British International Amateur Film Festival 2012 – Southport MovieMakers Recognised

Ashby Ball, the founder of Southport MovieMakers, was recently in Weymouth on the Dorset coast for the IAC British International Amateur Film Festival (BIAFF), 13 – 15 April 2012.

On the Saturday, to give delegates an overview, selections from the films entered were shown in four mini-cinemas in the Hotel Rembrandt, the festival venue.

Southport MovieMakers had entered “MidVillage Bloomers”, which won a 4-star award, and I went forward for the certificate on behalf of the Club after the film was shown. Paul Bagshaw of our Club also gained a 4-star award for his film “When No-one Hears You Scream”, and I received the certificate on his behalf. Paul also earned a 3-star award for “The Wall”.

On the Sunday, a selection of the top award-winning films was shown. The Daily Mail Trophy for the overall winner in the competition was won by “Angels on the Rail”, a 54 minute film by Moving Pictures, of the Czech Republic.

There was time for an outing to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, where we were the last party to visit before a security clampdown for the yachting classes in the Olympic Games. We also visited Athelhampton House, a stately home, where after a wine reception we viewed a feature film, “From Time to Time”, shot there by Ealing Studios.

           

Poster - BIAFF 2012 - Weymouth
Full Programme of Events

Cinema at Athelhampton House

Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy

Each year in Spring, the IAC organises the British International Amateur Film Festival. 

BIAFF 2013 will be held in Chesterfield, April 2013. 

More information about BIAFF

Première of MidVillage Bloomers

This Thursday 24 November sees the première of a number of short films by local company Artworks Pictures.  The main production is MidVillage Bloomers, written and produced by Paul Bagshaw, in liaison with Southport MovieMakers who provide most of the crew.  The characters are played by thirteen well-known actors from Southport and Formby.

In the genteel middle England village of Chipping Honeypot, there are several unexplained deaths, which are investigated by Detective Chief Inspector Barnacle, played by Peter Heslin. Crimes occur in Longbottom Hall (Drayton House), the Church of Saint Bruce (St Joseph's, Birkdale), and Mrs Dumpling-Hill-Featherbank's garden (at the home of the Heslins).

The lives of Piles, Lady Longbottom's butler, the Rev. Denis Rostrum USB HDMI, and aristocratic paper boy, Piers de Montford Ponsonby-Smythe are in danger. The true identity of the murderer is revealed only at the end.  

The production is sponsored by Unlucky Fried Chicken and by supermarkets Fiasco and Aldidl.

Although all seats at the première are now taken, a DVD will soon be available from Broadhursts Booksellers and from Southport MovieMakers.

In case you haven't already realised it - this film is a comedy.

Cast from MidVillage Bloomers

Read more about the film in our Film Catalogue