The Summit, celebrating Bradford’s coveted title of the world’s first UNESCO City of Film will bring international and UK film experts to the city next March to discuss and share ideas during three days of film and TV related events. The Summit was officially launched at Westminster by Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe and Philip Davies MP with representatives from Bradford UNESCO City of Film.
Guests included actor Michael Palin and members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – the organisation behind the Oscars. Steve Abbott, Chairman of the board for Bradford UNESCO City of Film said: “The Bradford International Film Summit is a first for Bradford and a first for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. We look forward to welcoming international guests and experts from the film and television industry to share and build on the work we are doing in Bradford to use film for cultural and economic benefit.”
Carola Ash, Director of Europe for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said: “ We visited Bradford last year to look at the excellent National Media Museum and met the team at Bradford City of Film. The work around film and TV in Bradford is outstanding and we are very supportive of the Film Summit in 2015.”
Actor Michael Palin said: “There are lots of advantages to filming in Yorkshire. It is a beautiful part of the world and has provided the backdrop to some great films that have been made there. There is a real momentum around film and TV in Yorkshire and especially in Bradford and it’s wonderful to be here at the launch of the Bradford Film Summit.”
Organisers of the Summit are working in partnership with the BBC, the British Film Institute, Screen Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Film Archive to design a programme of film and TV inspired events. Speakers already confirmed for the summit include Mark Reid, Head of Education at the BFI, who helped develop the Bradford Film Literacy Programme and Anne Morrison, Chair of BAFTA. The summit which runs 4-6 March 2015 will raise the international profile of Bradford and aims to form new alliances and collaborations, which will benefit all the UNESCO Creative Cities.
