I’ve sat in the plush red seats at the glorious Hebden Bridge Picture House many a time. I like to get there early and sit in my favourite place, settling into the adverts and trailers and finishing my popcorn before the main event has even started!
And I’ve (very) cautiously dreamt what it would feel like seeing one of my own films up there…
So when I found out my film Pegs & Bacon had been selected for the Hebden Bridge Film Festival (HBFF), I started to oscillate between excitement and full blown imposter syndrome (you know it’s bad when even your new kittens are side-eyeing you like, ‘You? Film festival? Really?’)
After getting the email through from the festival team, I had a few days to wait before I could fully announce it, and then I raced up to May’s shop to tell her the good news and we started planning our premiere outfits!
The day came and somehow I didn’t collapse from nerves. I walked into town from our house, Hebden Bridge was bathing in the early April sunshine.
The first session was a community screening, a collection of films made by participants of Culturdale’s Women’s Film-making Skills Workshops conducted at Calderdale College in Halifax. Moving and poignant stories that brought the audience together. What a start to the day.
Onto a community meal prepared by volunteers from St Augustine’s and the Friends of Hebden Bridge Picture House. My family and friends started gathering, and with bellies full of the delicious food, we took our places to watch the Calderdale Shorts.
I met May on the picture house steps and walked her to her seat. She told me the last time she’d been here was when she was 18. And we joked that the next time she’d be sitting down, she’d be watching a film she’s starring in!
I hadn’t quite anticipated how many people were going to be there, and it turned out we had a full house! When the lights went down, all I could see was a sea of silhouetted backs of heads. The nerves kicked in, I lowered myself in my seat.
The lovely folk at HBFF had chosen a wonderful array of shorts for this programme, and it felt such a privilege to share a screen with all those other stories. From animations to personal stories, from docs to narratives.
My film was on last. The screen flickered to life. Pegs & Bacon began.
The hours I’d spent editing this film in my office was now on the BIG screen, and blimey did it feel big! I basically forgot how to breathe for the first three minutes. I really noticed the sound and how different it was to hearing it in my headphones. It was rich with the Picture House echo. And then laughter, proper, collective cinema laughter. I think after that, I just relaxed into the experience and breathed it in.
All of a sudden we were on the last shot. The screen went black and the credits started rolling, and then big, warm, echoey applause filled the cinema. I’ll never forget that. I looked over to May’s seat, and she was beaming, I wish I’d taken a photo of that.
All of the filmmakers went up on stage for a Q&A, it was so supportive and it was lovely to chat with everyone. On my way out I wanted to have a chat with May about how she found the experience. She’d been whisked into the interview area and was happily chatting about it all 😊.
Then there was a wonderful panel discussion all about short films and where they can lead to, and then onto the international shorts section of the programme which was amazing!
The end of the packed day was coming to a close, but not before the awards ceremony. In all honesty, I hadn’t given this any thought up to this moment, and all of a sudden it was upon us. Bea from Screen Yorkshire was presenting the awards and first up came Best Short in our Calderdale section. A fantastic short film called The Bench (directed by Jenny Tighe ) won 2nd prize, and then Bea started talking about the first prize film and how all communities should have a place like this. My heart was thumping. And then I heard the words Pegs & Bacon and I was heading up there onto the stage to receive my prize. There may have been tears and there was certainly overwhelm, shakiness, and a little leg kick!
No sooner had I sat down and Bea was announcing the Audience Award voted by everyone who was there in the afternoon. I heard Pegs & Bacon again and I don’t remember much next because I was in some kind of blurry daze. I managed to mumble a few words, I can’t remember what I said, but I’ll always remember the feeling.
Thank you to everyone who came, laughed, clapped, voted. Honestly, it was magical.
And seeing it at The Picture House with all of its art deco charm was just the cherry on the top. Pete the manager down there has been an absolute star. A few days after the festival, he suggested we screen the film throughout May! So people have had a chance after the elevenses screening on a Thursday to see Pegs & Bacon. I’m so grateful to the Picture House team, I’ve had some lovely responses.
And here’s a big shout out to the HBFF team for all their support and encouragement. As a first festival experience, what a beauty it was. Thanks also to Adam Bowler for the photos. You can find him on Instagram here.
I went up to see May the day after to tell her the good news, you can see my Instagram reel here of the moment.
And it looks like May’s film is on the road!
You will be able to see Pegs & Bacon as part of the North By North East evening at Hyde Park Cinema Leeds on 19th June and it has been selected for the NWIFF taking place in Preston over the weekend of 20-21st June . If you’re in the area, Pegs & Bacon will be shown in the Saturday programme from 12.30pm - 2.30pm. You can get tickets here.
There will be news in the not too distant future of other places you can see it too. Thanks for reading, and I’ll keep you posted!