The film pioneer Louis Le Prince will be celebrated in Leeds, by the unveiling of a special plaque on 2nd November. The cinema pioneer is recognised for filming the first moving images in the world in Leeds, in 1888. His ground-breaking work are two moving picture sequences- the first is ‘Roundhay Garden Scene’ and the other a Leeds Bridge scene, using his single-lens camera. The first sequence was filmed at Oakwood Grange. It is believed to be the oldest surviving film existing today.
The unveiling of the plaque will be by a celebrity guest from Leeds International Film Festival. The original plaque was on the site of the former workshop of Le Prince in Leeds. It will be reinstated in a part of Leeds Beckett city campus, at its original home of Broadcasting Palace, on 2 November. Laurie Snyder, who is a descendent of Le Prince, will officially open a free exhibition about Louis Le Prince. It will display images and artefacts related to the film pioneer and his years in Leeds. From 2nd to 16th November, the free exhibition will be open to public at Leeds Central Library. According to the Professor of Leeds Beckett University, Robert Shail, Louis Le Prince was a pioneer who helped to make cinema a possibility and to brig the original plaque back to its home, the site of his former workshop, is thrilling.
