Jim Broadbent makes surprise appearance at dementia-friendly Crouch End film screening

The actor had a “hoot” taking part in the Q&A about Iris, a film he won an Oscar for, which portrays the life of Iris Murdoch, a British novelist who lived with Alzheimer’s disease.

Jim Broadbent’s mother passed away from Alzheimer’s and at the film screening he said: “It’s important to remember the person behind the disease, to remember them in better times.”

The Crouch End Picturehouse raised £800 for Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network (DIAN), which conducts drug trials for sufferers of genetically inherited dementia.

The film’s director, Richard Eyre, whose mother had dementia, spoke at the event as part of Dementia Awareness Week. Iris cinematographer Roger Pratt, who has early-onset Alzheimer’s, also spoke at the Q&A following the film. His children have a 50/50 chance of inheriting the condition.

The Crouch End cinema has a dementia-friendly film programme.

Films are shown with special requirements, including guided tours of the cinema, classic films shown with intermission, lights halfway up, sound lower down, and staff on hand.

Organiser Leah Byrne said: “We’re really pleased to be hosting this, and to be part of the new Dementia Action Alliance for Haringey who are committing various organisations to helping people living with the condition.”

- The Crouch End Picturehouse are selling raffle tickets to raise money for DIAN as part of Alzheimer’s Awareness Week with a draw at the end of May