STROUD FILM Festival continues apace this week 

Black Dog Way is premiered at Trinity Rooms on Wednesday, March 6.  

This powerful documentary gives voice to Gloucester’s most vulnerable and marginalised people.

The director Sam Pope who is locally based, will be part of a conversation following the screening, about both the process of making the film and the crucial issues it raises.

Ruthless Times-Songs of Care  is a thought-provoking and darkly humorous Finnish documentary exploring the state of public elderly care.

Through interviews woven into choral songs, the film gives voice to overwhelmed care workers struggling to survive in a system where efficiency and profits eclipse compassion. Trinity Rooms on Thursday, March 7 Marc. 

Film director David Yates will be at the  Vue Stroud on 8th March  to introduce  The Red Shoes, programmed following the success of the Powell and Pressburger Cinema Unbound season last autumn.

David, whose directing credits include the last four Harry Potter films, says: ‘I’m delighted to introduce this classic of British cinema history which is still as enjoyable and influential as ever."

On the same date Stroud Valleys Artspace hosts Grooveniles, a night of short films made by young local artists and film makers and hosted by  young film programmers.

The next day  a relaxed screening of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical with the charity Allsorts is at Lansdown Hall while at the Museum in the Park it's Flood Management with a Time Machine.

This experimental mix of film, music, poetry and illustrations is all about nature, people and flooding!

 For Tish, a screening and residency celebrating the work of Tyneside photographer Tish Murtha  on 9th March and later  the same day injecting some speed into events, Roll Bounce.

This   includes not only a classic film about skating but also an exemplar demonstration of live roller skating as part of the night.

Another classic pillar of cinema Les Enfants du Paradis will be at Lansdown Hall This year, it’s about making films as well as watching them.

The 90 Second Film Challenge invites everyone in Stroud to make a short film in response to a theme over just a few days during the festival. The films entered in the challenge will be on the big screen in 90 Second Stroud at Lansdown Hall on Saturday 16th March.

Since the last festival in March, Stroud Film Festival has become a community interest company with a team of seven directors, all local and all involved in previous festivals.

One of the new team Hatty Bell who says  ‘One key feature of this landmark tenth  festival is a new ticket price system which should make the festival more affordable for everyone.!’

Race for the Future is at St Laurence Hall on 10th March alongside a chance to meet the film maker and the main character in this unique documentary.

Later that day Fanny the Other Mendelssohn explores the life of Felix Mendessohn’s composer sister in a film introduced by Sheila Hayman the director at Lansdown Hall

Acre Street community centre is  also part of the festival and they’ve chosen to  screen on 11th March  the inspiring Dream Horse, based on a true story from the Welsh valleys

The following day there’s a choice between the award winning feature The Cairo Conspiracy at the Sub Rooms or how to find out more about getting into the film industry at The Art of Balancing Dreams with Making The Bread and Butter at SVA

To find out more and for tickets it’s  www.stroudfilmfestival.org and the festival is on social media @stroudfilmfest.