Film festival aims to bring touch of Hollywood to Ilkley (From Wharfedale Observer)

Film festival aims to bring touch of Hollywood to Ilkley

2:41pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News By Amanda Greaves

Two theatres will be transformed into cinemas for three days next year as the first Ilkley Film Festival aims to bring a piece of Hollywood closer to home.

A secondary school teacher and Menston resident who has worked on successful events, including Cheltenham Film Festival, wants to share his passion for film with residents of Ilkley and the surrounding areas.

Martin Pilkington, who currently teaches English, media studies and film studies at Morley Academy, has confirmed Ilkley’s first festival will take place at the King’s Hall, Station Road, and Ilkley Playhouse, Weston Road, on February 14, 15 and 16, 2014.

Mr Pilkington plans to turn both of the popular venues into working cinemas for the weekend, complete with cinema standard projectors and equipment.

He hopes to establish the festival as an annual event in the town, not only bringing the finest film talent and previews to iconic locations in Ilkley – but hopefully also welcoming special guests from the film industry.

He said: “The aim of the festival is to bring previews, classic films, live accompaniments, world cinema and film industry special guests to Ilkley and the surrounding areas.

“The programme of films will be eclectic, versatile and allow cinema-lovers an opportunity to feast upon film for a weekend.”

The organising process is already going well, Mr Pilkington says, with some interesting and exciting guests and films already confirmed or nearing confirmation.

He added: “I envisage the festival to grow in future years to include more locations and more films. I’d like the festival to be a community event giving residents the opportunity to experience a piece of Hollywood on their front door.

“There will be an education element to it as well with discussions on film and the film-making process.”

Tickets will go on sale later this year.

Mr Pilkington has experience of organising several successful film festivals in the past. He lived in Leeds for seven years and moved to Menston last October.

Visit ilkleyfilmfestival.co.uk or visit Twitter @ilkleyfilmfest for more information.