Spirit of Independence Festival at Showroom Cinema

For the second consecutive year, Showroom Cinema is delighted to host the Spirit of Independence Film Festival, a celebration of the best fiercely independent films. The festival features a great mix of local, homegrown filmmakers, and also films from all around the globe to engage audiences. 2023’s edition will showcase one world premiere and several regional premieres, sitting alongside special panel events, workshops and director Q&A’s.

The fifth annual festival takes place on Saturday 30 September, with an opening night double bill the night before on Friday 29 with a very special screening of the classic apocalyptic romance Miracle Mile (now celebrating its 35th anniversary). After the screening the festival will be joined by director Steve de Jarnatt for a virtual Q&A. The world premiere of psychological horror Black Daruma will follow, produced by local filmmakers Fionn and Toby Watts, which is told entirely from the perspective of a Japanese ‘luck doll.’

Saturday 30 September, will see features and shorts from across the world, including the UK premiere of disturbing US drama Deadland. While closing the festival later that evening is the much-anticipated supernatural thriller The Moor, directed by Chris Cronin was shot in and around West Yorkshire, and is set against the bleak and haunting backdrop of the Yorkshire Moors.

Showroom’s Young Programmers have worked with the festival this year to design a strand of short films covering a variety of themes for audience to explore including a films dedicated to rebellious filmmaking, and a celebration of northern filmmakers. The festival will also see the world premiere of a new short film, Black Dog, made by the winner of its 2023 Emerging Spirit script-writing competition, Ed Kirk.

Finally we are delighted to confirm the festival will be joined on Saturday by members of the Bradford Movie Makers, stars of the BAFTA-shortlisted documentary A Bunch of Amateurs, who will be showing films from their 100 year history.

Saturday and weekend passes for the festival which include access to all the films, workshops and seminars are on sale now. More information can be found at: soifilmfestival.com and Spirit of Independence Film Festival 2023 - Showroom Workstation - Sheffield