BRADFORD’S Golden Years Film Festival - aimed at older audiences - is working in partnership with an acclaimed American cinema project exploring the richness and diversity of the ageing process in film.

The three-day festival, starting on Monday, includes screenings, film-making workshops and discussions on issues such as how film reflects the ageing process, and can help people with dementia.

The aim is to engage with, entertain and inspire Bradford’s older community, and celebrate life through film. Alongside screenings, visitors will be invited to look into Bradford’s 100-year film history and glimpse the city’s past through old footage.

In a first for any UK film festival, Golden Years has teamed up with the San Francisco Legacy Festival. From the poignancy of Packing for Two, where a widow learns to embrace life again after the loss of a life-long partner, to the uplifting Slomo, in which a retired doctor re-connects with life through skateboarding, the films explore different perspectives of ageing.

Festival director David Wilson said: “We’re proud to be working with the Legacy Festival and presenting these films which will trigger debate and make our audience laugh, sigh and cry. They show that whatever part of the world you come from, growing older is a shared experience.

“We’re keen for people to embrace the intergenerational element in our festival; sessions are designed for young and old. In an era where people are living longer, active ageing is top of the agenda.”

Sheila Malkind, executive director of the Legacy Festival said: “ We’re delighted to be working with Bradford in showing depictions of older adults who have adapted to ageing with creativity, courage, and growth.”

Organised by Bradford City Of Film, the festival takes place at City Hall, a building with its own rich film heritage.

Screenings include 1959 film Room at the Top, based on Bingley writer John Braine’s post-war novel, partly filmed at City Hall.

Festival-goers can watch old footage of Bradford from the Yorkshire Film Archive. The screenings are by the Memory Bank Bradford film project, stimulating discussion and memory through the city’s cinematic heritage.

On Tuesday there’s a screening from CINAGE, using cinema to promote active ageing and later life learning. A workshop will help visitors learn to shoot, and edit their own short films.

Tuesday also sees a screening of Quartet, starring Maggie Smith and Tom Courtenay.

A retirement home for musicians is gearing up for a concert, but singers are in short supply, and the arrival of an ex-wife threatens the peace.

Wednesday sees a selection of short films, including Land of a Thousand Colours, a UNESCO film about the cultural diversity of Pakistan, and films about ageing from the Legacy Film Series.

The final film is Older Than Ireland, a life-affirming documentary exploring the past 100 years through the eyes of 30 Irish centenarians, each born before Ireland gained independence.

They recount living through social, political and technological change with an honesty that’s moving and entertaining.

A Lights, Camera, Action workshop invites participants to work with University of Bradford students, learning to edit and upload a film online. The results will be shown on the Big Screen in City Park.

Bookings can be made at the Bradford Visitor Information Centre, Britannia House, or on 01274 433678.