By Jack Goodman
AN EAST Leeds community has come together to prepare a Christmas film screening for the people of the town – and you’d be a muppet to miss it!
Garforth does not have a cinema in the town – so resident Anna Cale has founded Garforth Film is now preparing for the group’s first event with a showing of The Muppet Christmas Carol.
The event will take place at St Benedict’s Parish Centre on Aberford Road tomorrow (Saturday).
The doors of the centre will open at 2pm with the film beginning at 2.30pm as the town continues its build-up to the festive season.
Mrs Cale said she is determined to provide the LS25 area with access to films and a chance to get together with family, friends and neighbours.
“I’ve always been a lover of film. It brings people together.
“There’s no community cinema or film society operating in the area. I think it’s a big gap, so I tried to address it,” she said.
Mrs Cale also highlighted how she hoped the community cinema would provide an opportunity for the community to come together in a way they wouldn’t normally.
Garforth Film is being supported by Cinema For All, a Sheffield-based company supporting community cinemas all over the UK.
Abi Standish, marketing and communications coordinator for the company, explained the benefits community cinema can have on the areas in which they are set up.
“Some areas do it to combat loneliness in their community. Others do it purely for entertainment, or just because they don’t have great access to other cinemas.”
Miss Standish also highlighted that the community cinemas offer affordability: “They’re volunteer-led, and the money made through ticket sales goes back into funding the screening of the next event.
“It really helps to bring members of the community together.”
Tickets for Garforth Film’s first event can be purchased online at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/garforth-film-the-muppet-christmas-carol-tickets-29108274633
For further information on community cinema, visit http://cinemaforall.org.uk/