GRANDAD & THE PIER
DOCUMENTARY
“How can an 87 year old have anything to do with how it’s going to be in the future?!
…YOU CAN’T. BUT YOU CAN HAVE ENOUGH IMAGINATION TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD DO!
IT’S FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
It’s the people’s pier!”
This beautiful, charming, cinematic documentary captures a community project over 130 years in the making.
On a small island in the middle of the Irish sea, a giant derelict pier juts out into the rough sea.
Closed for decades, now the town is getting a new lease of life thanks to a defiant elderly population building something for the next generation.
A wind-swept, tea-soaked, heart-warming film about community, hope and leaving a legacy beyond our years.
IN THE PRESS:
“All collective movements start with spreading the word.”
– LEAP ECO DESIGN STUDIO
“THIS FILM IS A testament to the determination and tireless work of the local community”
– BAFF, BUDAPEST ARCHITECTURE FILM FESTIVAL
“We are thrilled to announce GRANDAD & THE PIER WAS A TOP 5 PICK IN OUR AUDIENCE AWARD, FROM 80+ DOCUMENTARY FILMS.”
– AFFR, Architecture film festival rotterdam
“older generations on film and TV aren’t necessarily always represented as being active and ambitious and taking risks — these guys are completely challenging those stereotypes.”
- GEF THE MONGOOSE
“anything we can do as a community to bridge the generation gap is to be nurtured.”
– Faces of Clevedon
“Grandad Biff comes across as a man who wants the best for the future, regardless of when that will be.”
– ISLE OF MAN TODAY
Screenings:
9th May 2023 – Victory Cafe, Snaefell Mountain [Private View] 🇮🇲
10th May 2023 – Ramsey Grammar School [Community Premiere] 🇮🇲
1st July 2023 – Tracton Arts & Music Festival, County Cork 🇮🇪
17th July 2023 – Manx National Heritage Museum, Douglas 🇮🇲
19th July 2023 – Erin Arts Centre, Port Erin 🇮🇲
3rd August 2023 – Electric Palace Cinema, Hastings 🇬🇧
15th August 2023 – Watershed, Bristol 🇬🇧
10th September 2023 – Wastesmiths, Great Yarmouth 🇬🇧
20th September 2023 – Fellowship Cinema, London 🇬🇧
21st September 2023 – The Astor Theatre, Kent 🇬🇧
6th October 2023 – AFFR (Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam) 🇳🇱
8th October 2023 – Curzon, Clevedon, North Somerset 🇬🇧
2nd November 2023 – Club Scannán, Galway 🇮🇪
11th November 2023 – The Poly, Falmouth, Cornwall 🇬🇧
20th January 2024 – Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham 🇬🇧
21st January 2024 – Saltburn-By-The-Sea Arts Cinema, Yorkshire 🇬🇧
28th February 2024 – Centenary Centre, Peel 🇮🇲
8th March 2024 – BAFF (Budapest Architecture Film Festival) 🇭🇺
20th March 2024 – Plaza Cinema, Weston-Super-Mare 🇬🇧
23rd March 2024 – Barcelona Indie Awards 🇪🇸
13th April 2024 – St James’ Church, Dalby 🇮🇲
29th April 2024 – Kavanagh Cinema, Herne Bay 🇬🇧
Credits:
A film directed by Reuben Armstrong
Cinematography by Jamie Neale
Additional camera by Harry Henthorn
Drone camera by Ciaran Gray
Archive footage from the Durrant family
Edited by Jim Burke and Reuben Armstrong
Title design by Fireater Letterpress
Animation by Reuben Armstrong
Colour by Jamie Neale
Music from John Durrant, Jamie Frye, Ardie Son, Jon Gegelman, Tom Goldstein, Stanley Gurvich, Spearfisher, Leon Laudenbach, ANBR, Anthony Lazaro and Jacob Pavek.
Voiceover recorded at Films@59
Sound by Jamie Frye, Dave Armstrong and Jim Donaldson
Special thanks to Queens Pier Restoration Trust and Ramsey Grammar School
Featuring Tom Durrant aka Grandad Biff, Michele Tramontana, Stuart Mackenzie, Jean Tracy, Catherine Prossor, Karen Moore, Linda Morgan, Sine Hill, Pauline Johns-Garrett, Sharon Kearns, Ken Devaney, Nick Durrant, David Furnival & the schoolchildren of Ramsey Grammar School.
Produced by Reuben and Jamie and Lights Off
Supported by Culture Vannin and Watershed