A Bunch of Amateurs

2022

1 hr. 35 min.

Documentary

List

100%

16 Reviews

Tomatometer

100%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Growing old amid flickering memories, one of the oldest amateur film clubs in the world is teetering on the brink of survival. Desperately clinging to their dreams, and to each other, this hilarious and moving portrait of artistic folly speaks to the delusional escapist dreamer in us all.

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Maria S

Heartwarming, funny, warmingly portrayed and can totally see this being made into either a play or certainly a tv film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/03/23

Full Review

marianne d

This documentary is an absolute delight! I watched it as part of Peterborough, Ontario's ReFrame Film Festival in Jan ‘23. I was utterly charmed by all the people involved. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made my heart sing. I cannot wait to watch it again, the first chance I get. You won't be disappointed. ❤️

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Len S

A beautifully crafted film, nostalgia, joy, sadness with some amazing characters.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/18/22

Full Review

dave m

Bradford City of Culture 2025 - this is a reet gud film of Yorkshire folk battling through life's frailties and winning. Just seen it in Bradford. The ‘President' was in the audience and she did an impromptu Q & A session. Real people striving to beat Hollywood. Sadness and joy - a top film!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

shaun h

Superb documentary 10/10 featuring many of the best biscuits currently available on the low street. Tasteful, hilarious and heartwarming +++

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Niall B

Saw it at Aldeburgh Documentary Festival and loved it. A rare window into a community that's off the grid for most of us. Beautifully crafted film. Original, heartwarming and it deserves to be a huge success both here and overseas.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/21/22

Full Review

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Whelan Barzey

Time Out

Films about filmmaking are often arthouse in style and niche in appeal, but Kim Hopkins’ documentary is just the kind of scrappy, everyman story that will go down a treat for the masses.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 25, 2023

Full Review

James Jackson

Times (UK)

A warm, funny-sad celebration of community and friendship as it followed a group of northern friends chasing their quixotic dreams of making (very cheap) movies.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 14, 2022

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

... A profoundly poignant film about coming to terms with mortality while finding great comfort in the permanent life of flickering images.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 14, 2022

Full Review

Laurence Boyce

Cineuropa

A thoroughly moving and ultimately joyful affair.

Dec 22, 2022

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Victoria Luxford

City AM

A Bunch of Amateurs might prove the inspiration for a quirky theatrical comedy in a few years. A tribute to both amateur passion and cinema as a whole, (it's) a reminder that the reason for creativity can be as powerful as the art itself

Rated: 4/5

Dec 20, 2022

Full Review

Christopher Stevens

Daily Mail (UK)

An affectionate portrait of the group...

Rated: 4/5

Dec 16, 2022

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Synopsis

Growing old amid flickering memories, one of the oldest amateur film clubs in the world is teetering on the brink of survival. Desperately clinging to their dreams, and to each other, this hilarious and moving portrait of artistic folly speaks to the delusional escapist dreamer in us all.

Director: Kim Hopkins
Executive Producer: Simon Beaufoy, Caroline Cooper Charles, Capella Fahoome, Megan Gelstein, Lisa Marie Russo
Screenwriter: Kim Hopkins
Production Co: Labor of Love Films, Screen Yorkshire, BFI Film Fund
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English