ONE of cinema's most iconic cars will help launch this year's film degree show staged by University of Derby students.
Guest of honour Nev Pierce, editor of Empire film magazine, will greet the university's vice-chancellor Professor John Coyne as he arrives at the Cine 14 film night at the Quad cinema on Monday evening in a replica of the time-travelling DeLorean car from the blockbuster Back To The Future films.
Tales of horror, suspense and human drama will be premiered at the University of Derby's annual film degree show, which is staged by final year students on the BA (Hons) film production course.
Films being screened for the Cine 14 night include Butterfly, which tells the story of a 16-year-old competitive swimmer whose future career is threatened by epilepsy.
The film's producer, Ciall Kennett, has a mild form of epilepsy similar to that of the main character.
The film's crew raised more than £2,100 to help make the movie through crowd-funding website IndieGoGo. As this was more than expected, they have donated the remainder to the charity, Epilepsy Action.
Ciall said: "We hope our film can shed even a small light on what it means to suffer from epilepsy. As swimming is a sport requiring great determination, and one in which losing consciousness or lucidity means a life-threatening situation, it emerged naturally as the ideal backdrop for Butterfly."
Fear of a very different kind is tackled by another of the evening's short films, The Copy-Writer. It is inspired by the works of American horror writer HP Lovecraft, best known for his stories involving a race of monstrous Elder Gods who threaten humanity.
The film's tale of an author trying to decipher mysterious notes left by an unknown writer, only to find himself threatened by other-dimensional beings or possibly his own madness, is to be submitted for screening at HP Lovecraft film festivals in Los Angeles and Oregon, in the USA, later this year.
Other films being screened on the night include: Fixer; The 1,000 Colors; Without You; Doug; Nightmare; Rose and Neutral.
Tom Craig, university programme leader, said: "Our annual film night is not just an enjoyable event to complete the students' degree courses but a valuable learning experience, with film crews having to raise production money and organise the premiere event.
"We're pleased to have Nev as our special guest and speaker. I'm sure everybody will get a kick out of seeing the Back to the Future car."
A limited number of free tickets to the Cine 14 screening are available to the public – on a first come, first served basis – through the Quad box office on 01332 290606. More information on the film night can be found on Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DerbyCine14
BIG SHOWCASE FOR STUDENTSTHE film night at Quad is part of the University of Derby's annual degree shows, which are open to the public for free.
Called The Big Show, the shows feature final year projects by students in crafts, fashion, textiles, fine art, film, design, theatre, visual communications, architecture, music technology, creative expressive therapies, art therapy and many others.
One of the degree shows includes a photographer's collection of pictures giving an insight into UK food poverty – it will also raise money to help combat the problem.
Bethany Kane's photos of food bank premises in the Midlands were taken while she was volunteering at the food distribution service managed by Osmaston Road Baptist Church in Charnwood Street, Derby.
A hundred copies of the photo book from her project, Hidden Hunger, will be sold at £5 each when her collection goes on display at the university's Markeaton Street site. Proceeds will go to the Trussell Trust, which runs more than 400 UK food banks for those in need.
Bethany, 21, said: "My aim is to challenge the negative stereotypes concerning the current food poverty crisis in Britain."
All displays will be open to the public at the university's Markeaton Street and Britannia Mill sites until Friday, June 13.
For details, go to www.derby.ac.uk/ about/organisation/faculties/adt/degree-show.
