Southend Film Festival 2021
The Backstage Centre Ltd are delighted to be supporting the 2021 Southend-on-Sea Film Festival.
This exciting annual event attracts visitors from across the globe.
Appearing at the opening night Gala is local actor Phil Davis. Although he was born in London, he grew up and was raised here in Thurrock, Essex where his father worked for Procter & Gamble, and his mother was a hospital dining room supervisor.
As a youngster he attended Ockendon Courts County Secondary School in South Ockendon. As a young acting aspirant, Davis was also a member of both the National Youth Theatre, and Joan Littlewood’s infamous Theatre Workshop.
The White Bus Film Co, and Southend-on-Sea Film Festival Director, Paul Cotgrove invites you to this year’s prestigious event.
“We know some of you are big fans of the films that are screened by White Bus – some more good news is the Southend Film Festival is back!”
Festival Director and White Bus owner has announced:
“I am absolutely delighted to – finally! – welcome you to the twelfth annual Southend-on-Sea Film Festival. I hope this will prove to be a real ‘bright spot’ as we return to normal.
For our Opening Gala we are going ‘to the seaside’ in ‘Brighton’ for a rollicking romp in which two working class couples return to the famous resort after a 40-year absence, only to find that much has changed – in every sense. By contrast, our Closing Gala brings us right back home, with Killing Dad set – and filmed – in the very hotel that is hosting the festival! This will be an amazing experience you will not want to miss!”
Apart from a range of UK film work, the festival proudly boasts an international section.
“In between, we have our usual mix of classics, new features, and World Cinema – and, of course, we have our much-loved heritage presentations.”
Film festivals don’t come cheap to produce.
“Of course, none of this would be possible without the support that you, and our sponsors, provide, and I thank you all most sincerely.”
“The Festival Team and I look forward to welcoming you to the Southend-on-Sea Film Festival.”
Paul Cotgrove
Festival Director
Full details and how to book your tickets are on the website at www.southendfilmfestival.com , and below is a snapshot of the festival offer.
Thursday 16th September
OPENING GALA ‘Brighton’ 8pm:
Odeon, Southend-on-Sea
Director Stephen Cookson has done a fine job of adapting Steven Berkoff’s controversial play, with its racism and homophobia tackled head on by a stellar cast, led by Larry Lamb, Phil Davis, Lesley Sharp and Marion Bailey as the hapless couples.
Director Stephen Cookson has done a fine job of adapting Steven Berkoff’s controversial play, with its racism and homophobia tackled head on by a stellar cast, led by Larry Lamb, Phil Davis, Lesley Sharp and Marion Bailey as the hapless couples.
Sunday 19th September
CLOSING GALA – ‘Killing Dad’ – 9pm
Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
The fine cast is headed by Denholm Elliott and Richard E. Grant, with the ever-wonderful Julie Walters hamming it up as the booze-sodden floozie. But for us, the star is the hotel most of the action takes place in, for the film is set in Southend’s very own Palace Hotel (in the days well before its multimillion-pound refurbishment)!
Friday 17th September
‘Carefree’ – 11am: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘The Runaway Bus’ – 11am: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suite
‘The Man Who Knew Too Much’ – 1.30pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘Green Grow the Rushes’ 1.30pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suite
‘Variety Girl’ – 4pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It’ – 4pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suite
‘Vivre Sa Vie’ – 6.30pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘Those Wonderful Character Actors!’ – 6.30pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suit
‘Tales From Tin Pan Alley’ – 9pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘Pain and Glory’ + Dramas – 9pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suite
Saturday 18th September
‘Bullet From the Blue’; ‘The Soldier with No Name’; ‘Lock 4’ – 11am: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘Kings of Mulberry Street’; ‘Suryapet Orphanage’; ‘My Name is….’ 11am: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suite
‘Essex Connections’; ‘The Year We Washed Our Hands A Lot’ – 1.30pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘Village in the Jungle’ – 1.30pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suite
‘Agent Kelly’; ‘The Cunning Man’ – 4pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘Non-Fiction’; ‘Pride’ – 4pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suite
‘Mercy’; ‘Uboque Virtual Gallery’ – 6.30pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘Woman at War’; ‘How to be Human’ – 6.30pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suite
‘Made in Essex’ – 13 Short Films made by Film makers from Southend and Essex 9pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘The Guilty’; ‘The Big Pop’ – 9pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suite
Sunday 19th September
‘Silent Comedy Extravaganza’ – with live piano accompaniment by Adam Ramet – 11am: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘The Kid With a Bike’; ‘The Computer Says No!’ – 11am: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suite
‘The Laurel & Hardy Laughter Show’ – with Special Guests – 1.30pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘Dying Breed’; ‘Inorganica’ – 1.30pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suite
‘Southend on Stage’: When Efforts Begins With Cerebra – 4pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘Losing Lerato’; ‘Topanga’ – 4pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suite
‘The Louder You Scream The More We Show’; ‘The Great Piggy Bank Heist’ – 6.30pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Ballroom
‘Parasite’; ‘The Passengers of the Wind’- 6.30pm: Park Inn by Radisson Palace Royal View Suite
The Backstage Centre Ltd wish everyone at The White Bus Film Co, and the Southend-on-Sea Film Festival 2021 the very best of luck for an outstanding event.
