Rochdale first to see anti-smoking film

Cinemagoers to the Odeon cinema in Rochdale will see one of the most hard hitting anti-tobacco short films ever seen on British screens.

'Slaughterhouse' is currently being screened before 15 certificate films at the Rochdale cinema and other cinemas across the North West. The film carries the message: ‘You wouldn’t pay to kill yourself. Why smoke?'

Lisa Barker, tobacco free leader for Rochdale, said: “It is notoriously difficult to engage young people on this issue so it’s great to be the first region to support this groundbreaking film. We are working hard in the Borough to get more people to quit smoking and this film will help us to tap into a younger audience.”

Smokefree North West has funded the film for Cinema, making the North West the first region to screen Slaughterhouse, which graphically challenges young people not to smoke. The film is a pilot which will be rolled out across the region if it is well received by young people.

It was produced by the winner of Channel 4’s 4Talent competition, in partnership with Cancer Research UK. Created by teenagers for teenagers, the short film was one of three that highlight the dangers of smoking to young people.

The film is designed to encourage teenagers to question the tobacco industry’s methods and think about their own, or their friends, smoking. It forms part of Smokefree North West’s approach to combat youth smoking and to continue to de-normalise tobacco use.