Posted on 5th Apr
Mansfield Town Film Festival (MTFF) is set to host a trio of mini screenings, celebrating short films from its inaugural programme.
The screenings come ahead of the festival’s return in the summer.
The events, dubbed Mansfield Town Film Festival Presents…, will be designed around a specific theme or genre and take place in Mansfield Palace Theatre Lounge, an intimate space with only 30 seats available per screening.
Each event will feature a curated selection of films, followed by an opportunity for audience members to take part in an interactive Q&A session with the featured filmmakers. They will take place on:
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May 2 – Working Class Voices
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June 6 – LGBTQIA+ Voices
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July 4 – The Best Of MTFF23
The inaugural festival, which was born of an ethos to promote diverse talent, took place in July 2023 and saw hundreds of filmmakers and film lovers travel from all over the world to celebrate the talent of up and coming filmmakers.
The three-day film festival consisted of live screenings of more than 100 short films, as well as breakout sessions with industry experts and local artistic organisations, and an official opening by BAFTA-winner Ken Loach.
Films of all genres were shown, from live action shorts, documentaries and animations to international films. There were also screenings with a focus on female and LGBTQIA+ voices to aid in bringing new perspectives and voices to Mansfield film lovers.
Festival director Jay Martin said: “We are incredibly excited to be returning to the Palace in July for our second festival. In the meantime these mini screenings are an amazing way for those interested to get a taste of what will be on offer.
“We are committed to developing new audiences in Mansfield and bringing film to everyone in the town, and these events give us a fantastic opportunity to do just that.
“Our continued commitment to celebrating diverse voices is continued within these events, with screenings raising working class voices as well as LGBTQIA+ voices just in time for pride month in June.
“We hope the themes we have chosen to programme around provide something for everyone and look forward to welcoming film lovers from Mansfield and beyond.”
The first event will celebrate working class voices, which will feature an array of films from narrative shorts, music videos, animations, and documentaries.
Among the programme is Mansfield Film Award-winning documentary The Champ of Champs, which charts the story of how local Triple Guinness World Record boxing champion Steve Ward became the oldest professional boxer in the world.
Other films will include the bone-chilling The Boy In The Back Seat – a bold, edgy and urgent film about toxic masculinity and the damage we pass on to the next generation.
Also screening is Heel Drop, which tells the story of tap dancer Bobby who must grapple with moving away from his hometown after suffering the towering cost of living.
The council’s Cultural Services manager, Sian Booth, said: “Diverse voices don’t just need to be heard; they need to be given a platform to resonate, inspire, and ignite change.
“MTTF’s inaugural festival fuelled our passion to expand our programme of film all year round, ensuring stories from all walks of life can thrive and resonate in every corner of Mansfield.
“These three events stand as a testament to the power of amplifying underrepresented voices, sparking a love of film that both empowers and enlightens.”
Tickets are available at Mansfield Palace Theatre box office and online at:
Mansfield Town Film Festival Presents… ‘Working Class Voices’ – Mansfield Palace Theatre
Mansfield Town Film Festival Presents… ‘LGBTQIA+ Voices’ – Mansfield Palace Theatre
Mansfield Town Film Festival Presents…’The Best Of MTFF23′ – Mansfield Palace Theatre
To stay up to date with all new information you can follow Mansfield Town Film Festival’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/
You can also get in touch by emailing jay@mansfieldtownfilmfestival.
