Hastings students honour cinema giants Powell and Pressburger

Launching on Saturday 4 November is the new Powell and Pressburger film season at Hastings Old Town independent cinema, The Electric Palace. The season has been part-curated by local students, and will feature talks, artworks, workshops, podcasts and more, created by young people in Hastings and Bexhill, writes Annie Waite.

Cinema Unbound: The Powell and Pressburger season at the Electric Palace is part of a major UK-wide celebration of one of the greatest and most enduring filmmaking partnerships: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, who made a series of influential films in the 1940s and 1950s, with their influence still being felt in cinema at large well into the 21st century.

Student Saturdays curated events

Well known modern directors who have cited Powell and Pressburger as influences include Greta Gerwig, Baz Luhrmann and Wes Anderson – who will be the first director in the spotlight this weekend as part of the series of four ‘Student Saturdays’ within the broad season: special events curated and organised by young people interested in film (but all welcome to the screenings!).

Young people in Hastings have also created artworks to support the season, and will be hosting events including an art exhibition from Tiger-lily Martinez, and a Wes Anderson-themed ‘zine making workshop on Saturday 4 November.

A poster to highlight these events aimed at the student community has been designed by local young graphic artist, Gracie Daniels (pictured).

Listen to local film podcasts

Bexhill students have also been involved with creating a series of four podcasts to explain the influences of Powell and Pressburger on contemporary directors. The Electric Palace will be sharing these through their channels.

About the Powell and Pressburger season, co-director of The Electric Palace cinema, Julia Andrews-Clifford, comments: “Everyone knows about Hitchcock, for example, as a great British director, but much fewer know about Powell and Pressburger, and this season is a chance to remedy that – especially helping younger audiences to see how their influence has reached contemporary directors like Greta Gerwig, Wes Anderson, Baz Luhrmann, Joanna Hogg, Damien Chazelle and Martin Scorsese. We hope that by being part of this UK-wide celebration we can make them household names again and celebrate their mammoth filmmaking achievements.”

Sneak peek at Turlo Griffin Wes Anderson artworks

As part of this unique opportunity for young people to be involved with this nationwide film industry initiative, students have been helping to arrange additional ‘surprise’ extras for each of the Student Saturday screenings.

At the upcoming Wes Anderson film screening of The Grand Budapest Hotel, visitors will be able to see an exclusive peek at Turlo Griffin’s illustrations and sketches for Wes’s set designs inspired by Hastings locations!

Turlo Griffin is a Concept Artist and Matte Painter, who has worked on several Wes Anderson productions including The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and his most recent Asteroid City.

Live VJ mix and Sight & Sound magazine film critic

Pamela Hutchinson, film historian and columnist for Sight & Sound magazine, will be sharing her film knowledge with older and younger audiences alike, by introducing a selection of films within the season at the Electric Palace cinema:
“The films of Powell and Pressburger create their own special universe – a place vast enough to include life on earth and beyond, as well as an enchanted realm of fantasy, spirituality and magic. I’m delighted that audiences in Hastings will be able to spend some time in this very special cinematic world.”

And locally based filmmaker and film lecturer at London Film School, Rebecca E Marshall, was due to host a ‘Filming in Technicolour’ Filmmaking workshop at Hastings Contemporary on Saturday 4 November, open to ages 15+.

In ‘Let’s Talk Film’ informal film course on Wednesday 8 November, The Electric Palace’s resident film historian and teacher, Ben Newell, invites audiences to take a closer look at the life and work of the masters of the big screen who have called the shots and crafted cinema experiences that have enthralled generations of moviegoers. Whether you’re a budding cinephile or completely fresh to the work of Powell and Pressburger, you can join informal discussion in an open space and meet other like-minded film fans.

Powell and Pressburger 2023 season events full line-up:

• Saturday 4 November, 2.30pm Filming in Technicolour: Filmmaking workshop at Hastings Contemporary
  A fun, informal workshop for filmmakers and film lovers alike taking place at Hastings Contemporary venue. “We’ll look at the colour and framing of Powell and Pressburger films and go out into Hastings Old Town using our phones, iPads or cameras to take our own images and celebrate the colour in our lives,” says Rebecca E Marshall, filmmaker and tutor on the course.
• Saturday 4 November 2.30pm Free – Wes Anderson-style ‘zine workshop
  Led by local artist Tiger-lily Martinez, make your own lo-fi zines and badges, all inspired by Wes Anderson, who in turn was inspired by Powell and Pressburger films and aesthetics.
• Saturday 4 November, 7.30pm – Student Saturdays Wes Anderson night: The Grand Budapest Hotel plus added extras
  The first Student Saturdays night devised and curated by people under 25 to explore the influence of Powell and Pressburger on contemporary filmmakers today. Screening open to all.
• Sunday 5 November, 11am – A Matter of Life and Death plus introduction from Pamela Hutchinson, film historian and Sight & Sound columnist
  Classic Powell and Pressburger fantasy-romance starring David Niven and Kim Hunter.
• Wednesday 8 November, 7.30pm – Let’s Talk Film: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Powell and Pressburger
  Film historian Ben Newell takes you through a journey into the world of Powell and Pressburger. Whether you’re a budding cinephile or a completely fresh to the work of Powell and Pressburger, share your love for cinema through informal discussion and take a closer look at the pair who called the shots and crafted cinema experiences that have enthralled generations of moviegoers.
• Saturday 18 November, 7.30pm: Student Saturdays: Greta Gerwig night with Lady Bird and surprise extras!
  The second Student Saturdays event, devised and curated by under 25s to explore the influence of Powell and Pressburger on contemporary filmmakers, for this event focused on the films of Greta Gerwig and the music of Kate Bush. Screening open to all.
• Sunday 19 November, 11am – I Know Where I’m Going!
  With live VJ film mix and guest introduction from film critic Pamela Hutchinson.
  One of the most deeply, passionately romantic dramas of all time. Plus, it’s just one of the many great representations of feisty women and girls from the Powell and Pressburger oeuvre.
• Saturday 2 December, 7.30pm: Student Saturdays: The Queer Worlds of Powell and Pressburger
  Queer Worlds will focus on the representation of LGBTQIA+ characters and themes in the films of Powell and Pressburger.
• Sunday 3 December, 11am Black Narcissus with Q&A
  Acclaimed psychological drama about a group of nuns trying to establish a convent in the Himalayas. Another cinematic jewel from Powell and Pressburger.
• Friday 8 December, 7.30pm Christmas Film Quiz
  A great fun night for both high-brow film nerds and  blockbuster fanatics alike! Includes a special Powell and Pressburger-themed round.
• Saturday 16 December, 7.30pm Student Saturdays: The Cinema of Excess in Powell and Pressburger
  The final Student Saturday in the season, devised and curated by under 25s. The Cinema of Excess will focus on the work of acclaimed filmmaker Baz Luhrmann.
• Sunday 17 December, 11am The Red Shoes with introductions by Glenys Jacques and film critic Pamela Hutchinson
  Based on a Hans Christian Andersen tale, a young ballerina is torn between her art and her romance with a young composer. The Red Shoes is regarded as one of the best films of Powell and Pressburger’s partnership and one of the greatest films of all time.

Book now for all the Powell and Pressburger season events at the Electric Palace cinema this Autumn/Winter 2023.

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