In conversation with: Vic Hole, Programming Department
The South West is more than a location, it is a community that allows film makers to bring together and showcase the connections between the people, the places, and the culture that makes this rural landscape a location to love. In this interview, discover how each film chosen in our West of Frame Film Festival represents a different magnificent aspect of the South West.
What makes the South West such a popular place for filmmakers? And what distinguishes it from other parts of the UK?
The South West offers an extraordinary combination of accessibility and visual variety. Its proximity to London makes it practical for productions, while its landscapes can feel a world away from the capital.
Within a relatively small area, filmmakers can find dramatic coastlines, rolling farmland, historic cities, picturesque villages, ancient woodland, wild moorland and internationally recognised heritage sites. The region also possesses a strong sense of identity and history, with stories embedded in the landscape itself.
What distinguishes the South West is its ability to feel both timeless and distinctive. Whether a production requires a period setting, a rural community, a dramatic natural environment or a contemporary location with character, the region provides a unique sense of place that is difficult to replicate elsewhere in the UK.
What led you to choose each film that is representing the South West in this film festival? Do they share common themes?
We wanted to choose films that genuinely use South West locations as an integral part of their storytelling, rather than simply as a backdrop. Each film showcases a different aspect of the region and demonstrates its remarkable versatility on screen.
Far from the Madding Crowd is set in rural Dorset and draws heavily on the landscapes that inspired Thomas Hardy’s Wessex novels. The rolling countryside, ancient farms and dramatic coastlines are central to the film’s atmosphere and themes.
The Titfield Thunderbolt is famously set and filmed in Somerset, celebrating rural communities, local character and the enduring spirit of village life. It remains one of the most affectionate cinematic portraits of the region ever made.
Hot Fuzz transformed the Somerset city of Wells into the fictional village of Sandford, using its historic streets, market square and surrounding countryside to create one of Britain’s most beloved comedy settings.
Savage House, filmed in Somerset, offers a contemporary perspective on the region, demonstrating that the South West continues to inspire new stories and new generations of filmmakers.
Although the films span different genres and decades, they share common themes of community, identity, place and belonging. In each film, the landscape is more than scenery; it helps shape the characters, influences the narrative and becomes a character in its own right.
What role does this film festival hold in showcasing and promoting the South West?
The festival celebrates the South West as both a place of cinematic inspiration and a thriving production destination. By bringing together films made in, inspired by and connected to the region, it highlights the breadth of stories that can emerge from these landscapes and communities.
As organisations including Somerset Council continue to promote film and television production as a means of supporting economic growth and tourism, festivals like this help raise awareness of the region’s creative potential. They encourage audiences to explore the locations they see on screen, support local cultural activity and recognise the South West’s contribution to Britain’s film heritage.
The festival is also an opportunity to celebrate local talent and strengthen connections between audiences, filmmakers and the places that inspire their work.
If you could choose somewhere in the South West as a filming location for a new film, where would it be and for what genre?
The South West would be the perfect setting for a new wave of folk horror. Interest in ancient traditions, folklore, seasonal customs, music and craft heritage has grown significantly in recent years, and the region is rich with locations that feel mysterious, magical and steeped in history.
Places such as the ancient landscape of Exmoor, the dramatic cliffs of North Devon and Cornwall, the atmospheric woodlands of Somerset and Dorset, and landmarks including Glastonbury Tor provide the ideal backdrop for stories that blur the line between myth and reality.
The region’s long history of legends, rituals and local traditions offers endless inspiration for filmmakers looking to create stories that are both unsettling and deeply rooted in the landscape.
What do you hope audiences take away and experience after attending the film festival?
We hope audiences leave with a renewed sense of pride in the places they call home and a deeper appreciation of the landscapes, communities and stories that make the South West unique.
The festival offers an opportunity to see familiar locations through fresh eyes and to discover connections between counties that share a rich cultural and cinematic heritage. Whether audiences are lifelong residents or first-time visitors, we hope they come away with a stronger sense of connection to the region and a greater understanding of how place can shape storytelling.
Above all, we hope people leave inspired by the beauty, character and creativity of the South West, and with a desire to explore more of the landscapes that have captivated filmmakers and audiences alike.
For further information and to book tickets, click here or contact our Box Office on 01823 283244. You can also email us at boxoffice@tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk.
