High on Hope is a film which presents the real story behind what acid house meant in Northern England in the late eighties and early nineties. The explosion of electronic dance music has since become a multi-million pound global industry, but for the hundreds of people in Blackburn during this time period it was much more than that; an escape route from the crippling effects Thatcherism was having on their livelihoods and communities. High on Hope tells their story.

Whilst stories in the past have focused on the people who carved careers, adulation and financial muscle out of the acid house revolution, High on Hope is different. Instead it centres the attention on two elements; the hysterical reaction of the media towards what these young people was doing, and the ordinary people who made it so special.

The folk who lived for the escapism it served, and whose involvement in the period was the lifeblood that it centred on. Their stories, and their histories and the paths they have trodden since that time, form the fulcrum of the film’s central premise. There are no interviews of suited superstar DJs regaling the period from expensive recording studios, just heartfelt recaps of why the music and the togetherness was so intoxicating.

The film has already been premiered at several film festivals, winning best film in Barcelona's In-Edit festival and won the audience Award at Leeds Film festival, beating the Kings Speech in the process. But whilst the film has been finished, financed by a combination of borrowing, call in favours, waiving fees and sown together by director Piers Sanderson’s hard work and determination, there are still costs relating to licensing the music and various scenes within the film.

For the film to be released on DVD and shown in independent cinemas, a small amount of money needs to be raised. There is a Crowd funding appeal set up which has already received support from across the globe, with people donating from Sweden, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Russia and many more. You can donate as little as £3 towards the film’s cost, or go as far as £100. These donations indicate the level form which you can get involved with the project:

• £3 - gets a free link to watch the film when it comes out
• £10 - a DVD and link when it comes out
• £25 - 2 tickets to the premier when it tours the country and both of the above
• £100 - Your name in the credits, alongside all of the above.

If you’ve been touched in any way by electronic dance music, this is the way to help the story of how the music came to become so important be shared across the globe.
Watch a trailer of the film:

Follow High on Hope here and on Facebook. And donate here

For all press enquires please contact Jimmy Coultas / jimmy@sentricidgital.com / + 44 (0)20 7100 3254