In his third review shared with us, Jarl Russnes, one of the faithful Norwegian visitors to Blackpool, reports on The Big Screen Time Revival held in October. Mark Norton and Simon McConway, co-organisers of the Blackpool Film Collectors’ Convention were on projection duties, and Adrian Winchester, another one of the team, compiled an entertaining 16mm Scopitone show. Jarl concludes his report with a visit to the Nordic Film Collectors Gathering, held in Denmark.
Several members of the Norwegian Film Collectors’ Club (Norsk Filmsamlerklubb) and I have traveled to England many times to attend what have, in recent years, emerged as the “Big Three” film collectors’ gatherings. However, we had occasionally heard whispers of others—including receiving flyers for an event called “Big Screen Time Revival.” At the time, attending it seemed entirely out of the question—not least because it takes place just a few weeks before the Blackpool event—yet the thought lingered that it might be interesting to check out someday.
Then, it happened. At the BFCC earlier this year, I found myself sitting next to a lovely older lady, chatting away. A short while later, her son joined us; it turned out to be David Tatham, the man behind Big Screen Time Revival. We began to talk, and he told me about the event and how his entire family pitches in to help. I must admit, his enthusiasm was so infectious that when, a little later, I saw an opportunity to combine a family trip with a visit to the gathering, I didn’t hesitate. Fate had decided that I was meant to go.
It is worth noting, however, that there is a backstory here involving David. Although Big Screen Time emerged 15 years after the BFCC and Blackpool events, it actually has a long history of its own. It was started in 1991 by Geoff Wheeler—who had himself been involved with the other two events from their inception—and he ran it right up until 2012. Then it came to an end, much like so many other things tied to genuine film. Fortunately, the event was revived just five years later, in 2017, with David at the helm—hence the name “Revival”—and he hasn’t looked back since.
But back to the event itself. It was Sunday, October 25th, and I was about to see what it was all about. I arrived at Croxley Green—at the school where it was being held—and immediately got a good impression. I spotted a few familiar faces from the other events right away, but it was the sense of experiencing something authentic that really struck me. The fact that it took place at a school added to this; it felt a bit like attending a school band’s flea market or a Christmas party—though the welcome I received upon entering was even warmer.
It was no exaggeration to say that the whole family was involved—spanning three generations. Behind the counter, where we entered, sat the same elderly lady I’d seen at the BFCC, accompanied by her grandchildren, collecting the entrance fees. David welcomed everyone with his signature infectious enthusiasm and was visibly and pleasantly surprised that I had actually made the trip all the way from Norway. The Tom & Jerry-themed café—where one could enjoy homemade cakes and tea—was run by his wife.
Inside the venue itself, there was a large market with plenty of wonderful items for sale. I also managed to have a chat with John Franklin from “Film is Fabulous,” who hinted at some very exciting things on the horizon. In the adjacent auditorium, there was a fantastic programme of various film screenings throughout the day—real treats for anyone who appreciates unique material on actual film. There were many familiar faces from England, but as far as I know, there was only one other person from abroad at the gathering: the most loyal of them all, Dominique from Belgium. I am grateful to have been able to take part in something so wonderful and unique, and I hope to experience it again someday.
And now, to something a bit closer to home—because I have actually been to Denmark, too. Taking a trip like this every month isn’t sustainable in the long run, but you only live once; so, on September 26th, I arrived in Aalborg for the Nordic Film Collectors’ Gathering. This event has a long history, rotating between the three Scandinavian countries over the years. This time it was Denmark’s turn, but in a new format. Ever since I started attending (in 2015), the Danish gatherings had always been held at Peter Kam’s premises in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen. That era, however, has come to an end; the gathering was now to be held in a place that—to a Norwegian—was surprisingly referred to as the “Paris of the North”: Aalborg.
It is important to support such events if they are to survive, and the journey from Larvik via Color Line was a pleasant one. Aalborg certainly didn’t disappoint when it came to the atmosphere—whether in terms of smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches) or the local pub scene. The vibe is wonderfully laid-back, and everyone knows their Kim Larsen. The gathering took place in a great venue, featuring both a jazz club and a cinema well-equipped for screening actual film prints. Red hot dogs were served.
While there were no major cinematic treasures for sale on film reels, one can’t have everything. I didn’t bring any treats along myself, so I suppose I’m just as guilty as anyone else. In my view, however, the event was an improvement in other respects. Beyond the discussions about film, there was an impressive screening program—featuring both 35mm and 70mm prints—as well as a feature film in the evening. There was also a dinner at a restaurant, which made the gathering a more complete event.
For a long time, I have hoped that the Nordisk event could become more like the gathering in Blackpool—which features a full weekend programme—making it a more attractive destination. I hope this might be a step in that direction. The proof that such an approach works can be seen in the success of Rickard Gramfors, who has managed to draw large crowds to his events deep in the forests of Värmland. It will be exciting to see what the future holds.
Thank you for your attention. With this fourth and final article, I am concluding my series on the various film collector gatherings held throughout the year. My intention—at least in part—was to showcase these events and hopefully spark interest among those outside the collecting community, particularly those involved in film societies affiliated with the Norwegian Federation of Film Societies (Norsk Filmklubbforbund). Come spring, I plan to approach things from the other side: I intend to write an article about the work of the Federation—focusing specifically on Bergsem (now Fredsem) and the National Convention, which will take place in Fredrikstad from March 12th to 14th. I hope this might inspire collectors to get involved with their local film society—or even start their own—to showcase the very best thing there is: real film.
