Lights, camera action - floating cinema makes its way to Rotherham

MOVIE-lovers will be able to enjoy free, family-friendly screenings at a floating cinema alongside short documentaries about Rotherham artists.

The Floating Cinema will visit the town tonight (Wednesday, July 5) and Saturday, July 8, showing two award-winning movies about inspiring girls.

The barge-based screen is travelling from Sheffield to Hull during July, offering free admission to its outdoor audiences.

The project has been funded by Arts Council England, the British Film Institute, the Canal City Trust, Hull City Council and others.

It coincides with Hull’s tenure as City of Culture 2017.

The first local screening, at Rotherham Lock, is of Offside —\!q an Iranian film about teens battling to watch a World Cup football match.

The second, at Swinton Lock, is of Wadjda — a Saudi movie about a girl striving for the bicycle of her dreams.

Rotherham playwright Tair Rafiq will also be featured as the floating film platform is also showing On The Bench, a series of short documentaries about Yorkshire artists, one of which profiles Tair.

The Swinton showing will feature sculptor and multimedia artist Deborah Frith.

Film-maker Harry Meadley said he had read a self-penned description of Tair online and got in touch about the project.

Tair said: “When Harry asked me to take part, I felt sure he’d mistaken me for my brother Zahir.

“He’s a portrait painter and is always out there networking, whereas I’m more of an anti-social hermit.

“I think the significance of the project won’t hit me until I see my face up on the big screen.”

Sharon Gill, chief executive at Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance (ROAR),  put Harry and Tair in touch.

She said: “It’s great that Rotherham can play some small part in the creative activities connected to the City Of Culture, not least to demonstrate there is a warm welcome here for visiting art organisations, but also that we have a lively art scene.”

For more information and to reserve your free tickets, visit www.upprojects.com/projects/in-dialogue. 

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