As part of Amber: Documenting Place at the Farrell Centre, we’re screening three of Amber Film’s most iconic documentaries on a loop as part of the display. With dedicated seating, visitors are invited to take a moment, settle in, and immerse themselves in these powerful explorations of people, place, and community. Drop by and experience events and stories from our region's remarkable legacy.

Due to popular demand "Amber: Documenting Place" has been extended until 14th September 2025.

24th August 3.30pm Start:

6 to Midnight

Amber Films, 25 minutes, 1974

Produced in 1974 for Newcastle City Council, 6 to Midnight showcases a day in the life of Newcastle upon Tyne, focused on The Grainger Market as the city’s beating heart. Rejected by the City Council at the time, 6 to Midnight remained unreleased for many years, but today is seen as an endearing portrait of a day in the life of the city at a time of immense change.

Launch

Amber Films, 10 mins, 1974

With a commitment to documenting working life in the North East, the scale and visual drama of shipyards were immediately attractive to Amber. Made for only £400, Launch looks at the epic experience of shipbuilding communities through the launch of the “World Unicorn” oil tanker in Wallsend. 

Quayside

Amber Films, 16 mins, 1979

Focused on Newcastle’s Quayside in the late 1970s, an area which was under threat of redevelopment, the film Quayside was made alongside a photographic project undertaken by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen and Graham Smith. Following this project, a campaign, led in part by Amber ’s Murray Martin, was successful in securing listed status of almost all the Quayside’s buildings.

25th August 1.30pm Start:

The Pursuit of Happiness

Amber Films, 90 minutes, 2008

A feature-length documentary, initially aimed to document a traveller family settled in County Durham, reflecting Amber's commitment to portraying working-class life in North East England. However, following the sudden death of Amber's founder member, Murray Martin, in 2007, the film's focus shifted to commemorate his life and contributions. Martin's involvement in harness racing and his close relationship with the traveller community became central themes, intertwining personal narrative with broader socio-cultural reflections. ​