Northwest Vision and Media, create the bigger picture
Grow Your Own-Liverpool
TONIGHT! PREMIERE FOR NORTHWEST’S HOME GROWN
FILM
TONIGHT sees the star-studded premiere of Grow Your Own,
the brilliant new British film . Walking the red carpet (in
wellies, no doubt) will be cast members John Henshaw (Starter for
Ten), Philip Jackson (Brassed Off) and Coronation Street’s
Rodney Litchfield. They will be joining crew and lucky ticket
winners at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool.
North West Vision, the strategic film, TV and digital media development agency for the Northwest, provided key support to Grow Your Own, and has organised the free, gala screening of the film to help showcase the region’s talent.
“We want as many people as possible to attend this free Northwest premier, because we’re so proud to be associated with such a brilliant, refreshing new feature,” says Alice Morrison, Chief Executive of North West Vision.
“Not only is this a great film to watch, but Grow Your Own also encapsulates some of those human values that we all aspire to - tolerance, humour and an ability to dig!” she adds.
The Grow Your Own regional premier will be held on Monday June 11 at The Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool.
“North West Vision is proud to have supported this project from its very early seeding as a series of three minute shorts for Channel 4, through to its blossoming into full-length feature,” explains Chris Moll, Head of Funds for North West Vision.
“The idea germinated and was filmed entirely in Liverpool, bringing together some of the city’s most exceptional creative talent. It’s challenging, moving and entertaining in equal measure, and I hope Grow Your Own will remind audiences around the globe of the unique position that Liverpool holds in the world’s heart,” adds Chris.
Written by Liverpool’s award-winning writer, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, and produced by Carl Hunter, Grow Your Own is a film about acceptance. It explores the relationships between members of a community after the arrival of refugees, who are given allotments to help them overcome their trauma. The film takes us through one year of growing, pruning and harvesting in the Little Eden that is Blacktree Road Allotments.
Frank Cottrell-Boyce says the real-life story of the refugees and the allotments captured his imagination immediately, and he knew there was a feature film to be made.
“Carl Hunter took me to a real place with the real people, and it’s a day I’ll never forget. I met people on that allotment who’d walked through minefields and swum through rivers while being shot at, people who had very little, but still found a way to be happy. I found that very chastening and very uplifting. And very worth telling,” says Frank.
Although Grow Your Own tells a fictional story, it is based on the experiences of the refugee asylum seekers who were helped by the Liverpool allotment project.
“This is a special film that came from something real. It's an international story that is on our own doorstep and if a film can change anything we hope it can change the fortunes of The Family Refugee Support Project and Art In Action,” adds Carl.
Grow Your Own will be on release from 15th June at: Ashton
Cineworld, Bolton Cineworld, Bromborough Odeon, Bury Vue, Liverpool
Switch, Liverpool Cineworld, Manchester Cornerhouse, Manchester
Filmworks, Wigan Empire, Woolton Cinema.
