FilmHub North West has secured a massive £51,100 grant from the British Film Institute (BFI) to take part in Sci-Fi: Days of Fear and Wonder season this autumn.
The grant, awarded by a BFI development fund, will support a range of activities taking place through the region from October to December.
FilmHub aims to bring specialised and independent British film to UK audiences and by embracing the new season, the focus will be on the fantastical.
Grey Walker, festival organiser for Grimm Fest, told MM: “It’s great news for the entire Manchester film scene. We are proud to partner with the BFI again to bring an amazing season of cinema to Manchester film fans.
“With many people opting to watch films at home on their phones, tablets or TVs, it’s vital to us to keep the cinematic experience alive through screening some of the best in sci-fi cinema at unique venues.
“We are very grateful to the BFI for helping us maintain these amazing cinematic experiences, like we did in their Gothic Season last year –in addition to everything else around the area it’s bound to be a memorable season.”
The sci-fi season will showcase international titles, guests, LGBTQ cinema and explore the links between science fiction writing, film and the world of real-life science.
Manchester’s movie buffs will already be familiar with some of the places joining in the flicks fun, including the Cornerhouse and horror film festival Grimm Fest.
The theatre will be thrilling sci-fi fans with a film all-nighter, and plenty of seats to hide behind for the scarier moments.
They will also be hosting international guests from literary, scientific and cinematic fields to give talks and question and answer sessions to keep inquisitive cinephiles sated.
Grimm Fest, already famous for their love of cult films and TV, are planning their own day of wonder relating to a secret, but well-loved British sci-fi series.
The festival is also are also bringing the sci to the fi as they partner up with the Museum of Science and Industry and Manchester Science Festival to host double-bill screenings in the heart of the city.
The Anthony Burgess Foundation, the charity founded in the name of the Manchester-born author of the ultra-violent A Clockwork Orange, will also be involved with a complementary literature programme.
Other events around the North West include film screenings in hidden spaces and unusual sites in partnership with Preston’s They Eat Culture and The Dukes theatre in Lancaster.
Image courtesy of Disney via YouTube, with thanks
