Film4 Screen 2009 A 'Sell Out'

A London film event has proved to be a 'box office' hit.
Film4 Summer Screen 2009 at Somerset House broke attendance records with 20,000 ticket holders enjoying ten sell-out nights in the open-air setting of Somerset House.
During August, Pedro Almodovar and Penelope Cruz introduced the premiere of Broken Embraces, Frieda Pinto, Dev Patel and Christian Coulson joined movie goers to introduce the hit of the year Slumdog Millionaire, Jon Hurt introduced the screening of Alien, Stephen Frears introduced Don't Look Now, Nicolas Roeg, Gurinder Chadha and Ronan Bennett were among the other film talent who took part in the season and in the BAFTA Behind the Screen talks programme.
Gwyn Miles, Director of Somerset House, said: "The historic space of the courtyard of Somerset House transformed at night by the magic of film on the big the screen is unique.
"We and our partners at Film4 are proud to have introduced a whole new way of enjoying films to so many people.
"We also welcome the contribution of BAFTA as co-presenters of our new talks programme Behind the Screen," he said.
Meanwhile, David Cox, Film4's Programmer said: "Like the channel itself, Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House brings together film fans of all ages and varied tastes in one place.
"To be amongst 2,000 people enjoying, amongst other things, a Pedro Almodovar premiere, musical favourite West Side Story, cult classic Don't Look Now was to be reminded of how exciting and special seeing a film on the big-screen can still be, given the right environment and enthusiastic, up-for-anything audiences."
Amanda Berry, Chief Executive of BAFTA, said: "Our partnership with Film4 Summer Screen was a fantastic addition to BAFTA's programme of learning events this year.
Ten sold-out nights attest to the demand for high-quality outdoor film screenings, and in Somerset House people have discovered the perfect setting where they can come and watch great films and meet some of cinema's finest talent," she concluded.
(BMcC/GK)