Big screen is back in Portrush

An enthusiastic new group of film lovers is bringing the joy of movies back to Portrush. And the want more movie fans to join them!
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Feb 2015, 06:00 BST
Pictured at the launch night of Portrush Film Theatre in The Playhouse, Portrush are are PFT members, from left, Francis Crickard, Siobhan OMalley with the guest speaker Robert Kincaid from the group London Lesbians and Gays Support the MinersThe audience enjoyed the film Pride and shared a celebratory cake and talk after the film.Pictured at the launch night of Portrush Film Theatre in The Playhouse, Portrush are are PFT members, from left, Francis Crickard, Siobhan OMalley with the guest speaker Robert Kincaid from the group London Lesbians and Gays Support the MinersThe audience enjoyed the film Pride and shared a celebratory cake and talk after the film.
Pictured at the launch night of Portrush Film Theatre in The Playhouse, Portrush are are PFT members, from left, Francis Crickard, Siobhan OMalley with the guest speaker Robert Kincaid from the group London Lesbians and Gays Support the MinersThe audience enjoyed the film Pride and shared a celebratory cake and talk after the film.

Portrush Film Theatre launched its 2015 season recently with ‘Pride’ – a film inspired by local man Mark Ashton and which tells the extraordinary story of gay activists who helped thje miners during their lengthy strike of the summer of 1984.

Ted Barker of PFT, told The Coleraine Times: “PFT brought the film to Portrush and we are delighted that Portrush turned out to see it.

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“It was a great night – introduced by a Mrs Thatcher lookalike, and followed by a guest speaker from the original Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners Group and also Nuala Laverty from Portrush who told us her memories of her best friend Mark and of flat sharing with him in Ladbrook Grove.

“We raised £250 pounds for the Mark Ashton Red Ribbon Fund to support work with the Terence Higgins Trust.

“Thanks go to everyone who attended, Kris from Kiwis Bar and The Playhouse for hosting us, Portrush Community Enterprises and Coleraine Borough Council.”

Ted went on to explain the ethos of the group: “PFT is run by volunteers and is a non-profit, community-based group.

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“We are actively seeking volunteers who would like to join our community cinema group.

“Our aim is to promote greater appreciation and enthusiasm for film culture in the local community, by showing a diverse range of Irish, British and World cinema in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

“PFT wants to actively build an audience by gathering support and input from the local community - we will show films that are challenging, stimulating, and are high quality entertainment.

“We will aim to reach a diverse audience by screening a variety of films so that the audience will have their understanding and world view enlarged, their expectations raised, and broaden their appreciation of film medium and culture.”

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Forthcoming films include: True Grit, February, Monday, February 23; Belle, Monday, March 23; The Grand Budapest Hotel, Monday, April 27; Rush, Saturday, May 23 and Galaxy Quest, Monday, June 22.

Ted adds: “We want film goers to have the opportunity to learn more about various aspects of film; through imaginative and progressive programming, post–screening discussions, and by showing the work of local film-makers and networking with other film and community cinema groups across NI.

“We want to interact with our audience in an inclusive and creative way.”

* The PFT programme and videos of the speakers and Q & A session from launch night are available on their webpage at portrushfilmtheatre.org

Related topics:PortrushPride