Bolton International Film Festival To Return For Its 8th Edition

Proudly returning for its eighth edition this October (Wed 2nd – Sun 6th Oct). The BAFTA and BIFA accredited short film festival, the Bolton International Film Festival will be showcasing 300 short films, including 34 World premieres, 10 European and 61 National premieres, further cementing its reputation as one of the premier events on the festival circuit.

Film enthusiasts are invited to Bolton’s Light Cinema to experience the latest works from some of the world’s most exciting emerging filmmakers. After each screening ticket holders will have the opportunity to participate in Q&A sessions with the filmmakers, whilst engaging with an industry programme featuring insights from highly respected figures within the film and television industry.

In a special headline event. Oscar winners Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton (All Creatures Great and Small) will return to Bolton with The Slick Films Pitch, a live competition where five film teams pitch their projects to a panel of industry experts for a chance to win a £10,000 prize. You’ll get to witness the tension and excitement as one team secures the grand prize, setting the stage for a transformative filmmaking and mentoring journey supported by Slick Films and industry partners.

https://slickfilms.co.uk/slick-films-fund-2024/

This year’s festival also boasts an exceptional line up of speakers including:

• Sean McAllister: BAFTA-nominated and Sundance-winning documentary filmmaker, known for pushing the boundaries of documentary filmmaking with works such as Working For The Enemy, The Minders, The Liberace Of Baghdad, and Japan: A Story Of Love And Hate.
• Mick Audsley: Renowned British film and television editor with over thirty film credits, including The Personal History of David Copperfield, Murder on the Orient Express, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and Twelve Monkeys.
• Jack Thomas-O’Brien (Producer, Sixteen Films) and Laura Carreira (Director) will share insights on overcoming the challenges of making Laura’s debut feature On Fallin, which will premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
• Amy O’Hara: Film 4 Development Exec, will be in conversation with Grammy and Grierson award-nominated filmmaker Dylan Southern.
• BBC Development Executive Simon Nelson will share advice on writing for film and television and developing compelling characters.
• Robin Shaw: Emmy, Annecy, and British Animation Award-winning animator, known for Mog’s Christmas, which won the longform prize at the British Animation Awards.
• Gina Lyons: Award-winning producer, credited with the BAFTA Cymru-winning pilot In My Skin (2018) and the International Emmy-nominated Dreaming Whilst Black (2021).
• BFI Filmmaker Roundtable – An opportunity to meet the BFI team, find out more about funding and career development support they provide, and connect with fellow filmmakers.
• Festival Programmers: Varun Raman (London Short Film Festival), Jamie Allen (Sheffield Doc Fest), Isabelle Croissant (Manchester Animation Festival), and MarBelle (Directors Notes) will provide insights into the programming process.\
• And many more… over 25 industry events across the festival.

Among the films showcased will be works featuring esteemed actors including Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who/The Leftovers), Freddie Fox (White House Farm/The Three Musketeers), as well as Sister Vives duo Mia Mckenna-Bruce (How To Have Sex) and Louisa Connolly-Burnham. Other films in the festival feature actor/comedian Seann Walsh, Jordan Stephen (Rizzle Kicks), Cormac Hyde Corin (Napoleon/Heartstopper), Tamzin Outhwaite (Eastenders), Isis Hainsworth (Red Rose), Brod Ní Neachtain (The Banshees Of Inisherin), Emily Burnett BAFTA winner, David Jonsson (Rye Lane) and Sunil Patel (Brian And Charles).

For opening night of the festival. Michael Patrick Clarkson (BBC’s Red Rose) features in the Made Up North programme with his directorial debut and World Premiere of ‘Upholstergeist’. A comedy/horror shot at Rivington Barn, “When a furniture repairer on a restoration TV show is tasked with fixing a chair for a strange brother and sister, the job may cost more than just her time.”

Clarkson states:

“Bolton has always been one of my creative playgrounds – so it made sense to shoot my debut short here surrounded by things that inspire me – and it’s so wonderful to have it premiere at BFF. Upholstergeist was made with a lot of love by a lot of talented people – the finished product is as beautiful as it is ridiculous.” 

When talking about the help from the local community:

“Huge shout out to Kevin Salmon at Rivington Barn and Graham Wilson at Gilly’s Antiques – without these two I would not have been able to pull this short off. Their help in providing a unique setting like Rivington Barn – then decking it out with some of the best antiques and curiosities in the North West to make it look like a repair shop was really special.”

On this year’s line-up. Festival Director Adrian Barber said:

“It’s wonderful to be heading back to The Light Cinema for our eighth edition, we’re proud to be putting on a strong programme for the region in what has been a tough year for arts organisations. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get the festival across the line this year which wouldn’t have been possible without our funders and sponsors. This years line up brings exceptional films from all around the world to Bolton, spotlighting the next generation of emerging talent in what must be our strongest line up yet. Audiences can look forward to an exciting array of films, including selections from prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Berlinale, Sundance, SXSW, and Annecy, as well as numerous premieres of our own starting out on their festival journey.”

“Bolton Film Festival is for everyone – not just emerging filmmakers. There is a misconception from the public that short films are ‘arty’ or ‘amateur’, but that’s not the case any more. You only have to point to Wes Anderson’s recent Oscar-winning short film (now on Netflix) to illustrate that audiences’ appetite for the short film format is gaining more and more traction. With our programme of films at the festival, there is something for all tastes – drama, comedy, documentary, animation, horror, sci-fi, family-friendly, and even award-winning VR.”

To ensure the event is accessible to all, the festival offers a variety of ticket options and festival passes to suit all budgets, there is also a FREE pop-up cinema within the Market Place Shopping Centre at the KUDOS gallery. On Thursday 3^rd Oct there is also a BSL supported screening for deaf audiences.

Tickets and passes are available now, and more details on the event can be found on the festival’s website: www.boltonfilmfestival.com or through its social media channels.