Norwich Film Festival Launch Event

A wonderful event with fascinating insights

Thanks to Norwich Film Festival (NFF), David Morrissey and Peter Bradshaw for an entertaining evening of insights into a life on screen. The evening was the official launch for the 2019 festival.

‘The fastest growing film festival in the UK’

Whilst NFF have 10 years under their belts and are ‘the fastest growing film festival in the UK’. Suffolk Shorts are just starting out, but we share the core aim of bringing films and filmmakers to the region. Craig Higgins and the team are incredibly generous and supportive and it was good to be able to applaud their success on launch night with a thoroughly engaged audience, led expertly by Peter Bradshaw.

‘The arts by nature make you empathetic – that’s a big quality that I feel is lacking in our society’

David Morrissey

Peter Bradshaw took us on a journey through Morrissey’s career as actor, director, producer and writer, with the main focus on his acting roles. It’s only when you see a montage of clips from his career that you realise how very varied it has been and it was clear from the questions from the audience that everyone had their favourite (Blackpool since you ask). 

One of the most fascinating insights was his recollection of the moment that made him realise he wanted to act. Morrissey watched Ken Loach’s seminal film Kes, about a boy and his pet kestrel when he was a similar age to the character, Billy. David Bradley’s performance moved him deeply and had a life changing impact. He realised that an actor brings stories to life by making the audience believe, and he wanted to do that.

Q&A

Question from the audience came thick and fast. Morrissey has a relaxed and open attitude and engaged in an intimate way. A mother from the audience asked if he had advice for her 18 year old daughter, on the eve of her 18th birthday. Her daughter was preparing to audition for RADA, and as a RADA graduate he was keen to encourage her.  He was clear in his directions: 

“Practice your piece over and over, remember that they are good people who want you to succeed. But most of all – have fun!”

Suffolk Shorts has another exciting Kes related announcement coming soon, watch this space.