18 Jul 2024
The Alban Film Week, taking place at St Albans Cathedral this autumn, will transform the prestigious Nave into the venue for a series of screenings and film-based events.
The event is being run by St Albans Film Festival director Matt Bigg in collaboration with the Cathedral, and will be the 10th Film Festival event following its launch in 2013.
Matt hopes to establish the Cathedral as a permanent venue for events in future years.
He said: “As soon as we had an opportunity to work with the Cathedral again, we jumped at it. We have had a brilliant relationship over the years and can’t wait to extend that.
“We worked really closely on the programme of events and yes, we are excited. We are bringing the world famous Aardman to St Albans, but also have our traditional sing-a-long on the Friday night. We are also planning to hosting a running event where the start and finish event will be inside the Cathedral, followed by the brilliant Barkley Marathon documentary. We have a few surprises up our sleeve and hope that we deliver our normal Film Festival style back to St Albans . We are also very proud that this week of events will mark our 10th festival in the city.”
The schedule runs over five days and includes the following:
October 29
Musical Beasts – Three live interactive performances featuring musicians drawn from the UK’s top orchestras. With Peter and the Wolf with live music and The Bear and the Piano with animated film.
Thelma and Louise – The action-drama about two best friends who set out on an adventure which becomes a terrifying escape from police desperate to bring them to justice for the crimes
they have committed. Nominated for six Oscars, won one for best screenplay, starring Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis and Harvey Keitel.
October 30
Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death – The fantastic Aardman stop-motion film finds the duo making bread for their latest enterprise, the Top Bun bakery. With robotic kneading arms and a windmill on the roof, they’ve got a very professional set-up, but there’s just one problem – the other local bakers in the town have been ‘disappearing’ one by one… could Wallace be the next one to go?
Four Weddings and a Funeral – Over the course of five social occasions, a committed bachelor must consider the notion that he may have discovered love. Nominated for two Oscars and starring Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Simon Callow, James Fleet, John Hannah and Kristin Scott Thomas. Following the screening there will also be a special Q&A with director Mike Newell, who comes from St Albans and is also known for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) and Donnie Brasco (1997).
October 31
Night at the Museum – A newly recruited night security guard at the Museum of Natural History discovers that an ancient curse causes the animals and exhibits on display to come to life and wreak havoc. family comedy starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Ricky Gervais and Dick Van Dyke.
Nosferatu – A 1922 silent German Expressionist vampire film which was an unauthorised and unofficial adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula. Stoker’s heirs sued over the breach of copyright, and a court ordered all copies of the film destroyed. But several prints survived and the film came to be regarded as an influential masterpiece of cinema and the template for the horror film genre. The film’s sense of drama will be heightened further by live improvisations on the Cathedral’s organ, performed by students from the Royal Academy of Music directed by Professor Franz Danksagmüller, with additional sound design provided by live electronics. Watch the film on Halloween ahead of the new 2024 adaption of Nosferatu released in the UK on January 1.
November 1
Migration – An animated comedy adventure about a family of ducks who try to convince their overprotective father to go on the holiday of a lifetime. Shown in partnership with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. Featuring the voices of Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Danny DeVito, David Mitchell and Awkwafina.
Johnny English – Spy action comedy film starring Rowan Atkinson as the confident yet clueless spy. The scenes set in Westminster Abbey were filmed in St Albans Cathedral, and the interior (with the televisual screen hiding the organ) is clearly St Albans. Even the choir singing in the coronation scene is St Albans Cathedral Choir. Don’t miss the film exhibition showcasing behind-the-scenes moments from the production.
Grease Sing-a-Long – Good girl Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John) and greaser Danny Zuko (John Travolta) fell in love over the summer. When they unexpectedly discover they’re now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance? Don those pink jackets, grease up that hair and let your inhibitions go for an evening where GREASE is truly the word… Sit back and watch Danny, Sandy and the gang, while singing and dancing along to the lyrics on the screen. Fancy dress is strongly encouraged.
November 2
The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young – Following a run starting at the Cathedral, there will be a screening of the documentary by Annika Illtis and Timothy James Kane. A famous prison escape sparks the idea for a cult-like race that has seen only 10 finishers in its first 25 years. This award-winning, oddly inspiring, and wildly funny film reveals the sports world’s most guarded secret.
Singin’ in the Rain – “I’m singing in the rain, just singing in the rain…” Experience the magic of Hollywood’s golden age as Alban Film Week wraps up with the classic musical starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. A silent film star falls for a chorus girl just as he and his delusionally jealous screen partner are trying to make the difficult transition to talking pictures in 1920s Hollywood. Don’t forget to add on a cream tea to your ticket for an afternoon of musical wonder!
The Alban Film Week promises to be a highlight of St Albans’ cultural calendar, offering a fresh perspective on how historical spaces can be utilized for modern events. Tickets are now available for purchase at www.stalbanscathedral.org/listing/category/the-alban-film-week
