Shetland Arts is delighted to announce the launch of Film Wednesdays, a new programme of films to be shown on the big screen in the Garrison Theatre on Wednesday evenings in 2008.

The new programme is part of the arts agency’s new Film and Digital Media development project which began in early 2007 and is an attempt to fill the gaps in existing film programming in Shetland. Casablanca, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman will be the first film to be screened, on January 16th. There will be other classics over the following six months, including Dr Zhivago, Brief Encounter and Lawrence of Arabia. The emphasis will not be solely on ‘oldies’ however, as there will also be a fair smattering of more modern classics including Ringu, directed by Hideo Nakata, Quentin Tarantino’s, Pulp Fiction and Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto. And on Wednesday 30th January there will be a special mini fest of three science fiction films to mark the Up Helly a holiday. A full programme will be published in early January.

Shetland Arts Literature Development Officer, Donald Anderson said, “we are really excited to be running this new programme in 2008. We did some market research in the summer and it seems clear that there is a sizeable audience which is not being catered for in the present Garrison film programme. We are keen not only to reach this audience but also to hear suggestions from anyone in the community about what films they would like to be shown.”

Arts Development Manager Kathy Hubbard said “This is a programme for film and cinema lovers – those who want to enjoy classic films on a big screen in the company of others. We know you’re out there, so we look forward to celebrating with you some of the great moments in the history of the moving image.”

Anyone wishing further information or to make suggestions should contact Donald Anderson or Kathy Hubbard on 01595 743 843 or by email: donald.anderson@shetlandarts.org  or kathy.hubbard@shetlandarts.org