SKIPTON played a starring role as film fans flocked to the first Hinterlands International Rural Film Festival over the weekend.

Celebrating all things silver screen, the four day festival was a new collaboration between Wild Rumpus and Great Place: Lakes and Dales (GPLD), which seeks to use culture, heritage and the arts to encourage more young people to live and work in the area.

Hundreds of festival goers took advantage of the eclectic events, which were based at a number of locations around the town including the 107-years-old Plaza cinema, Skipton Castle, the library, the Narrowboat pub, Aireville Park and even a barge on the Leeds Liverpool canal. Belle Vue Square was transformed into the festival’s central hub, with a host of giant outdoor games, food vendors and walkabout theatre.

Among the highlights was a packed 50th anniversary screening of Ken Loach’s Kes in the evening sunset and historic setting of Skipton Castle’s chapel.

There were queues down Sackville Street as the Plaza witnessed a moving and emotional launch of Orcadian multi-instrumentalist Erland Cooper’s second solo album, Sule Skerry. Youngsters meanwhile had a great time learning how to stage fight at The Good, The Bad and The Punchy workshop in Aireville Park.

A tribute to Doris Day saw musical fans in full voice for a sing-a-long screening of Calamity Jane, while campers enjoyed orienteering, compass making and storytelling at ‘Camp Aireville’ which included a showing of Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom.

A number of brave souls snuggled up to experience a horror all-nighter at the Plaza, and an innovative floating cinema on the historic Kennet barge saw the screening of Tides, a tale of four friends navigating birth, love and death on a barge. For the more energetic, there was a fabulous Barn Dance at the ‘Lost Horse Saloon’.

Festival goers enjoyed street performances and workshops, including having a go at animation with Skipton-based Virpi Kettu, who has worked on the Wallace and Gromit films.

God’s Own Country was the runaway winner in the vote for the nation’s favourite rural film. The movie tells the story of the intense relationship between young Yorkshire farmer, Johnny, and a Romanian migrant worker who arrives for lambing time. It came out top of a poll run by Hinterlands in the lead-up to the event, with The Revenant in second and Kes third.

The festival also held a hugely popular short film competition which was won by Gabe Payne (under 12s), William Greenwood (12-16) and Sarah Thomas (over 16s).

GPLD programme manager Lindsey Hebden said: ‘Great Place: Lakes and Dales wants to open up spaces and access to our cultural and heritage, ultimately helping to make the area more appealing to live and work.

“We approached Wild Rumpus to work with us on this challenge last year, and I am proud of their response with Hinterlands – one of the first international rural film festivals and a world premier for Skipton.

“Featuring a myriad of cultural encounters, screenings and activities, it was inspiring to witness hundreds of people enjoy a number of firsts for Skipton.

“The emotional intensity of Erland Cooper’s live score to archive footage of our local rural landscapes really resonated through the Art Deco Plaza. It was a special moment I will never forget.

“New creative conversations and collaborations are already emerging – including the launch of a new film club at Alexander’s.”