A COLWYN Bay filmmaking charity that helps people to overcome life challenges is set to have its new movie premiered one of the UK’s most prestigious cinemas.

TAPE Community Music & Film will have new movie Approaching Shadows screened at BFI Southbank, London on Friday, December 3. It will form part of the Busting the Bias Festival, a series of screenings to support the disabled and inclusive filmmaking community.

The film tells the story of a couple on a golden wedding anniversary weekend in North Wales who become separated through a violent act, leading to the wife’s desperate attempt to be reunited with her missing husband.

The premise was created after TAPE members saw a strange-looking van on a garage forecourt and wanted to give it a backstory. More than 250 volunteers from across North Wales and beyond have since worked on the production.

Steve Swindon co-founded TAPE about 13 years ago to give life-changing film industry opportunities to people aged 18 and above, some of whom live with disabilities or are referred by support agencies. Having their film aired at the Southbank cinema was more than he could have expected, however, and it has caught the attention of the industry as a successful model for education and inclusivity.

“We’re all gobsmacked that this opportunity has come about for our work,” said Mr Swindon. “So many people have given so much to this project in so many ways.

“That we can now showcase those efforts and commitments on the biggest of stages, in the perfect context, is beyond any of our expectations.”

Mr Swindon said the film has taken its “inclusive production model” in a wide range of roles from production, scripting, acting, directing, camerawork and creating the score to make-up effects, editing, marketing and cutting the trailer.

“These are all creating hands-on, meaningful and ongoing opportunities,” he said. “Working in this way has attracted a lot of attention within the screen industry as we are working in a way which many broadcasters and production companies aspire to.

“It is this work and our growing relationship with the BFI Inclusion Team which has led to our film being selected for the festival.”

Other films being aired during the Busting the Bias Festival include Love, It’s Personal, Aimee Victoria, and Talking Bodies, which will each be followed by Q&As.

A number of TAPE members including Mr Swindon will attend the ‘red carpet’ event and carry out a Q&A and panel discussion after Approaching Shadows is screened.

There will also be a live link shared by TAPE and the Southbank, and its Media Club have made a short introductory film that will play before the main feature.

Mr Swindon said: “In a perfect world, we would all be travelling to the Southbank en masse, to share this moment. Sadly, it is not a perfect world, and we simply don’t have the resources to pull that off. That said, there will be a good representation from people from across the community that have been involved.

“After the film, there will be a few of us on stage for a panel discussion and Q&A about the project, how we made it and what we’ve learned.”

Earlier this year, TAPE created a short film set in the Churchman’s Snooker Club, Old Colwyn starring legendary player Dennis Taylor, who re-enacted his historic final win against Steve Davies.

Find out more and get involved by visiting the TAPE Facebook page.