An inspirational new film on the Rochdale Pioneers will have a special gala screening during the Co-operatives United event which takes place at the end of October in Manchester, UK.
‘The Rochdale Pioneers’, starring UK actors John Henshaw and John McArdle, known for their roles in British films and TV series, has its official premiere during the Coops Utd world festival and expo. This will be part of the closing celebrations for the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives. Shortly after the live screening in Manchester the film will have its TV debut in November on the UK TV channel, Film4, as part of a special season of films with a British connection.
This is the latest film from The Co-operative British Youth Film Academy, for which an official trailer has been released, below, tells how the Pioneers’ vision for a better social order inspired them to overcome prejudice and adversity to form the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society in 1844.
The film was commissioned by The Co-operative Group and Mark Robinson-Field, the National Co-operative and Membership Manager for the Co-operative Group and the film’s Executive Producer, says: “The original Rochdale Pioneers set out the principles that became the basis for how co-operatives around the world still operate to this day.
“It is a remarkable story of struggle against adversity that is just as relevant today and we believe that the time is right for this inspirational story to be re-told to a new generation.”
Co-operatives United is a week long festival with major conferences and forums, inspiring exhibitions, over 100 workshops and a fringe festival of film, food and visits. The festival takes place in Manchester, UK, from October 31 to November 2, 2012. During the event the International Cooperative Alliance will hold its General Assembly. There will also be the Co-operatives UK awards ceremony which recognises the excellence, innovation and impact of co-operatives and mutuals across the UK. These awards are now in their fourth year, and amongst the short-listed co-operatives is ICMIF member Benenden Healthcare which has been nominated for the Co-operative of the Year Award – for overall excellence in relation to performance on all aspects of running a successful co operative.
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