A star-studded film festival featuring names from the likes of Ted Lasso and Waterloo Road is set to return to Teesside.
The Tees Valley International Film Festival (TVIFF), which is in its third year, will be back for a four-day celebration in Stockton from November 6 to 9.
A host of celebrities from the world of film and TV will be in attendance for the event, with the headline show seeing Teessiders Mark Benton (Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators) and Stephen Tompkinson (DCI Banks) come together for a chat.
'An Evening with Mark Benton and Stephen Tompkinson' will see the duo discuss the high points and challenges they’ve experienced in their illustrious careers on stage at The ARC in Stockton.
Geordie acting legend Jill Halfpenny will take part in another festival 'Evening with' event, in which she and Stokesley-born Maimie McCoy (The Three Musketeers, Van Der Valk) will talk to Bill Fellows, who is currently starring as Stu Carpenter in Coronation Street.
Stockton-born Franc Roddam, creator of Auf Weidersehen Pet and Masterchef, will also speak of his fifty year career.
Meanwhile TV favourite Shaun Dooley, seen most recently in Mr Bates vs The Post Office, will talk to Game of Thrones actor Ben Crompton about his 30 year career that began on Coronation Street.
The closing ceremony of the festival will see a live performance of 1997 international hit Tubthumping by former Chumbawamba frontman Dunstan Bruce, who is from Billingham.
The Festival also stages gala screenings of feature films, that have a link to the region, made special by a Q&A from the director and actors following the showing.
One of these will be documentary Surviving Reality: Beyond the TV Dream, by Hartlepool filmmaker Paul Suggitt, which centres around the experiences of 2005 Big Brother winner Anthony Hutton and life after the intense high of reality TV fame.
Middlesbrough born Mark Benton said: “I’ve supported TVIFF since it started three years ago and seen it grow hugely in that time. It’s a big indicator of how much Teesside wants and needs more opportunities to enjoy and get involved with independent film”.
Stephen Tompkinson added: “Mark and I have been friends for many years, so to be on stage in my birth land with another Teesside actor that I know and love will make for a great night for all”.
Festival Director Michael Luke, from Darlington, said: "As well as the star-studded shows, TVIFF also showcases the best in independent film.
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"For the past year we’ve been welcoming submissions of short films by independent filmmakers from all over the world.
"A selection of these films will be screened by genre over the course of the festival. So whether you’re involved in filmmaking, a fan of cinema or love live events, there’s something for everyone at TVIFF”.
You can find info on all festival events and get tickets here: https://arconline.co.uk/whats-on/?_showcats=tees-valley-international-film-festival
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