Calling all cycling enthusiasts. Head to Ventnor between 7th and 11th September and you’ll be in for a treat.
If having the final stage of the Tour of Britain take place on the Isle of Wight wasn’t enough, how about a film festival dedicated to all things cycling?
Book your tickets for the screenings via the Ventnor Arts Club Website and Ventnor Exchange for the talk.
The Ventnor Bicycle Film Festival
The brainchild of Bonchurch resident and keen cyclist, Tony Collins, The Ventnor Bicycle Film Festival takes place between 7th and 11th September .
He’s selected a number of cycling-related films that will be screened at Ventnor Arts Club, as well as a talk and book-signing being held at Ventnor Exchange.
Tony explains,
“The Tour of Britain is a great opportunity for the Island to show off its beauty and hospitality.
“I am proud to present this film festival to coincide with the event in Ventnor, which is very much a cycling town. The films and talks have been picked to both entertain and inspire and hopefully will add to the convivial atmosphere of the weekend for both residents and visitors.”
Rare screening of ‘A Sunday in Hell’
Setting out what punters can expect to see, Tony goes on to add,
“Highlights include a rare screening of A Sunday in Hell considered to be the greatest cycling film ever made and screened with the blessing of Director Jorgen Leth.
“It will be introduced by The Guardian’s chief cycling correspondent William Fotheringham.”
Signed copies of William’s book on the film will be available from 7pm on Sunday 11th September.
Le Tour and Belleville Rendezvous
The festival opens on Wednesday 7th September with ‘Le Tour’, Louis Malle’s 1962 beautifully shot mischievous short film on the Tour de France.
It is followed by the seminal and surreal award-winning Belleville Rendezvous (aka Triplets of Belleville) from 2003 directed by Sylvain Chomet.
Eileen Sheridan and Dervla Murphy
On Friday 9th September, there will also be a rare screening of ‘Come on Eileen’, a short film about the great distance cyclist of the 1950s, Eileen Sheridan.
That’s followed by a new version of ‘Whatever Happened to Dervla Murphy’, a 2011 film about the writer and cyclist Dervla Murphy who sadly passed away this year. Director Garret Daly has recorded an intro for the screening.
Talk and book signing
On Saturday 10th September, ahead of the final stage of the Tour of Britain, Daily Telegraph Sports Correspondent, Jeremy Wilson, discusses his new book Beryl, chronicling the extraordinary life of arguably Britain’s greatest ever cyclist, Beryl Burton.
Book today
Ticket prices are £10 per screening and £5 for the book talk.
Book your tickets for the screenings via the Ventnor Arts Club Website and Ventnor Exchange for the talk.
Full details and links to book can be found on Events OnTheWight.
