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CELEBRATING HAWICK COMMON RIDING

A special screening of films related to Hawick’s historic annual Common Riding event. The screening includes Kick Oan, a film specially commissioned for this year’s Alchemy Festival, made by Borders based filmmaker Catriona Taylor as a celebration of the Common Riding.

The programme will open with rare film from the Scottish Screen Archive of previous Hawick Common Ridings, followed by a screening of Demelza Kooij’s remarkable 2012 documentary about a local horse-whisperer, The View from Here. Catriona Taylor’s Kick Oan will conclude the screening, which will be followed by a panel discussion with Catriona Taylor (Kick Oan) and Pete Smith (sound designer for The View from Here).

Kick Oan

Directed by: Catriona Taylor
World premiere

Running time: 00:30:00
Year: 2012
Country: Scotland

Synopsis:

Kick Oan tells the story of Hawick Common Riding through the voices of the Hawick people. The film embraces a 500 year old tradition of riding the town’s boundaries with all its attendant ritual, tradition, laughter and tears. It shows a community brought together annually, to remember the decimation of Flodden, a battle still etched in the collective consciousness of the Borders. The real heroes of the film however, are of course the horses, that so gallantly bear the riders through the nine ride outs. They are revealed in the stunning landscape of Teviotdale and in quieter moments in the stables.

Biography/Filmography:

Please see the website below.

Artist's Website: http://www.catrionataylor.co.uk/

Venue: Main auditorium - Heart of Hawick, Tower Mill
Screening date: Sunday 28th October
Screening time: 3.30pm
Tickets: £4 (for 'Hawick Common Riding' programme)
Programme: Hawick Common Riding

The view from here

Directed by: Demelza Kooij
World premiere

Running time: 00:17:41
Year: 2012
Country: United Kingdom

Synopsis:

The View From Here follows the magical everyday life of Peter Neilson, a Kelso based horse whisperer, a man with a special gift that enables him to communicate with animals both alive and dead. He lives in an enchanted world animated by the wind, flowers, insects, his dogs and horses. The audience gets an insight into his world and witnesses the death of one of his beloved animals.

Biography/Filmography:

Demelza Kooij is interested in themes such as: Man’s relation with its surrounding world, inner experiences, and visualising challenging concepts alike death and being. Before turning to documentary film Demelza Kooij studied philosophy and archaeology. It is her aim to communicate philosophical themes by using images and image sequences rather than text or dialogue.

Artist's Website: http://demelzakooij.com

Venue: Main auditorium - Heart of Hawick, Tower Mill
Screening date: Sunday 28th October
Screening time: 3.30pm
Tickets: £4 (for 'Hawick Common Riding' programme)
Programme: Hawick Common Riding