Screenings from the UK’s premiere LGBT Short Film festival and the exclusive look at a new film featuring Royle Family favourite Ricky Tomlinson are just some of the highlights of LGBT Foundation’s programme for Manchester’s Big Weekend Pride festival from 25 – 28 August.

The city’s largest LGBT organisation will again be opening its doors to visitors from across the country, descending on Manchester for the Bank Holiday weekend. The centre, situated in Richmond Street the heart of Manchester’s LGBT Village, provides a place to meet and take a break from the bustle of the bars and main stage.

The weekend programme kicks off with a make a buddy event on Friday evening followed by an exclusive screening of Tellin' Dad a moving short film, starring Ricky Tomlinson follows a young man's struggle to come out to his dad, with surprising results. People will also have a chance to join the writer and actor Carl Loughlin for a Q&A session to explore experiences of coming out across different generations. Saturday afternoon sees the screening of some of the best LGBT shorts from Iris the UK’s leading LGBT short film festival.

The four-day programme also includes a range of workshops from Do it like a Drag King with Village favourite Dick Slick, to spaces for Young People and Families organised in conjunction with The Proud Trust and Proud 2B Parents. The Foundation will also be running a community café all weekend offering complimentary tea, coffee and refreshments, thanks to kind donations from local businesses.

Commenting on the plans for the Big Weekend, Paul Martin, chief executive at LGBT Foundation, said:

“The Big Weekend is one of the most important dates in our calendar and we are delighted to be opening our doors and to offer a varied programme with something to suit all members of our diverse LGBT communities.

“Our theme for this year is generations and we are particularly happy to be working with partner organisations to offer events focused on families and young people.

“We look forward to hosting people at our Richmond Street Community Resource Centre and providing a safe space where people can take a break from the bustle of the Big Weekend.”

A full schedule can be found on LGBT Foundation’s website http://lgbt.foundation/news-and-events/manchester-pride/