South Downs Film Makers

Unfortunately, we learned the sad news of the death of Keith Sayers, earlier in the month.

Formerly a cine enthusiast and member of Shoreham Cine Club, Keith joined SDFM when it started in 1989. A TV and sound engineer by profession, he much preferred the technical side of film- making and was usually found behind the camera, on lighting, or as sound recordist.

He was cameraman for SDFMs very first film, a psychological thriller ‘Night Encounter’ produced in autumn 1989, which went on to win the following year’s Albany Film Festival. In November 1989 he recorded the dialogue for SDFMs second film, the comedy ‘Laughing Stock’.

When SDFM moved into the Club Room at Ferring Village Hall in 1991 and many years before the club had a video projector, he set up a number of 22” TV receivers (the old square models) around the room to enable the growing membership to watch the screening of video films.

Keith was still a cine enthusiast at heart and after a few months, he and another ex-Shoreham Cine Club member, Ian Wingate, left SDFM to set up a small cine club in Brighton, although he often returned to SDFM as a judge for various competitions over the years. Subsequently, Keith became very involved with SERIAC (South Eastern region of the IAC) and became editor of the SERIAC News. He was also an active member and served on the committee of the annual Sussex Film Festival, and managed the sound and projection of the competition films for both festivals.

He lived on his own in Brighton, but his cousin, Carol, was with him when he died in hospital of pancreatic cancer on 15^th February. He also had a niece.

Let’s hope that the festivals he was such a key contributor to, eventually continue on in his memory.
Brian Meetens/Mike Spanton
Photos: Top – Keith on sound during SDFM film production ‘Laughing Stock’, made in November 1989
Bottom – Keith (3rd from left) at the 2022 SERIAC film Festival in October last year, with from left – Jonathan Wilde, Mike Whyman, Keith, David Fenn.