The Changing Faces of Diss community film to hit cinema screen at The Corn Hall next week

sam.harrison@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 23 August 2025

A film celebrating Diss and its people — described as ‘part documentary, part daydream’ — will hit the big screen next week.

The Changing Faces of Diss, produced by Moving House Films, will have its red-carpet premiere at Diss Corn Hall on Friday followed by a two-day exhibition spread across venues in the town.

Commissioned by the Essex Cultural Diversity Project and supported by Arts Council England, the film brings local memories to life — with residents not only sharing their stories but re-enacting them, often with others from the community stepping in to perform and reconstruct their experiences.

Moving House Film directors, Louis Norris and Jonny Ben-Shaul. Picture: Submitted

The project was supported by the Essex Cultural Diversity Project and supported by Arts Council England, as well as a partnership between Diss Corn Hall, DesignerMakers21 and No 8 Market Place. Picture: Submitted

Fairgreen Fish Bar in Denmark Street. Picture: Submitted

From a man recalling elephants marching down Victoria Road to a fisherman being dragged into the Mere to encounter strange creatures, director Jonny Ben-Shaul said the project is a celebration of local storytelling, blending oral history with arts and crafts.

He said: “We’re so excited for the premiere, I’m just really keen to share it with everyone. We want the premiere to be packed out.

“It’s part documentary, part daydream. It is certainly quirky and a good bit of fun — its a 25-minute romp through a bunch of different wacky stories and characters which really shows a lively portrait of Diss.”

The film tells six stories from the town, and re-imagines them through crafts and performances. Picture: Submitted

One of the stories stars a trapeze artist. Picture: Submitted

Another story sees a fisherman pulled into the Mere to discover the strange creatures below. Picture: Submitted

Jonny and co-director Louis Norris gathered material for the film during two outreach days in June where they sat with microphones at a market stall to record residents’ stories.

They also visited people in their homes and at community venues to ensure as many people as possible had a chance to contribute.

The film was originally set to feature three stories, but Jonny said they ended up doubling that number.

“We had too many good ones, so we had to go with six instead,” he said.

The film will premiere on Friday, August 29 at The Corn Hall. Picture: Submitted

There will also be a two-day exhibition where visitors can view the props used in the film and listen to audio files of townsfolk telling their stories. Picture: Submitted

The project was made possible through a partnership between Diss Corn Hall, DesignerMakers21 and No 8 Market Place.

All three venues are involved in an exhibition on Friday and Saturday with props from the film on display and an interactive display of memories shared through phone lines at the No 8 Market Place café.

Tickets to see the film are free and more information can be found here: www.thecornhall.co.uk/shows/the-changing-faces-of-diss/

Jonny added: “The film is all about community spirit — it only works because the people of Diss stepped in to help us bring these stories to life.

“None of this would have been possible without them.”

Diss Quirky Sam Harrison