Over eleven days from 19 — 29 April the National Media Museum in Bradford — UNESCO’s first City of Film — will play host to the 18th Bradford International Film Festival in partnership with Virgin Media. Celebrating all things cinematic, including FAMILY FILM SCREENINGS and a variety of FREE FUN-FILLED weekend activities, this year’s event promises to present its usual eclectic mix of more than 25 UK and international feature premieres, cult classics, internationally recognised guests, tributes, themed programmes, industry events, documentaries and family features.

Centenary tribute to Chuck Jones — This year BIFF will be celebrating 100 years since the birth of a truly legendary director who brought the world some of Bugs Bunny’s, Elmer Fudd’s, Road Runner’s and Daffy Duck’s, greatest moments in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons. Jones (1912 — 2002) was at the forefront of Warner Brothers’, and North America’s, ‘golden era’ of animation, and BIFF will be screening about 20 of his shorts throughout the festival. Films include Road Runner’s first outing in Fast and Furry-ous (1949), as well as What’s Opera, Doc? (1957), Duck Amuck (1953), Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953) and One Froggy Evening (1955), which together take up four of the top five places in Jerry Beck’s The 50 Greatest Cartoons, as voted for by 1000 animation professionals in 1994.

In addition to specially selected medleys of Jones’s films being screened, BIFF’s family weekend events (21 & 22 April and 28 & 29 April) feature activities for all ages inspired by the animator’s delightfully unique sense of entertainment. Free drop-in family workshops at the National Media Museum include Looney Tunes Sound Effects and Cartoon Creations, allowing visitors bring their own animations to life.

Jen Skinner, Film Education Officer at the National Media Museum, said:

“Chuck Jones has entertained countless children around the world with some of the most entertainingly anarchic cartoon characters ever produced. We are paying tribute to him at this year’s Bradford International Film Festival and who knows, we could be inspiring the next animation legend with some of our free family workshops.”

Other highlights at this year’s BIFF include: a Ray Winstone Retrospective (in the presence of the great man himself); silent film pianist Neil Brand with film critic Mark Kermode’s skiffle band The Dodge Brothers accompanying Beggars of Life, and the much loved Widescreen Weekend (27 – 29 April) which celebrates the 60th anniversary of Cinerama.

Chris Arrant

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