BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, ground-breaking composer Erland Cooper, Paul McGann (Withnail and I), Amy Liptrot and BBC Radio 3’s Elizabeth Alker will top the bill at brand new festival Aerial, which takes place over the weekend of 8 to 11 November 2024, in the picturesque Lake District market town of Ambleside.
Aerial, in partnership with INWARD EYE Film Festival and Zeffirellis Cinema, is bringing the cultural stars to Ambleside for a weekend of film, performance, music and talks. Aerial and Inward Eye will present an exciting programme of work over the three days, inspired by the natural world, including premieres and one-off events.
The festival will open with a restaging of the world premiere of iconic British film ‘Withnail and I’ (which took place at Zeffirelli’s in 1987). To mark the occasion ‘I’ himself, actor Paul McGann will join festivalgoers for a conversation about the impact the film has had and continues to have across generations and around the world with journalist and best-selling author Luke Turner.
Paul McGann will also close the festival with a very special Gala Event on Sunday 10 November, full details of which will be released in September.
On Saturday 9 November, St Mary’s Church will welcome ground-breaking Scottish composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Erland Cooper who, in a world-first will join forces with the entire BBC Philharmonic Orchestra to reimagine his acclaimed work Carve the Runes Then be Content with Silence in a performance to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s Unclassified and hosted by presenter Elizabeth Alker.
Also on Saturday Ambleside will also welcome author Amy Liptrot for a special screening of ‘The Outrun’ produced by and starring Saoirse Ronan, the film adaptation of Amy's award winning memoir.
Actor / Director Mark McGann will host the annual INWARD EYE Short Film competition and will present a talk ‘mixing mediums: poetry and active silence as human narrative in film’. Filmmakers are asked to respond to the theme ‘Mixing Mediums’. Anyone can submit a film for consideration, for full details please visit www.aerialfestival.com
On festival Sunday a 'very free, all ages event' will take place from music ensemble Propellor. Visitors are invited to come and help shape a brand new composition, no experience necessary! All programme details and how to book can be found HERE. There will be a further programme announcement in September.
Sam Hunt from Aerial said: “We had originally hoped to stage a festival way back in 2020 but plans were paused because of the pandemic, despite that our audience donated over £4k to Ambleside food bank. So it is great that with our partners at BBC Radio 3, Zeffirellis and Inward Eye and valued support from Westmorland and Furness Council we are able to start again.
"We think Aerial is quite unlike any other festival, its purpose is to celebrate this incredible area as a place of contemporary inspiration and it is a dream to at the beginning of something we believe will quickly become important for the area and our community."
Elizabeth Alker from BBC Radio 3 said: “Our aim with Unclassified is to create a moment for listeners to escape into and dream, and to be able to do this in a place as beautiful as the Lake District with Erland Cooper in collaboration with the mighty BBC Philharmonic is such a privilege. I can’t wait to invite our Radio 3 audience into the serene atmosphere of St Mary’s Church in the stunning environs of Ambleside with music that is mindful of nature and all its mysteries.”
Charlotte Wontner from INWARD EYE Film Festival said: "Hollywood actor, Brian Cox suggested an Ambleside based film festival after a screening a few years ago and the team at Zeffirellis and I grabbed his idea and ran with it to create the INWARD EYE Film Festival. It is now incredibly exciting to be collaborating with AERIAL and taking both festivals to new heights of creativity for our audience in the Lake District”
