The Duke to host short film bonanza

The Duke of Wellington public house, Balls Pond Road

Balls Pond Road is not generally considered to be one of Hackney’s most exciting roads, but more as a heavy-traffic, bus-congested stretch linking Dalston to Highbury.

However, it hosts a steadily growing number of gems, such as the superb little Polish deli (Polsmak), the Caribbean hot delight Peppers n’ Spice and the friendly and fresh Malaysian restaurant Puji-Puji.

Balls Pond Road is also home of the Duke of Wellington, a traditional pub serving some of the best regional and national ales, and a popular Sunday roast.

The Duke also serves as residence for a new film club, and twice a month the pull-down screen shows film rather than sport.

The Cinematograph Film Club is run by musician, composer, and Sheffield born film enthusiast Ben Pritchard.

The first screenings took place from June onwards and included We Are the Lambeth Boys, and Finisterre, and all had a London theme. Others have included Shane Meadow’s Dead Man’s Shoes and Closely Observed Trains by Jiri Menzel.

Pritchard first met Ed Mason, owner of The Duke, when working for Mason’s record label Bad Sneakers. At the time Pritchard had been curating Think in Oceans, a silent movie night at the Camden Roundhouse, marrying live music with high art films such as The Colour of Pomegranates and La Coquille et la Clergyman.

Pritchard proposed the idea of a film club to Mason, who invited him to host it at the Duke. Pritchard’s future plans for the club is cemented in keeping an open program, but with a definite interest in: “holding evenings for silent film with live accompaniment, presenting collections of works, and more non-film based content.”

On 23 August, the Cinematograph Film Club hosts its first short film night, showcasing a mélange of shorts, and providing a platform for film-makers to show their work.

Pritchard is keen to hear from film-makers, and has already had some great films posted through his letter-box. He is open to a diversity of genres, and welcomes anything from experimental to comedy, music videos to documentaries.

If you are looking for a screening venue and an audience for your short film, contact the Cinematograph Film Club at cinematographfilmclub@googlemail.com

If you wish to attend the short film night, no booking is necessary (and it’s free), but I recommend you get there early to secure a seat. The film starts at 8pm.

The next short film screening after 23 August will most likely take place in December, all being well.

The Duke of Wellington can be found at 119 Balls Pond Road N1 4BL