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DUNOON FILM FESTIVAL CURATOR IS OPTIMISTIC FOR 2014 FILM FESTIVAL

Written by on 15/06/2013

Matt Lloyd and Allan Hunter

Matt Lloyd the producer and co-curator and Allan Hunter, curator of the inaugural Dunoon Film Festival

 

Allan Hunter, curator of the inaugural Dunoon Film Festival, film critic and co-artistic director of the Glasgow Film Festival came into the Argyll DCR studio this afternoon to tell listeners of his roll with the Dunoon Film Festival.

He spoke of how he and Matt Lloyd the producer and co-curator of the Dunoon Film Festival had looked at films that would be suitable for a Dunoon film festival and the deciding factors that led to the decision to what films would eventually make the final programme.

He told how everyone involved is very excited about the start of the Film Festival with a special event celebrating John Byrne’s legendary 1990 BBC TV series Your Cheatin’ Heart  the opening two episodes  screened tonight at the Burgh Hall, with the rest of the series being screened between the hall and the cinema over the weekend.

The first screening will be introduced by John Byrne and singer Eddi Reader, who starred in the series as be-quiffed country singer Jolene Jowett.

Set around the west of Scotland’s country and western circuit, the series has yet to be released on DVD and has not been screened anywhere since its original run.

Allan has been quoted as saying he thinks the concepts of what film festivals are have changed hugely, “I used to meet people not that long ago who didn’t think film festivals were for them; they thought they wouldn’t be able to get in, that they were elitist. The idea that you need a lot of money, that you need something established, something for the industry – all those things are fluid now. Now you can almost do whatever you want, wherever you want … and tailor it to a community and the budget you have.”

He hinted that there is already optimism even at this early stage of the festival that the Dunoon Film Festival is here to stay as an annual event which can only grow with popularity

It’s up to us the folk of Cowal to prove the optimism right and support what surely could be a major event and attraction and not just in two venues.

Having listened to the optimistic comments from Allan on the future of the Dunoon Film Festival Victor asked if it was to early to suggest a film for consideration for next years festival and suggested “The Man With The Jazz Guitar” the delightful portrait of the fascinating 50s jazz musician and popular radio broadcaster Ken Sykora who lived locally for over 30 years.

The Dunoon Film Festival, which has been initiated by the Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust as part of its ongoing plan to restore the hall and turn it into a viable year-round arts venue to service the local community, is certainly indicative of a growing appetite for a more localised celebration of cinema.