22 September 2010
Tipped to be a Box Office hit, Made in Dagenham is about to hit the big screens and showcase Eastbourne to cinema goers around the country following its preview at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month.
From the makers of Calendar Girls, Made in Dagenham will hit cinema screens on Friday 1 October, more than a year after scenes were filmed on Eastbourne seafront.
With the resort’s unspoilt promenade and Victorian Pier featuring in the film’s trailer currently showing in cinemas and on television, Eastbourne is keen to use its movie location status to attract a new audience of visitors, dubbed ‘set-jetters’, to the seaside destination.
Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Neil Stanley said “I am very excited to see the release of Made in Dagenham and take a look at the scenes filmed in Eastbourne on the big screen. With our immaculate seafront, dramatic backdrop of the South Downs, and a very approachable Film Liaison Unit, Eastbourne is a popular location for movie makers.
“Not only do film companies bring a great boost to the local economy, spending in the town while they film, but to see Eastbourne featured in a movie shown around the world, is fantastic promotion for our town and a great opportunity to invite visitors keen to explore the locations included in their favourite films.”
Every year, dozens of productions are filmed in Eastbourne; from low budget projects made for film festivals to television commercials, and from music videos to major motion pictures.
With a growing new audience of holidaymakers, identified by the press as ‘set-jetters’, visitors who want to go to the locations featured at the pictures, Eastbourne is keen to use its filming success to attract new visitors.
Boasting a vast range of locations, including a traditional promenade, stunning South DownsNational Park offering acres of open countryside without a pylon in sight, wide choice of seaside hotels and guesthouses, historic Bandstand, Victorian architecture and more, Eastbourne is growing in status as a popular film destination with an increasing number of companies choosing to shoot in the resort.
Made in Dagenham is the first of two feature films shown at the Toronto Film Festival that were filmed in Eastbourne, with the remake of Brighton Rock due to hit UK cinema screens early 2011 and offer another opportunity to encourage film fans to visit Eastbourne.
With the town featuring in the new Burger King TV commercial being shown now, and with the Pier being used for a major Halifax Banking advert earlier this year, Eastbourne has adorned billboards, televisions, and now, cinema screens in 2010.
And having played a major part in successful films over recent years such as Angus, Thongs & Perfect Snogging, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and Notes on a Scandal, Eastbourne offers a film fan’s paradise with a range of real life sets to explore.
For more information on Eastbourne’s famous film locations go to visiteastbourne or to contact the Film Liaison Unit call 01323 415433.
