Film festival audiences in Bognor treated to views of past

The occasion will provide the chance to view the town in the recent and distant past.

Sponsored by the Bognor Regis Observer, it shows Bognor captured on celluloid, on video and on DVD during the past century.

The background scenes of the more recent clips could well feature members of the audience.

The shows will be presented by the Observer's local history correspondent, Sylvia Endacott.

She said: "They will be different from the traditional local history film shows.

"There will be the flickering black and white scenes from years gone by.

"But there will be an awful lot in colour as well from the 70s, 80s, 90s and early 2000s.

Events covered include Bognor's 200th anniversary in 1987, a snippet of 1990s life at the 39 Youth Club in Bognor, the 1987 hurricane, North Bersted's shops in 1989 and Felpham in the Queen's coronation year.

The fascinating glimpses into the past form one of the opening occasions of the 2008 End Of The Pier International Film Festival.

Sylvia's screenings take place at 10am and 2pm on April 28 at the Regis Centre.

Each show will last for two hours but they will contain separate clips. This means an unprecedented four hours of local history nostalgia in which to indulge.

More than 20 clips, belonging to various people, will be shown. They range in length from three minutes to 23. The oldest dates from 1910 and the most recent was made in 2000.

"It's fascinating seeing the town in the 1970s and 1980s," said Sylvia. "People who come along to the shows might well see themselves or people they know in the crowds."

Admission to the sessions will 3 for one or 5 for both. Refreshments are included.

At 4pm, the Bognor and Butlins of the 1960s will be seen in The Leather Boys. Starring Rita Tushingham and Dudley Sutton, the 1966 classic feature was nominated for a Golden Globe. It follows the lives of two newly weds and perfectly captures the Sixties biker scene.

The evening of April 28 will feature at least one contemporary film of Bognor. Cinema projectionist Jade Samways has captured the work of the Picturedrome cinema's manager, Chris Allsopp, in keeping its film reels rolling.

Doors open at 7pm for an invitation-only audience and festival director Bryan Gartside will be offering a glass or two of wine to accompany his director's choice of films. The festival begins on April 25 with a champagne and canape gala at Butlins. Stars from the featured films '“ Tamzin Outhwaite and John Altman '“ will be among those present.

The next day sees the action switch to the Regis Centre where it mainly stays until the festival's close on May 3.

The festival lives up to its billing by presenting seven full length feature films. Six of them will be having their official UK premieres. Three of these are Sussex productions.

April 26 sees an evening of drama, April 27 features BBC producer and director Harold Snoad and friends sharing tales and footage from series such as Keeping Up Appearances and It Ain't Half Hot Mum.

April 29 puts the focus on documentatries, April 30 is European night with animation on May 1.

The party@the end of the Pier on May 2 celebrates university film making with the red carpet awards on May 3 rounding off this year's celebration of film with some star names turning up.