A public screening of the documentary, ‘Peter Watkins and the Playcraft Film Unit’ (2017) by Tim Jones.
This documentary focuses upon the five amateur films produced between 1957 and 1962 by Peter Watkins and Playcraft, a Canterbury-based amateur drama group. These amateur films proved to be vital in the development of Peter’s directorial approach, use of historical reconstruction and newsreel style, which would later feature in his Academy Award winning film, The War Game.
The documentary provides a unique insight into the making of Peter’s amateur films and his early development as a filmmaker.

Peter Watkins’s Ten Best winning amateur film, ‘The Forgotten Faces’ was also shown.

Public Screening at Canterbury Christ Church University on 6 May 2017

For more information please see:

https://create.canterbury.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint%3A%3AView&eprintid=16017

This screening included rare footage taken at Bekesbourne Aerodrome in the 1930s, George Lansbury MP opening a section of the City Wall in 1931 and a 1970’s comedy made by Canterbury Architecture students.

Public Screening at Canterbury Christ Church University on 25 Feb and 11 March 2017

For more information please see:

https://create.canterbury.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint%3A%3AView&eprintid=16012

This screening included unique footage of flooding in Sturry in 1927, the opening of Kent and Canterbury Hospital by the Duke of Kent in 1937 and the Great Storm of 1953.

Public Screening at Canterbury Christ Church University on 30 April and 28 May 2016

For more information please see:

https://create.canterbury.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint%3A%3AView&eprintid=16031

This screening included home movie footage of Sir Bertram Ramsay, architect of the successful evacuation at Dunkirk, family life at Howletts Mansion and a tribute to Frank Woolley at the Kent County Cricket ground.

Public Screening at Canterbury Christ Church University on 27 Feb 2016 and 19 March 2016.

For more information please see:

https://create.canterbury.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint::View&eprintid=16235

This screening included unique footage of the Buffs parades in Canterbury, Winston Churchill’s visit to the Kent County Show during his ‘wilderness years and the Fordwich Revels.

Public Screening at Canterbury Christ Church University on 2 May 2015 and 23 May 2015.

For more information please see:

https://create.canterbury.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint%3A%3AView&eprintid=16236

This screening included film of the Archbishop’s Enthronement in 1928, the ‘Flying Flea’ at Bekesbourne aerodrome and unique behind the scenes footage of Ken Russell making his first feature film, French Dressing.

Public Screening at Canterbury Christ Church University on 28 Feb 2015 and 21 March 2015.

For more information please se:

https://create.canterbury.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint%3A%3AView&eprintid=16237

A public screening of newly discovered amateur film of Count Zborowski to commemorate the 90th anniversary of his death.

Count Zborowski, the multimillionaire playboy who lived at Higham just outside Bridge in the 1920s, is perhaps best known for his exploits as an amateur racing driver. His specially built cars, that incorporated First World War aeroplane engines, were later to be the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. But Count Zborowski is also well-known for his 15” gauge steam railway that he had built around his estate. This mile long track has long fascinated railway enthusiasts because no known photos or film were thought to exist. That was until Tim Jones, a Senior Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University, recently came across two reels of amateur film labeled ‘Count Drama.’ It soon became apparent that this home-made drama, in the style of silent films, had been shot at the Higham Estate in 1924 and starred Count Zborowski. The film is in remarkably good condition and provides a fascinating glimpse of the rich at play and is a unique example of early amateur filmmaking.

Public Screening at Canterbury Christ Church University on 25 Oct 2014 and 1 Nov 2014.

For more information please see:

https://create.canterbury.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint%3A%3AView&eprintid=16239

This screening included colour film of the opening of Kent and Canterbury Hospital in 1937, Sir https://create.canterbury.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint%3A%3AView&eprintid=16238 Twyrwhitt-Drake’s zoo and the Festival of Britain celebrations in Canterbury.

Public Screening at Canterbury Christ Church University on 3 May 2014 and 24 May 2014.

For more information please see:

https://create.canterbury.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint%3A%3AView&eprintid=16238

This screening included film of Dennes Mill fire in Canterbury, the 1953 flood shot in 3D and unique behind the scenes footage of Academy Award winner, Peter Watkins’ ‘lost’ film, Dust Fever.

Public Screening at Canterbury Christ Church University on 1 Mar 2014, 22 Mar 2014 and 29 Apr 2017.

For more information please see

https://create.canterbury.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint%3A%3AView&eprintid=16240

This screening included unique footage of Dorothy L Sayers’ Cathedral play, ‘The Devil to Pay.’ Field Marshall Montgomery’s visit to Canterbury in 1945 and the building of the Harbledown Bypass.

Public Screening at Canterbury Christ Church University on 4 May 2013,18 May 2013 and 29 Oct 2016.

For more information please see:

https://create.canterbury.ac.uk/cgi/users/home?screen=EPrint%3A%3AView&eprintid=16241