Community Film Festival Held in North Acton

The TV and cinema history of the Island Triangle area is celebrated

Musician Alex Rosenberg and presenter Samantha Meah
Musician Alex Rosenberg and presenter Samantha Meah

The Island Triangle Resident’s Association (TITRA) of Willesden Junction has held a free film festival for local residents to celebrate a long history of British filmmaking in the area.

What is intended to be the inaugural festival of an annual event took place on during the Halloween half term and was attended by around 150 people at The Collective, North Acton.

The Island Triangle conservation area, which includes Stephenson Street, Goodhall Street, Stoke Place, Crew Place, Webb Place and Old Oak Lane. is made up of Victorian railway cottages, which have been seen on British screens since the 1930s. They have been included in many recognisable advertisements, TV shows, films and music videos including ‘The Ipcress Files’ (1965); ‘Foyles war (2019); ‘Eddie the Eagle’ (2016); Wild Bill (2019); ‘Common People’ by Pulp and ‘Our House’ by Madness.


Volunteers setting up the Island Triangle Film Festival Screen

The upcoming ‘Phantom of the Open’ movie about amateur British golfer Maurice Flitcroft which comes out later this year was also shot here. Oscar winners, nominees and other Hollywood favourites such as Michael Caine, Ralph Fiennes, Mark Rylance, Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman and Rob Lowe are also listed on the cul-de-sac’s showreel.

The event was open to all residents on application and included a kid’s film party; a film location tour; an industry expert talk hosted by former BBC morning breakfast broadcaster Samantha Meah in discussion with award winning local actors and screen writers – Ivan Kaye (Vikings and Stephen King's The Dark Tower); Douglas McFerran (Sliding Doors), Jason Salkey (Sharpe) and Linda Hartley; and a movie screening; followed by live music from the TITRA community band.

Ivan Kaye said , “I was delighted to be invited to take part in the first ever Island Triangle Film Festival. Having been involved in many film and TV productions over the years, I am very passionate about the importance of retaining key filming locations for the British Film industry. The Island Triangle streets are unique and they are particularly special in the midst of all this HS2 construction and other major developments literally popping up around us.”

The event was funded by the OPDC Heritage Grant, small grants awarded for community projects.

TITRA has hosted many free community events, including several street parties with inflatables, free food and live music over the last 20 years.

Craig Gunn, Island Triangle Film Festival tour guide said, ‘The reason we do events like this is to protect the area from commercial and private encroachment. We want to protect the rich London history that is kept in the architecture here. These houses represent the working class of Britain.’

Local resident Virginie Chalmin added, ‘It is not very common to find such a community vibe in London. We’ve been in London for 15 years now and this is the first place we’ve had that community feel. Everybody looks after each other. Our friends think we are very lucky.’

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November 3, 2021