3rd November 2011, Leeds, UK – The stars will be out in Leeds this week as the cast and director of the latest adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights will be special guests at the gala screening which opens the 25th Leeds International Film Festival.
The much-anticipated new version of the classic novel set in Yorkshire and filmed on the North Yorkshire Moors has overtaken The King’s Speech, the Film Festival’s Opening Gala in 2010, as the fastest-selling film in the history of the festival which this year runs from 3-20 November.
And BAFTA award-winning director Andrea Arnold will be joined by Leeds actor James Howson who plays Heathcliff, Shannon Beer (young Cathy) and Solomon Glave (young Heathcliff) in attending the opening gala screening at Leeds Town Hall on Thursday night.
The gala screening signals the start of the UK’s biggest film festival held outside London, which features over 300 films from around the world shown over 18 days. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, a giant 38 metre wide banner featuring duel images from Wuthering Heights and Steve McQueen’s Shame, the Film Festival’s Official Selection Closing Gala film, is now on display covering the front of Leeds Town Hall and will remain in place throughout the festival.
The festival has also secured a late addition to its programme, with an exclusive screening of Oscar-tipped comedy The Artist set in 1920s Hollywood starring Malcolm McDowell and John Goodman as the finale to the event at Hyde Park Picture House on Sunday 20 November.
The festival will also feature an appearance by comedian, writer and television star Paul Merton presenting a night devoted to silent film comedy genius at Leeds Town Hall on Wednesday 9 November, alongside many special guest appearances throughout its 18 day run:
The Other Side of Sleep – Rebecca Daly, Director: Friday 4th November, 8.45pm, Vue 1 and Sunday 6th November, 6.30pm, Vue 1
The Beat is the Law – Fanfare for the Common People with Eve Wood & Pulp’s Candida Doyle – Eve Wood, Director and Candida Doyle, Pulp: Friday 4th November, 9pm, Leeds Town Hall 1
Fuerteventura – Mattias Sandström, Director and Ivica Zubak, Producer: Saturday 5th November, 2pm, Vue 1 and Sunday 6th November, 4.30pm, Vue 1
Little Deaths – Sean Hogan, Co-director and Andrew Parkinson, Co-director: Part of Night of the Dead, Saturday 5th November, midnight, Hyde Park Picture House
Nana – Valérie Masadian, Director: Sunday 6th November, 6.30pm, Hyde Park Picture House
The Crisis of Civilization - Dean Puckett, Director and Dr Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed, Subject: Sunday 6th November, 8.45pm, Town Hall 2
Sound it Out – Jeanie Finlay, Director: Monday 7th November, 9.15pm, Hyde Park Picture House
Inbred – Alex Chandon, Director and various members of the cast and crew, Tuesday 8th November, 9pm, Hyde Park Picture House
Masks – Andreas Marschall, Director: Part of Day of the Dead, Saturday 12th November, from 1pm, City Varieties
Marianne – Filip Tegstedt, Director: Part of Day of the Dead, Saturday 12th November, from 1pm, City Varieties
Juan of the Dead – Alejandro Brugues, Director, and Gervasio Iglesias, Producer: Part of Day of the Dead, Saturday 12th November, 8.30pm, City Varieties
Sennentuntschi: Curse of the Alps – Michael Seiner, Director: Sunday 13th November, 1pm, Vue 1 and Monday 14th November, 4pm, Vue1
Kill Me Please – Stéphane Malandrin, Producer/Screenwriter: Sunday 13th November, 3.45pm, Hyde Park Picture House
The full programme of the 25th Leeds International Film Festival including the complete Official Selection programme, genre cinema strand Fanomenon, documentary strand Cinema Versa, experimental cinema section Cherry Kino, and short film competition programme Short Film City, is now available in full at leedsfilm.com.
