THE FIRST FILM
The truth behind the greatest mystery in cinema history
GALA PREMIERE
Plus Director Q&A
At the Hyde Park Cinema, Leeds
Wednesday 1st July – 8.00pm
Thursday 2nd July – 6.30pm
Screening and Director Q&A
At Picturehouse Bradford (at The National Media Museum)
In the late 19th century, the race was on to be the first to make the leap from stills photography to actual moving pictures. The likes of the Lumiére Brothers in Paris, Thomas Edison in New York, and many others were all experimenting with the process and new technology but also a French inventor and artist Louis Le Prince based in Leeds, Yorkshire.
In October 1888 Le Prince produced the world’s first films in Leeds, shot on cameras patented in both America and the UK.
Once he had perfected his projection machine he arranged to demonstrate his discovery to the American public and thus the world. On 16th September 1890, just weeks before he was due to sail to New York, Louis Aimé Augustine Le Prince stepped onto the Dijon to Paris train and was never seen again. As a result, Edison and the Lumiére Brothers were to claim the glory and the prize and Le Prince’s name and his pioneering work was forgotten.
David Nicholas Wilkinson was told this story at school, in Leeds. The fact that his hometown could have been the birthplace of film sparked a lifelong interest in the story but Wilkinson was always baffled that Le Prince’s name is little known, or celebrated, outside of Yorkshire.
The First Film is the story of Wilkinson’s quest to prove, once and for all, that film was invented in Leeds. A thorough investigation of the evidence, interviews with local and international film historians and experts in patent law and police procedure, presented by Wilkinson, combine to reveal a compelling story of British (and Yorkshire) innovation, ruthless international competition and possibly murder……
Produced, Directed and Presented by David Nicholas Wilkinson
Featuring Michael Harvey, Mark Rance, Stephen Herbert, Daniel Martin, Tony Earnshaw, Adrian Wootton, Tony North, Jacques Pfend, Tony Pierce-Roberts BSC, Laurie Snyder, Carol S Ward, Louise A Handley, Quentin Dows
, Liz Rymer with Ronald Harwood, Tom Courtenay and Joe Eszterhas
The Gala Premiere screening will be followed by a Q&A with David Nicholas Wilkinson. Tickets are available now at £20 (no concessions) and each ticket holder will receive a copy of the ‘Made In Yorkshire’ Book and a free DVD.
All funds raised will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Society
http://www.hydeparkpicturehouse.co.uk/index.php?showing=7319#now-showing
https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/National_Media_Museum/film/the-first-film-director-qanda
Release date: At cinemas from 3rd July 2015
Running time: 106 mins, Cert: PG
For press information please contact Lisa Richards – lisa@lisarichardspr.net Tel: 07798 876 352
www.thefirstfilm.com
