North East International Film Festival announces participation in a brand new initiative, the Escapes Screenings project.

The project is designed to deliver accessible, free, monthly screenings of box office films across the nation.

On behalf of the British Film Institute (BFI) and the National Lottery, the North East International Film Festival (NEIFF) is thrilled to announce their participation in Escapes ambitious project which aims to offer free film screenings in cinemas across the UK, in order to grow cinema engagement and break down primary barriers to cinema attendance amongst audiences.

Escapes is a multi-year project designed to support and sustain cinema audiences in the UK.

It will be delivered by entertainment specialist agency elevenfiftyfive and supported by the BFl, awarding National Lottery funding.

The project is designed to provide cinemas with access to new audiences and the opportunity to engage audiences with free monthly accessible box office screenings.

Escapes will begin in February with over 15,000 free cinema tickets available to screenings in 126 cinemas across the country.

Some of the screenings in this region shall be delivered through the North East International Film Festival at the Star and Shadow Cinema. Beginning this month, audiences in the region can sign up to Escapes screenings on the Cinematikapp. Due to the immense popularity of this project, the first in a series of box office screenings has already sold out. The screening will be of The Iron Claw, starring Zac Efron, which shall take place on February 5th at 7pm.

The Iron Claw is the true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s.

Whilst the first screening has sold out, the NEIFF encourages people to keep an eye out on future monthly screenings.

For more information on signing up to this new, exciting and inclusive initiative, visit: escapetothecinema.co.uk/tickets