Stroud Film Festival 2024 - Editor's picks

by Robin Layfield

The 2024 Stroud Film Festival runs from January 22 — March 10 across a number of venues in and around Stroud District. Here are a few hand-picked highlights of the upcoming festival.

The One and Only Dick Gregory (plus Q&A)

‘The One and Only Dick Gregory’ celebrates the life of a capricious and brilliant pioneer, stand-up comedian, artist, and activist. Gregory’s contribution to the civil rights movement in America is unprecedented. Among many other things, he spearheaded a one-man health food revolution and advocated for poor people’s rights.

Friday 1 March from 7.30pm — 10pm
Lansdown Hall, Lansdown, GL5 UBB
Hosted by Derrick McLean & Ronnie McGrath (Black Ark Media)
Tickets: £8 (pay it forward), £6 (standard), £4 (low income / cost of living affected)

THE ONE AND ONLY DICK GREGORY (PLUS Q & A) — Stroud Film Festival

‘The One and Only Dick Gregory’ celebrates the life of a capricious and brilliant pioneer, stand-up comedian, artist, and activist. Gregory’s contribution to the civil rights movement in America is unprecedented. Among many other things, he spearheaded a one-man health food revolution and advocated

Stroud Film Festival

Unreflected Reflections — Next Step

Come and experience how a community tells its own stories and history. Unreflected Reflections was initially founded to capture stories and share the history of the Muslim community in Gloucester through creative means. “We are excited to bring to the Stroud Film festival our first film and new documentary.”

Saturday 2 March from 4.30pm — 7pm (including food)
Trinity Rooms, Field Road GL5 2HZ
Hosted by Ismail Kholwadia
Tickets: £16 (pay it forward), £12 (standard), £6 (low income / cost of living affected)

UNREFLECTED REFLECTIONS NEXT STEP — Stroud Film Festival

SCREENING OF TWO DOCUMENTARIES WITH Q&A AND FOOD Come and experience how a community tells its own stories and history. Unreflected Reflections was initially founded to capture stories and share the history of the Muslim community in Gloucester through creative means. “We are excited to br

Stroud Film Festival

Monica

Monica is an intimate portrait of a woman who returns home after a long absence to confront the wounds of her past. Reconnecting with her mother and the rest of her family for the first time since leaving as a teenager, Monica embarks on a path of healing and acceptance.

The film delves into Monica’s internal world and state of mind, her pain and fears, her needs and desires, to explore the universal themes of abandonment and forgiveness.

Saturday 2 March at 7.30pm
Lansdown Hall & Gallery, Lansdown, GL5 UBB
Tickets: £8 (pay it forward), £6 (standard), £4 (cost of living affected)

MONICA — Stroud Film Festival

Monica is an intimate portrait of a woman who returns home after a long absence to confront the wounds of her past. Reconnecting with her mother and the rest of her family for the first time since leaving as a teenager, Monica embarks on a path of healing and acceptance. The film delves into Monic

Stroud Film Festival

Children of the Sea

Beautifully animated by acclaimed Studio 4°C, Children of the Sea won numerous awards for its striking visual style emulating the fluid movement of water itself. As Ruka begins to unravel the mysterious disappearance of ocean animals around the world, she encounters wondrous sea creatures and forgotten lands rarely seen by humanity. This thought-provoking film explores themes of the environment, belonging, and humanity’s connection with nature.

Saturday 2 March at 11am
Sunday 3 March at 1pm
Stroud Brewery, London Road, GL5 2BY
Tickets: £8 (pay it forward), £6 (standard), £4 (low income / cost of living affected)

CHILDREN OF THE SEA — Stroud Film Festival

Escape into the magical world of the ocean with a special family screening of the animated film Children of the Sea at Stroud Brewery. This mesmerising story follows Ruka, a young girl who meets two mysterious boys during her summer vacation by the sea. While the boys were raised by dugongs, Ruka fe

Stroud Film Festival

Black Dog Way (with Q&A)

Filmed on location since 2019, this timely film captures compelling stories from all walks of life - individuals who have experienced homelessness, activists campaigning for change, support workers on the frontlines, and more.

