A DOCUMENTARY covering the historic first ever Pride march and festival in Thurrock has been selected to be screened at the Lavender Riot Film Festival in Tennessee, USA.

The film produced by local film company Blatella Films follows the story of the festival as it broke new ground in the borough.

The one-day festival included performances, panel discussions and information stalls throughout the whole of the Thameside Complex in Grays.

The festival was organised by Thurrock LGBTQ+ Community Network and delivered by Arts Outburst in June of this year but the film covers the journey the organisers undertook to get to the momentous occasion.

For many involved their only experience of Pride events had to come at the expense of leaving their hometown to find those events in places like London, Brighton and Southend. This was why it was so important to host a Pride event in the borough itself.

"We hope the film will reinforce the message of the festival, that it's important to find community and inclusion in your hometown."

Benjamin Scarsbrook

The film's director, Benjamin Scarsbrook, said: "The fact it has been accepted into an film festival in America feels like that message has been heard."

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Jon Tilley of the Thurrock LGBTQ+ Community Network said "Thurrock's First Pride celebrated love, diversity, and inclusion in our vibrant community. We came together not just as members of the LGBTQ+ community but as a unified group of supporters, friends, and family, all committed to fostering a culture of acceptance and understanding."

He added, "We feel so privileged that 'Our Journey to Pride' has been selected for the Lavender Riot Film Festival in Tennessee. We may be divided by an ocean, but we stand united in solidarity, raising awareness of LGBTQ+ people everywhere."

The film will headline the festival on Wednesday, 2 October at the event which is hosted by The Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) at Austin Peay State University.

Dianna Ferry, the manager of the Thameside Theatre said "The Thameside Complex is at the centre of the Arts in Thurrock. Home to many different organisations and activities including Thurrock's LGBT Network.

The Pride rally at the Thameside.

"There was no doubt that it had to be the venue for Thurrock's First Pride. It was an honour for the Theatre to be included in this event as well as the library and museum who are now cataloguing the journey of this historic event for future generations. The film wonderfully represents the journey so far and we all look forward to what the future of Pride looks like for Thurrock."

"As a company and as a couple, myself and my wife (and business partner) have long supported Pride as allies. As we both grew up in Thurrock we felt we wanted to help raise awareness with the skills we have as filmmakers." Benjamin added.

Blatella Films have previously worked with multiple Pride events and have a long-standing sponsorship relationship with Southend-On-Sea Pride.

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"We have entered the film into dozens of festivals in the UK and abroad, and hope this is the first of many screenings to come."