Rail passengers might have been forgiven for thinking they’d walked straight on to a film set when they came face-to-face with Willy Wonka and his Oompa Loompas at Leeds station.
The characters, from the cult classic film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, were handing out ‘golden tickets’ to rail passengers as part of Northern Rail’s sponsorship of the 16th Bradford International Film Festival (18 – 28 March).
The golden tickets offer one lucky rail passenger the chance to win a Roald Dahl DVD box set and a family ticket to see world premiere of a digitally re-mastered print of The Railway Children at the Festival’s closing gala at the National Media Museum.
On 20 & 21 March, Bradford International Film Festival is hosting the first of two Roald Dahl Family Film Funday weekends at the Museum. There will be screenings of films based on Roald Dahl’s fantastic tales for just £1 per ticket and a feast of fun themed activities, including face painting, storytelling and the chance to meet Willy Wonka himself.
Anyone travelling by train to the first Funday weekend can enter the competition to win the box set and the family cinema ticket.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, starring Jonny Depp, is being screened, along with the original film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and other Roald Dahl classics The Witches and Matilda as part of Bradford International Film Festival’s Family Film Fundays (20 & 21 March and 27 & 28 March).
Steve Butcher, Area Director, Northern Rail, said: “It’s absolutely great that we have been able to get involved with the Bradford International Film Festival, and have fun with our passengers.
“Leeds station isn’t the first place you’d expect to bump into Willy Wonka and the Oompa Loompas, but passengers really got into the spirit of things with many tempted to take a trip to the Family Film Days for what I’m sure will be a great day out for children and adults.”
Tony Earnshaw, Artistic Director of Bradford International Film Festival said: “We are delighted Northern Rail are sponsoring this year’s Bradford International Film Festival, which hopefully offers something for everyone.
“There are family films and events, such as the Roald Dahl Fundays and the closing gala world premiere of a digitally re-mastered print of The Railway Children. In between we are presenting new indie cinema from the US and high-calibre guests such as John Hurt and Imelda Staunton who will be talking about their films.”
To be entered into the competition to win the Roald Dahl box set and family film ticket (two adults and two children), rail passengers should hand in a completed golden ticket entry form and a rail ticket at the National Media Museum in Bradford. The closing date is 22 March.
The first Roald Dahl Family Film Funday Weekend takes place at the National Media Museum on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 March and will feature Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Nicolas Roeg’s The Witches together with activities including an animated chocolate factory workshop (tickets cost £3 each), face painting and storytelling (free).
The second Funday Weekend will take place on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 March and will feature Danny De Vito’s Matilda and Mel Stuart’s original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
The 16th Bradford International Film Festival runs for 11 days from Thursday 18 to Sunday 28 March at the National Media Museum and at satellite venues across Yorkshire.