More than 200 have already booked to attend a free outdoor screening of Perry Henzell’s 1972 cult classic The Harder They Come on Saturday August 11.
Now the organisers, Screen25 – South Norwood’s community cinema – want to make sure that the remaining tickets are taken up by local residents.
Jimmy Cliff stars in the cult classic The Harder They Come
The special event coincides with Jamaican Independence Day that week, as well as paying tribute to the 70th anniversary of the Windrush.
Supported by around 30 volunteers, the cinema aims to unite and empower the local community through a diverse programme of films hosted at Harris Academy South Norwood.
To deliver the event in August, Screen25 is partnering with We Are Parable, an immersive events company with a focus on black cinema, whose credits include the Black Panther preview screening at the BFI, and the Spike Lee is 60 Film Festival.
The Harder They Come stars reggae artist Jimmy Cliff as an aspiring musician who leaves his rural village hoping to make a name for himself in Jamaica’s Kingston. It is widely credited as the first Jamaican feature film.
Before the screening, cinema-goers will be treated to a party celebrating Jamaican culture, including a reggae sound system, Jamaican food and drink, and a community workshop with the Stratford-based Reggae Choir.
A wide range of Afro-Caribbean products will be available to buy from local independent stall-holders, including jewellery, clothing, crafts and books.
The event is hosted in collaboration with high-end British footwear brand Uptown Yardie, who will create an arts installation to shed positive light on Jamaican yardie culture. Audience members are invited to come wearing the colours of the Jamaican flag to celebrate Independence Day.
Katie Brandwood, Screen25’s creative director, said, “We are honoured to be working with the brilliant creative minds at We Are Parable to deliver this event.
“Not only is this a chance to screen a much-loved classic at a very significant time in Jamaican history, it is also an opportunity to celebrate our culturally rich community and welcome lots of new people through our doors.”
Doors will open at 5pm, with film starting at 8.30pm preceded by a live performance by the Reggae Choir at 8pm.
The remaining tickets for the night are being made available through an innovative link-up with local shops and cafés in South Norwood, where they can be claimed in person. Details of participating businesses can be found on the Screen25 website here.
And before the end of this month, there’s also an additional “Bring Along Baby” screening of the 2017 BAFTA-winning comedy drama, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, on Thursday, July 26.
This is a matinee screening exclusively for mums, dads and carers with babies under one-year-old.
Doors open 10.30am (this will be an indoor screening), with tickets £8.50, or £6.50 for Inside Croydon supporters.
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