Hello to river lovers and guardians across the country
So many of you have joined this email list following screenings or in anticipation of one. Hello!
This indiest of indie films is starting to ripple across the UK and it is buoyed by love (those won't be the last water puns sorrynotsorry). Thank you for so many replies to my last newsletter congratulating me on the Guardian four star review- it has put us on the map!
As I prepared to introduce Rave On For The Avon for our very first screening at Kendal Mountain Festival (my stomach in knots, a room full of supportive smiling people) my Dad's advice had managed to stick in my mind. Keep it simple Charlotte.
This film is about love.
I now introduce every screening with those four words. Last night (picture above) at a sold-out screening at Theatreship in Canary Wharf (a cinema inside a boat, such a cool venue) there was an audible awwwww when I shared them. Perhaps everyone was in a romantic mood in the run up to Valentines Day. Or perhaps everyone had experienced the lovely feelings swimming in nature brings and knew exactly what I meant.
The Q&A moderated by our Distribution Producer Sonia featured an insightful exploration of the swim and campaign scene in London with Vicky of Swim Out Podcast and Aggie of Thames 21 Rivers Trust. Vicky celebrated how bonkers people who swim in nature are and how it is a way of life, not a hobby for many. Aggie gave us insights on how bathing water status applications help us to understand the health of the river more for more than just swimmers.
Since our premiere at Kendal Mountain Festival we have enjoyed 30 screenings with 20 on their way and more in the pipeline.
I say this film has been a labour of love. That’s mainly because independent filmmaking doesn’t pay, so love and passion are the only motivations available to us! We don't have much of a publicity budget so this is where you can help to spread the word to swim groups and friends.
We can't quite believe it but the Bristol comedian, actress and all around legend that is Jayde Adams is joining us on tour, her next stop with us is at Southampton's Harbour Lights Picturehouse Cinema on Thurs 13th March 6pm.
Jayde is an avid wild swimmer and advocates for swimming in nature to be accessible and safe for the people who depend on it for their health and well-being. I love this image of her swimming, serene and beautiful.
At the first screening Jayde hosted for us in Bristol, she shared her reasons for swimming in nature to the 250 people in the audience
'How many times a day are you brave? How many times a day do you kick something in the d*ck? The feeling of accomplishment is medicine.”
That screening in Bristol Aquarium's IMAX screening was such a fun event. We have an embarassment of riches when it comes to cool venues. London's Cinema Museum screening 2nd Feb has to be on of our favourites.
Blogger and swimming ambassador Laure Latham graced our Q&A with her knowledge of the London swim scene and shares in her blog
'The film is a love letter to a river and, whether you are a wild swimmer or not,
you will be moved by the power of communities and citizen initiatives to protect
their access to nature. And that is a beautiful thing in our mad digital world.'
It has been my dream for this film to gather people in cinemas, to be immersed in the sights and sounds of our gorgeous rivers, laugh and cry together at the stories of love and loss. Then to point people to local campaigns so that the inspiration can flow into local action. I am overjoyed that this dream has become a reality thanks to the hard work of our little team, the generosity of panelists giving their time and to you all for being such incredible cheerleaders for this story of love!
So I hope you're enjoying leaning into Valentines Day mushyness or having a laugh rejecting the concept entirely. We love our rivers every day of the year and with that love comes a desire to protect so it is more than just this day that we will keep raving to save our rivers.
Charlotte,
Director of Rave On For The Avon
and lover of rivers
💙✨🪩🎬🏞️🍿🦦
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