Mossley film series celebrates power of sun and water

AN INTERNATIONAL film series at a Tameside arts centre hopes to get local people fired up about the possibilities of sustainable energy. 

The Vale in Mossley has sourced eight uplifting short films, to be shown over two nights – each one celebrating the potential of renewables around the world.

The showings – made possible with support from Saddleworth Community Hydro’s sustainability grants – will be followed by Q&As with local experts on environmental themes.

The first film night on Thursday, August 29, explores the promise of solar energy, with three short documentaries on a solar theme.

They include Whilst Burning in the Sun from 2010 which sees 26-year-old Daniel Dembele return to his Mali homeland to start a local business building solar panels – the first of its kind in a country where 99 per cent of rural households live without power.

The films will be followed by a Q&A with Mossley Community Energy Co-op.

The second film night on Thursday, September 5, showcases water as a renewable energy source and drives home the importance of keeping waterways clean.

The screenings include The Power of Water, a 2022 public service broadcasting film from the USA which tells the story of Bob King, a New Hampshire entrepreneur whose life’s work has been rehabilitating abandoned dams to produce clean energy.

The films will be followed by a Q&A with Mossley’s own waterways champion Sam Clayton, from Reclaim River Tame, who will talk about his journey to swim the Tame to highlight pollutants in the river.

Audiences will also be invited to take a peak at The Vale’s own micro hydro generator, which is currently a work in progress.

Amelia Bayliss, general manager at The Vale, said: “We’re thrilled to be screening this eclectic mix of films focusing on renewable energy and the environment.

“As we work hard to make The Vale more sustainable, with solar panels and a micro-hydro generator, we are pleased to share these stories of communities coming together to take energy into their own hands, as well as a reminder to take care of our natural world.”

Both screenings start at 7.30pm and are preceded by workshops, running from 6pm.

Before the ‘sun series’ you can learn how to glean a sunflower head, while audiences are invited to relax, have a drink and try their hand at making a felt seascape before the ‘waves series’.