Lord Puttnam previews first film in 18 years at Curzon Goldsmiths opening

Screen legend Lord Puttnam gave a surprise world premiere to his first film for 18 years at the official launch of the Curzon Goldsmiths cinema.

 

The producer used the opening of the new cinema at Goldsmiths, University of London to play the trailer for his work Arctic 30 for the first time in public.

The new film tells the real-life story of a group of environmental activists seized by Russian troops in 2013.

Speaking at the official opening of the cinema on Goldsmiths’ New Cross campus, Labour peer and environmental campaigner Lord Puttnam said he decided to end the “longest career break ever” due to the urgent nature of the film’s subject.

And he spoke of his hopes that the film could establish a new business model for cinema by becoming the first film to engage “100 million interested participants” via social media throughout the entire movie-making process.

The environmental drama-documentary is based on events which saw Russia hold 30 Greenpeace protestors after they attempted to scale an Arctic drilling platform.

After playing the high-octane trailer, the Oscar-winner behind some of Britain’s most successful films like Chariots of Fire and Bugsy Malone said: “I have two grandchildren in their early 20s and their biggest crisis is that they won’t be able to make both parties on a Saturday night.

“This film will help me illustrate to them there are other cares in life.”

“If this film helps my two fabulous granddaughters come to me after seeing this and say, ‘Grandpa, what can we do?’ then it has done its job.”

Lord Puttnam added: “The two heroes of the film are young women. The film’s about them.”

The former chair of the Joint Parliametary Committee on the Draft Climate Change Bill added: “I have no doubt in my own mind that climate change is the greatest crisis facing humanity.

“But it also has the potential for us to have a shared problem – and a shared solution. We’re in other’s pockets and can solve these problems together.”

The movie is based on the best-selling book Don’t Trust, Don’t Fear, Don’t Beg by Greenpeace publicist Ben Stewart who was one of the 30 held by Russian authorities.

The film which is due for release in 2017 uses footage shot at the time and interviews to tell the dramatic story which eventually saw the 30 environmentalist released following intense worldwide pressure.

The screening marked a coup for Curzon Goldsmiths. Lewisham’s first full-time cinema for 15 years, the 102-seater screen opened to the public at the end of January.

The opening was attended by Goldsmiths students, members of the film industry and local dignitaries. Two short films created by students from the prestigious Screen School at Goldsmiths were shown alongside Lord Puttnam’s work.

Labour peer Dame Joan Ruddock, who campaigned for Lewisham to have a cinema during her time as a local MP, told the official opening: “It’s astonishing that this borough did not have a cinema for 15 years. It was not for want of trying but it never happened.

“This a true breakthrough. I hope it’s going to be a tremendous resource for the local community.”

Warden of Goldsmiths Patrick Loughrey said he wanted the cinema to help “throw open the doors of the campus” to the people of Lewisham. He added: “These are exciting times for Goldsmiths. We have a music studio, a theatre, a cinema – and a public art gallery due to open soon.

“We want everyone around us to come and share and celebrate everything which happens here.”

Curzon Cinemas Chief Executive Philp Knatchbull said “like-minded partners” like Goldsmiths helped create a new way of operating cinemas.

He added: “Together we can build new cinemas and help build and sustain cinema-going audiences.”