We’ll carry on regardless

Sep 23 2009 by Matt Hurst, Bromborough and Bebington News

WIRRAL International Film Festival organisers have hit out at the council for failing to offer any support, as the event enters its second year.

Alan Veste and Phil Bimpson say they will “carry on regardless” after efforts to involve the local authority fell on deaf ears.

The pair are about to embark on a trip to France and Italy, to collect films and develop links with borough chiefs in Wirral twin towns Latina, Gennevilliers and Lorient, who welcome their initiative with open arms.

But the pair say they were told by our own council no help would be forthcoming unless they delivered a guaranteed 1,000 visitors to the peninsula.

And when asking for help with twin town contacts, they were palmed off “with the address of two mayors”.

Alan said: “We’re pretty annoyed.

“We did try and get some help from the council, and asked if they could make some contacts for us and all they said was, we’ll give you the address of two mayors – and that’s it.

“We did apply for some funding from Your Wirral and they knocked us back but it’s made us even more determined to do it ourselves.

“It’s going to cost us to do this but because we love it and believe in the film-makers that much, we’re carrying on.”

Entirely independent, self-created and self-funded, the festival has so far attracted 50 submissions, to be screened over ten days from November 23, with more to come from auteurs based in France and Italy.

As things stand, Birkenhead’s Queens Hotel will once again be transformed into a hotbed of movie-making, with free entrance to the films for all.

A Wirral Council spokesperson said: “We have only a limited budget to support events financially and this year’s budget had already been allocated before the film festival organisers came to us for assistance.

“They will, of course, be able to bid for funding next year.

“While we have so far been unable to support the film festival organisers out of council funds, we have tried to assist in other ways by signposting them either to other potential sources of funding or people or organisations that might provide practical help.

“We do wish them well with their event.”

Alan and Phil are also keen for Wirral’s schools to be involved, with submissions of any length and on any subject welcomed.

But you’ll have to be quick because a closing date of September 30 has been set.

l For more information on the event, visit www.vesbim.co.uk