[S]ignal Cinema returns with an unmissable new season – Signal Pride! – celebrating some of the best in LGBT films from around the world.
The season opens at 7.30pm on Thursday 31st August in Barrow with the Bafta-winning comedy PRIDE (15), starring Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton. This riotously funny and warm-hearted film tells the true story of the unlikely union between striking miners and gay activists in a Welsh mining town in 1984.
Signal Pride! showcases one film screening a month from August to December, with two special pop-up screenings in November and December, which will be programmed by a new Young Programmers’ Committee, recruitment for which starts in October.
There’s something for all ages and tastes in our fantastic line up of committee picked movies: September will feature the beautiful, coming-of-age film Tomboy (U), directed by celebrated female French filmmaker Celine Sciamma. Halloween parties start early as we bring all-time cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show (15) to The Drawing Room in October, for which dressing up is most definitely encouraged! In November we introduce 2016’s breathtaking Moonlight (15), which swept the board at the Oscars, BAFTAs and Golden Globes! In December back at The Drawing Room we provide a welcome antidote to the cold and dark with The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (15), where we ask you to join us for an Aussie-themed Christmas Party, introduced by Manchester’s-own drag artist Eva Serration!
50 years ago, homosexuality was finally decriminalised in the UK. To raise awareness of this historic legislation and to celebrate and advocate diversity in all its forms we want to bring communities together through this fantastic, non-mainstream cinema season. Hate crime based on sexual orientation and transgender people accounts for just under a quarter of all recorded hate crime in the entire county. Signal Pride! is a celebrates and raises awareness of wider LGBT culture and was chosen by the Signal Cinema Committee with support from Lee Wicks, Chair of Friends & Supporters of the Furness LGBT Community.
Kezz Turner, Project Manager, Signal Cinema said: “We’re so excited to share these amazing, joyous and sometimes heartbreaking stories with our community, stories which are truly brought to life through the medium of film. And we’re here to remind each other about the A in LGBTQIA+ – which stands for Ally. It’s all too easy to ‘mind our own business’, but recent hate crime statistics show it’s more important than ever to get involved. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and speak up in support! Love knows no gender.”
Lee Wicks said: “An LGBT cinema season would enable local people who identify as LGBTQIA+ to discover more about LGBT history, which is rich and diverse. It is a great opportunity for the people of Barrow & Furness, as it gives the LGBT, and indeed the wider community, the chance to learn about our culture, hopefully dispelling any myths people may have. It also allows LGBT people to meet socially, in a safe environment, as at present we don’t have an LGBT centre in Barrow.”
For more information on the Young Programmers’ Committee or any other activities we highly recommend signing up to our website newsletter to hear all about our projects and activities here at Signal Film and Media first. Simply visit www.signalfilmandmedia.co.uk
Signal Pride! An LGBT Cinema Season Overview:
- 31/8/17 @ 7.30pm: PRIDE – Signal Film & Media, 104 Abbey Rd.
- 28/9/17 @ 7.30pm: TOMBOY – Signal Film & Media, 104 Abbey Rd.
- 26/10/17 @ 7.30pm: THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW – The Drawing Room, 121/123 Duke St.
- 16/11/17 @ 7.30pm: MOONLIGHT – Signal Film & Media, 104 Abbey Rd.
- 30/11/17 @ 7.30pm: Film & Venue TBC – Special Pop-Up Event
- 7/12/17 @ 7.30pm: THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT – The Drawing Room
- 21/12/17 @ 7.30pm: Film & Venue TBC – Special Pop-Up Event
