Popcorn Ready for Comedy Film Festival

More Monty Python than Monte Carlo, Torbay’s first seriously funny comedy festival is about to begin.

The inaugural English Riviera International Comedy Film Festival kicks off on September 25 with a host of events to get those chuckle muscles working.

Highlights include:

Reels On Wheels

The drive-in movie screening of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery at Broadsands car park on September 26 has really caught people’s imagination. It’s the first time that such an event has been held in the Bay, with the film being screened on an 18-metre wide screen and the soundtrack being transmitted to car stereos.

With roller-skating waitresses selling popcorn and soft drinks, this looks set to be the grooviest party of the year, baby.

Tickets are pounds15 per car or pounds17 on the night if any are left.

Clowning Glories

The event at the Palace Theatre, Paignton, features a selection of black and white silent gems from the early age of cinema, with live accompaniment from some of the UK’s leading women composers.

Tickets are a bargain at just pounds6 each and also include an introduction from surprise top UK comediennes.

Director’s Cut

For the duration of the festival, the atmospheric Spanish Barn is being converted into a 157-seater cinema. As part of a busy programme in the venue, two West Country filmmakers will be introducing an exclusive selection of their films, followed by question and answer sessions.

Peter Richardson will be introducing the first and last Comic Strip Presents, while BAFTA nominated Paul Andrew Williams will be introducing The Cottage, a delightfully gory tale featuring two bickering and incompetent kidnappers who cross paths with a psychopathic farmer in the remote countryside.

Carry On Screaming at Kent’s Cavern

The event will be the first time that a film has ever been shown in the historic caves.

A very special ghost tour will be followed by a screening of this camp classic for a very exclusive audience.

Funny Bones Kid’s Club

Hundreds of primary school pupils are attending the special education days at the Groovy Movie Solar Cinema.

A special cinema club will also take place at Torquay Museum where tickets are free.

Jacques Tati Season at the Blue Walnut

The Blue Walnut Cafe boats an intimate 24-seater cinema, perfect for enjoying films in a cosy environment with a select group of film fans. They will be showing a season of films by French slapstick legend Jacques Tati, with one of his four masterpieces on show each day.

You can also turn critic and vote on your favourite short films at both the Straight 8 and Manhattan Shorts mini film festivals, which will also be screened throughout the festival.

All screenings cost pounds5.

For tickets and full information for all of the events visit www.icff.co.uk or head down to your nearest Torbay Tourist Information Centre.

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