A new film about the 1984 Miners’ Strike featuring soundtrack music and an appearance by British Open champion Tredegar is set to close the Director’s Fortnight at the 67th Cannes International Film Festival.

The famous event attracts worldwide media attention, as new blockbuster releases, critically acclaimed films and documentaries battle it out to win the Palm d’Or, Grand Prix or Prix de Jury awards, whilst age defying stars such as Sharon Stone strut the red carpets weighed down with more gold and jewels than can be found in the local Cannes branch of Tiffany.

Important

The Director’s Fortnight is regarded as one of the most important linked festival events and since its inception in 1969 has featured films by Martin Scorsese, Werner Herzog, Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas amongst others.

‘Pride’ is the screen debut of Tony award winning theatre director Matthew Warchus, and is set during the summer of 1984, when the Miners’ Strike was at its height and mining families in the South Wales coalfield faced huge financial difficulties.

Extraordinary tale

Stephen Beresford bitter sweet culture clash comedy recounts the true story of Gay Pride activists who set about raising money for the initially reticent Welsh miners.

Such was the success of the LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners) that a deep seated respect and understanding emerged in an extraordinary tale of friendship and solidarity.

Stars

In a recent interview with The Guardian newspaper, which nominated it as one of the 25 key films of the 2014 festival, Director Matthew Warchus said: "Pride engages the audience not in party politics or preachy agendas, but in much bigger concepts of generosity and compassion."

The film stars Dominic West, Andrew Scott (pictured above with the band in London) Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Paddy Considine and will close the Cannes fortnight on Sunday.

Berlin Phil

After meeting with the film’s composer Chris Nightingale at the British Open last September, Tredegar took part in filming in the small Swansea valley village of Banwen, followed by two trips to London to take part in sequences filmed between the Foreign Office and Treasury in the heart of Whitehall, as well as on Westminster Bridge.

In March, the band recorded their parts for the film sound track at the famous Air Studios in Hampstead, where they will be heard alongside members of another well known band — the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, who provided their contribution at a special studio in Germany.

Pride engages the audience not in party politics or preachy agendas, but in much bigger concepts of generosity and compassionDirector Matthew Warchus

Unique opportunity

Tredegar MD Ian Porthouse told 4BR that the film has provided the British Open champion with a pretty unique musical opportunity.

"It really has been something special for the band," he said.

"The filming itself was exhausting — 10 hours each day marching to the sound of ‘Old Comrades’, but we did to meet up with the stars such as Dominic West and Andrew Scott, as well as Bill Nighy, who was simply brilliant. He even wore a Tredegar Band tie on set!"

UK release

Ian added: "Chris Nightingale has written a wonderful score for the film, and worked closely with the band right from the start. It was a great experience to record at Air Studios and to work with his team, which included Simon Lenton who I have known from his time the Fine Arts Brass Ensemble.

We would have loved to have been able to help promote the film in Cannes, but we are certainly looking forward to help promote the film on its release in the UK in September."