News

Top 5 UK landscapes you can visit from the big screen

While watching our favourite movies, most of us have probably spotted famous buildings across the country being used as backdrops. Mentmore Towers in Buckinghamshire became the Dark Knight’s Wayne Manor in Batman and scenes in Durham Cathedral became the classroom for a well-known wizard and his friends in Harry Potter. If you’ve spotted a scene in a film that you’d like to visit, then read on as Suttons, garden lovers and retailers of corcus bulbs seeds, tell us where to find them:

The top 5 best dressed out-of-costume superheroes

The trademark of a famous superhero is a kick-ass ensemble. Usually made from body-hugging latex, bold colours and featuring their memorable icon, the costume of a superhero can be the making of them. But, when they’re not saving the world or fighting their archnemesis, who still has swagger? Read on for our rundown of the most stylish superheroes:

Film and TV Charity: supporting all of the film industry

The Film and TV Charity got in touch…

We’re the charity working behind the scenes of the film and television industry in the UK. From research to writing, through casting and production, to editing, sales, distribution and exhibition, we support the lives of everyone involved.

Classic films support Co-operative push in Plymouth

Plymouth Arts Cinema is working with Plymouth City Council to present a series of films over the next 12 months to raise awareness of the great work that co-operatives do. Plymouth City Council wants to double the size of the co-operative economy in the city by 2025.

Film fest brings sustainability to Exeter’s solar-powered cinema

The programme has now been announced for Exeter Phoenix’s short film festival, Two Short Nights. The 18th annual festival of short film will take place 27-29 November at Exeter Phoenix’s independent solar-powered cinema, Studio 74. The newly announced programme places a diverse range of must-see films from around the world alongside emerging local filmmaking talent.

Michael Ford animator of Disney, Marvel and Lego at PCA

Animator and VFX artist Michael Ford, who has worked on films including Disney’s Aladdin (2019), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), and The Lego Batman Movie (2017) is a Lecturer for BA (Hons) Animation at Plymouth College of Art.

Mary of Exeter, the hero pigeon who wouldn’t give up

A new animated film commemorating the bravery of Mary of Exeter, a World War Two hero pigeon, is being premiered in Exeter this November.

Hell-Tor Gothic film festival puts Devon on horror map

A new festival in Exeter celebrating Dartmoor and Devon’s rich history of ghosts, ghouls and witchcraft – Hell-Tor – will take place this November.

Chumbak: hope and aspirations from jungle to city

Adventure, invention and ingenuity seems to sum up both the film Chumbak and the approach of filmmakers Tobias Worrall and Isabelle van Hoorn.

Focusing on emotional truth: Louisa Fielden talks about Patrick

It’s rare that female friendship is explored on film. For Patrick, an Exeter Phoenix commission for Two Short Nights, Louisa Fielden takes two schoolgirls, an older boyfriend and mixes in social media for a film of complex emotional truth. We asked her about how the film was made

Challenge! Can you make a film in 48 hours

Two Short Nights Film Festival returns to Exeter Phoenix this winter, bringing with it the famous 48 Hour Film Challenge. From first-time filmmakers to seasoned professionals, this inspiring (and free!) challenge sees teams from across the region compete to be crowned the Best 48 Hour Film at the annual short film festival. And it poses the creative, fun challenge: can you make a film in 48 hours?

Britain on Film mapping mission: crowdsourcing with the BFI

Seeing places you know on screen is some kind of special. The way it looks so familiar and just that little bit different. Now your expert eagle eyes are being called on by the BFI to crowdsource locations for Britain on Film.

Ferrante Fever, charting the ‘unrelenting addiction’ to the author

Ferrante Fever is a documentary exploring the cultural phenomenon and world-wide appeal of novelist Elena Ferrante. The film features a whole secchio (bucket, to you) load of authors discussing the Ferrante craze. We went even better! Ahead of her special presentation of the film at the Exeter Phoenix, we got in touch with Dr Alessia Risi, Lecturer in Italian at Exeter University to find out what makes the author – and the film – so appealing.

UK Green Film Festival: the best of environmental films

The state of our planet’s environment is, at last, increasingly at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Film is one of the most powerful platforms to illustrate the importance of protecting our unique and beautiful world, how to go about doing that, as well as evidencing the damage that has already been done. The mission of the UK Green Film Festival (UKGFF) is to enable as many people nationwide to be able to watch the most current, vital and very best of today’s environmental films.

The Witch’s Mask: Paul Westwood on a story waiting to be told

The story behind the film The Witch’s Mask is intriguing. We spoke to writer and director Paul Westwood about the dream that inspired him and the attention to detail to telling the story through film

Hair, make up and more opportunities on SW FilmMail

The SW FilmMail email newsletter is a great way to find out out new opportunities as well as films and characters in the South West filmmaking scene.

If we listen carefully, can we understand? Nigel Smith on Mute

After a career in the medical profession, Dr Nigel Smith turned to animation to tell stories of people and health. He spoke to us about Mute, the power of animation and listening

Classic crime at Torquay Museum for English Riviera Film Fest

The classic crime films at Torquay Museum as part of the English Riviera Film Festival have physical twists, psychological turns and a post-war world dripping with immorality. It’s iconic cinema, exploring some of the lowest human values.