At the heart of the documentary is Steve Gower, whose journey guides us to understand the weakened social safety nets, lack of affordable housing, and compounding crises that have led many into homelessness. As rising inflation and economic uncertainty continue to impact the most vulnerable, the stories and insights in Black Dog Way feel more relevant than ever.

Wednesday 6 March at 6.30pm
Trinity Rooms, Field Road GL5 2HZ
Tickets: £8 (pay it forward), £6 (standard), £4 (low income, cost of living affected)

BLACK DOG WAY — Stroud Film Festival

PLUS Q&A We invite you to a community screening of Black Dog Way, a powerful documentary giving voice to Gloucester’s most vulnerable and marginalized people. Filmed on location since 2019, this timely film explores the causes and impacts of inequality, housing precarity, and homelessness i

Stroud Film Festival

Grooveniles: Youth on a Mission

Roll-up roll-up for a fantabulous screening of short films, all under 5 minutes, by the cream of the crop of young artists in Stroud! Whether shot on a posh camera or a brick phone, and whether whimsical or terribly sinister, these films will plug you into the minds of local juvenile creatives and blow you away into the five valleys!

Friday 8 March from 7.40pm — 10pm
SVA (Stroud Valley Artspace), John Street GL5 2HA
Hosted by Sylvie Magee
Tickets: £6 (standard), £4 (low income / cost of living affected)

GROOVENILES: YOUTH ON A MISSION — Stroud Film Festival

Roll-up roll-up for a fantabulous screening of short films, all under 5 minutes, by the cream of the crop of young artists in Stroud! Whether shot on a posh camera or a brick phone, and whether whimsical or terribly sinister, these films will plug you into the minds of local juvenile creatives and b

Stroud Film Festival

Roll Bounce + Skate party

Roll Bounce is a 2005 American comedy-drama film written by Norman Vance Jr. and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The film stars hip hop artist Bow Wow as the leader of a roller skating crew in 1970s Chicago.

Saturday 9 March
Film Screening — 7pm
Skate Party — 9pm — 11pm
Lansdown Hall, Lansdown GL5 1BB
Hosted by Stroud Skate Crew & DJ Marcus
Tickets: £12 (Film & Skate), £6 (Film only)

ROLL BOUNCE — Stroud Film Festival

FILM SCREENING AND SKATE JAM/DISCO PARTY Stroud Skate Crew present: Roll Bounce (cert 15) Film screening 7pm Skate Party - 9-11pm Roll Bounce is a 2005 American comedy-drama film written by Norman Vance Jr. and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The film stars&am

Stroud Film Festival

The Red Shoes

In Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s visually ravishing masterpiece, a young ballerina is torn between the demands of love and art. Like the heroine of Hans Christian Andersen’s source fairytale, whose magic shoes compel her to dance, Victoria Page – played by real-life ballerina Moira Shearer – finds herself driven to breaking point by obsessive Russian impresario Lermontov (Anton Walbrook) when she’s cast in his ballet The Red Shoes.

Friday 8 March from 7.30pm — 10pm
Vue Cinema, 5 Valleys Shopping Centre, GL5 1RY
Hosted by Derrick McLean
Tickets: £8 (pay it forward), £6 (standard), £4 (low income / cost of living affected)

THE RED SHOES — Stroud Film Festival

In Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s visually ravishing masterpiece, a young ballerina is torn between the demands of love and art. Like the heroine of Hans Christian Andersen’s source fairytale, whose magic shoes compel her to dance, Victoria Page – played by real-life ballerina Moira Shearer

Stroud Film Festival

Teen Film School

Here’s a chance to make, as well as see films as part of the festival.

Most of us are very experienced film watchers and have a very good understanding of how stories are told in film. Lots of people are very killed using phones to shoot simple videos. At the same time, lots of videos which are made on phones could be more engaging by applying a few of the approaches used by professional film makers. And to explore some of the apps which are on many phones.

