Anniversary of film luminary inspires tourism push

As part of an innovative tourism campaign, visitors to Pennine Yorkshire are being invited to capture their favourite scene from the region on film – with the initiative commemorating the 110th anniversary of Yorkshire film The Kiss in the Tunnel.

Widely acclaimed as the world’s first ever film to be edited, it was produced by Holmfirth-based Bamforth & Co in 1899. Now, tourism partners in the region have launched a national competition where visitors to the region can submit their favourite 60-second clip of the region, either by mobile phone or camcorder.

As well as offering prizes, the best entries – as judged by a panel including Screen Yorkshire and the West Yorkshire Tourism Partnership – will be given a film festival-style premiere later in the year, while footage will be used on the newly launched pennineyorkshire.com website to promote the region around the globe.

Liz Tattersley, Manager at West Yorkshire Tourism Partnership, responsible for the Pennine Yorkshire initiative, said: “The Bamforths, along with the Brontë sisters are synonymous with the region and represent some of the finest cultural and literary case studies, not just here but across the globe.

“The Kiss in the Tunnel is celebrating its 110th birthday and with it being acclaimed as the first ever edited film – preceding anything produced in Hollywood – we thought it fitting to remember the Bamforths’ contribution to the film industry by asking visiting tourists to capture short clips of their favourite parts of the region.

“Pennine Yorkshire has many attractions including open moorland, traditional market towns and a rich industrial heritage. So, whether people want to showcase our finest landmarks or even recreate a scene from a Bamforth film or give us a recital from Jane Eyre, we are looking forward to watching what visitors to the region see as our finest attractions.”

The competition was launched today at Ingrow Railway Station on the Keighley and Worth Valley railway line, where the central scene of The Kiss in the Tunnel was recreated to show an aristocratic couple sharing a passionate embrace in a carriage from the era.

Tony Dixon, emerging talent manager at Screen Yorkshire, added: “Yorkshire’s connection to filmmaking can be traced to the start of the industry when James Bamforth began creating his collection of short films with regional and national significance.

“The Kiss in the Tunnel, albeit only a minute or so long, is an extremely significant part of film history and it’s amazing to think that one of Yorkshire’s sons was responsible for filmmaking techniques that Hollywood has since emulated.”

For inspiration a number of useful weblinks can be visited, including pennineyorkshire.com; screenonline.org.uk/film/id/444255/index.html; bamforth.0catch.com; bronte.info; ingrowrailwaycentre.co.uk


Pennine Yorkshire comprises an area traversing five local authorities: Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale, Leeds and Wakefield. As well as Hebden Bridge, Haworth and Holmfirth, it includes Keighley, Ilkley, Otley, Sowerby Bridge, Ripponden, Todmorden, The Colne Valley, The Holme Valley and Wharfedale, plus the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire.

Pennine Yorkshire is renowned for attractions including the World Heritage Site, Saltaire, Haworth and its Brontë associations, Holmfirth and ‘Last of the Summer Wine’, plus Hebden Bridge, voted fourth funkiest place in the world.

To enter the competition you can send your video clip as an mpeg/WMV file to film@pennineyorkshire.com, or post a CD or DVD to Bamforth Film Competition, c/o Lucre, 30 Park Square West, Leeds, LS1 2PF.

The closing date for entries is Thursday 30th April with the winner receiving a fully expensed weekend away in the Pennine Yorkshire region, as well as a top of the range camcorder and camera equipment.