Film society scoops double award at prestigious cinema event

Silver screen enthusiasts are celebrating once again after their latest successes at a prestigious national cinema prize-giving.
Leigh Film Society celebrating their Cinema For All Awards victories while social distancingLeigh Film Society celebrating their Cinema For All Awards victories while social distancing
Leigh Film Society celebrating their Cinema For All Awards victories while social distancing

Silver screen enthusiasts are celebrating once again after their latest successes at a prestigious national cinema prize-giving.

Leigh Film Society scooped two accolades in this year’s Cinema For All Awards.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The charity took the Best Community Cinema prize for its response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which involved volunteers giving out distinctive orange bags full of DVDs at homes across the borough.

The society’s screening of Ken Loach’s latest hard-hitting film Sorry We Missed You in Leigh Parish Church, an event which helped local foodbanks, also took the Best Single Event prize.

The charity also received an extra boost over the awards weekend as it was announced the society had secured £3,000 from Filmbank Media to develop a youth film club in its cinema at the Leigh Spinners Mill which is currently at the construction stage.

Society development director Elizabeth Costello said: “It was a brilliant weekend for Leigh as well as for the film society. We love winning national awards because it is recognition for the hard work of our amazing group of volunteers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Without their generosity and dedication to bringing film to our town we wouldn’t have Leigh Film Society where it is today. It was about staying connected with the vulnerable people who came to our classic cinema club but then grew. We teamed up with Everything Human Rights to connect with people who were isolated and then we got referrals from the council.

“I was shielding so it gave me a focus. I had to sort the films into different genres and make sure they were age appropriate and then our volunteers delivered them. We must have made about 200 deliveries. Our house looked like a Blockbuster store.

“Sorry We Missed You brought in nearly £600 in donations and four crates of food for our local foodbanks. We also had the lead actor of the film attend and do a Q&A.”

Related topics: