New Navigations

NEW NAVIGATIONS Straightening our History & Stories of Resilience

CROMARTY COMMUNITY CINEMA

Special Programme

Jul - Aug ‘ 21

INTRO This summer our Young Programmers curated a special season focusing on two themes - Black Scottish history; Straightening our History and women overcoming barriers; Stories of Resilience. The programme features 6 weeks of film screenings and related activities including talks, Q+As, moonlit swims and a special 1950s style finale.

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LISTINGS

TICKETS

Thursday

22.07

Special ticket prices for the programme:

Thursday

29.07

£3.00 for Under 26s

Saturday

31.07

Thursday

05.08

Thursday

12.08

Thursday

19.08

Thursday

26.08

ALL SCREENINGS AT 7:00PM.

£5.00 Standard Tickets can be bought from Cromarty Cinema Box Office on Wednesdays from 12:00 - 2:00 and 30 mins before screenings (when still available).

CERTIFICATION Where the film has No Certification (N/C), a recommended age has been provided. Please note that this is for guidance only.

2 Credit Ruth Clark

1745 Gordon Napier

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Thurs 22 /07

Credit Jonathan Birch & Christian Cooksey

2017 Award-winning short – 1745 – enables us to enter the world of 18th century Scotland from a different perspective; that of two enslaved sisters. Emma and Rebecca (Morayo and Moyo Akandé) run for their lives across Highland moors and lochs to evade capture by their master (Clive Russell) who chases them on horseback.

Beautifully shot, this powerful film conveys the complexities of relationships.

18 mins

N/C 12+

SPECIAL EVENT Author David Alston will give a 15 minute talk between screenings and Q+A with Young Programmer, Grace Hall. He will describe other black women in the Highlands in the early 1800s - Eliza Junor, a student at Fortrose Academy, Anna Maria Fraser born Barbados/ died Inverness and Henrietta Fraser, a former slave from the island of Nevis.

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BLACK AND SCOTTISH

Thurs 22/07

Stewart Kyasimire

2019 Throughout his childhood in 1980s Glasgow, director Stewart Kyasimire struggled to find people in the public eye who were both black and Scottish. In this documentary, he invites black and mixed-race Scots of all ages to share their eye-opening experiences in a candid conversation about identity, culture, success and the future. BLACK AND SCOTTISH is a must watch

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28 mins

N/C 12+

film that’s full of energy and made with the intention of empowering present and future generations. It’s all the more meaningful knowing that Stewart coordinated this production with his young mixed-race daughter in mind.

SPECIAL EVENT Intro by director Stewart Kyasimire.

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ROCKS

Thurs 29/07

Sarah Gavron

Sat 31/07

2020 ROCKS is an optimistic drama about a teenage girl struggling to take care of herself and her brother.

Described in reviews as a vibrant and insightful ‘lifeaffirming gem of a movie’, this film features a cast of newcomers. The film was collaboratively written in workshops at youth hubs and workshops with NigerianBritish playwright/screenwriter Theresa Ikoko and TV writer,

1 hr 33 mins

12A

Claire Wilson. This gives it an incredibly authentic feel. ROCKS is a film about the joy,resilience and spirit of girlhood. The core group of British girls, who all come from differing cultural backgrounds including Nigerian, Somali, Polish, Bangladeshi, English and Congolese-Ghanaian, emerged out of extensive workshops in which they generously shared experiences.

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HYDROTHERAPY Fin & Jack Davies @ Friction Collective

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Thurs 05/08

2020 HYDROTHERAPY is a story set in the breathtaking landscapes of Snowdonia. Laura Sanderson talks about the impact of stress and being diagnosed with a life-changing illness.

Her personal crisis led to her developing a stronger and more meaningful connection to the natural world through wild swimming. This is a mesmerising short film that reminds us of the importance of being present in nature.

6 mins

N/C 12+

SPECIAL EVENT Intro by director Fin Davies.

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LESSONS FROM JEJU

Thurs 05/08

Nicole Gormley

2020 Starring Hawaii-born free diver Kimi Werner who was seven months pregnant at the time of filming, LESSONS FROM JEJU explores the depths of the ocean, motherhood, and work. In this documentary, Kimi visits South Korea's ‘mothers of the sea’ - a group of trailblazing freediving women in their 70s. This short film offers us a rare glimpse into the minds of women who earn a living from the sea.

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13 mins

N/C 12+

It also explores how being in the water can help us feel free, youthful, and at ease.

SPECIAL EVENT Intro by director Nicole Gormley and Kimi Werner.

Credit Matthew A. Williams

RESET

Thurs 05/08

Alberta Whittle

2020 Alberta Whittle, who will represent Scotland at the 2022 Venice Biennale, produced RESET during lockdown. This film was co-commissioned by Forma Arts and Frieze for the Frieze London Artist Award 2020.The artist describes the film having a 'theme of self-compassion through breathwork against the highly volatile hostile environment that we continue to inhabit.’

Animation, text, performance

32 mins

N/C 12+

and other footage are woven together. Water features strongly - from the rhythm of the ocean waves to a dance which references enslaved people moving through low ship galleys. We are delighted to be screening this new work by an important artist to audiences in the Highlands.

SPECIAL EVENT Intro with Alberta Whittle.

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I SWIM Mike Webster

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Thurs 12/08

Credit SpiralOut Pictures / Madmacwolf Media

2021 ‘Why do you swim?’ Why would you plunge yourself into freezing cold waters? Wild swimmer Louise Mason explores the answer to this simple question with honesty and power. In this short documentary filmed in Loch Achilty, she reflects on the different ways that wild swimming helps her - a story which will strike a chord with the many people who enjoy water-themed wellness today. I SWIM showcases

6 mins

N/C 12+

the beauty of the Scottish Highlands and celebrates the sense of freedom that Louise finds there.

SPECIAL EVENT Director Mike Webster and swimmer Louise Mason will be present inperson at the screening to talk about working on the film.

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SEMRA

Thurs 12/08

Neville Gabie

2015 This film is emotionally powerful which some viewers may find distressing as it references childhood trauma.

We feel it’s important to share this story of survival and acknowledge Turkish Cypriot swimmer Semra’s particular experience. SEMRA also contemplates how the act of swimming can be uplifting and offers space for reflection.

Neville Gabie states: ‘I first met Semra Yousuf while working

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30 mins

N/C 12+

as the artist-in-residence for two years on the Olympic Park during construction. The film focuses on her story and personal struggles against tremendous odds and is in a way my tribute to her courage.’

SPECIAL EVENT Intro by director Neville Gabie will provide insights into the film and his decision to share Semra's story.

BIG VS. SMALL Minna Dufton

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Thurs 19/08

2020 BIG VS. SMALL is a compelling award-winning documentary that profiles Joana Andrade. She proceeds to break barriers as an extreme sports athlete and Portugal’s first female big wave surfer. Joana seeks help from celebrated Finnish freediver, Johanna Nordblad, and faces the fear of drowning at one of the world’s most dangerous wave locations, Nazaré, Portugal. Smoothly transitioning from treacherous

1hr 16 mins

N/C 15+

tides to silent ice, the film chronicles one woman’s inspirational journey.

SPECIAL EVENT Intro and insights by film director Minna Dufton and Caithness-based Scottish Champion Surfer, Iona McLachlan.

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MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID

Thurs 26/08

Mervyn LeRoy

1952 This 1950s film is a biopic which features the legendary swimmer and actress Esther Williams. The film is based on the extraordinary life of Annette Kellerman (18861975) - an Australian athlete turned actress who faced many life-altering hurdles. MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID is a stunning spectacle, showcasing Esther Williams’ aerial and aquatic abilities with choreography by Busby Berkeley. She performed

1hr 55 mins

N/C 12+

all the film’s signature dives and stunts herself. This film is a perfect ending for the Special Programme.

SPECIAL EVENT Celebrate the programme finale with cocktails + dress up! Intro and insights into the lives of these amazing women, provided by two members of our community: Marley Mackenzie and Dr Helen Charley.

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ABOUT THE PROGRAMME The cinema is a place of experimentation and growth as well as a community hub. Our group of five Young Programmers (aged 1728) - Grace, Marley, Coll, Izzy & Alice - have been working with two experienced curators, Kirsten and Susan.

Over a 6 month period, the group members have shared research and been in direct contact with film-makers -

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producers, directors, writers, distributors - and expanded their knowledge of how everything fits together. This approach to shaping the programme has been part of a process of restarting the cinema, rejuvenating our commitment to hosting conversations and building our film community.

‘Being involved has opened up potential ideas for jobs and introduced me to new people including inspiring women in the film industry.’

Marley Mackenzie, Young Programmer

‘I've developed an understanding about how to develop a programme which combines local resonances and current affairs. Working on the project, I've learned skills and loved making connections with new people.’

Grace Hall, Young Programmer

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THE TEAM Marley Mackenzie + Izzy Thomson + Grace Hall + Coll Fullerton + Alice Vawdrey Taylor + Kirsten Body + Susan Christie

OPERATIONAL SUPPORT Paul MacDonald-Taylor + Gražina Ščučkaitė

SPECIAL THANKS We would like to express our warm thanks to all the filmmakers, artists, writers, speakers and contributors for their incredible generosity and support which helped us realise our vision and to the BFI FAN Exhibition Fund for enabling the Special Programme to happen.

DESIGN Ellie Bainbridge

PRINT A4 Design & Print, Inverness

All uncredited images are film stills.

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Cromarty Cinema Cromarty IV11 8XZ

www.cromartycinema.com