Salford’s legendary sons are supporting the second Salford Film Festival which runs 10th,11th and 12th November 2004. The Salford Arts and Sports Trust - of which Albert Finney is President and Harold Riley Chairman - has this year donated a grant towards the `people’s’ event which gives free admission for the community to all films and workshops. Letters of support have also been received from Sir Ben Kingsley, Robert Powell and Christopher Eccleston.

Last year the Salford Film Festival drew huge audiences and international media attention with its mix of heritage `kitchen sink’ classics and film premieres of the new community-driven cinematic wave in the city, including the BAFTA-nominated Talking With Angels. This year the Festival is forging further ahead…

There are premieres of five community-driven films from Salford on an array of subjects from madness to magic - Madhouse by Reel Mcr, Wishful Thinking by Looking Glass Films, Off The Rails and The Watch by RipRoar, and What Are You Waiting For by Proud and Loud Arts.

Also, to make the Festival even more accessible, any North West film maker – amateur or professional – can enter the Salford Film Festival Short Film Competition with a selection of all films being shown on the big screen throughout the event, followed by awards and prizes for the very best in each of three categories – Best Student Short Award sponsored by the Red Cinema; the Reel North Award for Best Short sponsored by the International Media Centre (under £5k budget); the Salford Film Festival Award sponsored by Visual Impact (over £5k budget).

This year the Festival pays tribute to some of Salford’s most famous sons. Harold Riley will be showing the seminal sixties Granada tv film, Riley’s Salford, together with a new short feature made at his studio. There will also be four films featuring Albert Finney’s greatest work – The Dresser, Miller’s Crossing, Erin Brockovich and Big Fish…two films featuring stunning performances by Sir Ben Kingsley – Gandhi and Sexy Beast…and two films starring Christopher Eccleston which the star himself has selected – Shallow Grave and Jude.

Christopher Eccleston says:

"I’m very proud that some of my work is being screened at the Salford
Film Festival. The city and its people are an inspiration. You can always
tell a Salford lad but you can't tell him 'owt."

Mike Knowles, Chair, Salford Film Festival, says:

"Our aim is to show that anyone can enjoy film culture - make a film, star in a film, or enjoy a film that hasn't got a Titanic budget. From a romantic idea on the back of an envelope, the Salford Film Festival has become a reality, reflecting the vibrancy of our city, its people and its moving image."

With open seminars, conferences, events, workshops and even more community films, this year’s Salford Film Festival celebrates `Sallywood’ going from strength to strength…