The Yorkshire-based films to see as cinemas reopen around UK following lockdown

Cinemas are now gradually reopening across the UK - and a number of films hitting the silver screen over the next few months have been filmed in Yorkshire.

Film theatres have been able to open for more than a month following lockdown, but many companies and independent picture houses have chosen to wait a while.

Vue cinemas, for example, are gradually reopening this month while the Pictureville screen at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford will start a phased return from September 17.

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A number of films made and/or set in Yorkshire will be coming out in coming months just as audiences become reacquainted with the big screen.

Dame Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent star in The Duke. Credit: Screen Yorkshire/Pathe.Dame Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent star in The Duke. Credit: Screen Yorkshire/Pathe.
Dame Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent star in The Duke. Credit: Screen Yorkshire/Pathe.

Saint Maud

Scarborough in North Yorkshire was used as a location for this intense horror and drama, directed by Rose Glass.

It follows the story of a nurse who becomes obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient and will be released on October 23, according to IMDB.

The film stars Leeds actress Rosie Sansom, who will be familiar to viewers of television show Episode, in which she played Kelsey in 2017.

Annette Bening and Josh O'Connor in Hope Gap. Credit: Origin Pictures/Screen Yorkshire.Annette Bening and Josh O'Connor in Hope Gap. Credit: Origin Pictures/Screen Yorkshire.
Annette Bening and Josh O'Connor in Hope Gap. Credit: Origin Pictures/Screen Yorkshire.
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It has been produced by Escape Plan Productions, Film4 and the BFI Film Fund.

The Secret Garden

The latest big screen version of the story, about a girl discovers a magical garden hidden at her strict uncle's estate, will be debuting in the UK in October after being picked up for release by Sky Cinema.

Partly filmed at Duncombe Park, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, it stars Dixie Egerickx in the main role as Mary.

Duncombe Park, which was used as a location for the upcoming film The Secret Garden. Picture by Gerard Binks.Duncombe Park, which was used as a location for the upcoming film The Secret Garden. Picture by Gerard Binks.
Duncombe Park, which was used as a location for the upcoming film The Secret Garden. Picture by Gerard Binks.

Julie Walters also makes an appearance as Mrs Medlock.

The region's film and television agency Screen Yorkshire supported the production.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie

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The big screen adaption of the story about a Yorkshire teenager who wants to be a drag queen has been a long time coming.

A BBC3 documentary, Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, aired in 2011.

It showed Jamie Campbell, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, getting ready to go to the prom and making his debut as a drag act, under his stage name, Fifi la True.

Sheffield-born theatre director Jonathan Butterell approached Jamie about a year later for his permission to create a show that was written by Doctor Who scriptwriter Tom Macrae with music by Dan Gillespie Sells of band The Feeling.

The musical premiered at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, in February 2017 and later transferred to the West End before being nominated for a string of Laurence Olivier Awards.

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The feature film adaptation retains the Sheffield link, having been filmed in South Yorkshire last year, and is expected to be released in January 2021.

It stars Max Harwood as Jamie New, Lauren Patel as Pritti Pasha and veteran actor Richard E Grant as Hugo Battersby / Loco Chanelle.

The Duke

The film, which stars Academy Award-winners Jim Broadbent and Dame Helen Mirren, is based on the true story of Kempton Bunton, a 60-year old taxi driver.

In 1961, he stole Spanish artist Francisco Goya’s portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London - the only theft in its history.

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The film will be showcased at the 77th Venice Film Festival between September 2 and 12 and Pathé will release the film in the UK in spring 2021.

Actors were also seen outside Bradford City Hall and Dame Helen found time to see last year's Snow White pantomime at the Alhambra.

Kempton sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on condition that the government invested more in care for the elderly - he had long campaigned for pensioners to receive free television.

Other cast included in the film are Fionn Whitehead, Matthew Goode and Anna Maxwell Martin.

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The film was directed by BAFTA winner Roger Michell, from a script by Richard Bean and Clive Coleman.

It is a Pathé, Ingenious Media and Screen Yorkshire presentation of a Neon Films Production.

Nicky Bentham is the producer, while executive producers are Cameron McCracken and Jenny Borgars for Pathé, Andrea Scarso for Ingenious Media, Hugo Heppell for Screen Yorkshire, Peter Scarf and Christopher Bunton.

Hope Gap

It tells the story of a couple's visit with their son, which takes a dramatic turn when the father tells him he plans on leaving his mother.

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The family drama starring Annette Bening, Bill Nighy and Josh O'Connor was partly filmed at Prime Studios in Kirkstall Road, Leeds, in summer 2018.

It featured at the BFI London Film Festival last October but also having limited cinema previews, with a main online release on August 28.

Production, which was supported by Screen Yorkshire, also went to Doncaster and the eponymous Hope Gap in Seaford, Sussex.

It was directed by two-time Oscar-nominated British screenwriter William Nicholson (Gladiator, Shadowlands), OBE, FRSL, director, playwright and novelist, who directed from his own script.