By Victoria Brenan

Published at 10:58, Monday, 17 December 2012

The organisers of a touring cinema said its first season has been a great success with 13 villages enjoying 25 films.

The inaugural REMOTE scheme was launched in September and came after a special series of summer screenings in the grounds of country homes in Cumbria.

Since September 29, a series of films have been shown in village halls around north Cumbria, including Melmerby, Bampton, Croglin, Skirwith, Great Salkeld and Appleby.

Eden Arts launched the programme to bring communities together, as well as taking films to places which otherwise faced long trips to cinemas in Penrith and Carlisle.

“We have shown over 25 films this season and the organising committees are busy planning next year’s screenings,” a spokeswoman said.

“The highlights of the first season have included Askham Community Centre having an all-nighter with Lord of the Rings trilogy, all nine and half hours of it! And at the screening of War Horse at Brough Memorial Hall on Remembrance Sunday young people read local war veterans’ diary extracts before the film.”

The season finishes with festive films from this weekend, with Polar Express at Croglin village hall tomorrow, The Nightmare Before Christmas on Thursday at Crosby Ravensworth, and Arthur Christmas at Skirwith on Friday and again at Brough Memorial Hall on Saturday.

Eden Arts launched the project after scooping a £140,000 Big Lottery grant last year and bought new cinema equipment, a screen and PA system.

“The villages set up cinema committees and the idea is to create fun, social events,” said Heather Walker of Eden Arts.

“It’s not about arty films, it’s about doing something that can bring the local community together and creating an event.

“They could have a curry night, for example, if the film had an Indian theme, or dress up in period costume if it was a period drama,” she added.

The village committees pay £95 per film for the film licence.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk