Valerie attends screening of ’12 Years A Slave’ in Mr Speaker’s State Rooms

In an event hosted by ParliReach, Valerie met the director of the film ’12 Years A Slave’ Steve McQueen in Parliament on Monday 3rd February.

ParliREACH is a Workplace Equality Network (WEN) that is being established to increase awareness and appreciation of race, ethnicity and cultural heritage issues in Parliament. The film was introduced by its director, Steve McQueen, and Valerie had a chance to speak with him about the film and issues surrounding it.

Valerie said:

“It was a pleasure to meet director Steve McQueen and wish him well for the upcoming Oscars. The film industry is vital to the cultural life of this country and I am pleased that the film was made with backing from Channel 4. It is based on a true story and included actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Benedict Cumberbatch.”

“The strength of the British film industry was underlined by figures published last month by the British Film Institute which showed that in 2013 investment in British film increased by 14% to £1.075 billion. Film and cinema is clearly a major growth industry in the UK and it is crucial that it is properly supported”

Further information on 12 Years a Slave is available here.