Visit The Regeneration Game during this year’s Belfast Film Festival. Choose your channel and decide what archive to watch from our TV Guide:
Channel 1: Challenge (c.1965), 14 minutes
Watch the full film here: https://digitalfilmarchive.net/media/challenge-a-northern-ireland-housing-trust-1761
Made by the Northern Ireland Housing Trust
Outline of the Northern Ireland Housing Trust’s plans post-WWII. Explores housing in Belfast and Derry with a focus on high-rise buildings which were proposed as epitome of modern living.
Channel 2: Craigavon, New City (2025), 45 minutes
Director Colm Laverty
Watch the full film here: https://digitalfilmarchive.net/media/craigavon-new-city-7353
New documentary film charting the history of the new city of Craigavon. Craigavon designated in 1965, was designed to be a modern, linear city incorporating the existing towns of Lurgan and Portadown to address post-war housing shortages in Northern Ireland, while creating a new economic and industrial centre in the province. However the scheme was beset with problems relating to controversy over the vesting of land for the project displacing long established families, politics and the overall concept. Over 50 years on this film reflects on the successes and failures of the Craigavon project through the use of new and archival interview footage and documentary film.
The film was produced by Colm Laverty and the Northern Ireland Screen; with additional support from the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Lurgan Townscape Heritage Scheme.
Channel 3 (UTV): Counterpoint: Housing (1979), 24 minutes
Watch the full programme here: https://digitalfilmarchive.net/media/counterpoint-housing-1979-7442
This 1979 edition of UTV’s Counterpoint follows the woes of the housing market at the time. The Housing Executive in Northern Ireland wished to sell 54,000 of their homes. The people living in this social housing were tempted into ownership, but concerns were raised about finding the funds. The possibility arose then of co-ownership and the programme looks at the options available to working class families in a changing landscape of housing.
The Lesson is Ulster: Housing (1987), 24 minutes
This episode focuses on the challenges and failures of housing in Northern Ireland.
Channel 4: On the Manor: Fighting Back (1987), 26 mins 24 secsWatch the full programme on https://www.yfanefa.com/record/11536
A Yorkshire Television documentary from 1987 that focuses on how some residents of the Manor area of Sheffield are responding to the high unemployment and poverty on the council housing estate. It focuses on a residents’ theatre group in the run up to the June General Election, reflecting both the demoralisation – attributed to unemployment, poor housing, poverty and untrustworthy politicians – and the fighting spirit of at least some of those living on the Estate.
This is the last of a series of four themed programmes that were aired in August 1987, and later re-edited into a single shorter programme broadcast on Channel 4, this time naming those residents who are interviewed. Yet, unfortunately, information on those featured in the programmes is hard to come by, including that of the ad hoc theatre group who performed the agit-prop play, more common in the 1970s and ‘80s.
Courtesy of Yorkshire and North East Film Archive https://www.yfanefa.com
Channel 5: Leaving the Village , 14 minutes
Director Ryan Ralph
Residents of the Village share their experiences of community, demolition and relocation. Features Brian and Patricia Stephenson; Anne and Bill Dickson and Alan Bush. Produced by Below the Radar as part of Northern Ireland Screen’s Aim High.
Channel 6: Nevermind Walnut Street (2023), 13 minutes
Director Marta Dyczkowska
Watch the trailer: https://www.scottishdocinstitute.com/films/never-mind-walnut-street/
Never Mind Walnut Street is the intimate story of Marta Dyczkowska’s life and loss, set against the backdrop of the sweeping gentrification of Belfast.
An intimate story of Marta Dyczkowska’s life and loss is set against the backdrop of the sweeping gentrification of Belfast. Through a heartfelt letter addressed to a close friend, Marta takes us on a journey through the transformations that have taken place in the once-familiar city they both called home. Looking out from her kitchen window on Walnut Street, Marta reminisces about the time when she was embraced by a vibrant community that provided her with a sense of belonging she had longed for since leaving Poland. This poignant narrative serves as a tribute from Marta, a Polish artist, to the city of Belfast that she has come to love and cherish. Against the backdrop of Belfast's energetic and rebellious music scene, we are introduced to Colin McQuillan, the lead singer of Runnin' Riot, as he welcomes Marta into his makeshift bar in the kitchen, forging a fast and enduring friendship.
Also showing
Rising Damp - Ballygomartin (1967)
Ulster Television silent footage of The Belfast Corporations Housing Committee visit housing in Ballygomartin that are in an appalling condition. Damp has riddled the buildings.
Thank you to the film makers, collections and technical support from Paul Moore for making this possible. Visit PS2 Website for more information on the exhibition: https://www.pssquared.org/projects/the-regeneration-game
Visit the exhibition Friday 3rd of October until Saturday 8th November 2025
PS2 Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 12-5pm
On Thursday 2nd October and Thursday 6th November the exhibition is open 6pm-9pm as part of Late Night Art.
FREE ADMISSION
Exhibition Location:
PS2, Property House, 11 Rosemary Street, Belfast, BT1 1QA
For more information about visiting the exhibition: info@pssquared.org
https://www.pssquared.org/contact
Venue Access Guide: https://www.pssquared.org/assets/ps2-accessibility-and-inclusion-guide---march-2025.docx.pdf