Film / News
I Will Tell film festival comes to Bristol for the first time
Billed as a festival of films telling “powerful, authentic stories that have been hidden, forgotten or relegated to the sidelines”, the international I Will Tell has run events in the UK, US and Caribbean. Now, in its 17th year, it’s coming to Bristol for the first time, in partnership with the BFI, for a series of screenings from Thursday 7 – Sunday 10 September at the Orpheus cinema and in the Lord Mayor’s Chapel.
Founded by Trinidadian Christian Jenny Lee, I Will Tell’s stated mission is to showcase films focusing on “race, social justice, relationships, faith, war and peace, business, government, gender issues, global politics and community cohesiveness.” Many of the films in its programme seem to take an evangelical Christian perspective.
The opening film at the Orpheus on Sept 7 is the US Christian horror flick Nefarious, from the writers of the poorly received God’s Not Dead films, in which a psychiatrist spars with a death row inmate who claims to be possessed by a demon. The official blurb says: “Prepare to be captivated by a riveting narrative that blurs the line between sanity and malevolence, reality and the supernatural. This film offers a unique insight into the corridors of the mind and leaves the audience questioning the very nature of darkness and the power of hope.”
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Those who aren’t committed Christians may wish to note that one mainstream US critic described Nefarious as a “Christo-fascist manifesto of a movie” and observed that “hot button far right issues are trotted out in their marching order — abortion, capital punishment, death with dignity stripped of any euphemistic sugar-coating.”
Other screenings at the Orpheus include a short film showcase (Sept 8) and the Voices of Hope documentary about London’s Gospel Community Choir (Sept 9).
At the Lord Mayor’s Chapel, from 3pm on Sunday 10 there’s a free Bristol Bus Boycott exhibition, celebrating the achievements of those who were involved in the bus boycott movement. The Chapel is also host to a Guardians of Hope short film collection and the closing gala screening of The God Man. Another evangelical Christian film, this documentary has filmmaker Darren Wilson travelling round the globe talking to people about Jesus.
Go here for the full programme and to buy tickets.
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