The 30th Chichester International Film Festival launches with open-air screenings

The 30th Chichester International Film Festival gets underway with a series of open-air screenings at Priory Park.
By Phil Hewitt
Published 29th Jul 2022, 14:05 BST
Undated film still handout from Lightyear. Pictured: Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans). PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews.Undated film still handout from Lightyear. Pictured: Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans). PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews.
Undated film still handout from Lightyear. Pictured: Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans). PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ Film Reviews.

First up is Elvis (PG), focusing on the relationship between manager Tom Parker and the iconic musician (US/Australia, 2022, Baz Luhrmann, 159m).

Festival artistic director Roger Gibson said: “We are delighted to have Suspiciously Elvis to perform prior to the film. Ivor Potter had been performing around the UK and the world as Suspiciously Elvis for over 20 years (Friday, August 5, 20:30 approx).

Then comes West Side Story (12A).

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“The classic musical gets not only the Spielberg treatment, with fierce rivalries and ill-fated romance clashing in steamy 50s New York, but also the Chichester Film Festival open-air treatment, where you can enjoy quality film on the huge outdoor screen (US, 2021, Steven Spielberg, 155m). We are delighted to have Dawn Gracie to perform prior to the film.

“Dawn is an award-winning vintage and cabaret entertainer based in Chichester.” Saturday, August 6, 20:30 (approx)

The final screening is Lightyear (PG): “Buzz Lightyear embarks on an intergalactic adventure with a group of ambitious recruits and his robot companion. See it on the huge Priory Park open air screen.” (USA, 2022, Angus MacLane, 100m). Sunday, August 7, 20:30 (approx)

The opening gala film for the festival will be the new release Eiffel (15): “We are pleased to open the festival with this epic French period drama. The government is asking Eiffel to design something spectacular for the 1889 Paris World Fair, but Eiffel simply wants to design the subway. Suddenly, everything changes when Eiffel crosses paths with a mysterious woman from Arun's past.” (Subtitles) (France/Belgium/Germany, 2021, Martin Bourboulon, 108m) Weds, Aug 10, 18:30 (dinner from 18:30; film from 20:30)

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The closing gala film is Juniper. When a self-destructive teenager (George Ferrier) is suspended from school and asked to look after his feisty alcoholic grandmother (Charlotte Rampling) as a punishment, the crazy time they spend together turns his life around. (New Zealand, 2022, Matthew Saville, 94m). Sunday, August 28, 18:30; dinner from 18:30; film from 20:30

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