Peter Pan and The Greatest Showman will be screened at Harrodian this weekend as part of the Barnes Film Festival. We asked Sam Cullis, BFF Director and Harrodian Head of Media Studies about the Festival
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You may not think of SW13 as a movie industry Mecca but for any young person with ambitions of making a film or indeed, a career in the film industry, the Barnes Film Festival (BFF) will be THE essential London destination this weekend.
Founded in 2015, the BFF is the brainchild of Harrodian’s Head of Media Studies, Sam Cullis (above), and was inspired by his own upbringing in remotest Kent. ‘As a young film fanatic, I had no idea how to get started: how could I make a movie? Where could I get it seen or meet people in the business?’ says Mr Cullis. ‘The BFF aims to fill that gap and inspire a new generation of young British film makers from all backgrounds.’
The 2018 programme shows Mr Cullis is on the way to achieving these goals. Throughout the weekend there will be inspirational and educational events taking place all over Barnes. On Saturday, the work of young film makers from schools, colleges and universities from all over the UK will be screened in age group competitions for Under 12s, 13-18s and 19+, with the Winners’ Awards ceremony taking place on Sunday.
As a young film fanatic, I had no idea how to get started: how could I make a movie? Where could I get it seen or meet people in the business? The BFF aims to fill that gap and inspire a new generation of young British film makers
Sam Cullis, Head of Harrodian Media Studies and Director, Barnes Film Festival
Meanwhile, workshops for different age groups hosted by industry experts will range across film make up, directing, cinematography and visual effects. Interviews and Q&As will feature sessions with actors, directors and other industry movers and shakers such as the legendary Vanessa Redgrave, Doctor Who director Steven Moffat and documentarist Kevin Macdonald. Film screenings will include (Macdonald’s) Whitney, on Friday evening, Patrick, The Falling and Garnet’s Gold on Saturday and (Redgrave’s directing debut) Sea Sorrow on Sunday.
Mr Cullis is determined to ensure that the BFF engages with local people as well as a national audience and this is reflected in a range of festival venues that cover every corner of Barnes. Among them are the Old Sorting Office on Barnes Green (for competitions), the Olympic Cinema (for launch, awards and closing parties) and even a double-decker bus in the car park of the Red Lion Pub (for hourly children’s films). For the first time, Harrodian is also taking its place as a BFF venue. Former pupil George Mackay will introduce a screening of the first film he appeared in, Peter Pan in the school theatre on Saturday at 2pm while The Greatest Showman will be screened in the open air at 7pm, with all proceeds going to the Harrodian Bursary Fund.
‘For me, what’s exciting is that as BFF grows, so does its power to reach different audiences,’ says Mr Cullis. ‘Britain’s young film makers now have a distinctive annual festival where their film can be screened. But by working with local festivals and community groups, we’re also growing something that’s firmly rooted in Barnes and which people in South West London can all get behind.’
For me, what’s exciting is that as BFF grows, so does its power to reach different audiences. We’re growing a distinctive annual festival that’s firmly rooted in Barnes and which people in South West London can all get behind.
Sam Cullis