This year’s festival is presenting the following films for free in the park, with a retiring collection for charity:
5 August: Rocky Horror Picture Show
6 August: The Wizard of Oz
7 August: La La Land
8 August: Dirty Dancing
9 August: Mamma Mia
10 August: Beauty and the Beast (Live Action version)
Pictured: The six films being shown as part of the 23rd Jersey Film Festival which starts tonight at Howard Davis Park (Picture: Jersey Film Festival).
The festival has come a long way since it first began 23 years ago as a drive-in cinema at the former fun park at Belle Vue, when it gathered a crowd of around 300 people.
Deputy Lewis, who started the Jersey Film Festival back in 1994, says that they are expecting around 3,000 spectators to head to the park to watch this year’s films.
Commenting on the event’s growing popularity, the St Saviour Deputy said: “The feedback we’re getting back this year is absolutely phenomenal. Last year, people asked for more musicals so that’s why we’ve programmed ‘La La Land’, ‘Mamma Mia’ and the live action ‘Beauty and the Beast’ for this year’s festival.”
The films are free to attend, but there will be a retiring collection at the end of the evening to raise money for various charities.
Deputy Lewis said: “We’ve got some terrific sponsors this year and they have each nominated a charity. We know that money’s tight, so we just ask that people give whatever they can to support these charities.”
This year, the festival is sponsored by Rathbones, Dandara, Feel Unique, Jersey Arts Trust, The Idea Works, Condor Ferries, and Hartmann House. The retiring collection will go to raise funds for Jersey Hospice Care, Look Good Feel Better, Autism Jersey, Jersey Cheshire Homes and the Songwriters’ Society.
All the films start at 20:30 each evening, but the park is open for people to have picnics on the grass beforehand.
For more information, visit the Jersey Film Festival website or Facebook page.