Exeter student Elliott Hasler hailed as the “the next Spielberg”

A University of Exeter student, Elliott Hasler, is already making a big impact in the film industry as the UK’s youngest feature film director, with an acclaimed film critic labelling him as “the next Steven Spielberg.”

Exeter Picturehouse heads to the Double Locks pub

The summer’s not over just yet as the Picturehouse Outdoor cinema pitches up in the idyllic canal-side setting of the Double Locks pub for three nights of cinema under the stars.

Does ‘Poldark effect’ threaten sense of Cornish identity?

A researcher is examining how Cornish people are affected by the rewriting of history and identity in TV programmes like Poldark – and the influx of visitors drawn to the county’s scenic filming locations.

The 7 best movies featuring animals

The British public love animals and films, so combining the two means we’re onto a winner, right? It doesn’t matter what the animal is, we fall in love. However, for movie makers, getting a creature to play the lead role can prove a difficult task. While you can send a human away to learn their lines, it’s not quite as simple with animals.

Linda Mason: documentary humanises and builds empathy

Linda Mason is capturing an intimate portrayal of British farming life in her film Lifelong Farmer, part of North Devon Moving Image‘s Down on the Farm commission. We caught up with her to find out about the importance of keeping a film record of life and how hard it is to make a film in the midst of cows

Almodovar’s Pain & Glory celebrated at Picturehouse

The Picturehouse chain, including the Exeter Picturehouse has an exclusive preview of Pedro Almodovar’s Pain & Glory, the latest flick from ‘the master of melodrama’.

The first Surprise Film at Exeter Picturehouse!

If, like us, you’re surprised to see so many mainstream films at the Picturehouse chain, then this might seem nothing new. But Exeter Picturehouse is due for a surprise screening. You pay your money and you take your chance… a bit like normal. No! This is a surprise. And here are the details. Well, as much was we know…

Remember spotting an Audi in these films?

Audi is a notable car brand, but did you know it also has quite a long filmography? Check out the article below from Audi dealer, Vindis, and see if you can remember spotting an Audi appearance?

Classic crime at Torquay Museum for English Riviera Film Fest

Classic crime films exploring the wide darkness and depth of human naughtiness is explored at Torquay Museum for the English Riviera Film Festival

Grief, loss and forgetting: new short set for Cornwall

A new short film in Cornwall is drawing on the mythical, mysterious timeless quality of the coastline and the heartwarming character of the Cornish people

Exeter student Elliott Hasler hailed as the “the next Spielberg”

Elliott Hasler, and Exeter University student, is 18 and on his second feature. He’s been called the next “the next Spielberg” by a film critic. Here’s more

Exeter Picturehouse heads to the Double Locks pub

Get ready to end summer with some movies in the moonlight as the Exeter Picturehouse head to the Double Locks pub for a weekend of fun flicks

Christopher Evangelou: ‘every successful actor has had a different path’

Christopher Evangelou moved from boxing to film. He’s in a Guy Ritchie movie and is shooting Card Dead in Devon. We asked about his sport and acting career

Does ‘Poldark effect’ threaten sense of Cornish identity?

The Poldark effect and the associated change of heritage along with overtourism could be having an effect on Cornish culture and identity

The 7 best movies featuring animals

From man’s best friend (read ‘people’s’ best friend), to killer whales (not really whales), here are 7 of the top movies featuring animals

Linda Mason: documentary humanises and builds empathy

Inquisitive cows and a life rich in tradition are key to Linda Mason’s Lifelong Farmer doc, part of North Devon Moving Image’s Down on the Farm Commission

Almodovar’s Pain & Glory celebrated at Picturehouse

Pedro Almodovar’s Pain & Glory is getting an exclusive early screening at the Picturehouse cinemas followed by a season of just some of his great films

South of Devon Films: tapping into pockets of culture

South of Devon Films are tap into pockets of culture in the South West often overlooked by mainstream media. We chatted to Russell Cleave about their films

The Hurlers: companionship and belonging in sci fi thriller

The Hurlers is a sci fi thriller filmed in Cornwall. We spoke to filmmakers James Chegwyn and Mitchell Snell about companionship, community and belonging,

Grace Hancock: ‘Think of music as a visual thing’

Film music is ‘like a tapestry woven into the visuals’ says composer Grace Hancock. We chat to her about her approach to creating a score

The first Surprise Film at Exeter Picturehouse!

Surprise at the Exeter Picturhouse when you pays your money to be treated to a new film of your not choosing. It’s a hotly anticipated surprise!

Steve Aaron-Sipple: ‘So many brilliant stories to be told’

Actor Steve Aaron-Sipple is in the Indie film Card Dead. We caught up with him to catch acting, gambling, telling jobs and the future of Indie film

James Cox: ‘Documentary storytelling relies on human emotion’

Filmmaker James Cox was interested in the historical perspective of farming and by exploring it, his Down on the Farm documentary looks to the future

Cars used across multiple movies

It’s all very well having iconic cars that appear in a single flick. But what about the cars that are perennial favourites in appear in movie after movie?