CITY Screen, York, will welcome Jonathan Blake, the campaigner portrayed by Dominic West in the BAFTA-winning film Pride (15), to take questions from the audience at a special York Pride screening on June 8.

North Yorkshireman Matthew Warchus's 2014 film was inspired by an extraordinary true story. The setting is the summer of 1984; Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers is on strike, prompting a London group of gay and lesbian activists to raise money to support the strikers' families.

Initially rebuffed by the NUM, the group identifies a tiny mining village in Wales and sets off to make their donation in person. As the strike drags on, the two groups discover that standing together makes for the strongest union of all.

Dave Taylor, City Screen's marketing manager, says: "We're delighted to be working with the annual York Pride festival to celebrate the LGBT community in our city, and we're especially pleased to be able to receive one of the people who inspired the film to speak at the cinema."

Jonathan Blake enthuses about coming to York: "I'm really looking forward to joining you for the screening of Pride next Friday night. We all thought our story would die with us till along came Stephen Beresford, who wrote the screenplay. It’s very humbling that the LGSM [Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners] story with the Dulais community seems to inspire people so much. I can’t wait to be a part of York Pride on the Saturday too; it's a huge honour. Thank you York Pride.“

Greg Stephenson, chair of York Pride, responds in kind: "Personally, Pride is one of my favourite films: it’s funny, emotive and inspirational. To have Jonathan with us for York Pride this year is wonderful. I can’t wait to hear more about his experiences; in my eyes he’s a true hero of the LGBT community and it’s an honour to welcome him to York."

Tickets for this 8.30pm screening are on sale on 0871 902 5726 or at picturehouses.com/cinema/York_Picturehouse.