Between 1 July – 13 August 2017, UP Projects’ award winning mobile structure The Floating Cinema toured to eight locations across South and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. Forming part of Hull UK City of Culture’s ‘Freedom Season’, The Floating Cinema presented its programme at canal-side locations in Sheffield, Rotherham, Swinton, Doncaster, Thorne, Goole, South Ferriby, ending its tour at Hull Marina.
The programme for the 2017 tour, titled In Dialogue, presented a new commission by Leeds based artist Harry Meadley alongside a line-up of films including international feature films, cult classics and award winning documentaries.
On the Bench, the new artwork by Harry Meadley was central to the overall programme. Composed of a series of eight short films, this context-specific artwork spotlights the nuances and creative diversity of South and East Yorkshire. Developed and created with participants living or working in the eight locations where The Floating Cinema toured, On the Bench featured interviews with individuals who articulated how these places influenced their identity and inspired their creative pursuits.
The conversations featured in On the Bench informed the line-up of the corresponding film and documentary programme. Focusing on themes of dedication, determination and perseverance, In Dialogue presented 15 International films and documentaries from 9 countries, screening a number of films in Arabic, English, Farsi, French, German, Italian Polish, Russian and Tuareg. The overall programme was devised in collaboration with the multiple partner organisations located along the tour.
The In Dialogue programme hosted a number of events and activities, catering for diverse interests and responding to local demand. The events and activities programme was delivered in partnership with ten organisations based in the locations where The Floating Cinema moored.
Support
On the Bench is a commission by UP Projects for The Floating Cinema. The outdoor film programme is devised in collaboration with Hull Independent Cinema. Events are delivered in partnership with Artlink, Crafts Council & Humber Street Gallery, The Ropewalk, Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance, Site Gallery, Swinton Lock Activity Centre, The Point and Yorkshire Waterways Museum. Presented during Hull 2017 UK City of Culture.
The commission and The Floating Cinema is supported by Arts Council England's Strategic Touring Programme, BFI, Film Hub North, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Canal & River Trust, Hull City Council and forms part of Hull 2017 UK City of Culture.
