New heartwarming Bristol documentary to screen at Bristol Aquarium’s former IMAX cinema

BRISTOL, UK. April 17th, 2024 - The captivating feature-length documentary "Rave On For The Avon" chronicles the efforts of a local community to preserve their beloved bathing spot - the Bristol way. It is set to screen at Bristol's largest cinema screen this April.

"Rave On For The Avon" premiered at PYTCH last month and is back for another preview screening on Thursday, 25th April. Set against the backdrop of Bristol's vibrant culture, this film showcases Bristolians' resilience, creativity, and indomitable spirit in the face of environmental challenges.

The feature-length film follows local Bristolians and campaign groups, such as Conham Bathing, Save Our Avon and the ‘Avon Mermaid’ Lindsey Cole, who are all fighting to save their beloved natural bathing spot on the Avon River in unique, daring, and distinctly Bristolian ways. 

Charlotte Sawyer, the film’s Director, has worked internationally across the charity campaign sector as a filmmaker and has focused her storytelling on an issue right on her doorstep. Charlotte said: “This film is about love. The love people have for our rivers and the love they feel in return. It’s an immersive, observational and fresh perspective that cuts through the infuriating statistics that tell us our rivers are dying. It gives hope to those who want to protect them.”

‘Rave On For The Avon’ captures the stories of individuals whose lives are intertwined with Bristol’s largest river. The film has sparked a wave of awareness at a time when it is needed. A recent Guardian article revealed that the Avon is one of the worst rivers in the country for sewage spills, with 74 spills every mile throughout the urban section of the river, which flows through Bath and Bristol.

The sold-out premiere of the film was held at PYTCH in Brislington in March. After running out of seats to accommodate the attendees, the filmmakers had to release standing tickets. The film has since been featured on BBC Radio Four’s The Today Programme, BBC Radio Bristol, Red Bull's The Red Bulletin Magazine, and Bristol 247. It is now to screen at Bristol's former IMAX cinema in an event launched in partnership with a filmmaker platform, Tabb.

The documentary’s soundtrack features a broad soundscape of Bristol artists. Key scenes are brought to life with an eclectic mix of the electronic neo-soul of Elder Island, the Drum and Bass of Charli Brix, DJ Ngaio Anyia’s afrobeat tracks and the folk music of Maz McNamara. The soundtrack reflects Bristol's myriad perspectives, walks of life, and personalities.

Kenyan-born fiction and drama Director Aggie Nyagari co-produced the film alongside Charlotte Sawyer. She was attracted to the film project due to her love for swimming in the river. Aggie said: "When I was first asked to produce this film, I saw it as a special calling to protect and fight for what I love. I love the river and the entire Conham area. Its natural beauty is so breathtaking that I've recently moved with my family to be a short walk away from it!”

Aggie has previously created films addressing topics such as corruption, disability stigma and the housing crisis, and she envisions this project as another avenue for driving change and progress by resonating with and engaging audiences. Her dedication to storytelling and shining a light on urgent social issues drives her work, establishing her as an influential figure in the film industry.

The filmmaker's aim is for ‘Rave On For The Avon’ to show policymakers and water companies alike how important healthy rivers are to people in Bristol and beyond, highlighting the benefits to individuals and the need to protect our ecosystem and the wildlife that call it home. As one of the few mechanisms available to communities to protect their local rivers, the filmmakers hope to inspire more communities to start Designated Bathing Water applications alongside Surfers Against Sewage’s call for 200 designated bathing waters by 2030.

A spokesperson for leading marine conservation and campaigning charity Surfers Against Sewage said: “Officially designated Bathing Waters are the only blue spaces where water quality is regularly monitored for its effect on human health, and legal obligations are put on polluting industries to clean up their act. In the UK, there are currently only three stretches of river, all of which have been won through local campaigns." 

The upcoming event at Bristol Aquarium will offer attendees an immersive experience. It will feature a preview screening of the documentary on the largest cinema screen in Bristol, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and campaigners hosted by Jayde Adams, “Bristol’s Coolest Person” comedian, actor, and now wild swimming advocate. 

The screening is at 6pm on Thursday, 25th April 2024, at Bristol Aquarium’s former IMAX screen. Tickets are available on Tabb and are expected to sell out beforehand. Please visit Eighty Sita's website for more information about ‘Rave On For The Avon’.

ENDS