Film Hub Wales presents BFI LOVE

Fall in love with film this autumn as Film Hub Wales announces an irresistible Wales-wide season of events.

Film Hub Wales invites audiences across Wales to rekindle their passion for film, as the Film Audience Network launches BFI LOVE in partnership with Plusnet. A season of films to fall in love with, films to break your heart.


As part of the UK-wide BFI LOVE season between October and December 2015, venues will be bringing an alluring selection of 85 screenings and events to audiences right across Wales, from The Magic Lantern in Tywyn, to Castell Coch in Cardiff.

Audiences will be taken on an emotional journey, experiencing the heartbreak and longing of epic love stories like Brief Encounter (1945), charming and light-hearted romantic comedies such as Amelie (2001) and the darkest tales of obsession, betrayal and danger including Fatal Attraction (1987).

From today, the full listing of confirmed Film Hub Wales BFI LOVE events can be found at www.filmhubwales.org/whatson


Strategic Manager for Film Hub Wales, Hana Lewis, commented: “Audiences have many chances to discover their love for film this autumn at some of the exceptional independent cinemas Wales has to offer. With an array of exciting events arranged, from an immersive multi-media production of Brief Encounter at The Torch, to touring LGBTQI ‘Love Bites’ shorts from Iris Prize, there’s plenty to choose from. Our Film Hub Wales members make BFI blockbusters creative, exciting seasons to look out for. With Chapter as our Hub lead organisation in Wales, we have an unmissable season ahead.”


Heather Stewart, Creative Director, BFI said: ‘‘Film can bring love to life more powerfully than any other art form - it is cinema's most seductive illusion and has transformed the way we see ourselves, and our love lives. Our season is not about sex. We’re getting back to LOVE: embracing the intimacy of the close-up and the anticipation of the much longed-for screen kiss: the very language of cinema itself.”


The heart-warming and heart-breaking highlights from the Film Hub Wales BFI LOVE offering include:

• Screenings and singalongs at Castell Coch and Caerphilly Castle: Cosy up under blankets with a loved one in the atmospheric settings of Castell Coch and Caerphilly Castle to enjoy Chapter’s site-specific offerings of twisted and tangled tales. Films include Beauty and the Beast, The Princess Bride and classic silent film, Phantom of the Opera, set to a live score from Steepway Sound Collective and with a musical introduction from Welsh National Opera. Got little ones to entertain? They’re sure to love you even more for taking them along to The Frozen Singalong, with a musical warm up from Welsh National Opera. Chapter will also celebrate the darker side of desire and obsession with Hitchcock and Lynch and Abertoir, Wales' International Horror Festival is uprooting from Aberystwyth, slicing up their prime cuts of brand new horrors for Halloween night at Chapter. Dates: 9th-10th Oct (Castell Coch) & 20th-21st Nov (Caerphilly Castle).
   
• Brief Encounter at The Torch Theatre: Nestled amidst an eclectic film programme throughout Nov & Dec is a stunning multi-media stage production, switching between and blending together live action and film footage, this dramatic and poignant adaptation of Brief Encounter, inspired by Kneehigh Theatre’s hit Broadway version, is set to be the biggest production ever staged by The Torch Theatre Company. With the Theatre foyer dressed to special effect, audiences will be transported back in time for this immersive evening, guaranteed to take them on an emotional rollercoaster from laugher to tears and back. Dates: 8th-24th Oct (The Torch Theatre, Milford Haven).
   
• LOVE Bites: Addressing themes including Coming Out, Forbidden LOVE and Illegal LOVE, this selection of LGBTQI short films from the Iris Prize archive have been expertly selected. Details of screenings to be announced soon.
   
• Sunday afternoon movies, music and cream teas at The Magic Lantern, Tywyn: Enjoy a delicious cream tea, accompanied by love-themed music and a Sunday afternoon film screening. Films include Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Brief Encounter and A Matter of Life and Death. Dates: Sundays from 25th Oct (The Magic Lantern, Tywyn).
   
• L’Amour at Le Monde: Darkened Rooms present French Cinema in the most romantic way possible, with food, drink and great music in a charming location. Dates: 13th & 14th Nov (Le Monde, Cardiff).
   
• What’s the Grey Matter with Gregory?: School pupils across Wales take part in an immersive educational event that reimagines Bill Forsyth’s essential teen romance Gregory’s Girl and explore the science behind human attraction before introducing them to the charming 1980s romance. Dates: Jan - Feb 2016 (20th Jan - Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea, 27 Jan - Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, 4th Feb - Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold).
   
• Further events include a vampire love and Bollywood series at Gwyn Hall, Neath and the evolving theme of love on film atPenarth Pier Pavilion. Audiences can celebrate 100 years of love at the Newbridge Memo, Caerphilly and take a trip to Memo Arts Centre Barry, where programmes will soon be announced.

For more information about the project visit: www.filmhubwales.org/projects/bfi-love-season

Find out more about BFI LOVE at: www.bfi.org.uk/love and on social media: @BFI #BFILOVE

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further enquiries contact:
Dan Thomas: dan@filmink.org / 07989 971956
Fleur Tucker: fleurcleotucker@gmail.com / 07703 679227