Film Archive

Jahr

Land (Film Archive)

Competition for the Audience Award 2022
Filmstill A Bunch of Amateurs
A Bunch of Amateurs
Kim Hopkins
Dwindling membership, a crumbling club house, penniless coffers: The “Bradford Movie Makers” have seen better days. The funny and touching portrait of a band of film buffs.
Filmstill A Bunch of Amateurs

A Bunch of Amateurs

A Bunch of Amateurs
Kim Hopkins
Competition for the Audience Award 2022
Documentary Film
UK
2022
95 minutes
English
Subtitles: 
English

Dwindling membership, a crumbling club house, penniless coffers: The “Bradford Movie Makers” have seen better days. The active club members, most of them fairly advanced in years, sit there, basking in blissful memories and not mincing their words when they pick at the others’ film ideas over multiple cups of tea. Cineastes have met here every Monday since 1932 and can be proud of a ninety-year history including countless amateur films of all genres.

The “club”, as insiders call it, is a typical British working class film club: watching films together on a regular basis and spending every free minute on elaborate shoots including stunt riders and green screens. But the old veterans are beginning to get frail, the occasional death must be mourned. And then the pandemic comes on top of all this, darkening the only bright spot of the week. But it also brings unexpected surprises … Kim Hopkins manages the feat, despite a number of tragic-sad occasions, of avoiding the tear-jerker trap and gives us equally astonishing and funny insights into this pastime that’s far more than just a hobby. This quiet, funny and touching portrait of a band of film buffs – male and female – pays tribute to the need we all have to spend time together.
Lina Dinkla

Credits DOK Leipzig Logo

Director
Kim Hopkins
Cinematographer
Kim Hopkins
Editor
Leah Marino
Producer
Margareta Szabo, Kim Hopkins
Sound
Margareta Szabo
Score
Terence Dunn
World Sales
Jenny Bohnhoff