RAIN and wind meant the main event of a Chester film festival was a complete wash-out.
A small group of hardy souls braved the weather to watch Hitchcock’s Vertigo at Grosvenor Park last Thursday while Friday and Saturday nights were cancelled.
The experience highlights the urgent need for Chester to have a permanent arts venue as soon as possible.
Lack of a city centre theatre meant arts organisation Chester Performs, who ran the Screen Deva film and digital media festival, had to hold outdoor events and make inventive use of available buildings like St Olave’s Church.
Organisers said it was “so disappointing” the inclement weather spoiled the screenings at the park.
Spokeswoman Nancy Rutherford said “no-one came” on the Friday night due to the rain and on the Saturday people had enjoyed picnics earlier in the day but gusts of wind made it unsafe to continue with the screening during the evening.
“The scaffolding was rocking,” said Miss Rutherford, who explained that the screen acted like a huge sail.
Nevertheless, Chester Performs says 2,000 people bought tickets to see 18 films across a range of make-shift venues during the week-long event while many enjoyed the four art installations placed in empty shops.
More than 130 young local people participated in the Young Deva and Deva Scene events. Fifty films were submitted for their big screen premiere and special screening nights were organised, attracting an audience of more than 100.
Eleven teams accepted the 48 Hour Film Challenge, nine of which made the two-day deadline. Winners were father and daughter duo Mike and Jennifer Graham, of Handbridge – whose Lego animation featuring Russian roulette impressed the panel of three film professionals.
A screening of British classic Brief Encounter, for senior citizens, had an audience of more than 100 in Grosvenor Museum on Friday afternoon.
The Tunnel at Olio & Farina on Bridge Street had tearful audiences for foreign films La Vita è Belle and Il Postino.
Emma Rees, of Handbridge, said: “As someone who lives in Chester it was great to be offered such a diverse range of events across the week.”
Chester Performs recently announced the summer season for Soapbox their brand new regular programme of contemporary performance and film, the first event takes place next Thursday in the Water Tower. For tickets call: 01244 409113.
