A FILM festival celebrating the musical heritage of Hayes is to be held next summer.

Calling the Tune: EMI Hayes on Film will showcase rare footage kept in EMI’s archive that has not been made public, featuring some of the label’s world-famous artists.

Gems include the ?rst ever example of stereo sound shot on ?lm, and footage of visits to Hayes from celebrities including Gracie Fields and Edward VIII.

It is one of seven London-based film projects to be awarded £3,000 by media agency Film London, through its Community Pilot Fund, which aims to support innovative projects in areas that are under represented in film.

The event, led by Brunel University’s School of Arts, is planned for June 2013.

Paul Moody, technical operations manager at the university in Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, is organising the event.

He said: “Hayes has not had a place to screen ?lms since the 1970s and Calling the Tune is a rare chance for the community to see what a rich cinematic heritage there is in the area.

“We have been fortunate to receive a lot of community support to get this project off the ground, and look forward to screening this important local collection to audiences next summer.”

The festival will be at The Old Vinyl Factory, once home to EMI factories and soon to undergo a £250million redevelopment, with homes, offices and cultural attractions, including a nine-screen cinema.

Cathedral Group, which, with Development Securities, is spearheading the site’s revival, have agreed to match Film London’s funding.

The Hayes Town Partnership, which works to promote the area, is backing the project.

Chairman David Brough said: “Hayes has a long and proud tradition as a centre of industry and the leading role of the world-famous EMI is part of the history and shared heritage of much of the local community.

“It is therefore absolutely appropriate that this should be celebrated by using the archive films that have been so carefully preserved but so rarely seen by local people.

“The idea of a film festival has great potential to bring people together and to assist in rebuilding the sense of pride that the Hayes Town Partnership is aiming to create.”

? For more information, email paul.moody@brunel.ac.uk.