Part 2: Kestrel Valley Film Festival
You will hear the director of a regional film festival talking to a group of new volunteers.
Lời thoại bài nghe (transcript)
Ruth: Good evening, everyone, and thank you for giving up your time to volunteer at this year's Kestrel Valley Film Festival. I'm Ruth Calloway, the festival director, and I'd like to run through a few things before you collect your volunteer packs.
Ruth: First, a bit about what's changed. A lot of people have asked me whether the festival is longer this year, but no, it still runs for nine days, from one Friday to the following Saturday. What is genuinely new is that, for the first time, some of our screenings will take place in a building that was never meant for films at all: the old wool warehouse beside the canal, which has been converted into a screening space especially for us. We did discuss opening the festival to film-makers from overseas, but in the end the committee felt we should stay true to our regional roots. And, as in previous years, students get half-price tickets rather than free entry.
Ruth: Now, your duties. When we first planned the opening night, the idea was that you'd be selling printed programmes at the door. However, the programme is now free and can be downloaded, so we no longer need anyone on sales. Instead, your main job that evening will be to collect the audience voting cards after each film and count them, because those votes decide the Audience Award. Staff from the cinema will look after tickets and seating.
Ruth: A few words about the short film competition. Entries went up this year, to two hundred and fourteen, which is a record. Film-makers don't need to live in the valley, but every film entered must have been shot here, which is why you'll recognise a lot of the locations. The judging panel includes two professional editors and, for the first time, a youth panel of college students aged between sixteen and nineteen. We'd hoped the winning film would be broadcast on regional television, but I'm afraid that hasn't been confirmed yet.
Ruth: If you have a free evening, I'd strongly recommend the screening on Thursday. It's a silent film from the 1920s, and a local pianist will be playing a live accompaniment that she's written herself. It was originally advertised with a talk by a film historian, but unfortunately he's had to cancel. Don't worry if you're busy on Thursday, though, because there's a second showing on the Sunday afternoon.
Ruth: Finally, let me go through the venues, as audience members will ask you about them. The Palace Cinema is our main venue, of course, and those of you who haven't been for a while will notice the difference, because it was completely refurbished over the winter, with new seating and a much larger screen.
Ruth: The Canal Warehouse, which I mentioned earlier, has plenty of parking nearby, but there are only sixty seats, so please tell people they must book in advance; we won't be selling any tickets on the door.
Ruth: The Town Library is showing a programme of children's films on Saturday mornings, but it isn't only for families. During the week it's running a series of practical sessions where people can learn the basics of shooting and editing their own short films.
Ruth: For the outdoor screenings in Abbey Gardens, people should bring a blanket. Those screenings depend on the weather, and if it starts raining heavily, we'll stop the film and close the gardens early. Refunds will be given.
Ruth: The Youth Centre is a lovely space, but please be aware that the main entrance has steps. Anyone using a wheelchair or pushing a buggy should go round to the side door, where there's a ramp.
Ruth: And lastly, the Railway Museum, where we're showing documentaries. The museum café has kindly agreed to give everyone with a festival ticket a free tea or coffee, which I'm sure will be popular on chilly evenings. Right, are there any questions so far?
