Fort Film Night

A screening of a sea-themed feature film - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - presented outdoors in the stunning landscape of the C19th military base, Coalhouse Fort. Selected by public vote from our shortlist of four classics.

Prior to the show there was an opportunity to join a walk from another spectacular piece of military architecture, the C16th Tilbury Fort, to Coalhouse Fort (approx 3 miles) and to join in the launch of a book about Thurrock 100 Stories, a creative community project organised by artist, Ali Pretty, and her company Kinetika. The book contains 100 stories about Thurrock’s heritage written by members of the community and school children of all ages, and the images of the 100 silk flags that were created to illustrate them.

On 17-18 and 25 September, there was also an exhibition of new work by Mark Donne - Listening with Frontiersman - a four screen film installation played out entirely in the Thames Estuary, exploring the notion of local or global exclusion zone as psychic fact.

Mark Donne, photo by Benedict Johnson
Heidi Wigmore, photo by Michaela Freeman
Eelyn Lee, Creature of the Estuary, photo by Michaela FreemanPhoto by Christopher Kelly
Programme:
4pm: 100 artists and other participants walk, with all 100 flags, from Tilbury Fort to Coalhouse Fort
5-7pm:  Guided Tours of the Fort
5.30pm: Thurrock 100 Book Launch by Kinetika
6pm: Mind Control Tower installation by artist, Heidi Wigmore
7-10pm: Film Programme 

The film programme opened with the premiere of CREATURE OF THE ESTUARY, Five Scenes of Fear by artist and filmmaker Eelyn Lee. Shot along the Thames Estuary the film explores collective memories, dreams and stories of fear associated with the river.

Followed by a sea themed feature, selected by public vote from our shortlist of four film classics - 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, 1954
Starring Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre... A ship sent to investigate a wave of mysterious sinkings encounters the advanced submarine, the Nautilus, commanded by Captain Nemo.




The films to choose from were:

MOBY DICK, 1956

Before the Shark, there was the Whale... Starring Gregory Peck, Richard Basehart and Leo Genn The sole survivor of a lost whaling ship relates the tale of his captain's self-destructive obsession to hunt the white whale, Moby Dick. 

20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, 1954
Starring Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre... A ship sent to investigate a wave of mysterious sinkings encounters the advanced submarine, the Nautilus, commanded by Captain Nemo.

THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE, 1972
Hell, Upside Down... Starring Gene Hackman Ernest Borgnine, Jack Albertson, Shelly Winters A group of passengers struggle to survive and escape when their ocean liner completely capsizes at sea.

WILD RIVER, 1960
As sure as the river rises, it had to happen… Starring Montgomery Cliift, Lee Remick, Jo Van Fleet. A TVA bureaucrat comes to the river to do what none of his predecessors have been able to do - evict a stubborn octogenarian from her island before the rising waters engulf her.

Event photo: Estuary, Sadie Hasler