Film festival flourishes in The Marches

Until a few years ago, our lively capital city was the only place you could catch a really unusual, international or unreleased film from an exciting independent director.

But the Borderlines Film Festival, now in its eighth successful year, has brought a colourful plethora of unforgettable cinema to some of Shropshire and Herefordshire's most rural areas.

Funded by Screen West Midlands, Shropshire Council and Herefordshire Council, it has now become the largest rural film festival in Britain.

"We'd like to be recognised as a major cultural event," says Borderlines' marketing officer, Jo Comino.

"Nearly 12,000 people come to the festival each year, so we're on a par with film festivals in major urban centres like Bradford and Belfast.

This year's festival runs from February 26th to March 14th and will feature compelling films from both local and international directors, as well as thought-provoking talks, lectures and forums on key local issues.

The films will be shown in a variety of hidden gems around Shropshire and Herefordshire, from tiny hamlets to larger venues like The Courtyard in Hereford and Wem Town Hall.

"We also work very closely with Flicks in the Sticks, which shows a regular programme of films in village halls across the more rural parts of the county, and they'll be involved with the festival too," says Jo.

One of the most eagerly-anticipated films on the programme will be Shell Shock, a debut film from James Price, a young director from Ludlow.

It follows the life of a soldier returning from an unknown conflict as he struggles to come to terms with post-traumatic stress, and was filmed here in The Marches, as well as the sharply contrasting locations of London and Tokyo.

The programme also features a rich tapestry of World Cinema, such the early Soviet classic Man with a Movie Camera which will be accompanied by a rousing piano performance from Borderlines regular Paul Shallcross.

"At a festival, people seem to take more risks in terms of what they'll go and see, and end up really enjoying it - some have even been known to take a whole week off work to watch the films!" says Jo.

"I think what people like most about it is the buzz, and the sense of something exciting and culturally significant happening in their area."

To find out more, follow @Borderlines on Twitter or visit www.borderlinesfilmfestival.co.uk

By Lara Page