Steve Coogan, John Thomson and Rowetta were among the stars who attended a special anniversary screening of 24 Hour Party People at Salford Quays last night. The event marked the 24th anniversary of the Madchester biopic, which traces Manchester's music scene from the late 1970s into the early 90s through Factory Records founder Tony Wilson.
The screening of the remastered film at Vue Quayside opened the 2026 Beyond the Music Festival, a co-operative global music conference and festival based in Greater Manchester, running across Manchester over the next three days. The festival was created in 2023 by Oli Wilson, Sarah Pearson and Rose Marley to champion and encourage those already in the music industry or those ready for their big break.
Legacy of Tony Wilson
Oli Wilson, son of Tony Wilson, spoke to the Manchester Evening News ahead of the screening about his father's legacy and the festival. Wilson signed the likes of Happy Mondays and Joy Division through Factory Records.
“It’s a blueprint,” he said of the film. “I think it’s a really good representation of what those times were really like. I love the music business, but it’s very, very scientific these days. I wanted to show people what rock and roll is really about.”
Cast and Q&A at the screening
Coogan, who starred as Tony Wilson, attended alongside the film's director Michael Winterbottom and producer Andrew Eaton. They joined BBC 6 Music DJ Chris Hawkins for a special Q&A about the film.
Other cast members at the screening included Christopher Eccleston, Paul Popplewell, Kieran O’Brien, John Thomson and Rowetta, the iconic vocalist for the Happy Mondays who famously played herself in the movie.
Coogan on Oli Wilson and the film's re-release
Speaking on the importance of bringing 24 Hour Party People back to Manchester and the significance of Beyond the Music, Steve Coogan told the audience: "Oli is actually his own person, not just Tony Wilson’s son. He is one of the authentic voices of Manchester. What he has inherited from his father is that he is genuinely disruptive and challenging in the best and most healthy way. He is here to shake the tree."
A genre-defying portrait of the Manchester music scene, 24 Hour Party People was one of the most celebrated British films of the decade, earning widespread critical acclaim following its release in 2002. The film captured the anarchic spirit of Factory Records and the Madchester era with wit and energy that resonated beyond its cultural setting.
A full remastered 4K version of 24 Hour Party People will be re-released in UK and Irish cinemas from 9 October. The film will be available to own on Digital and 4K UHD disc from 26 October. Beyond The Music runs from October 6 to 9.
