AFU celebrates tenth anniversary

Excitement is growing as the AFU approaches its tenth annual screening of new films in the Amey Theatre, Abingdon School on Saturday 18 May 2013 at 7pm. Tickets are free and can be secured in advance or on the door (see poster above for details). As usual, we extend a warm invitation to everyone, and in this tenth anniversary year, we are particularly keen to welcome back former members of the Unit, as well as those who pioneered the making of films at Abingdon in the 1950s as members of ASPS, the Abingdon School Photographic Society. Indeed, it seems the school’s first serious attempt at filmmaking began in 1953, making this a sixtieth anniversary as well. The image above is a still from one of the earliest Abingdon films, Michael Grigsby’s No Tumbled House (1955). The man wielding the cane – purely for the camera, of course – is John Toplis, the Abingdon teacher who oversaw the ASPS, and young Grigsby’s first foray into filmmaking. Tragically, Toplis died shortly after the completion of the film, which was dedicated to his memory.

This year’s screening offers seven new AFU films, as well as a selection of the best from the last ten years. There will be tributes to Michael Grigsby and a chance to see some of the work of the ASPS from sixty years ago. Do join us if you can.