Sunday 10 March from 11am — 3pm
SVA (Stroud Valley Arts), John Street GL5 2HA
Contact Claire or Andy at SVA
Tickets: £20 (pay it forward), £10 (standard), £FREE (concessions)

FILM SCHOOL IN A DAY - FOR PEOPLE AGED 15-22 — Stroud Film Festival

Here’s a chance to make, as well as see films as part of the festival. Most of us are very experienced film watchers and have a very good understanding of how stories are told in film. Lots of people are very killed using phones to shoot simple videos. At the same time, lots of videos which are ma

Stroud Film Festival

The Last Tree

Femi is a British boy of Nigerian heritage who, after a happy childhood in rural Lincolnshire, moves to inner London to live with his mum. Struggling with the unfamiliar culture and values of his new environment, teenage Femi has to figure out which path to adulthood he wants to take.

Shola Amoo’s direction is strong, and his film moves in unexpected directions. Stil Williams’ cinematography is divine. Adewunmi, Ikumelo and Pinnock  are excellent, with great performances from Tai Golding as young Femi, Denise Black as the foster mom, Demmy Ladipo as a gang leader and Ruthxjiah Bellenea as a potential romantic interest who shares Femi’s love for the Cure.

Friday 15 March from 7.30pm — 9.30pm
Lansdown Hall, Lansdown, GL5 UBB
Hosted by Derrick McLean & Ronnie McGrath (Black Ark Media)
Tickets: £8 (pay it forward), £6 (standard), £4 (low income / cost of living affected)

THE LAST TREE — Stroud Film Festival

PLUS Q & A CHANGE OF PROGRAMME The recent success of Earth Mama has resulted in changes to its release dates. We programmed this great film in the autumn but are regrettably no longer able to screen this film in March. In its place, Stroud’s Black Ark Media is pleased to have programmed Th

Stroud Film Festival

Landscapes of the Soul (short film collection)

Drawing on a wealth of talent, from near and far, this afternoon selection of short films will engage and provoke questions. These are films which explore the importance of our landscape and its power over our inner and outer lives. The event brings into focus both global and local concerns, situated as we are, in the heart of the Cotswolds. The screening will be accompanied by a Q&A and we encourage film fans and film-makers to take part in a dynamic exchange.

Saturday 16 March from 4.30pm — 6.30pm
SVA (Stroud Valley Arts), John Street GL5 2HA
Hosted by Claire Levy & Andy Freedman
Tickets: £8 (pay it forward), £6 (standard), £4 (low income / cost of living affected)

LANDSCAPES OF THE SOUL — Stroud Film Festival

Drawing on a wealth of talent, from near and far, this afternoon selection of short films will engage and provoke questions. These are films which explore the importance of our landscape and its power over our inner and outer lives. The event brings into focus both global and local concerns, situate

Stroud Film Festival

The Journey (short film collection)

Drawing on filmmaking talent, from near and far, this afternoon selection of short films will raise questions and provoke debate. These are journey films which take us from physical and spiritual places of conflict and lead us through difficult decisions and questions about the nature of family. Journeys which take place in both the inner and material worlds and ask how we get there?

Sunday 17 March from 1pm — 4pm
The Museum in the Park, GL5 4AF
Hosted by Claire Levy & Andy Freedman
Tickets: £8 (pay it forward), £6 (standard), £4 (low income / cost of living affected)

THE JOURNEY SHORT FILMS — Stroud Film Festival

Drawing on filmmaking talent, from near and far, this afternoon selection of short films will raise questions and provoke debate. These are journey films which take us from physical and spiritual places of conflict and lead us through difficult decisions and questions about the nature of family. Jou

Stroud Film Festival

Scrapper

The debut feature of Charlotte Regan is a triumphant comedy-drama with a lot of heart and a splash of magic. After her beloved mother passes away, 12-year-old Georgie believes she can get by on her own. Scrappy and resourceful, she steals bikes with her best friend Ali. She definitely has no interest in getting to know her absentee father Jason, who drops into her garden one day – and back into her life.

Sunday 17 March from 4pm — 6pm
Vue Cinema, 5 Valleys Shopping centre, GL5 1RY
Tickets: £8 (pay it forward), £6 (standard), £4 (low income / cost of living affected)

SCRAPPER — Stroud Film Festival

The debut feature of Charlotte Regan is a triumphant comedy-drama with a lot of heart and a splash of magic. After her beloved mother passes away, 12-year-old Georgie believes she can get by on her own. Scrappy and resourceful, she steals bikes with her best friend Ali. She definitely has no interes

Stroud Film Festival