Filmhouse Sunderland, the new weekly programme of independent films which screens in Sunderland city centre, welcomes British film director Richard Heap to introduce his film The Runaways at 6.30pm on Thursday 13th February.

Supported by Film Hub North, part of the British Film Institute (BFI)’s Film Audiences Network, Filmhouse Sunderland screens new independent cinema releases at the city’s Empire Cinema each Thursday evening. Tickets are priced at just £5 and £4 concessions.

The Runaways is a new film which celebrates childhood and family. A road movie in the style of classic British adventure films, the story follows three runaway children (including BAFTA winner Molly Windsor) and their two beach donkeys as they embark on a journey from Whitby across the North York Moors in a search for their estranged mother following a family tragedy. The ravishing beauty of the Yorkshire moors is on full display as the siblings make their way through the countryside, avoiding the authorities and their wicked uncle along the way…

Devised and delivered by the team behind the city’s growing Sunderland Shorts Film Festival (co-ordinated by Sunderland City Council) with north east cinema consultant Jonny Tull, Filmhouse Sunderland gives audiences a chance to watch some of the new movies on Sunderland’s cinema screens that they would normally have to travel far out of the city to see. The Filmhouse Sunderland programme runs until July.

Jonny Tull, who is leading the Filmhouse Sunderland project said: “I’m thrilled to bits that Richard Heap will be paying us a visit to talk about his film. Filmhouse Sunderland has started brilliantly and has already proven that the city has more than its fair share of film lovers.

The Runaways is a great new British film, packed with heart, beautiful to look at, and featuring great performances from the young actors. We’re really looking forward to hearing Richard talk about how he made it and its journey to the big screen.”

A full list of films screening through to April Information is included below. Each Filmhouse Sunderland film screens at the city centre’s Empire Cinema on Lambton Street. Tickets for the screenings are just £5/£4 each. Films have a short introduction, and in some cases will feature a Q&A with the filmmakers.

Tickets and information can be found at www.filmhousesunderland.co.uk. Filmhouse Sunderland is a Sunderland Shorts Film Festival/Sunderland City Council project. It is supported by Film Hub North, proud to be part of the BFI Film Audience Network.