В Брэдфорде проходит десятый бесплатный фестиваль семейного кино на открытом воздухе

Families have been making the most of the weather at a free outdoor film festival in Bradford during the summer holidays. The Bradford Family Film Festival, now in its 10th year, continues to draw parents and children for an easy, fun day out in the city. Screenings take place every Wednesday throughout August at Darley Street Market’s outdoor venue. On August 12, visitors enjoyed Henry Selick’s 1996 animation James and the Giant Peach, while Hoppers was shown the week before. Sam Robinson, who helps with film selection, said: "I aim to include some modern and some classics, just to diversify the options a bit. "The best turnouts tend to be the modern films. "I want there to be something for the adults as well, there’s a level of nostalgia to the classics that they want to see." He organises the festival alongside Rachel Bottomley, both from the Bradford Council Film Office and UNESCO Film. They manage film-related activities across the district, from large-scale Netflix productions to student projects. The festival began in 2016 and was designed to offer free entertainment for families during the summer holidays. One of its goals is to give parents a break while enjoying quality time with their children outdoors. Attendance has reached around 100 people at its most popular screenings, with the 2017 showing of Moana attracting the largest crowd. The event was previously held in City Park, but organisers say the move to Darley Street has led to a slight drop in numbers. Mr Robinson said: "We advertise the festival on social media, and we get the markets to spread awareness too." All films are licensed through Filmbank Media, which provides access to a broad catalogue of titles. Families, nurseries, and childcare groups regularly attend. A spokesperson for Bamboo Kids nursery in Bradford said: "The fact that it’s free makes a huge difference, it's a great opportunity for a day out. "Kids don’t want to sit inside, they’ll be happier in the fresh air." This was their second visit to the festival, having previously attended a screening of The Little Mermaid at City Park. Other families echoed these sentiments. Jo Walton, a mum of two who found out about the event on Instagram, said they would "definitely come again." Emily Nicholson, who joined a friend at the screening, remarked on the beautiful weather and said: "We’re going for a paddle after this." There are still two films left in this year’s line-up: The Lego Batman Movie on August 19 and Horton Hears A Who! on August 26.