May 6th: Absolutely last screening of THANET ON FILM II at the Granville

A film about Thanet has proved so popular that the Granville Theatre in Ramsgate has brought it back for one last screening.

Producer Christine Tongue said: “The final screening was supposed to have happened at the end of March, but that was sold out, so the theatre has decided to give it another showing.”

“Thanet On Film” tells the story of the area from the 1920s to the present day, with footage of showing the resort towns of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate when they were at their most popular.  

The film has been showing in independent cinemas across Thanet, since October 2009.

 “We only intended to show the film once on one evening,” said producer Christine Tongue, “But there has been such huge interest, the cinemas have just kept on screening it. I reckon numbers of people have watched the film seven or eight times.”

But people aren’t just going out of nostalgia, according Christine, who offers Q&A sessions after the screenings as often as she can. “The film charts the decline of the area and the tremendous social problems which have hit our seaside towns – and viewers tend to get very angry with what’s been lost and criticise local politicians.”

Screenings of the film regularly spark heated debates among the viewers.

“Thanet isn’t famous for its political consciousness, but I think the popularity of our film shows how genuinely passionate people in this part of the world feel about their area.”

Christine is already working on the next edition of Thanet on Film and is inviting people to send in ideas, memories and old home movies. “These films stand or fall by the contribution of local people,” Christine said, “It’s a sort of people’s history of the area.”

The Very Last Screening of the present edition of Thanet On Film will take place on Friday May 6^th at 7.30pm at the Granville Theatre Ramsgate. Booking is advisable – telephone 01843 591750.