The Ballad of Shirley Collins

Widely regarded as the 20th century’s most important singer of English traditional song, Shirley Collins is someone who was born to invoke the old songs. Granted intimate access to recording sessions for Shirley’s first album of new recordings in almost four decades, the film also features contributions from the comedian Stewart Lee and David Tibet of Current 93. What emerges is a meditative and carefully textured piece of portraiture.

The film premieres at the BFI London Film Festival and then plays across the country. More information, including screening dates, is available on the film’s website.