Anthony Minghella's Life And Work To Be Celebrated As Part Of Hull 2017

The life and work of Oscar™ winning director, film and television producer and playwright Anthony Minghella is to be celebrated with a series of film screenings and events as part of Hull UK City of Culture 2017.

Tickets are now on sale for Anthony Minghella: A Retrospective, which will take place at the University of Hull’s newly renovated Middleton Hall from 22 until 29 January 2017, in conjunction with Hull 2017, BFI and BFI Film Hub North.

Anthony Minghella: A Retrospective will offer a fascinating insight into the work and life of one of the University of Hull’s most famous alumni and one of the city’s greatest cultural exports. Renowned for films including The Talented Mr Ripley, The English Patient and Cold Mountain, which are all being shown, the Hollywood legend was a student and lecturer at the University in the 1970s and 80s and went on to become Chair of the British Film Institute.

Screenings will be accompanied by live discussions, script readings, music and performance at events led by former colleagues, which will explore the extraordinary career and legacy of Minghella, who died in 2008, as a director, film and television producer and playwright.

A display of rare materials taken from Hull History Centre’s Minghella archive will include personal items from his time as a University staff member, such as the script of his breakthrough play, Whale Music. Early work in British television and producing children’s programming, comedy, drama and artistic shorts before Minghella moved onto full length feature films will also be shown.

Anthony Minghella: A Retrospective is part of Transformative Film Culture for Hull, a major programme planned for Hull 2017 in conjunction with Principal Partner the University of Hull and supported by the BFI and BFI Film Hub North, as part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network led by Showroom Workstation.

Other events during the year include Digital Dystopias, a five day festival from 10-14 February that explores what it means to be human in the digital age. Films being shown are Alex Garland’s Ex Machina; Japanese animation Ghost in the Shell; Spike Jonze’s Her; Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey; and Oliver Stone’s latest film, the biopic Snowden. The festival will also include discussions and Q&As with filmmakers.

The University will also host Hull: City of Cinema, a conference exploring the significant role that Hull and East Yorkshire have played and continue to play in film and television. The conference runs from 24-26 March 2017 and will include screenings, presentations, Q&As, and workshops.

Across the year there will be a variety of other film screenings at Middleton Hall. Hull 2017 has also partnered with Into Film, a UK- wide film focused organisation and educational resource for children and teenagers, to introduce young film enthusiasts from across the city to Minghella, with a special screening of The Talented Mr Ripley. More details about the Hull 2017 film programme will be announced in early 2017. Films are also being shown as a part of Hull 2017’s recently announced Back to Ours festival.

Professor Glenn Burgess, Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hull, said: “As an alumnus and former lecturer, Anthony Minghella is a great example of the University’s contribution to creativity. We are proud to be part of and host a tribute to Anthony and his significant contribution to film as part of the Hull UK City of Culture celebrations.”

Martin Green, CEO and Director Hull 2017, said: “People may not be aware of Hull’s place in British cinema and 2017 is an opportunity to remedy that. We are thrilled to be working with the University, BFI and Film Hub North to bring this celebration of the life and work of Anthony Minghella, one of Britain’s filmmaking greats. It will help kick off a series of events throughout the year, bringing a range of international films and also showcasing Hull’s role in this important and ever popular artform.”