In celebration of Brighton & Hove’s pioneering cinema history, The Film Factory in St Ann’s Well Gardens and Play Back Forward at Hove Museum of Creativity will each offer opportunities to explore the work of local luminaries who captivated audiences with their cinematic innovations at the turn of the 20th century.
From 1 October to 30 November, guests can visit St Ann’s Well Gardens to journey back to the 1890s and unlock the early history of British film. The exhibition of photographs celebrates the films created by husband and wife filmmakers George Albert Smith and Laura Bayley Smith, who lived and worked in the gardens between 1897 and 1903. From playful one-shot scenes to experiments in combining shots, the Smiths were self-taught innovators whose work led to one of the most important milestones in cinema history: the invention of film editing.
A talk and tour of St Ann’s Well Gardens, Where Was the Film Studio? will be led by historian Frank Gray on Saturday 1 November, at 1:00pm and 2:30pm. This free, 45-minute tour will explore the locations and history of filmmaking within the park.
Bertie and Laura’s films will be screened at The Garden Café on 8 November and repeated on 15 November, at 6:30pm. These 90-minute screenings, introduced by Frank Gray, trace their journey from stage hypnotism to multi-shot edited comedies.
Taking place from the 4 October to 12 April at Hove Museum of Creativity, Play Back Forward is a playful, hands-on exhibition exploring the legacy of the Smiths, James Williamson and other filmmakers. The show weaves together archival films, creative responses by local young people, and new collaborative installations by artists Chahine Fellahi and Annis Joslin.
In addition, Days of Wonder: Press Play is a hands-on creativity day at Hove Museum of Creativity on 25 October, 11am – 4 pm. This free event invites families, young people, adults, and anyone interested in film and media history to play with and reimagine the film archive through optical tricks, experimental animation, zine-making, and more. Activities are inspired by the Play Back Forward exhibition and include workshops led by exhibiting artists Chahine Fellahi and Annis Joslin.
Both exhibitions are presented as part of Days of Wonder, a three-year project exploring the heritage of film and media in Brighton & Hove. Days of Wonder is curated and produced by videoclub and Corridor in partnership with Brighton & Hove Museums and Screen Archive South East, with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, and BFI/Film Hub South East.
More information can be found at www.brightonmuseums.org.uk.
