Acerca de
Wicked Wales Films has its second 'Reel Rhyl Festival' taking place in Rhyl Town Hall on Sunday, July
17th starting at 11.30 am. The festival is a celebration of Rhyl on Film, past and present, and this year
there will be a special event to celebrate pioneer filmmaker Arthur Cheetham.
Arthur Cheetham was a key figure in the early days of cinema in Wales, making his home in Rhyl for
many years and producing films from 1898.
To celebrate Cheetham's work, the festival has invited historian Philip Lloyd, author of 'Silvograph.'
Arthur Cheetham, 1865-1937 pioneer filmmaker, to talk about Rhyl and its cinemas. Philip's talk will
include the screening of Cheetham's silent films accompanied on the piano by Paul Shallcross. The
talk will be followed by a discussion chaired by Colin Blythin, chair of the Rhyl History Club.
Philip says,' Arthur Cheetham shot about four dozen films between 1898 and 1912. Over half
featured Victorian and Edwardian Rhyl folk at work and play. The films provide an important
glimpse at life as it was then, children playing on the beach, annual May Day parades and the
firemen battling the Queen's Palace fire of 1908. I am thrilled to be coming to Rhyl to talk about the
work and life of this very important pioneering filmmaker and his importance to the Town.'
On Sunday afternoon, there will be a screening of 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' 1987 cert 15
directed by Adrian Shergold starring Phil Daniels, Joanne Whalley, Tilly Vosburgh, and Iain Glenn.
A film showing Rhyl in all its glory 35 years ago.
There will also be screenings of surviving films by early Rhyl filmmakers, the Shannon brothers
screened throughout the day.
The festival will include a number of free workshops for children taking place at the Rhyl Create
Gallery at the White Rose Centre on Saturday 16 th and Sunday 17 th. These workshops, led by artists
and filmmaker Trevor Cooper and Ffion Pritchard, will be an opportunity to have some fun making
pieces of art and postcards. Workshops are free, all materials are provided, and spaces are limited.
