Meet CBBC stars at the Salford Film Festival

BBC North will be previewing a new CBBC drama at the Salford Film Festival which starts today (November 10)

The broadcaster, which moves its childrens’ department to Salford Quays in 20011, will also be putting on a series of exciting interactive events, screenings and presentations during the four-day festival.

Now in its seventh year, the Festival showcases the work of local filmmakers alongside a range of relevant international film productions.

For the first time, the BBC will feature as a special guest at Salford Film Festival. Award-winning director Jonathan Glendening has been working with local community groups in Salford including students from Pendleton College. With support from BBC Storytelling workshops, Jonathan has taken their stories, developed a script and produced two minute film shorts which will then be showcased at The Lowry in a special preview event on Sunday 14 November.

Kicking off a string of BBC events at the festival is the CBBC premiere of Combat Kids, a brand new drama filmed in the North West about a group of kids growing up on an army base which highlights how children are affected by war.

CBBC is inviting children and families to attend this screening which will be followed by a question and answer session with cast and crew.

For younger audiences, presenters Chris Jarvis and Pui Fan Lee from popular CBeebies series ‘Show Me Show Me’ will also run an exclusive live afternoon show for pre-schoolers on Friday 12 November in the Lowry’s Quays Theatre.

Over the course of the Festival visitors will have several chances to get behind the scenes of departments moving to MediaCityUK next year through a series of bespoke BBC North events. Creative staff covering TV, radio and online for both BBC Sport and BBC Children’s will take part in ‘What it’s like to work for…’ sessions including a forum to ask questions about their daily working life. There will also be chance to meet the BBC North team and hear more about opportunities in and around the BBC’s new home on Salford Quays.

If you’re hoping to catch a few famous faces this week, look no further than the special ‘Behind the Scenes at The World Cup’ panel, featuring Football Focus presenter Dan Walker and Radio 5 live's Jacqui Oatley as well as some other well-known sports names. Or why not join the audience in ‘Sights and Sounds of Salford’ a comical TV and Music panel show hosted by Terry Christian. With local celebrities, including Tina Malone (Shameless) and Will Rush (Waterloo Road) and music provided by the BBC Philharmonic, the quiz show promises to be an evening filled with laughter.

Thursday November 11th (The Lowry Studio 1)
6pm - Combat Kids - Preview Screening
7pm - What's It Like to Work for BBC Children's?

Thursday November 11th (Digital World Centre, conference room)
6.30pm - Behind The Scenes at The World Cup
8 pm - What's It Like To Work for BBC Sport?

Friday November 12th The Lowry (Quays Theatre and Compass Room)
1pm - Chris and Pui from Show Me Show Me
6.30pm - Meet BBC North
7.30pm - Sights and Sounds from Salford

Sunday November 14th (The Lowry Studio 1)
6pm - BBC Salford Shorts

If you're interested in booking tickets for any of our free events, please ring 0843 208 6000 (charged at 5p/minute) or visit the Lowry Box Office.

For a full programme of Salford Film Festival activity visit their website here.