23-04-2025
Anita Rani's Brontë documentary to be screened free at Pictureville
A new television programme will explore the impact of the Brontë sisters on millions of readers - with a free screening in Bradford planned.
The Brontës by Anita Rani: Sisters of Disruption will look at the influence of Anne, Charlotte, and Emily Brontë on readers over the years - including Anita Rani herself.
The programme is partly autobiographical, tracing Rani's relationship with the Brontës as she returns to her hometown of Bradford.
She recalls her first encounter with the sisters at school and her experience of growing up with the landscape of Haworth and the moors on her doorstep.
Rani also meets fellow Brontë fans and literary experts to discuss how and why these sisters became ground-breaking 'literary disruptors' (in the words of a spokesperson), whose work still feels relevant and influential today.
Executive producer Mark Robinson said: "The legacy of the astounding work of Anne, Charlotte, and Emily Brontë continues to reverberate around the world - they were challenging the patriarchy two hundred years ago.
"The worlds the sisters created have influenced culture across the centuries - from Kate Bush to Taylor Swift, Game of Thrones to Saltburn.
"As well as looking at how they inspired her, Anita will also discover just what made them so subversive – and very different to the timid image so frequently associated with them."
Rani said: "These strong, unearthly sisters fed into my psyche and made me think anything was possible.
"I related to the darkness and tragedy in the Brontës' had as much impact on me as Neneh Cherry, The Smiths, and Goldie.
"In this film I'm going to explore how these women - so full of rage - changed my life, and the world.
"Growing up, romance wasn't on the cards.
"Bollywood felt distant.
"But he could have been Indian - dark hair, dark would he not be?"
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and Sky Arts have announced a free screening of the programme on May 7 as part of the Creative Cities Convention.
This will be followed by a panel discussion with Rani and Shanaz Gulzar, creative director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
The programme will then be available to watch on Sky Arts, Freeview, and streaming platform NOW from May 20.
Tickets for the free screening, which will take place at Pictureville Cinema, are available at
The free screening event begins at 7pm, with a 6.30pm arrival time.
