The Bolton International Film Festival returns for its eighth edition from Wed, Oct 2 to Sun, Oct 6.
The BAFTA and BIFA accredited short film festival will showcase 300 short films, including 34 World premieres, 10 European and 61 National premieres, cementing its reputation as one of the premier events on the festival circuit.
Film enthusiasts are invited to the Light Cinema in Bolton 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 and engage with an industry programme featuring insights from highly respected figures from the film and television industry.
In a special event, Oscar winners Chris Overton and Rachel Shenton (All Creatures Great and Small) return to Bolton with The Slick Films Pitch, a live competition where five film teams will pitch their projects to a panel of industry experts for a chance to win a £10,000 prize.
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 Falling, 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 n 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.
- More – Over 25 further industry events across the festival.
Actors featured in films screening this year include Christopher Eccleston, known for his roles in Doctor Who andThe Leftovers; Freddie Fox, known for his roles in White House Farm and The Three Musketeers; Mia Mckenna (How to have sex) and Louisa Connolly-Burnham co-star in Sister Wives. Other films in the festival feature Actor/Comedian Sean Walsh, Jordan Stephen (Rizzle Kicks), Cormac Hyde Corin (Napolean, Hearstopper), 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 (Comedian/Actor).
Local lad Michael Patrick Clarkson (Writer/Co-Creator Red Rose, BBC) features in the Made Up North programme on the opening evening of the film festival 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 said :“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.”
Festival Director Adrian Barber added: “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.”
