An exclusive red carpet screening of ‘The Little Things’ – an emotional documentary inspired by Derian House Children’s Hospice – debuted with a special appearance by Benidorm star Steve Pemberton this weekend.
Lancashire-born Steve Pemberton, who is an Executive Producer of the film, joined 300 families and friends of the Chorley-based charity at the VIP event at Bolton Cineworld on Saturday 19 October.
It was a family affair as Steve’s son Lucas Pemberton wrote the original film score for the production, which is now searching for a distributor so it can be shown to the rest of the world.
“I was honoured to attend the friends and family premiere of ‘The Little Things’ in Bolton,” said multi-award winner actor and producer Steve Pemberton.
“It is a deeply moving documentary film exploring the work done by children’s hospices, beautifully filmed at Derian House.”
The documentary was inspired by the support Derian dad, Paul Woodward, and his family received from Derian House during the short life of his son, Kalel.
Directed by the award-winning Thomas Elliott Griffiths, the film highlights the moving stories and connections between families, staff, and volunteers, capturing the profound and life-changing impact of children’s hospice care.
The Little Things has already received two five-star reviews, and has been nominated for ‘Best British Documentary’ at the Docuworld 2024 Film Festival.
“The premiere was truly special and we can’t express how much it meant to share this moment with so many wonderful people,” said Paul, who runs North West film production company Old Swan Films.
“To all our friends, families, and colleagues who joined us – thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your unwavering support for our feature documentary ‘The Little Things’.
“Your presence, encouragement, and belief in this project have been everything. We are immensely grateful for the love and support that has surrounded this journey, and we couldn’t have done it without you all.”
Derian mum Ashleigh Bleasdale, whose daughter Georgia features in the documentary, said: “I cried, laughed, and then cried some more. The delicacy and sensitivity that has gone into making the Little Things documentary is outstanding and everyone involved should be immensely proud.
“You could feel the love and warmth as you walked into the cinema. Families met who had never met before. There was a feeling as if we had all known each other for many years.
“The documentary expresses perfectly just how important Derian House is to so many families. It shows how we families become a part of the Derian family – full of love, laughter and sensitivity. It is a happy place where memories, friendships and support networks are created.
“To everyone involved in the documentary – thank you for being part of our journey, but also for letting us be part of your story.”
Karen Edwards, Chief Executive at Derian House, said, “What a truly special evening – The Little Things is a powerful reminder of the difference hospice care makes, and we are so proud to share these stories with the world. The response to the film has been overwhelming, and we hope it inspires more people to support children’s hospices.
“It was especially meaningful to hold the premiere in Bolton, as this year alone we have cared for 40 Bolton families. Seeing all of our families’ stories on the big screen, surrounded by so many people celebrating the incredible work of our staff and volunteers, was incredibly moving. We are so grateful to Paul and his team for using their talent to show the love, compassion, and support that Derian House provides.”
Derian House, based in Chorley, Lancashire, cares for more than 400 babies, children, young people and their families from across the North West and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
