Spirit of Independence Film Festival 2024 at Showroom

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor

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Spirit of Independence Film Festival 2024

27-29 September 2024

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Spirit of Independence Film Festival
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Film fans and filmmakers alike take note, as the Spirit of Independence Film Festival returns to Sheffield’s Showroom this September. Now in its sixth year, the festival promises a weekend of film screenings and premieres, alongside industry-focussed talks, special events and Q&As, in service of championing all things indie cinema, from independent studios to DIY filmmaking.

There’s a celebration of the past and future of indie cinema scheduled for opening night. Kicking off the festival on Friday 27 September, audiences can look forward to a 40th anniversary showing of dystopian time-travel thriller Trancers — one of the biggest films ever produced by indie studio legends Empire Pictures. That’s followed by the brand new Dinonauts, an 80s-inspired animated sci-fi film (about a team of team of dinosaur astronauts) created over ten years in the garage of director Omar Distrakt Jones.

Spirit of Independence Film Festival
Spirit of Independence Film Festival

Saturday and Sunday balance industry-based talks on everything from how to cast a film and the finer points of fight choreography, to the complex finance of film, and what goes into costume design, alongside a selection of screenings of both short and feature films. On Saturday afternoon there’s a special live taping of The Director’s Take podcast with special guest, film producer Chris Hees, who will give the inside take on navigating awards ceremonies, and what the Oscars are really like.

Film highlights on the Saturday include the UK premiere of Tzo-Juo’s Zombie Film with Grandpas and Grandmas, an ode to the delights and trials of low budget filmmaking

Film highlights on the Saturday include the UK premiere of Tzo-Juo’s Zombie Film with Grandpas and Grandmas, an ode to the delights and trials of low budget filmmaking, plus German single-take horror movie Home, Sweet Home – Where Evil Lives, and Late Bloomers — a charming relationship drama about a late-twenties Brooklynite.

There’s a local flavour on show on Sunday, including gritty northern crime drama Reputation alongside a selection of northern-made shorts, while Laos-based drama Satu – Year of the Rabbit and American sci-fi rom-com Molli and Max in the Future add some more international seasoning.

Where to go near Spirit of Independence Film Festival 2024 at Showroom

Stevenson Square
Manchester
Stevenson Square

Stevenson Square, the central hub of bars and cafes in Northern Quarter. Home to some of the best bars in the city.

CUPRA City Garage DJ Decks
City Centre
Café or Coffee Shop
CUPRA City Garage

Already based in Paris, Mexico City, Sydney and Vienna, CUPRA’s international expansion is driven by culture as much as cars, and Manchester’s creative energy has clearly caught their attention.

Ancoats
Restaurant
Bruco

Bruco is a new restaurant in Ancoats, serving up stylish Italian small plates.

Samsi
Manchester
Restaurant
Samsi

Long-standing Japanese restaurant on Whitworth Street in Manchester with a pleasingly affordable menu.

The Pavilion Gardens, which also houses the Pavilion Arts Centre, is a beautiful, historic venue dating back to 1871 which superbly shows off the Victorian splendour of Buxton. Set within twenty three acres of magnificent, landscaped gardens and play areas, the venue provides the perfect setting for fun and relaxing family days out, with great food and drink, shopping and over 100 events and festivals throughout the year.
Buxton
Cinema
Pavilion Arts Centre

A historic gem in Buxton’s Pavilion Gardens, Pavilion Arts Centre houses an intimate 360-seat theatre and cinema.

Leeds
Gallery
The Sculpture Gallery

The Sculpture Gallery is an outstanding new gallery, of pure sculpture, showcasing the work, not only of the six owners but guests also.

A club bedroom at Malmaison Leeds
Leeds
Hotel
Malmaison Leeds

Malmaison Leeds is a historic and dramatic building, full of character and individual style. Beautifully refurbished quirky bedrooms with power showers, blackout curtains and great beds.

On The Wall is a funky independent shop that sells a wide range of creative and artistic items including, posters, art prints, canvases, greeting cards and merchandise/gifts. They also offer a bespoke framing and canvas printing service and a screen printed t- shirt service. If you are looking for something more unique and inspiring they also sell work by local artists.
Leeds
Shop
On The Wall

Bright, bold and full of character, On the Wall pairs expert framing with prints, posters and gifts inside Leeds Corn Exchange.

Leeds
Restaurant
Canned Heat

Canned Heat is an independent bottle-shop & bar in the heart of Chapeltown, Leeds. Born out of a passion for Music, Art and Community.

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