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It was a case of life imitating art for a crowd of cinema-goers on Friday, as they packed in to Brynmawr’s Market Hall Cinema for a “bonkers” world record attempt.

More than 100 people packed in to the historic cinema to sit through five consecutive screenings of the Bill Murray classic, Groundhog Day, mirroring the comedy’s storyline which sees Murray get stuck in a time-loop, repeating the same day over and over again.

And while only a hardcore 14 managed to stay put for the mammoth film-fest, which ran from 10pm on Friday night to 8am on Saturday morning, Peter Watkins-Hughes, film director at the cinema, believes they still succeeded in setting a new world record.

'We're pretty sure we've done it'

“As far as we’re aware, there is no existing record for the most number of repetitive screenings playing to the same audience members from start to finish.

“We are awaiting official adjudication from Guinness, but we are pretty sure we’ve done it.

“It was absolutely bonkers, and what was really wonderful was that we had a real range of people in the audience.”

He added: “Of course, we had a few die-hard film geeks, but we also had a husband and wife there, a few older chaps, and groups of friends who just thought it would be a fun thing to do.

A worthy cause

“It was all done to raise money for Ty Hafan, so lots of people wanted to come along just to do their bit to help the charity, which was wonderful.”

Related: The new Guinness World Records book features these records from Wales

While some sponsorship is still being collected, Mr Watkins-Hughes said the event raised in excess of £1,000 for the children’s hospice.

“We’re delighted to have raised so much, and to do it in such a fun and unusual way was just great,” he added.

“The whole thing was utterly surreal. Groundhog Day is a classic film, but to watch it that many times really does play with your mind.

'I believed I'd hung out with Bill Murray when I left'

“After the third go, you don’t know whether what you’ve seen is a scene in this screening or the last, and everything becomes a real blur.

“It’s exactly like you’re living Groundhog Day, and I did believe I had been hanging out with Bill Murray and Andy McDowell by the time I left.”

Cinema manager Ralph Price said staff and patrons were delighted with the achievement.

“It was a lot tougher than we thought,” said Mr Price. “We started with over 100 people at the first 10pm screening. But after the fifth screening at 8am, we were down to 14 exhausted, but over the moon, movie buffs.”

Move over 3D - it's all about the movie marathon

One film fan who made it to the end was Cameron Eynon, who received a certificate for his endurance.

He said: “It was one of the most surreal nights of my life. After the third screening, it really felt as though you were living in Groundhog Day.

“Forget 3D, this is the most immersive cinema experience ever.”

Ieuan Norman, from Brynmawr, who helped organise the record bid, added: “I’ve never been to see a film clean shaven and come out with a beard. It was bonkers!”

Hollywood support

The audience were helped to stay awake with encouraging messages from the film’s writer and composer, Hollywood screenwriter Danny Rubin, who wished the audience well and jokingly reminded them: “All of the funny lines were written by me.”

The film’s music composer George Fenton praised the audience and told them the film’s director Harold Ramis, who passed away last year, would have loved the idea and would supported them.

The five-times Oscar nominated composer added: “I am not in the Guinness Book of Records, but hopefully you will be.”