their own creative ambitions; I also hope the event encourages attendees to be more than an audience but to connect with each other and build a film community right on our doorstep.”
Day tickets are priced at £25, with unlimited tea and coffee available throughout. Individual film tickets will be available on the day, priced at £5.
Tickets: Whttps://www.maonacinema.com/films/oswetry-film-festival
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oswestry_filmfest
