The Felling: Sheffield City Hall premiere for new film tells story of huge protests to save street trees UK News

The Felling – An Epic Tale of People Power will premiere at Sheffield Town Hall on Sunday March 20.

Sheffield activists who have fought for years to stop trees from being cut down on city streets will come together at the event.

The screening will be opened by former Sheffield Lord Mayor Magid Magid, who gave strong support to the campaign, followed by barrister Paul Powesland, who defended the campaigners in court.

Poet, Professor Jenny Hockey, who was arrested on Rustlings Road, will read her poem based on her experience.

The screening will be followed by a short set by internationally renowned violinist Matt Howden of the band Sieben, whose music is used in the film.

Filmmaker Jacqui Bellamy began documenting the Sheffield Street tree protests after learning of the nighttime raid on Rustlings Road in November 2016, where seven mature trees were felled before dawn.

She said: “I started taking pictures at first, but as things escalated I realized I had to film what was going on. Events were unfolding at my doorstep. It was an instinct and I had to keep shooting. The film had to be made.

Over a grueling two-year period, Jacqui filmed, produced and directed 500 hours of footage. It showed how protesters faced hostility from Sheffield City Council and their road contractors Amey, backed up by security teams and police.

As the protesters faced threats of bankruptcy and imprisonment and their fight garnered international attention, they had to decide exactly how far they were willing to go to save their trees.

In 2020, Jacqui approached feature-length documentary director, Eve Wood, to be the film’s editor and post-production manager.

“As I watched the footage, I became more and more shocked by what had happened,” Eve said. “It was an amazing mix of disturbing, comical, moving and absurd.

“I realized that was the story of the protesters. The way I designed the film was ultimately to get out of the journalistic approach and tell a human story.

Working with Jacqui as a producer on Skype during lockdown, Eve began putting the film together, a process that took them 18 months.

The two-hour drama, which features an all-Sheffield musical soundtrack, takes viewers to the streets to see first-hand how protesters fought to save healthy trees from the streets of Sheffield.

Gary Stimson, who was one of the campaigners and financially supported the film and the premiere, said: “I thought the film should premiere at City Hall because the great accomplishments of the campaign deserves celebration at the very spot where the protesters gathered on its steps to rally against the killings.

The April 2018 protest rally was joined by city pop star Jarvis Cocker, who also performed at a Get Off Our Tree fundraising show, alongside other music stars from the city. To book tickets for the March 20 premiere, go to www.fellingfilm.com