Salford Hits The Silver Screen

The Salford Film Festival is set to return from November 20 to 24, with five days crammed full of screenings, special events and glamourous parties, which are sure to get the region buzzing.
Film buffs can expect exclusive premieres of films including Kandahar Break starring Shaun Dooley (Red Riding) and Dean Andrews (Life on Mars) and, the English premiere of a Mike Knowles film - A Boy Called Dad, starring Ian Hart (Harry Potter), plus interviews and presentations from movie directors and cast.
Bringing the red carpet to Salford, there'll be shorts, international film, a black-and-white section that will include a screening of The 39 Steps, starring Salfordian Robert Powell, and a series of films exploring Northern identity, which includes Gregory's Girl and Wuthering Heights.
The home of talented L.S Lowry, The Happy Mondays, opera star Russell Watson, actor Albert Finney, The Smiths and the Ting Tings, Salford has never been short of creative talent, and the city is not stopping now.
Staged in and around Salford's MediaCityUK, the Salford Film Festival is clearly benefiting from the attention the imminent BBC move has brought to the area. The programme is bigger and better for 2009 and has drawn incredible creative talent.
Bryan Gray, Chairman of Peel Media, the developers of MediaCityUK, said: "The Salford Film Festival has become a global feature on the international film festival calendar and we at MediaCityUK are pleased to support the 6th year of the festival.
"We hope audiences enjoy the diverse programme of films being screened and the eventsplanned."
Councillor John Merry, Leader of Salford City Council, said: "The programme reflects not only Salford's proud film-making tradition, but also that of the region, mixing community films and an international flavour. It promises to be another unmissable feature in Salford's event calendar.
"The film festival really helps project our local talent, the perfect showcase given that we are home to MediaCityUK."
Further information is available at: www.salfordfilmfestival.org.uk.
(KMcA/BMcC)