{{Short description|2015 British documentary film about cinema pioneer Louis Le Prince}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{italic title}} {{Infobox film | name = The First Film | image = The First Film poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = David Nicholas Wilkinson | producer = | screenplay = | starring = | music = | cinematography = | editing = | studio = | distributor = | released = {{Film date|2015}} | runtime = 106 minutes | country = United Kingdom | language = English | budget = | gross = }} '''''The First Film''''' is a 2015 British documentary film about cinema pioneer Louis Le Prince, made by David Nicholas Wilkinson.<ref name=edinburgh>{{cite web|title=The First Film|url=http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/films/2015/the-first-film|website=Programme: 2015|publisher=Edinburgh Film Festival|accessdate=25 November 2016|archive-date=25 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125174944/http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk/films/2015/the-first-film|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The First Film|url=http://www.film4.com/reviews/2015/the-first-film|publisher=Film 4|accessdate=5 March 2017|archive-date=6 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306034229/http://www.film4.com/reviews/2015/the-first-film|url-status=live}}</ref> It argues the case that Le Prince, rather than the Lumière brothers, was the true inventor of moving pictures, making ''Roundhay Garden Scene'' in Leeds in 1888. Le Prince mysteriously disappeared in 1890.<ref name="hannaford">{{cite news|last1=Hannaford|first1=Alex|title=The mystery of Leeds's long-lost movie pioneer|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/the-first-film/louis-le-prince-inventor-true-story/|accessdate=25 November 2016|work=The Telegraph|date=24 June 2015|archive-date=11 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311052450/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/the-first-film/louis-le-prince-inventor-true-story/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="youngs">{{cite news|last1=Youngs|first1=Ian|title=Louis Le Prince, who shot the world's first film in Leeds|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33198686|accessdate=25 November 2016|work=BBC News|date=23 June 2015|archive-date=19 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019011420/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33198686|url-status=live}}</ref>
Mark Kermode, film critic of ''The Guardian'', described the documentary as "a flickering story that blends intrigue, industrial espionage, and possibly even murder".<ref name="kermode">{{cite news|last1=Kermode|first1=Mark|authorlink1=Mark Kermode|title=The First Film review – a secret cinematic history|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jul/05/first-film-louis-le-prince-david-nicholas-wilkinson-documentary-review|accessdate=25 November 2016|work=The Guardian|date=5 July 2015}}</ref>
The world premiere of ''The First Film'' was at the 2015 Edinburgh International Film Festival.<ref name=edinburgh /> It went on general release in the United States in September 2016.<ref name="mcnary">{{cite web|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=David Nicholas Wilkinson's 'The First Film' Documentary Gets September Release|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/david-nicholas-wilkinson-first-film-documentary-release-date-1201830124/|publisher=Variety|accessdate=5 March 2017|date=4 August 2016|archive-date=6 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306033214/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/david-nicholas-wilkinson-first-film-documentary-release-date-1201830124/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://guerilla-group.com/tff/}} *{{IMDb title}} *{{Rotten Tomatoes|the_first_film}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:First Film}} Category:2015 films Category:2015 documentary films Category:British documentary films Category:Documentary films about historical events Category:Documentary films about films Category:History of film Category:Films about industrial espionage Category:Louis Le Prince Category:2015 British films {{UK-documentary-film-stub}}