Homeless Film Festival dedicated to confronting and presenting homelessness issues

The Homeless Film Festival is the first festival of its kind dedicated to confronting and presenting homelessness issues.

This year’s festival will see high-end features, shorts and documentaries screened, all of which have homelessness issues as a central theme or are films that are made by homeless creatives’ in a mixture of genres.

This year’s schedule includes iconic films such as Dark Days, Mr Stink, Check It and Wendy and Lucy.

Locations

The festival will visit iconic locations and independent cinemas across Europe, including, Central Library, Manchester, HOME, Manchester, Arthouse Crouch End, London, Square Chapel Arts Centre, Halifax, The Gulbenkian, Kent, the Documentary Media Centre, Leicester, Ultimate Picture House, Oxford and Bilbao, Spain, amongst other locations.

Events

Key events include a screening of Mr Stink for young children at Central Library in Manchester (9th November 2017), to address issues surrounding homelessness, a pop up cabin showcasing short-films in Leicester around various locations (from 4th November -18th November), a free film workshop for young people with Lifeshare Charity in Manchester (16th November), a discussion on LGBT young homeless at HOME, Manchester (13th November 2017) and an opening event in partnership with Bizitegi in Bilbao, Spain, where the charity will launch a short-film competition for schools and run a film making workshop with people who have an experience of homelessness.

Raising awareness of homelessness around the world

Dean Brocklehurst, creator and director of Homeless Film Festival said: ‘We’re really excited to announce the schedule for Homeless Film Festival 2017.

“The charity is growing year on year and with this year’s festival we hope to raise awareness of homelessness around the world, highlighting not only the people who are homeless but the many ways in which people become homeless.’

Dean set up Homeless Film Festival with the aim of tackling some of the core issues of homelessness such as lack of aspirations, qualifications and self-confidence.

Filmmaking workshops

Aside from raising awareness through the film festival, the charity directors also run filmmaking workshops with homeless project participants in the UK, giving them the opportunity to take part in free filmmaking and art projects all year round.

Participants develop skills in script writing, camera operating, editing and festival programming as well as more bespoke workshops requested during sessions.

Recent projects

Recent projects in Greater Manchester include filmmaking in a day activities at Fleet House women’s refuge in Bolton and Greenbank Trafford for homeless and vulnerable young people in Trafford, both part of Irwell Valley Housing Association.

Homeless Film Festival represents issues from a worldwide international perspective. The tour covers the UK but the content and work is worldwide and film submissions come from all over the world.

The Homeless Film Festival runs from 4th November 2017 until 18th November 2017

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(from a press release)